Financial Barriers in Academic Exchange: US and Mexico

Academic mobility to the United States has become increasingly challenging due to rising tuition and educational costs, limiting Mexican students’ access to dual-degree programs and exchanges.

Elena Centeno García, a researcher at UNAM’s Institute of Geology, noted that escalating U.S. tuition costs remain one of the main obstacles to expanding academic cooperation between the two countries.

During the 15th Anniversary celebration of UNAM’s Office for International Cooperation and Internationalization, Centeno highlighted how new educational and research initiatives in the border region allow Mexican and U.S. institutions to collaborate on global challenges.

In her keynote address, ”Education without Borders: Challenges and Opportunities in the U.S.-Mexico Academic Environment,” Centeno pointed out that despite the sharp rise in U.S. education costs since the 1970s, there are significant opportunities for collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including health, education, and security. However, limited scholarship funding remains a barrier for Mexican students seeking to participate in these programs.