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Dominican Republic Education and Training Services Industry Snapshot
Last published date:

Capital:  Santo Domingo

Population:  10.7 million (2022 est.)

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity):  $184.5 billion (2020 est., in 2017 dollars)

Currency: Dominican pesos (DOP)

Language:  Spanish

 

UNESCO Student Mobility Number:   

The Dominican Republic has 4,079 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook:

45% of the population in Dominican Republic is under 25 years old.

OVERVIEW

The United States is a leading destination for students from the Dominican Republic.  During the 2021/2022 academic year, the number of students from the Dominican Republic totaled 1,300, a 4.5% increase over the previous academic year, which saw 1,244 students.

According to UNESCO data, the United States was the second largest market for Dominican students after Spain.  In 2021, UNESCO reported that the top markets for Dominican Students were:  

Spain, United States, France, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany

SUB-SECTORS

Undergraduate Education: 794 students from the Dominican Republic were enrolled in undergraduate programs in the United States during the 2021/22 academic year, this is a 2.1% increase from the previous academic year.

Graduate Education: 298 students from the Dominican Republic were enrolled in graduate programs in the United States during the 2021/22 academic year, a 9.2% increase from the previous academic year.

Non-Degree: 58 students from the Dominican Republic were enrolled in non-degree programs in the United States during the 2021/22 academic year, a 35% increase from the previous academic year.

OPT: 150 students from the Dominican Republic were enrolled in OPT programs in the United States during the 2021/22 academic year, the same as the previous academic year.

OPPORTUNITIES

Exchange programs and partnerships with higher education institutions in the Dominican Republic is a common method for market entry. 

Graduate Programs: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (MESCyT) continues to support study abroad for graduate education levels (Master’s and Doctorate).  Priority fields for MESCyT are those aligned with priorities identified by the Dominican government for the sustainable development of the country.  They are: Innovation, Tourism, Technology, Basic Sciences, Education, and Engineering.  MESCyT works with U.S. universities to establish agreements, particularly with universities that offer in-state tuition for students from the Dominican Republic. For more information, see: https://mescyt.gob.do/, the MESCyT established agreements with 62 higher education institutions (worldwide) to offer 1,700 scholarships for an approximate amount of US$30 million.

Travel and Hospitality Programs: Because of the importance of the tourism industry in the Caribbean, travel and hospitality programs are popular with students from this region.

Grants and Scholarship Programs: There are some academic scholarship opportunities for Dominican students who have earned outstanding grades and scores on their ACT and/or SAT exams. 

INICIA Educación: Provides scholarships to Dominican educators, administrators, and professionals for graduate degrees in education-related fields: https://wiconnect.iadb.org/en/osc/inicia-educacion/

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF): Pre-pandemic CHTAEF awarded scholarships to students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the industry and the potential for future success.    The scholarships had been temporarily suspended, but are expected to return soon - ttp://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/about-the-foundation/apply-for-scholarship/.

Fulbright: The Fulbright Program offers grants to qualified Dominican graduate students to study at the graduate level in the United States.  Dominican scholars are eligible for Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence grants: https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/country/dominican-republic.     

CHALLENGES

While the United States continues to be a popular destination for students from the Dominican Republic, there are challenges to this market:

  • Rising tuition costs at U.S. universities discourage students from choosing U.S. higher education institutions.
  • Increased competition from other English-speaking countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom.
  • The perception that it is too difficult to obtain a U.S. student visa deters students from considering U.S. higher education institutions.

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES

Zoom and Google Classroom (Meets & Handsout) are the most used platforms by students in the Dominican Republic. Canvas is also used and most universities and private schools have customized platforms.

The most popular social media sites for students in the DR are Instagram and TikTok.  The most popular platforms for streaming videos in the DR are YouTube and Instagram. 

Students research information on any given topic using Google, Google Scholar and Wikipedia mostly.  They search for job opportunities on Aldaba (Aldaba.com), Google, and LinkedIn. 

The most common way to reach out to students is advertising on social media (Instagram and Facebook), followed by in-bound marketing.  Additionally, every year the Ministry of Higher Education of the Dominican Republic publishes in the local newspapers (March/April) the list of scholarship opportunities for students.

EVENTS

EducationUSA routinely organizes public orientation sessions to inform prospective students on studies in the United States. 

RESOURCES

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT

Maria Elena Portorreal, Regional Senior Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Email: Maria.Portorreal@trade.gov

Phone: +809-567-7775, ext. 7220

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