Young Northlanders are likely to see cost as the main barrier to tertiary education, according to local educators and a national survey.
The survey, released by ASG Education Programs NZ, found 65 per cent of respondents throughout the country thought young people viewed tertiary education as too expensive.
NorthTec director of educational strategy, Khalid Bakhshov, said he was not surprised and thought the issue was particularly prevalent in Northland.
Many students who enrol at NorthTec are second-time learners, which means they are not straight out of high school, Mr Bakhshov said. "That's all great but you've also got to pay for your family".
ASG chief executive, John Velegrinis, said the survey results raise questions around equal opportunity.
"Education at all levels must be accessible to everyone. We know that for economies to thrive, people from all socio-economic groups need to be able to see post-secondary education as a realistic option," Mr Velegrinis said. According to the latest census statistics, Northland has a much lower average income and percentage of tertiary educated people than the national averages.
When there are generations of families who have not had positive experiences with education it is difficult to break that cycle, Mr Bakhshov said.
Whangarei Boys' High School headmaster, Al Kirk, said he agreed cost is most often the issue but that there are ways around it.
"Some feel disadvantaged because of finances but I don't think that has to be the case," Mr Kirk said. There are many scholarships available and interest free student loans make tertiary education more accessible, he said.
However, students that come from backgrounds where tertiary education is not encouraged are less likely to aim for it, Mr Kirk said.
It's absurd that people from these families do not feel they can go to university, but he said he understands their reasons.
Some students are not suited for tertiary education and in those instances it is important they are encouraged to put their effort elsewhere, Mr Kirk said.
The survey of 2000 people found 52 per cent of respondents thought young people do not pursue post-secondary education because of lack of support and encouragement, while 45 per cent thought it was lack of interest.