<![CDATA[Higher education institutions rely on student satisfaction to maintain competitiveness, student retention, and institutional reputation. However, the mechanisms through which human capital quality influences student satisfaction remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the direct effect of perceived human capital quality on student satisfaction and the mediating roles of lecturer competence and service quality. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using survey data collected from 320 undergraduate students at private universities in West Java, Indonesia. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS and 5,000 bootstrap subsamples. The results showed that human capital quality significantly improved student satisfaction (? = 0.32), lecturer competence (? = 0.61), and service quality (? = 0.54). Lecturer competence (? = 0.29) and service quality (? = 0.34) also significantly enhanced student satisfaction. Both indirect effects were significant (? = 0.18), confirming partial mediation. These findings indicate that institutional human capital contributes to student satisfaction when translated into effective teaching competencies and responsive academic services. The study concludes that private universities should integrate lecturer development with improvements in administrative support, academic services, and institutional facilities to maximize the student-centered benefits of human capital investment and strengthen institutional competitiveness.]]>
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