Between retention and the propensity to drop out: mapping profiles of Prouni students during the Covid-19 pandemic

Sep 7, 2026

This article analyzes profiles of Prouni scholarship students who entered a community university in the interior of São Paulo between 2018 and 2021, examining their subjective perception of dropout propensity or study postponement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Survey data from 219 students were processed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis to derive groups by sociodemographic, attitudinal, and academic characteristics. Three profiles were identified: older pre-pandemic entrants, pragmatic working students in evening courses, and young women who entered during the pandemic.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages35

Reading Time1 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Methods (survey, MCA, clustering)

Results (three identified profiles)

Keywords

ARTICLES Between retention and the propensity to drop out: mapping profiles of Prouni students during the Covid-19 pandemic Entre apermanência e a propensão à evasão: mapeando perfis deestudantes do Prouni durante apandemia de Covid-19 Entre la permanenciay la propensión a la deserción: mapeo de perfiles de estudiantes del Prouni durante lapandemia de Covid- 19 Prinhorato, Henrique Augusto (i) Pires, André (ii) Vieira, André (iii) Pinto, Rafael Ângelo Bunhi (iv) (i) University of Sorocaba (Uniso), Office of the Pro-Rector for Graduate Studies, Research, Extension, and Innovation, Graduate Program in Education, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil. [henrique.prinhorato@prof.uniso.br](henrique.prinhorato@prof.uniso.br), [https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5944-3860](https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5944-3860) . (ii) University of Sorocaba (Uniso), Office of the Pro-Rector for Graduate Studies, Research, Extension, and Innovation, Graduate Program in Education, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil. [andre.pires@prof.uniso.br](andre.pires@prof.uniso.br), [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8344-7662](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8344-7662) . (iii) Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Institute of Human Sciences and Philosophy, Graduate Program in Sociology, Niterói, RJ, [Brazil. andrevieira@id.uff.br](Brazil. andrevieira@id.uff.br), [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6699-2044](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6699-2044) . (iv) University of Sorocaba (Uniso), Office of the Pro-Rector for Graduate Studies, Research, Extension, and Innovation, Graduate Program in Education, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil. [rafael.pinto@prof.uniso.br](rafael.pinto@prof.uniso.br), [https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4988-3628](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4988-3628) . Abstract This article analyzes the profiles of Prouni scholarship students who entered a community university in the interior of the state of São Paulo between 2018 and 2021, focusing on their subjective perception of propensity to drop out or postpone their studies in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on a survey administered to 219 students, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis was conducted, followed by a Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, in order to identify profiles according to sociodemographic, attitudinal, and academic characteristics. The analysis revealed three groups: (1) older pre-pandemic entrants; (2) pragmatic working students enrolled in evening courses; and (3) young women who entered during the pandemic. The results reinforce the need for retention policies that are sensitive to the diversity of profiles and inequalities faced by students in the private sector. Keywords: higher education, Brazil, students, social aspects, scholarships, government policy, student assistance programs, Covid-19 pandemic, 2020. Resumo Este artigo analisa os perfis de estudantes bolsistas do Prouni ingressantes entre 2018 e 2021 emuma universidade comunitária do interior paulista, com foco napercepção subjetiva de propensão à evasão ou adiamento do curso no contexto da pandemia de Covid-19. Com base em survey aplicado a 219 estudantes, realizou-se uma Análise de Correspondência Múltipla seguida de uma Análise Hierárquica de Cluster, a fim de identificar perfis segundo características sociodemográficas, atitudinais e acadêmicas. A análise revelou trêsgrupos: (1) ingressantes mais velhospré-pandemia; (2) trabalhadores pragmáticos de cursos noturnos; e (3) mulheresjovens ingressantes napandemia. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade de políticas de permanência sensíveis à diversidade de perfis e desigualdades enfrentadaspor estudantes no setor privado. Palavras-chave: ensino superior, Brasil, estudantes, aspectos sociais, bolsas de estudo, política governamental, programas de assistência, pandemia Covid-19, 2020. Resumen Este artículo analiza los perfiles de estudiantes becarios del Prouni que ingresaron entre 2018 y 2021 en una universidad comunitaria del interior del estado de São Paulo, con énfasis en la percepción subjetiva de p

FAQs

What is the focus of the article on Prouni students?

The article focuses on how Prouni scholarship students perceive their propensity to drop out or postpone studies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

How were student profiles identified in the study?

It used Multiple Correspondence Analysis followed by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis based on sociodemographic, attitudinal, and academic characteristics from a 219-student survey.

What three groups of student profiles were found?

The study found three groups: older entrants before the pandemic, pragmatic working students enrolled in evening courses, and young women who entered during the pandemic.

Sep 7, 2026

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