Factors that motivate students below the poverty line to pursue higher education: The case of the City of Barranquilla, Colombia

Latin America is a continent full of inequalities and hope at the same time. In Colombia, for example, many students lack proper opportunities to continue their education, and those who can pursue higher education find themselves under difficult conditions that may not motivate them to finish their studies. This study, in the city of Barranquilla, where more than 209,000 students attend public schools between kindergarten and 11th grade seeks to determine which factors motivate students to pursue higher education. Through an empirical study, this research investigates the factors influencing high school students in their final year of secondary school (n = 1260) during the period 2022–2023 in Barranquilla. A structural equation model (AMOS) was used to test various hypotheses, revealing that high school students' professional orientation and access to information are significant predictors of student satisfaction. Furthermore, the mediator variable—satisfaction—was found to have a significant impact on students' motivation to pursue higher education.