EduAsiaNews, Jakarta — The government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah program as a key instrument to expand access to higher education for students from low-income families. The program’s budget allocation has steadily increased over the past six years, in line with the growing number of beneficiaries at universities across the country.
Data from the Center for Higher Education Financing and Assessment (PPAPT) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology show that since 2020, the number of KIP Kuliah recipients has continued to rise, both among newly admitted students and those currently pursuing their studies. This trend reflects the expansion of assistance coverage as well as the high demand for higher education financing among economically disadvantaged families.
In 2020, the KIP Kuliah budget stood at Rp 6.5 trillion. Five years later, the allocation more than doubled to Rp 14.9 trillion in 2025, targeting 1,044,921 students based on the Budget Implementation List (DIPA). For Fiscal Year 2026, the government has further increased the allocation to Rp 15,323,650,458,000, with a target of 1,047,221 student beneficiaries.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto emphasized that his ministry continues to safeguard the KIP Kuliah budget to ensure it is not reduced and that its implementation improves over time. According to him, the program serves as a strategic instrument to guarantee equitable access to higher education.
“KIP Kuliah is a bridge of hope for high-achieving students facing economic hardship,” Brian said in an official statement on Friday (Feb. 20). The government, he added, seeks to ensure that students from underprivileged backgrounds have equal opportunities to pursue and complete higher education.
He also stressed that the living allowance provided under KIP Kuliah is the full right of the recipients. Universities and any other parties are prohibited from imposing any form of charges on KIP Kuliah beneficiaries. Through strengthened budgeting and oversight, the government hopes the program will not only preserve access but also increase higher education participation rates more evenly across Indonesia.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
