Honduras - Country Commercial Guide
Education
Last published date:

Overview

The United States is a leading destination for international students from Central America. Honduras leads the number of Central Americans enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions which reached a total of 7,054 during the 2019/20 academic year. Top states receiving Honduran students are Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, California, New York, and Virginia.

Number of international students per country and academic level:

Place of Origin

Academic Year 2019/20

Undergraduate

Graduate

Non-degree

Optional

Practical

Training

Costa Rica

1,240

614

414

38

174

El Salvador

1,581

1,183

189

66

143

Guatemala

1,195

770

235

38

152

Honduras

2,161

1,426

404

85

246

Nicaragua

489

311

106

25

47

Belize

388

232

97

6

53

TOTAL

7,054

4,536

1,445

258

815

Source: 2020 Open Doors Report

Key reasons why Honduras students choose U.S. Higher Education Institutions:

  • Geographic proximity
  • High quality education system
  • Wide variety of institutions and higher education programs
  • Good and diverse living environments; possibility of living with relatives while studying
  • Availability of English programs to learn or improve English skills

In addition, studying abroad represents an opportunity to be more competitive and increases the possibility for better employment prospects at national or multinational corporations. Among other country destinations hosting students from Central America are Spain, Argentina, Germany, France, Canada, Chile, and Brazil.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Among the leading sub-sectors are:

higher education programs; educational software; e-learning technologies; and Professional Training Services.

Central American students are primarily attracted to the following degree programs in the United States:

  • Universities and Community Colleges with tuition fees lower than $20,000
  • English Language Programs (from 1 month up to 1 year) for students, teachers, and adults
  • Summer camps
  • Undergraduate, Graduate and Master Programs
  • Online programs

Among the top fields of study and majors are Business, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and Social Sciences.

Opportunities

As a result of school closures and a sudden shift away from the classrooms due to the COVID-19 health crisis, online learning technologies are in high demand.  The rise of digital platforms and adoption of e-learning are driving investments in video conferencing tools, online learning software, digital equipment, education apps, i and one-stop shop solutions for students and teachers.

The use of digital marketing strategies and social media are key elements to equip the education field with unlimited access to online communication and information.  The following platforms are the ones preferred by the Hondurans (depending on the activity or information desired):

Virtual classes: Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.

- Social media:  WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

-Research information: Google engine.

- Streaming videos: YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also a niche market that continues to prefer in person attendance at U.S. higher education as a preferred academic solution due to the quality of programs, faculty, and facilities. In August 2017, Honduras launched the Presidential Scholarship Program “Honduras 20/20”, a robust financial aid initiative with a defined structure to promote the education and professional development of young Hondurans. This program aims to support graduate education abroad for students with a high-level academic achievement.  The program seeks to develop talent for the key sectors under the country’s economic development strategy which includes textiles, manufacturing, tourism, and business services. To enter the Honduran market, it is highly recommended for U.S. universities, community colleges and/or technical institutions to:

  • Seek partnerships or agreements with public or private universities to facilitate exchange programs for students and professors, recognition of credits and/or dual certification.
  • Travel to the market to meet face to face with school counselors, parents, and higher education institution officers.
  • Participate in local recruitment campaigns, fairs, trade missions, and outreach events in high schools, public venues, and universities.
  • Provide in-depth information about programs and the application processes
  • Describe opportunities for scholarships and financial aid
  • Provide information about the process to obtain a U.S. student visa
  • It is preferred that all marketing material and program information is available in Spanish.

Launched in May 2011, the “100,000 Strong in the Americas” Initiative represents an opportunity to increase the number of exchange students between Central America and the United States. All U.S. Embassies and Education USA offices in the region are committed to work with the business community to promote professional development and increase the number of students studying in the U.S. The 100K Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund provides funds for innovative partnerships between U.S. and Latin American and Caribbean institutions of higher education. For additional information please visit the following link:  www.100kstrongamericas.org

Resources

Central America (Fall) Virtual Education Fairs (VEF) 2021: For additional country-specific information and a list of scheduled events and activities, please reach out to the U.S. Commercial Service contact below:

U.S. Commercial Service Contact:

Name:                 Havivi Rodriguez       

Position:            Commercial Assistant

Email:                  Havivi.Rodriguez@trade.gov

EducationUSA – Honduras

Melissa Zelaya, Advisor (Tegucigalpa): educationusaihci@yahoo.com

Sharon Salinas, Advisor (San Pedro Sula): educationusa@centrocultural-sps.com

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Global Education Team:  https://trade.gov/education-industry