UniCatólica – Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins

What UniCatólica – Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins does

UniCatólica is a private Catholic higher education institution (Centro Universitário) operating in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, since 1999 as part of the UBEC (União Brasileira de Educação Católica) network. The institution delivers undergraduate, graduate, and distance-learning programs across two campuses — Unidade I (the main administrative campus in Plano Diretor Sul) and Unidade II (the agricultural sciences campus with an experimental fazenda escola). Program offerings span agronomy, animal science, veterinary medicine, law, accounting, architecture, civil/electrical/environmental engineering, psychology, information systems, and occupational therapy, delivered in presencial, semipresencial, and EAD modalities.

The technology stack includes the AVA (Virtual Learning Environment), UBEC Portal Acadêmico for student management, Pergamum library system, and EBSCO/ABNT online databases. Specialized facilities include a teaching veterinary clinic (Clínica Veterinária UniCatólica), Connect Village innovation hub, and LabSIS (Laboratory of Intelligent and Sustainable Solutions). The CPEx (Research and Extension center) drives a robust ecosystem of 70+ FAPT-funded research scholarships, CNPq PIBIC grants, multiple nuclei (legal practice, architecture, psychopedagogy), and observatories, with extension projects reaching over 25,000 community members in two years.

Revenue is generated principally through monthly tuition and fees across presencial, semipresencial, and EAD programs, plus graduate specialization and extension courses. Financial accessibility is structurally embedded via ProUni full and partial scholarships, FIES federal student loans, Bolsa Social, PEU institutional financing, Santander programs, and ENEM-based discounts. Customer segments comprise undergraduate students (primary), graduate/continuing education students, distance-learning students across Brazil, and community/government partners served through extension and partnership projects.

Name

UniCatólica – Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins

Legal name

Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins

Website

https://to.catolica.edu.br

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UniCatólica is a private Catholic university center in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, offering undergraduate, graduate, and distance-learning programs in agriculture, engineering, health, and law. Operating as part of the UBEC network, it serves students and community partners across two campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Distance learning programs
• Graduate specializations
• Catholic university education

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmas

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fees - Undergraduate programs: Revenue generated from monthly tuition and fees charged to undergraduate students across all presencial and semipresencial programs.
2. Graduate and specialization programs: Revenue from MBA, specialization, and continuing education programs offered at graduate level.
3. Distance learning (EAD): Revenue from Catholic University distance education network, offering undergraduate and graduate programs online.
4. Extension courses and certification: Revenue from extension courses, professional certification programs, and short courses such as Excel training, canine behavior courses, and others.
5. Social scholarship and public funding programs: ProUni (full and partial scholarships), FIES student financing, PEU financing, Bolsa Social, and Santander programs provide government-subsidized revenue and student access to higher education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

UniCatólica is a private Catholic university center operating in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, that delivers higher education services through on-site undergraduate degrees (Agronomy, Veterinary Medicine, Law, Engineering, Architecture, Psychology, etc.), graduate MBA and specialization programs, and distance learning (EAD) via the Católica EAD network. It supplements academic instruction with research and extension centers, a teaching veterinary clinic, an innovation hub (Connect Village), and a sustainable solutions laboratory (LabSIS), funded in part through ProUni, FIES, and institutional scholarship programs.

Product overview

UniCatólica is a private Catholic university center offering a diversified educational portfolio comprising on-site undergraduate degrees (Graduação Presencial), distance learning programs (EAD), graduate and specialization courses (Pós-Graduação), and veterinary residency programs. The institution operates specialized facilities including a Veterinary Clinic, Library with digital database access, Connect Village innovation hub, and LabSIS research laboratory. Financial accessibility is supported through multiple aid programs including PROUNI, FIES, Bolsa Social, and PEU. Programs span agricultural sciences, engineering, health sciences, law, and technology disciplines, with delivery modalities including in-person, hybrid (semipresencial), and fully online formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduação Presencial (On-site Undergraduate Programs) On-site undergraduate degree programs for high school graduates and transfer students, offered across agricultural, health, engineering, law, and technology disciplines at UniCatólica's two campuses in Palmas, Tocantins.
• Ensino a Distância (EAD / Distance Learning) Online undergraduate and graduate programs delivered through the Católica EAD virtual learning environment for students across Brazil seeking flexible remote education.
• Pós-Graduação (MBA and Specialization Programs) Postgraduate MBA and professional specialization programs designed for working professionals and recent graduates seeking advanced qualifications in fields aligned with UniCatólica's undergraduate disciplines.
• Programa de Aprimoramento em Medicina Veterinária (Veterinary Medicine Residency) Veterinary medicine residency and advanced clinical specialization program providing hands-on training for veterinary graduates.
• Programas de Bolsas e Financiamento (Scholarships and Financial Aid) Financial aid and scholarship programs (ProUni, FIES, Bolsa Social, PEU, Santander) that make UniCatólica's educational programs financially accessible to qualifying students.
• Clínica Veterinária UniCatólica Full-service veterinary clinic providing animal health services to the local community while serving as a practical training facility for UniCatólica's veterinary medicine students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 people impacted by extension and research productions in the last two years (2024-2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Associação dos Deficientes Visuais do Estado do Tocantins (ADVETO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025ADVETO members tested the Spider Sense assistive backpack prototype developed by UniCatólica Engineering students, providing feedback to improve the device for visually impaired users.
• Núcleo de Operações com Cães (NOC) da Secretaria de Cidadania e Justiça do TocantinscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership for the Projeto Frentiscão offering a free Canine Behavior course (32 hours) for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science students, combining theoretical and practical training. The NOC provides specialized content while UniCatólica provides academic structure and participants.
• Defensoria Pública da União do Tocantins (DPU-TO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2023UniCatólica Psychology course partnered with DPU-TO to provide psychological support services (Plantão Psicológico) to vulnerable individuals assisted by the Defensoria. Students provide emergency and ongoing psychological care under faculty supervision, serving people with family income under R$ 2,000. The partnership was formalized through a formal agreement ceremony with the rector and DPU-TO officials.
• Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2022UFT's Theater course partnered with UniCatólica's Psychology course for a workshop training simulated patient actors (Banco de Atores) used in Psychology's simulated education units. Professor Renata Ferreira from UFT conducted the theatrical training workshop.
• Prefeitura de Lajeado (Secretaria de Assistência Social)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2022Ongoing partnership between UniCatólica Psychology students and the municipality's Social Assistance Secretary for community outreach. Activities include lectures and informative sessions on child protection and abuse prevention in schools and communities in the rural municipality of Lajeado.
• Instituto Federal do Tocantins (IFTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniCatólica participates in a joint research project with IFTO, Unitins, Rancho Lira, and Agrojem to study thermal environment impacts on animal production species (swine, poultry, cattle, horses, sheep) in Tocantins. UniCatólica contributes research activities at its Fazenda Escola and coordinates activities through Professor Ma. Kedma Nayra.
• Unitins (Universidade do Tocantins)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the joint research project on animal welfare and thermal environment impacts on zootecnic species in the state of Tocantins.
• Rancho Lira e AgrojemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate sector agricultural partners collaborating in the research project on animal welfare and thermal environment for zootecnic production in Tocantins.
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Tocantins (FAPT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch funding partner providing over 70 scholarships to UniCatólica students for scientific initiation and research projects in partnership with the institution's CPEx.
• CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research council providing PIBIC scholarships to UniCatólica students through the institution's scientific initiation programs.
• Instituto Natureza do Tocantins (Naturatins)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState environmental agency partnered with UniCatólica's Zootecnia course for events and field activities focused on wildlife and environmental conservation.
• ABMES (Associação Brasileira das Mantenedoras de Ensino Superior)minorOthersNational association of higher education institutions of which UniCatólica is a member, participating in the Instituição Socialmente Responsável certification program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Anhanguera (Cogna): Anhanguera, part of Cogna Educação, is a large Brazilian private higher education group with extensive EAD and presencial offerings. Its national scale and distribution network make it a comparable incumbent in the broader private higher education category.
• Universidade Paulista (UNIP): UNIP is a large private Brazilian university with presencial and EAD modalities across multiple states. It represents a scaled incumbent that competes for the same Brazilian student market, particularly in distance learning.
• Estácio: Estácio is one of Brazil's largest private higher education groups (Yduqs), operating presencial and EAD programs nationwide. It competes with UniCatólica in distance learning and could expand presence in Tocantins, representing a scaled incumbent threat.

Regional players

• Universidade Estadual do Tocantins (Unitins): Unitins is the public state university of Tocantins, headquartered in Palmas. It is also a research collaboration partner with UniCat\u00f3lica while competing for the same regional student base in Tocantins.
• Instituto Federal do Tocantins (IFTO): IFTO is a public federal institute in Tocantins offering technical and higher education programs, including in Palmas. It is also a research collaboration partner with UniCatólica on agricultural sciences while competing for technical-focused students.
• Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT): UFT is the public federal university operating in Tocantins, with multiple campuses in Palmas and across the state. It competes directly with UniCatólica for the same student pool in Tocantins, offering tuition-free higher education across many of the same disciplines.

Direct peers

• Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB): UCB is part of the same UBEC Catholic higher education network as UniCatólica, sharing the Católica brand, distance learning platform, and pastoralidade-based educational model. It offers a comparable portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and EAD programs, and serves as a sister institution under common ownership.
• Faculdade Anhanguera de Palmas: Anhanguera operates a local campus in Palmas, Tocantins, directly competing with UniCatólica in the same regional market with similar presencial and EAD program offerings.
• Centro Universitário Católica do Leste de Minas Gerais (Unileste): Unileste is a Centro Universitário within the UBEC/Católica network, operating under the same governance and brand as UniCatólica. It offers comparable on-site undergraduate, graduate, and EAD programs in a different Brazilian state, making it a structurally analogous peer.
• Faculdade Católica Imaculada Conceição do Recife (FAFIRE): FAFIRE is another UBEC network institution offering Catholic higher education programs with comparable distribution model and mission. Like UniCatólica, it serves a regional market with presencial and EAD delivery under the Católica brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unicatolica_to
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/catolicatocantins
• Facebookfacebook.com/unicatolicaoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/unicatolica
• Instagraminstagram.com/unicatolicaoficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UniCatólica – Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins