PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION IN BRAZIL - key study on growth, regulation, and quality

Sep 6, 2026

This study analyzes the rise of private higher education in Brazil, where 79.8% of students were enrolled in the private sector in 2024 across different types. It traces this growth to unintended effects of the 1968 university reform and later legislative changes that enabled for-profit institutions and government programs such as PROUNI and FIES. The work assesses consequences of the 2015 crisis, compares public and private sectors by admissions, scale, fields, degrees, and modalities, and evaluates indicators of quality, equity, and efficiency, including policies for teacher training, medical education, and distance education.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Private sector share and the role of distance learning

Growth drivers and policy context

1968 reform and legislative changes

For-profit institutions and government programs

Impact and comparison of sectors

2015 crisis effects

Admissions, size, fields, degrees, and modalities

Quality, equity, and efficiency assessment

Regulation of teacher training and medical education

Distance education policy

Publication status: This preprint has not been published elsewhere. PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION IN BRAZIL Simon Schwartzman [https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635](https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635) Submitted on: 2026-03-30 Posted on: 2026-03-31 (version 1)(YYYY-MM-DD) SciELO Preprints-This document is a preprint and its current status is available at: [https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635](https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635) Article DOI: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635](http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635) PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION IN BRAZIL Ensino Superior Privado no Brasil Educación Superior Privada em Brasil Simon Schwartzman 1 Orcid: [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2563-0792](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2563-0792) E-mail: [simon@schwartzman.org.br](simon@schwartzman.org.br) Abstract: This study analyzes the rise of private higher education in Brazil, which has one of the highest shares of students enrolled in the private sector in the world (79 .8% in 2024, considering its different types) . It shows how this growth was an unintended consequence of the 1968 university reform and subsequent legislative changes that allowed for-profit institutions and government programs such as PROUNI and FIES. It examines the impact of the 2015 crisis, compares the public and private sectors in terms of admissions, size, fields, degrees, and modalities, and evaluates indicators of quality, equity, and efficiency. It also discusses specific policies for regulating the private sector with respect to teacher training, medical education, and distance education. The study concludes that Brazil is approaching the end of a cycle of expansion and that new regulations may restrict private growth, with consequences for accessibility and access. Keywords: higher education; private sector; Brazil. 1 Instituto de Estudos de Política Econômica. Casa das Garças, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Received on: Sept. 7, 2025 | Approved on: Oct. 14, 2025 | Revised on: Mar. 9, 2026 Section Editor: Milena Pavan Serafim | Layout Editor: Silmara Pereira da Silva Martins SciELO Preprints-This document is a preprint and its current status is available at: [https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635](https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-57652026v31id300635) Resumo: Este estudo analisa a ascensão do ensino superior privado no Brasil, que possui uma das maiores participações de estudantes no setor privado no mundo (79,8% em 2024 considerando seus diferentes tipos) . Mostra como esse crescimentofoi uma consequência não prevista da reforma universitária de 1968 e de mudanças legislativas que permitiram a criação de instituições com fins lucrativos e programas governamentais como o PROUNI e o FIES. Examina o impacto da crise de 2015, compara os setores público e privado em termos de admissão, tamanho, áreas, grause modalidades, e avalia indicadores de qualidade, equidade e eficiência. Discutetambém políticas específicas para regular o setor privado em relação à formação de professores, educação médica e regulação da educação a distância. O estudo conclui que o Brasil se aproxima do fim de um ciclo de expansão e que novas regras podemrestringir o crescimento do setor privado, com consequências para a acessibilidade eo acesso. Palavras-chave: ensino superior; setor privado; Brasil. Resumen: Este estudio analiza el ascenso de la educación superior privada en Brasil, que tiene una de las mayores participaciones de estudiantes en el sector privado del mundo (79,8% en 2024, considerando sus diferentes tipos) . Muestra cómo este crecimiento fue una consecuencia no prevista de la reforma universitaria de 1968 y delos cambios legislativos que permitieron instituciones con fines de lucro y programas gubernamentales como PROUNI y FIES. Examina el impacto de la crisis de 2015, compara los sectores público y privado en términos de admisión, tamaño, áreas, grados y modalid

FAQs

What explains the growth of private higher education in Brazil?

The study attributes the rise largely to unintended consequences of the 1968 university reform and subsequent legislative changes that enabled for-profit institutions and programs such as PROUNI and FIES.

How does the document assess differences between public and private higher education?

It compares admissions, institutional size, fields of study, degree levels, and modalities, and it evaluates quality, equity, and efficiency indicators.

Which regulatory areas for the private sector are discussed?

The study addresses specific policies related to teacher training, medical education, and the regulation of distance education, focusing on how these affect private growth and access.

Sep 6, 2026

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