Universidade de Cruz Alta

What Universidade de Cruz Alta does

UNICRUZ (Universidade de Cruz Alta) is a private non-profit community higher education institution located in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Founded in 1988 and maintained by Fundação Universidade de Cruz Alta, it is officially classified as an Instituição Comunitária de Educação Superior under Brazilian federal regulation (Portaria SERES/MEC Nº 784/2014). The institution offers 18 undergraduate programs across health sciences, exact sciences, humanities, and technology, alongside multiple lato sensu specializations and three stricto sensu graduate programs, including the interinstitutional PPGAIS (Atenção Integral à Saúde) delivered jointly with UNIJUÍ and URI-Erechim.

The university's infrastructure includes 35,785.92 m² of built area, 83 specialized laboratories equipped with HPLC, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy, a university veterinary hospital, a 140-hectare teaching farm school (Fazenda Escola), and Unicruz Play, the only university television channel in the Northwest RS region. Educational technology infrastructure comprises a Moodle-based EAD platform and student portals (Portal Unicruz, Unicruz Online, Unicruz360, Aluno Online). Over 90% of faculty hold master's or doctoral degrees, and two graduate programs hold CAPES Grade 4 ratings.

UNICRUZ generates revenue primarily through per-credit tuition fees (starting at R$ 897.00 per semester for 12 credits in Ciências Contábeis up to R$ 1,272.48 for Biomedicina), supplemented by extension services, continuing education (Qualifique-C), and laboratory diagnostic services provided to the SUS public health system. The university serves traditional undergraduate students and graduate/professional students primarily from the Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul region, and is a member of the Comung consortium of 14 community universities in Rio Grande do Sul.

Name

Universidade de Cruz Alta

Legal name

Fundação Universidade de Cruz Alta

Website

https://home.unicruz.edu.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

UNICRUZ (Universidade de Cruz Alta) is a private non-profit community university in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, serving undergraduate and graduate students primarily from the Noroeste do RS region with 18 undergraduate programs, three stricto sensu graduate programs, 83 laboratories, and a 140-hectare teaching farm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate education programs
• Distance learning platform
• Community university education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cruz Alta

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: UNICRUZ generates primary revenue through tuition fees charged per academic credit to students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. Pricing varies by program, with tuition starting from R$ 897.00 for 12 credits in programs like Ciências Contábeis. The institution offers financial aid, scholarships (PROUNI, FIES), and installment payment plans.
2. Extension Services and Community Programs: Revenue generated from continuing education courses, professional qualification programs (Qualifique-se), and specialized extension services offered to the community.
3. Laboratory and Testing Services: The university provides clinical analysis services to the municipal public health system (SUS) through partnerships, generating revenue from laboratory diagnostic services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UNICRUZ is a private community higher education institution in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It delivers 18 undergraduate (graduação) programs, multiple lato sensu specializations, and three stricto sensu graduate programs (Master's and Doctorate), including interinstitutional PPGAIS in partnership with UNIJUÍ and URI-Erechim. The university operates 83 specialized laboratories, a Veterinary Teaching Hospital, a 140-hectare Fazenda Escola, and delivers both on-campus instruction and Moodle-based distance learning (EAD).

Product overview

UNICRUZ (Universidade de Cruz Alta) is a community higher education institution in Cruz Alta, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The university offers a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of 18 undergraduate programs (Graduação), multiple lato sensu specialization courses, and three stricto sensu graduate programs (Master's and Doctoral levels). Key platforms include Portal Unicruz (student portal), EAD Moodle (distance learning), UNICRUZ Play (regional university television channel), and Unicruz360 (student services). The institution operates specialized facilities including a Veterinary Hospital, 83 laboratories, and a 140-hectare teaching farm. The PPGAIS (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Atenção Integral à Saúde) is a notable inter-institutional graduate program offered in partnership with Unijuí and URI-Erechim universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (Graduação) Set of 18 on-campus bachelor's degree programs (e.g., Ciências Contábeis, Ciência da Computação, Biomedicina, Agronomia, Veterinary Medicine) for prospective undergraduate students in the Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul region, delivered in morning, afternoon, and night schedules.
• Programa de Pós-Graduação em Atenção Integral à Saúde (PPGAIS) Interinstitutional stricto sensu graduate program (Master's and Doctorate) in Comprehensive Health Care, offered in partnership with UNIJUÍ and URI-Erechim, rated Grade 4 by CAPES. Targets health professionals seeking advanced academic credentials and research capabilities.
• Programa de Pós-Graduação em Práticas Socioculturais e Desenvolvimento Social Stricto sensu Master's and Doctoral program in Sociocultural Practices and Social Development, recognized by CAPES with Grade 4 rating. Targets professionals and researchers in social sciences and humanities.
• Mestrado Profissional em Desenvolvimento Rural Professional Master's program focused on rural development, targeting working professionals in agriculture, agribusiness, and related fields.
• Lato Sensu Specializations (Pós-Graduação) Continuing education specialization courses (e.g., Clínica Médica Veterinária, Gestão Pública, Gestão Escolar, Tecnologias da Informação Aplicadas à Educação 4.0, Neuropsicopedagogia Clínica) for working professionals seeking specialized credentials.
• EAD - Distance Learning Platform (Moodle) Moodle-based distance learning platform (ead.unicruz.edu.br) offering online courses, continuing education, and hybrid program components, coordinated by the Núcleo de Educação a Distância (NEaD) center.
• Hospital Veterinário (Veterinary Teaching Hospital) Veterinary teaching hospital providing practical training for veterinary and agronomy students, with diagnostic laboratory services and a complete bovine disease diagnostic and monitoring facility.
• Biblioteca Visconde de Mauá (Library Services) University library providing academic resources, research support, and normalization manuals for academic work, serving students, faculty, and researchers.
• Qualifique-C (Continuing Education Program) Continuing education platform offering short courses and professional qualification programs (Qualifique-se) for community members and professionals seeking skill development.
• Agência S.T.A.R.T. (Entrepreneurship and Innovation Agency) Agency supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology transfer, assisting startups and innovation projects within UNICRUZ's regional innovation ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• CAPES Grade 4 rating achieved for both PPGAIS (2017-2020 evaluation cycle) and Master's/Doctorate in Práticas Socioculturais
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Unimed Noroeste RSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Healthcare partnership providing PPGAIS students with supervised clinical practice opportunities in the Unimed health system network.
• Hospital de Caridade de IjuíminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Clinical internship partnership for PPGAIS graduate students offering healthcare training in the Hospital de Caridade de Ijuí facility.
• Hospital Bom PastorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Clinical internship partnership for PPGAIS graduate students providing practical training in hospital healthcare settings for health sciences research and professional development.
• Comung (Consórcio das Universidades Comunitárias Gaúchas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2014UNICRUZ is a member of Comung, the consortium of community universities in Rio Grande do Sul, which represents the largest higher education system in the state with coverage across all regions of Rio Grande do Sul, comprising 14 member institutions.
• UNIJUÍ (Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2013UNICRUZ maintains a core strategic partnership with UNIJUÍ for the interinstitutional Programa de Pós-Graduação em Atenção Integral à Saúde (PPGAIS), offering joint Master's and Doctoral programs. The partnership involves collaborative research, shared faculty, and integrated curriculum delivery through video conferencing between institutions.
• URI-Erechim (Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2013Partnership with URI-Erechim for the interinstitutional PPGAIS graduate program, providing Doctorate-level education through collaborative arrangements. The three-university consortium enables interdisciplinary research in health sciences across institutions.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Cruz AltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partnership for community health services, including cytology screening program, public health education initiatives, and laboratory testing services for SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde). The partnership includes葵 referral of public health samples to university cytology laboratory.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• URI Erechim (Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões): PPGAIS consortium partner and Comung member, providing interinstitutional graduate programming; directly comparable as a community university serving a similar regional interior Brazilian market.
• UPF (Universidade de Passo Fundo): Fellow Comung community university in Rio Grande do Sul with similar multi-program undergraduate and graduate structure, sharing the regional interior Brazilian higher education competitive set.
• Feevale (Universidade Feevale): Comung community university in Rio Grande do Sul with overlapping health sciences, technology, and graduate offerings; comparable in structure and regional mission.
• UNIJUÍ (Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul): Direct strategic partner through the PPGAIS interinstitutional graduate program and fellow Comung community university in Noroeste RS, operating comparable undergraduate, graduate, and research portfolios in the same regional market.
• UNISC (Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul): Comung peer institution with comparable size, community-based governance model, and graduate program portfolio serving regional interior RS markets.

Broad incumbents

• PUCRS (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul): Larger established private university in Rio Grande do Sul with a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and research programs; competes for top students and faculty within the state.
• UNISINOS (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos): Major private Jesuit university in RS with broad undergraduate and graduate offerings, including a strong graduate program portfolio; competes for graduate students and research prestige.
• UFRGS (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul): Public federal university and the dominant research institution in Rio Grande do Sul; competes for graduate students, faculty talent, and research funding across the state.

Regional players

• UFFS (Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul): Public federal university serving southern Brazilian interior regions including areas near Noroeste RS, offering tuition-free public higher education that competes for the same regional student pool.

Emerging players

• UNINTER (Centro Universitário Internacional UNINTER): Large Brazilian EAD-focused higher education provider with national reach and lower price points; competes with UNICRUZ's Moodle-based distance learning programs on price and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/unicruz
• Xx.com/unicruz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universidade de Cruz Alta