Percepción de la oferta y demanda educativa universitaria en estudiantes de secundaria de La Esperanza, Trujillo-Perú

Inequalities in access to higher education in Latin American countries still reflect structural imbalances between supply and demand. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between the perception of university educational supply and demand among secondary school students from UGEL La Esperanza, Trujillo, Peru. A quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted. The intentional sample consisted of 392 fifth-year secondary students from 14 educational institutions. Two expert-validated questionnaires were applied, with acceptable reliability (α = 0.796 overall). Data were processed using SPSS v.25, employing descriptive analyses and Spearman’s Rho test. A significant but low correlation was found between the perception of educational supply and demand (Rho = 0.322; p < 0.01). The dimensions most strongly associated with demand were “academic support” and “university well-being,” while “need for access to higher education” was most associated with supply. Although the overall relationship between perceived supply and demand was weak, specific components showed relevant associations. The findings highlight the need to align educational supply with students’ informed expectations and actual conditions, promoting vocational guidance programs, institutional strengthening, and improved access to educational information.