Unibalsas

What Unibalsas does

Unibalsas (Centro Universitário de Balsas) is a private, for-profit Brazilian higher education institution founded in 2007 and headquartered in Balsas, Maranhão. It is operated by Unibalsas Educacional LTDA., with leadership drawn from the founding Honaiser family. The institution delivers in-person (presencial) and distance (EAD) undergraduate programs across ten presencial fields (Agronomia, Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas, Ciências Contábeis, Direito, Enfermagem, Estética e Cosmética, Medicina Veterinária, Odontologia, Produção Publicitária, Psicologia) and three EAD fields (Administração, Gestão Comercial, Gestão de Agronegócios), plus a postgraduate portfolio spanning more than a dozen lato sensu and MBA specializations. It achieved the maximum IGC score of 5 from Brazil's MEC in the 2021 evaluation, the only IES in Maranhão to do so, and was elevated from Faculdade to Centro Universitário status in April 2024.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for the sector: TOTVS Educacional powers the student (Portal do Aluno) and professor (Portal do Professor) portals; Moodle hosts the Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) for EAD delivery; and the Meu eduConnect mobile app (Google Play) extends academic management to students. Diploma issuance is digitized via Diploma Max, and the institution maintains LGPD compliance. Unibalsas has demonstrated depth of community integration through the Casa do Direito legal clinic (with TJ-MA), internship networks across municipal health, education and justice agencies, technology-transfer projects with SAMU and APAE, and research co-funding with FAPEMA.

Revenue is generated from recurring monthly tuition, vestibular entrance fees, postgraduate and extension programs, and government-subsidized channels (FIES loans and PROUNI scholarships). Pricing is supported by an institutional Facilita installment plan, an annual Concurso de Bolsas scholarship competition (offering up to 100% tuition coverage for 1st place), and ENEM score-based discount tiers. Marketing and recruitment are sales-led, executed via vestibular portals, WhatsApp, scholarship competitions, ENEM score pathways, and community/school events, targeting a primary catchment of high school graduates and working professionals in southern Maranhão.

Name

Unibalsas

Legal name

Unibalsas Educacional LTDA.

Website

https://unibalsas.edu.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Unibalsas is a private Brazilian higher education institution (Centro Universitário) in Balsas, Maranhão, offering presencial and distance undergraduate and postgraduate programs across health, law, agronomy, and business, with MEC maximum IGC accreditation and government-backed financial aid channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Systems Strengthening (Policy, Planning, EMIS, Governance) (BPADAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Telecom, Unified Communications & VoIP (EDAOAIAN)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Distance learning programs
• Graduate specializations
• University education

Headquarters

HQ city

Balsas

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Monthly Fees: Core revenue from monthly tuition payments from undergraduate (presencial and EAD) and graduate students. Payment facilitated through Facilita installment plan.
2. Vestibular Entrance Exam Fees: Fees collected from students applying through the vestibular (entrance exam) process for both presencial and EAD programs.
3. Post-Graduate Programs: Revenue from lato sensu specializations and MBAs offered in presencial and EAD modalities.
4. Extension Programs and Certificates: Fees from extension courses, certificate issuance, and event participation.
5. FIES and PROUNI Government Subsidies: Government financial aid programs (FIES student loans, PROUNI scholarships) that subsidize tuition for eligible students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Unibalsas (Centro Universitário de Balsas) is a private higher education institution in Balsas, Maranhão, Brazil offering undergraduate degree programs in presencial (in-person) and EAD (distance learning) modalities, along with graduate specializations (lato sensu and MBAs) and extension courses. Programs span health sciences (Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Psychology), agribusiness (Agronomy), technology (Systems Analysis), business (Administration, Accounting, Commercial Management), law (Direito), and advertising. The institution also operates a legal aid clinic (Casa do Direito), scientific research programs (PIC), and an entrepreneurship initiative (StartUB), supported by a Moodle-based virtual learning environment, TOTVS-powered academic portals, and the Meu eduConnect mobile app.

Product overview

Unibalsas (Centro Universitário de Balsas) is a Brazilian higher education institution offering a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of in-person and distance learning (EAD) undergraduate programs, graduate specializations, and continuing education. The institution operates multiple technology platforms including TOTVS-based student and professor portals (Portal do Aluno, Portal do Professor), a Moodle-powered virtual learning environment (AVA/EAD), and a mobile application (Meu eduConnect). Academic programs span diverse fields including health sciences (Medicina Veterinária, Enfermagem, Odontologia), technology (Análise e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas), business (Administração, Ciências Contábeis), law (Direito), and social sciences (Psicologia, Pedagogia). The institution also runs extension programs (PROEX), scientific research initiatives (PIC), and entrepreneurship programs (StartUB), complemented by community services like the Casa do Direito legal clinic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduação Presencial (In-person Undergraduate Programs) In-person undergraduate degree programs covering Agronomy, Systems Analysis and Development, Accounting, Law, Nursing, Aesthetics and Cosmetics, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Advertising Production, and Psychology for prospective students in southern Maranhão.
• Graduação EAD (Distance Learning Undergraduate Programs) Distance learning undergraduate degree programs in Administration, Commercial Management, and Agribusiness Management, delivered through a Moodle-based virtual learning environment for students across Brazil.
• Pós-Graduação Presencial (In-person Graduate Programs)

Quantifiable outcome

• Only IES in Maranhão with maximum IGC score of 5 in MEC 2021 evaluation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• PUC-Rio, Instituto ECOA, and SEBRAE NacionalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Initiated activities at Unibalsas focused on productivity in the era of generative AI. Joint program combining academic resources from PUC-Rio, the ECOA Institute, and SEBRAE's national reach to deliver innovation and entrepreneurship training.
• PPGAIS (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Atenção Integrada à Saúde)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership bringing a master's program in integrated health care to professionals in southern Maranhão, leveraging PPGAIS academic resources and Unibalsas facilities.
• Sistema Prisional do MaranhãominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Internship agreement for Psychology students providing services within the prison system, expanding practical training scope for future psychologists.
• AME Balsas (Ambulatório Médico de Especialidades)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Psychology students implemented a toy library (brinquedoteca) at AME as part of community health and child development extension activities.
• Acalanto and Lar São Vicente de PaulominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Psychology internship partnerships with social institutions serving children, elderly, and vulnerable populations in the Balsas region.
• 4° Batalhão Polícia Militar do MaranhãominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2023Internship agreement covering 8 municipalities in the region, providing psychology students with practical placement opportunities in community policing and military police services.
• Cartório do 2° Ofício de BalsascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Partnership for the 'Sim, eu existo!' (Yes, I exist!) project coordinated by the Law course. Students assist in obtaining birth certificates for children and adolescents, addressing civil documentation gaps in the community.
• CAPS, CRAS, CREAS, Hospital Balsas Urgente, UPA BalsascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Health and social services network providing internship placements for Psychology students. Includes mental health centers (CAPS), social assistance centers (CRAS/CREAS), emergency hospital, and urgent care units.
• Municipalities of Fortaleza dos Nogueiras, São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, and RiachãominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2023Psychology internship agreements with municipalities outside Balsas, expanding the geographic reach of practical training opportunities for students.
• Prefeitura Municipal de BalsascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Multiple partnership agreements with the municipal government including: 2nd Pedagogy Degree program for 50 municipal teachers (2022-2023); internship agreements for Psychology students at municipal secretariats; and the Avança Jovem program for subsidized internships.
• Tribunal de Justiça do Maranhão (TJ-MA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Casa do Direito program, providing free legal aid to underserved communities. The TJ-MA collaborates with Unibalsas law students to deliver legal services and promote access to justice and citizenship.
• FAPEMA (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAPEMA co-funds research and extension projects with Unibalsas. Joint initiatives include research grant programs, scientific initiation projects (PIC), and extension activities benefiting students and the regional community.
• AGED Balsas (Agência de Defesa Agropecuária)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Agronomy course field activities and professional training, connecting academic programs with agricultural defense and inspection activities in the Balsas region.
• SENADO and Câmara dos DeputadosminorOthersDonation of law books and Vade Mecum legal references to the Unibalsas library from the Brazilian Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yduqs Participações: Major Brazilian for-profit education company (formerly Estácio Participações) operating Estácio, Ibmec, IDOMED and other higher-education brands. Directly comparable as a publicly listed IES group with similar presencial and EAD program mix and exposure to FIES/PROUNI-funded students.
• Ser Educacional: Brazilian for-profit higher education group with strong North/Northeast regional presence including Onofre, Uninassau and Unama. Directly comparable to Unibalsas as a regional multi-campus IES operating both presencial and EAD programs targeting similar student profiles in underserved areas.
• Anima Holding: One of Brazil's largest private education groups operating Universidade São Judas, UniBH, Una and other brands across multiple states. Comparable operating model combining presencial campuses, EAD platforms, and graduate programs targeting the same Brazilian higher-education market segments as Unibalsas.
• Afya Educacional: Brazilian medical and health-sciences education group operating Unia, NRE, IDOMED-veterinary and graduate medical programs. Comparable to Unibalsas' expansion into Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry programs under a multi-modal presencial/EAD delivery model.
• Cruzeiro do Sul Educacional: Brazilian education group operating Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo and other brands with a strong presencial and EAD portfolio. Comparable for delivering undergraduate, graduate and digital programs with similar FIES/PROUNI reliance and Brazilian regulatory exposure.

Regional players

• Grupo Univeritas: Smaller Brazilian private education group operating regional university centers in Minas Gerais. Comparable as a similarly-sized multi-program private IES pursuing the Faculdade-to-Centro Universitário growth trajectory that Unibalsas recently completed.
• Universidade Potiguar (UnP): Private university center in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, part of the Ser Educacional network. Comparable as a Northeast Brazilian university center offering presencial and EAD programs with similar regulatory exposure and student demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Adtalem Global Education (Brazil operations): US-listed education company that previously owned Laureate International Universities' Brazilian assets. Comparable as a multinational higher-education operator active in the same Brazilian for-profit IES market, though operates at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Cogna Educação: Brazil's largest for-profit education company, owner of Kroton, Vasta (Anhanguera, Pitágoras, Unic) and Saber basic education. Comparable as a higher-education operator serving similar student demographics across Brazil, though much larger scale and broader portfolio than Unibalsas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgMy9inBA4YSRmndp-9TYjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Unibalsas
• Instagraminstagram.com/unibalsas
• Xx.com/UB_Facul

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unibalsas