Introduction: Given the need to focus efforts so that students who most require it can be part of the academic support provided by university institutions, a study was conducted to identify the variables that best predicts voluntary participation in these services. Method: A total of 803 male and female university students from four Chilean universities participated in this study. The instrument measured personal and conditioning variables related to academic help-seeking in higher education. The data were analyzed through of binomial logistic regression. Results: The results allow us to identify as predictor variables of participation in institutional academic support services (IAS) the awareness of the need for help, the knowledge of the specific procedures to access these IAS, the experience of seeking help in general, as well as the cost variable associated with the loss of valuable alternatives. Discussion or Conclusion: After identifying the variables that predict participation in the academic support offered by universities, the scope of these results is discussed.