摘要:AbstractThis paper discusses the relations between higher education and development, focused on the investigation of the role of private institutions to achieve fundamental objectives of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It is analyzed the changes in the landscape of higher education in the country, as from the ascension of private institutions. It is also conducted an analysis of the powers of the Brazilian state as regulator of the sector, seeking subsidies that allow the assessment of the measure recommended intervention of the Ministry of Education, indicating some points which seem to be excessive and contrary to constitutional systematic.