Costa Rican university rectors warn of budget cut impacts

Rectors of Costa Rica’s public universities have warned that proposed budget cuts by the Pueblo Soberano Party (PPSO) will severely impact regional campuses. The proposed reductions, totaling ¢26 billion in operating expenses for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, target the five state universities.

Specific impacts include potential reductions in engineering enrollment at the Universidad Nacional (UNA) in Nicoya, Liberia, Coto, and Sarapiquí, as well as impacts on the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) in Paraíso and the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED).

The Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC) has specifically warned of a “technical closure” of its Limón academic center. The university reported that the Ministry of Finance has withheld funds intended for the center's development under the Public Finance Strengthening Law. While TEC has used its own funds to cover salaries and scholarships for 417 students, the institution stated it cannot sustain operations indefinitely without the allocated resources.