Bolsas universitárias reduzem a evasão no ensino superior? Uma avaliação de impacto do Programa de Acolhimento e Incentivo à Permanência da UFC

Abstract

This paper evaluated the effect of receiving university scholarships on the probability of dropout from higher education students, specifically the UFC Reception and Incentive Program (PAIP), which grants scholarships, in the amount of R$ 400 monthly, to students linked to projects to reduce dropout. For this purpose, the propensity score pairing method was used, taking as candidates for the control group students who applied and were not awarded scholarships. The results showed that the program reduced the cancellation rate by about 3.6%. In a robustness analysis, it was found that there are no significant differences between PAIP and other UFC scholarship programs, suggesting that the results obtained are extensible, to some extent, to the other programs. In addition, an economic feasibility analysis of the program was carried out, noting that it generates an average benefit of approximately R $ 9,553.29 per student, with a cost-benefit ratio of 3.01, that is, for each real invested in the program. , there was an average social return of R $ 3.01. The evidence found indicates that the PAIP is not only effective but has a good cost-return ratio, thus justifying the resources invested in this type of policy.