Abstract: This study aims to evaluate education as a component of human capital in comparison to other types of investments that relate to the formation of this stock. First, this study uses a nonparametric method known as prospective to estimate the value of human capital for a sample of ten Latin American countries from a returns perspective. Then, through partial decompositions examines the contribution of education in the volumes of human capital. The results indicate positive effects of education that however tend to run out in the long run.