<![CDATA[Developing superior human resources through higher education is crucial for national progress. However, interest in pursuing higher education in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), particularly Central Lombok, remains a challenge that requires empirical study. This study aims to examine the impact of social support on interest in pursuing higher education, as well as the mediating role of self-efficacy in this relationship. This quantitative study, using a survey approach, involved 100 active university students in Central Lombok Regency as a sample, selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling - Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). The results showed that social support had a positive and significant effect on interest in pursuing higher education and self-efficacy. A key finding was that self-efficacy fully mediated the effect of social support on interest in pursuing higher education (R2 = 60.9%). Theoretically, this indicates that social support must first be internalized into self-efficacy to effectively increase interest. Policy implications highlight the importance of intervention programs that not only provide social support, but also strategically focus on strengthening individual self-efficacy to encourage higher education participation in the region.]]>
