International Education in Costa Rica

To support economic growth and talent demand, the Government of Costa Rica has prioritized:

  • bilingualism
  • the growth of semiconductor and Industry 4.0 firms

These areas offer strong opportunities for capacity building and technical training. At the same time, Costa Rican universities remain open to collaboration across other fields, with partnerships often extending to both students and faculty.

There are currently nearly 50 agreements between Canadian and Costa Rican education institutions. These focus on:

Key opportunities for Canadian education institutions in Costa Rica

  • Language training programs, including English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI)
  • Short-term special training and certifications demanded by the Free Trade Zones, either virtually or in person
  • Demand for short-term vocational training on semiconductors

Notable challenges for Canadian education institutions in Costa Rica

  • No government-funded scholarships are available
  • Students who want to study abroad can access loans, but these require third parties guarantees
  • Limited English proficiency can limit training opportunities. Only 12% of the population is bilingual

Costa Rican business landscape

The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education has officially announced its strategy for the 2025-2026 year. The strategy will focus on:

  • strengthening technical and English education
  • expanding opportunities for youth and adults
  • reducing the education gap among the regions
  • integrating technology for educational purposes

Industry highlights

380 private high schools, 48 of which have IB (International Baccalaureate) programs.  

More than 500 companies in the Free Trade Zones employ over 250,000 workers, most of whom must be bilingual. 

223 TVETs (public high schools) combine academic and technical education. Graduates often enter the labour force, many within Free Trade Zones. 

500,000 Costa Ricans are enrolled in secondary school, and about 220,000 attend university.

2 Canadian education institutions have a campus in Costa Rica. There are 60 universities in total in the country.

CAD 110 million Is available annually through CONAPE (Comisión Nacional de Préstamos para la Educación), supporting over 6,000 students with low-interest loans (4%) for studies in Costa Rica and abroad.

Summary

Costa Rica has a strong demand for:

  • short-term training
  • teacher upskill in
  • language programs
  • technical expertise in areas such as semiconductors

Canadian education is well-regarded, creating opportunities for institutional partnerships focused on capacity-building and professional training.

Contact information

For more information on International Education in the Costa Rican market, please contact Alexander León, Trade Commissioner (alexander.leon@international.gc.ca).

Additional Information

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