Discrete selection models. An application to the demand for university places in intermediate cities of Colombia

Abstract

A quantitative characterization of the demand for university places on the part of high school graduates from Colombian intermediate cities, is presented. Results were achieved through discrete selection models. Specifically, it was found that the number of programs offered to students, increases the posibilities of choosing a given university, whereas the university ranking is inversely related to such posibility. On the other hand, it can be observed that the socio-economic position, measured by the stratum, is a highly explicative variable in the university selection process. Therefore, students from low and middle strata tend to choose public universities, while those from high strata, choose private universities.