El Salvador is rapidly establishing itself as a new academic destination in Central America, driven by enhanced public safety and increased access to higher education, according to Christian Aparicio, the country’s National Director of Higher Education.
During an interview on the “Diálogo” program by Grupo Mega Visión, Aparicio highlighted a significant rise in university enrollment in 2025, directly linked to President Nayib Bukele’s security strategy. “People now have more confidence,” he stated, noting that security improvements are allowing foreign students to travel to El Salvador to study at local institutions.
Among the notable examples is Don Bosco University, which has attracted students from Costa Rica for its prosthetic design program. A new group of Costa Rican students is expected to arrive in the country this week to begin their academic journey, a development Aparicio views as a sign of growing international interest.
“El Salvador is becoming—and will continue becoming—an academic destination,” Aparicio affirmed. He emphasized that such progress is also supported by scholarship programs promoted by the Office of the Presidency, including ‘Join the U’, El Mozote Scholarships, FANTEL, and other public-private initiatives. These have broadened access to higher education, positioning the country as a regional reference in academic inclusion and advancement.
Looking ahead, El Salvador will expand its academic offerings in 2026 with the launch of exclusive programs. Aparicio announced the creation of a master’s and doctoral program in higher education management, the first of its kind in Ibero-America, designed to offer top-level training for leaders across public and private universities.
Additionally, a new Human Skills Programming Engineering for Artificial Intelligence program is set to begin next year, further aligning the national curriculum with emerging global demands in technology and innovation.