Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho

What Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho does

Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho (UNIFSA) is a private higher education institution headquartered in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, founded in 1998 and operated by the holding entity Associação Teresinense de Ensino S/S LTDA. The institution delivers 19 on-campus undergraduate programs alongside graduate and distance-learning (EAD) programs, serving students primarily in the Northeast Brazilian market. It employs 187 staff and operates without a parent company, M&A activity, or external funding rounds, indicating a standalone, owner-operated operating model.

The institution has earned the maximum MEC Concept 5 grade from Brazil's Ministry of Education, reflecting top-tier regulatory and academic standing. Its product surface has expanded through internationalization: it holds partnerships with six European universities (including Salamanca, Valladolid, Coimbra, and Lisbon), maintains FAUBAI membership, and runs the Conexão com o Mundo program. It also operates an internally owned digital diploma system (launched 2022-05), a proprietary technology asset for credentialing. The institution runs 52 PIBIC/PIVIC scientific research projects and participates in the federal Projeto Rondon extension program.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition paid by individual students, supplemented by Brazilian government funding mechanisms such as FIES (student financing) and PROUNI (scholarships for low-income students). This creates meaningful exposure to government program availability and policy shifts. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed, and the lack of M&A, funding, or expansion into new geographic markets beyond academic partnerships suggests an institution operating at stable scale with incremental rather than transformative growth.

Name

Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho

Legal name

Associação Teresinense de Ensino S/S LTDA

Website

https://unifsa.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho is a private Brazilian higher education institution in Teresina, Piauí, founded in 1998, offering 19 undergraduate programs plus graduate and distance-learning courses with a maximum MEC Concept 5 rating.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Distance learning courses
• Postgraduate specializations
• Medical school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Teresina

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition (Presencial): Semester-based tuition fees for in-person undergraduate programs across 19 degree areas including Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Health Sciences. Revenue generated from matriculated students paying academic fees per semester.
2. Graduate Programs (Pós-Graduação): Revenue from lato sensu specializations and stricto sensu master's/doctoral programs, both in-person and EAD formats
3. EAD/Semipresencial Programs: Distance learning and hybrid program tuition generating recurring revenue from enrolled students across multiple course offerings
4. Student Financing Programs: Administrative coordination of PROUNI (full/partial scholarships) and FIES (government student financing) programs. While not directly generating revenue, these programs enable student access and enrollment revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho (UNIFSA) is a private higher education institution providing undergraduate degrees across 19 in-person programs (including Medicine, Law, Engineering, Health Sciences), postgraduate specializations and master's/doctoral programs, and distance learning (EAD) courses for students in Brazil. The institution generates revenue from tuition fees, with student access facilitated through government financing programs (PROUNI, FIES) and supplemented by international mobility partnerships with six European universities.

Product overview

Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho (UNIFSA) is a private higher education institution founded in 1998, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. The institution operates three primary educational formats: on-campus undergraduate programs (Graduação Presencial) spanning 19 disciplines including Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Health Sciences; distance and semi-presencial programs (EAD/Semipresencial) for undergraduate and graduate levels; and specialized graduate programs (Pós-Graduação). Supporting infrastructure includes UNIFSA Online and Academus Online platforms for academic management, the Núcleo de Relações Internacionais (NRI) managing international mobility through partnerships with 6 European universities, and the 'Conexão com o Mundo' international webinar series. Student financing is facilitated through PROUNI scholarships, FIES, FIES Social, and Pravaler programs. Practical training is delivered through multiple Clínicas-Escola (school-clinics) providing supervised services in Psychology, Health, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and Legal areas. The institution also provides research programs (PIBIC/PIVIC), mentoring, continuing faculty education, and digital diploma services compliant with Ministry of Education standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNIFSA Online: Online student portal and academic management system
• INOVA UNIFSA
• NRI - Núcleo de Relações Internacionais
• NIP - Núcleo de Iniciação à Pesquisa
• NUAFRI
• Conexão com o Mundo
• CPA - Comissão Própria de Avaliação
• CIPAA - Comissão Interna de Prevenção de Acidentes e de Assédio
• CPSA - FIES

Products and services

• Graduação Presencial (In-Person Undergraduate Programs)
• EAD/Semipresencial (Distance Learning and Hybrid Programs)
• Pós-Graduação Presencial e EAD (Postgraduate Programs)
• INOVA UNIFSA
• Clínicas-Escola (School-Clinics)
• Diploma Digital (Digital Diploma System)
• PROUNI Program Administration
• FIES Student Financing Administration
• Pravaler Private Student Financing
• Núcleo de Relações Internacionais (NRI) - International Mobility Services
• UNIFSA Online (Academus Online)
• Tour Virtual (Virtual Campus Tour)
• UNIFSA Jr (Student Consulting Enterprise)
• PIBIC and PIVIC (Scientific Research Initiation Programs)
• Programa de Monitoria (Academic Mentoring Program)
• Biblioteca (Library Services)
• Programa de Formação Continuada Docente (Faculty Continuing Education)
• FIES Social Student Financing
• Conexão com o Mundo (Connection with the World)

Quantifiable outcome

• MEC Concept 5 - Maximum grade from Ministry of Education confirming institutional quality
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FAUBAI (Associação Brasileira de Educação Internacional)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Membership in Brazilian Association for International Education provides access to international cooperation networks, scientific mobility, multilateral projects, specialized events, and international financing programs. UNIFSA announced as new member in April 2026.
• Universidad de SalamancacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Renewed partnership agreement with one of the world's oldest universities (800+ years history). Enables student and faculty exchange, summer courses, and academic mobility programs. Located in Salamanca, Spain.
• Universidad Pontificia de SalamancacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Partnership with institution that has graduated over 93,000 students in 81 years of operation, offering 100+ undergraduate programs with practical teaching focus.
• Universidad de ValladolidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Partnership with renowned Spanish university established in the 13th century, known for continuous education leadership and international mobility networks.
• Escola Superior de Enfermagem de CoimbracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Partnership with pioneering Portuguese public institution in nursing education, committed to global health promotion and sustainable development with nationally and internationally certified quality.
• Instituto Politécnico de CoimbracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Partnership with one of Portugal's ten largest higher education institutions, offering broad training areas including arts, management, accounting, marketing, health, and engineering.
• Universidade Autónoma de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2024Partnership with Portugal's oldest private university (40 years), located in downtown Lisbon, enabling cross-border academic exchanges.
• Wizard Language SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2022Partnership with Wizard language schools in Teresina offering discounts to UNIFSA community (managers, professors, students, administrative staff) for foreign language learning including English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish.
• Language Schools Partnerships (4-5 schools)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2022Partnerships with multiple language schools in Teresina to facilitate internationalization through foreign language learning, providing discounts to the academic community.
• UnimedminorOthersCorporate health partnership providing occupational health services and support for employee wellness programs including SIPAT (Internal Workplace Accident Prevention Week).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UNINOVE: Large private university in São Paulo offering undergraduate, graduate, and EAD programs. Comparable as a multi-program private Brazilian university, though anchored in the more affluent Southeast market.
• Anhanguera (Kroton/Cogna): Mass-market Brazilian private higher education brand under Cogna, with broad undergraduate, graduate, and EAD offerings nationwide. A broad incumbent competing for the same student financing-driven demand pool as UNIFSA.
• FMU (Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas): Private São Paulo-based higher education institution with broad undergraduate/graduate offerings and significant EAD operations. Comparable private Brazilian university in structure, though based in a different geography.
• Estácio: One of Brazil's largest for-profit higher education groups (now part of Yduqs), operating nationwide with extensive EAD/on-campus programs. Comparable as a Brazilian private higher education provider, though operating at materially greater scale than UNIFSA.

Direct peers

• UNICESUMAR: Brazilian private higher education institution with strong EAD/digital emphasis and multi-program portfolio. Comparable to UNIFSA's EAD program strategy and broad undergraduate catalog, serving similar student financing-driven segments.
• Universidade Tiradentes (UNIT): Private university in Sergipe (Northeast Brazil) offering undergraduate, graduate, and EAD programs across multiple schools. Comparable regional private university with similar student-financing reliance and program breadth.
• UnP (Universidade Potiguar): Part of the Ser Educacional group, UnP is a multi-campus private university in Rio Grande do Norte with on-campus and EAD programs. Directly comparable as a Northeast Brazilian private university with broad program offerings.
• UNINASSAU / Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau: Private higher education group with strong Northeast presence, multi-program undergraduate/graduate portfolio, and significant EAD operations. Directly comparable as a private Brazilian university competitor with similar market positioning.
• UNIFOR (Universidade de Fortaleza): Private university in Northeast Brazil (Ceará) offering undergraduate, graduate, and EAD programs with regional brand strength. Closely comparable to UNIFSA in target geography, institutional type, and program mix, though operating at larger scale.

Regional players

• Centro Universitário UniDomBosco: Private university center in the Center-West region of Brazil offering multi-program undergraduate and graduate education. Comparable as a private Brazilian Centro Universitário with similar institutional format, though in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Faculdadedasuavida
• Facebookfacebook.com/unifsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/unifsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/unifsa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho