PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION IN BRAZIL

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.