THE CHANGE IN THE PROFILE OF INCOMING STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES (2010–2022)

Abstract

Higher education in Brazil, historically marked by the predominance of elites, began in the 2000s to incorporate affirmative action policies aimed at promoting greater equity in public higher education institutions, culminating in the enactment of the Quotas Law in 2012. At the state level, particularly in São Paulo, public state universities initially resisted adopting quotas , and the University of São Paulo (USP) only implemented them starting with the 2018 admissions cycle. This study aims to analyze changes in the profile of incoming USP students between 2010 and 2022, considering variables such as type of secondary and primary schooling, race/color, and family income, based on data obtained through the Access to Information Law. The proportion of incoming students from public schools increased from 26% in 2010 to 50% in 2022, while the share of Black, Mulato, and Indigenous (PPI) students rose from 12% to 26% over the same period. Regarding family income, students from households earning up to three minimum wages represented 14% of incoming students in 2010, a figure that doubled to 28% by 2022. Although longitudinal studies are still needed to fully understand the broader impacts of this policy, in terms of access to USP, the quotas has proven to be a significant mechanism for enhancing diversity and equity within the institution.