Sociodemographic Survey of Students at The University of Guayaquil

Abstract; The objective of this reasearch is to analyze the socio-educational conditions of students at the University of Guayaquil and their relationship with academic performance and retention in higher education. A descriptive, quantitative study was conducted through the application of a structured survey to 150 students from different faculties, using non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The instrument collected sociodemographic, economic and family data, housing conditions, access to basic services, dietary habits, transportation, employment status, and perception of risk of academic dropout. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Most participants were between 18 and 25 years old, lived in urban areas, and were economically dependent on their families. A significant proportion came from households with monthly incomes below USD 600, which limited their ability to cover education-related expenses. Despite this situation, most students had not applied for scholarships or financial aid. Approximately one third of the students reported having considered dropping out of university due to economic reasons, highlighting the direct influence of financial conditions on academic continuity. Socioeconomic conditions are a determining factor in student retention and academic performance. The findings emphasize the need to strengthen institutional policies focused on financial support, comprehensive student welfare, and differentiated strategies for programs with high academic workload in order to reduce the risk of student dropout.