The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the academic graduate programs in Administration, Accounting and Tourism, as well as to allow a reflection about the factors determining their efficiency, during the three-year period 2004-2006. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the censured regression model (Tobit) with panel data were used. The results show the programs with higher numbers of enrolled students to be more efficient, therefore suggesting that the graduate programs reach higher efficiency when operating at higher scales. The teachers' involvement in research projects, as well as the participation of members external to the programs also positively affect the efficiency level. Those actions should be encouraged in order to maximize the efficiency of the academic graduate programs in Administration, Accounting and Tourism, as well as to contribute for the scientific development in these fields of knowledge.