Brazil's university programs draw record competition and lift graduates' earnings

The Federal University of Goiás (UFG) saw its Artificial Intelligence undergraduate program achieve the second‑highest cut‑off score in the 2026 Unified Selection System (Sisu), reaching 846.72 points, surpassed only by Medicine at Unilab. Other UFG courses such as Software Engineering (827.37 points) and Law (794.92 points) also ranked among the most sought‑after, reflecting a surge in demand for technology‑oriented degrees.

Research by the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Institutions (ABMES), the IBGE and the Ministry of Labor shows that a university diploma in Brazil raises average graduate salaries from R$2,783 to R$5,045 – an 81 % increase – and cuts the unemployment rate for degree holders to 3.7 %, roughly half the national average. About 85 % of graduates secure employment within 15 months, with many entering their field of study. In Mato Grosso do Sul, initial salaries for graduates rose 64 %, placing the state among the top five in the country for the value of higher education.