Costa Ricans are extremely proud of their education level, and they strongly believe that the key to a good life is schooling and continued training. The government of this small Central American country has always prioritized a large amount of its budget in primary, high school and higher level education. Many of its presidents, instead of being harsh dictators or military men, have been educators who have always encouraged the educational improvement of the Ticos .
There are four public universities. TheUniversity of Costa Rica is the largest one, with a population of over 35,000 students and numerous undergraduate and graduate programs. The second largest public university is the National University in Heredia , with an estimated 13,000 students. The Technological Institute in Cartago is dedicated mostly to the teaching of scientific and technological careers. Finally, there's the State Correspondence University that has had great success providing educational opportunities for people who live in rural areas. The public universities have large facilities such as the University of Costa Rica . Fees range from small to moderate. Some institutions offer scholarships for residents who are unable to afford a minimum charge.
Apart from these public universities, there are several private ones that have grown in the past ten years. These institutions offer shorter career preparation as most of them do not require the liberal arts courses that are obligatory in public universities. Since they are private, the fee per unit or per class is much more expensive than in public universities. Many students prefer to attend these universities because they're interested in a more focused education. Most of these private universities are located in San Jose .
.
The Application Process
Applicants must contact the universities to obtain specific information about the application process at that school. Due dates may vary.
Cost of Universities
The public universities cost less than private universities. As fees vary, applicants must check with the school they wish to attend. However, personal expenses and materials must be paid by the student. International students may have additional charges that vary from university to university.
How to Obtain Detailed Information
Please refer to the following directory for direct links:
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and is the only one without a coastline on the Caribbean . Although the country has a history of earthquakes, hurricanes and some volcanic eruptions it has steadily grown in population and economically. The country is facing the problem of reducing costs by increasing production as well as developing a more extensive education system. As a developing country, it is making some headway in solving many of their problems. The currency of use is the American dollar. The university system has been growing and there are many established colleges to choose from. The language of instruction in almost all cases, Spanish.
Admission
International students must contact the universities they wish to attend for costs and admission details. Among the necessary documents will be a diploma and secondary record showing successful completion of subjects.
Students studying on the can earn a Licenciatura which takes 5 or 6 years to complete depending on the subjects selected. In some universities, a Baccalaureatus or Baccalaureaus is offered in Arts and Science after four years of study. In Medicine, the course leading to the Licenciatura lasts for seven years (three years at the university, followed by four years' professional experience). A profession qualification of Ingeniero is awarded after five or six years. Short-term studies lead to the diploma of Tecnico after three years. The university system offers a Maestrado which is an extended concentration of study following the Licenciatura similar to the Masters Degree following a Bachelor Degree in the States. The highest level of study is the Doctorado that is awarded after the successful completion of two consecutive years of study following the Maestrado and includes a submission of a thesis.
Guatemala is proud of their higher education system which includes many fine public and private universities.
Admission to Higher Education
A Bachillerato is required of Guatemalan citizens. Foreign students must hold the Bachillerato or a diploma of an official secondary study program recognized by the Guatemalan government. Applicants must check with the university they wish to attend for special requirements for entrance. Knowledge of Spanish is essential.
Financial Aid
There is some financial aid available. Check with the university for more details .
Web site Links
Following is a list of links to the following universities:
Military rule, corruption, a huge wealth gap, crime and natural disasters have rendered Honduras one of the least developed and least secure countries in Central America
The average annual income as listed in World Bank, 2001 is $900 U.S. This struggling country is trying to develop their economic system and is working to develop a better system of education under the present democratically-elected president.
Website Links
To learn more about the universities in Honduras , please check the following web sites:
The Mexican government has been unprepared to cope with the country's explosive population growth in spite of their constitutional guarantee of free basic education for all. There are millions of their people living in extreme poverty. Most of these families value their children for the labor force rather than their child's future as an educated person. Even so, Mexico is growing and there is a greater demand for higher education. In addition, networks of vocational and technical schools have been established to offer “short careers” for people who need or prefer practical training in order to enter the job force. Also, a network of university preparatory schools is available to groom students for higher learning experiences.
There are differences between public and private universities between Mexico and the United States . In Mexico , the government finances public universities, and private institutes. Mexican universities are divided in faculties, which offer different degrees, related to that faculty. For example: Engineering is broken down to various such as Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc. The number of years it takes to fulfill degree requirements varies from course of study to institute criteria.
The Application Process
Applicants must contact the universities to obtain specific information about the application process at that school. Due dates may vary.
Cost of Universities
The public universities are free to Mexican citizens. However, personal expenses and materials must be paid by the student. International students have fees that vary from university to university.
How to Obtain Detailed Information
Use the following website for more detailed information and links to various universities.
Panama is a hustling and busy country whose economic growth and educational reforms have grown by leaps and bounds with the development of the Panama Canal . There are several good universities that are mainly located in Panama City that offer many areas of study.
Admission
International students must contact the universities they wish to attend for costs and admission details. Among the necessary documents will be a diploma and secondary record showing successful completion of subjects.
In addition, Florida State University maintains a Panama Campus. The PSU Panama Branch website is: http://www.fsu.edu/Panama or the Florida State University website at http://www.fsu.edu .
