The effects of free tuition policy on university academic performance in Chile

Oscar Espinoza; Luis Sandoval; Bruno Corradi; Noel McGinn; Yahira Larrondo; Karina Maldonado

doi:10.1002/berj.4094

The effects of free tuition policy on university academic performance in Chile

Título traducido de la contribución: Los efectos de la gratuidad en el rendimiento académico universitario en Chile

Oscar Espinoza
, Luis Sandoval
, Bruno Corradi
, Noel McGinn
, Yahira Larrondo
, Karina Maldonado

Departamento de Educación

Producción científica: Contribución a una revista › Artículo › revisión exhaustiva

Resumen

En 2016, Chile implementó una política de gratuidad de la matrícula para estudiantes de familias con bajos ingresos, con el fin de mejorar el acceso y la culminación de estudios superiores. La efectividad empírica de esta política aún no se ha demostrado por completo. Este estudio analizó la diferencia en el rendimiento académico de estudiantes matriculados en 12 universidades chilenas con y sin gratuidad. El estudio empleó un diseño de regresión discontinua con una variable discreta móvil aleatorizada localmente. Los resultados muestran que el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes con gratuidad fue equivalente al de los estudiantes que pagaron el costo total. No se observaron diferencias en la tasa de aprobación de los cursos entre quienes tenían gratuidad y quienes no la tenían. Con el tiempo, los efectos de esta política podrían reducir la desigualdad en el mercado laboral profesional. Además, el estudio sugiere que podrían existir prácticas complementarias que mejoren aún más el rendimiento y las tasas de culminación de estudios universitarios. © 2024 British Educational Research Association.

Título traducido de la contribución	Los efectos de la gratuidad en el rendimiento académico universitario en Chile
Idioma original	Inglés
Páginas (desde-hasta)	592-606
Número de páginas	15
Publicación	British Educational Research Journal
Volumen	51
N.º	2
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.4094
Estado	Publicada - abr. 2025

Palabras clave

Rendimiento Académico
Matrícula Gratuita
Discontinuidad de Regresión
Logro Estudiantil

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10.1002/berj.4094

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title = "The effects of free tuition policy on university academic performance in Chile",

abstract = "In 2016 Chile initiated a policy of free tuition for students from families in the lower half of the income distribution to improve access to and completion of higher education. The empirical effectiveness of the policy has not yet been completely demonstrated. This study analysed the difference in levels of academic performance of students enrolled in 12 Chilean universities with and without free tuition. The study used a regression discontinuity design with a running discrete variable locally randomised. The results show that the academic performance of students receiving free tuition was equivalent to that of students paying the full cost. There was no difference in the course pass rate of those with or without free tuition. Over time the effects of the policy could reduce inequality in the professional labour market. In addition, the study suggests that there may be complementary practices that further improve university student achievement and completion rates. {\textcopyright} 2024 British Educational Research Association.",

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AU - Espinoza, Oscar

AU - Sandoval, Luis

AU - Corradi, Bruno

AU - McGinn, Noel

AU - Larrondo, Yahira

AU - Maldonado, Karina

PY - 2025/4

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N2 - In 2016 Chile initiated a policy of free tuition for students from families in the lower half of the income distribution to improve access to and completion of higher education. The empirical effectiveness of the policy has not yet been completely demonstrated. This study analysed the difference in levels of academic performance of students enrolled in 12 Chilean universities with and without free tuition. The study used a regression discontinuity design with a running discrete variable locally randomised. The results show that the academic performance of students receiving free tuition was equivalent to that of students paying the full cost. There was no difference in the course pass rate of those with or without free tuition. Over time the effects of the policy could reduce inequality in the professional labour market. In addition, the study suggests that there may be complementary practices that further improve university student achievement and completion rates. © 2024 British Educational Research Association.

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KW - Regression discontinuity

KW - Student achievement

KW - Rendimiento Académico

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KW - Discontinuidad de Regresión

KW - Logro Estudiantil

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The effects of free tuition policy on university academic performance in Chile

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