Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
A well-established university providing quality higher education. Offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs with dedicated faculty and supportive learning environment.
- Acceptance Rate
- 67.9%
- SAT Range
- 1050–1250
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.4
- Size
- Large (22,011 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:17
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 69.0%
- Retention Rate
- 72.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- N/A
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $8,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
The UFJF campus spreads across a significant area, with buildings set among green spaces that soften the institutional environment. Students move between classes, libraries, and gathering spots throughout the day, creating the bustle characteristic of a busy university. The campus includes a university hospital, sports facilities, and cultural venues that serve both the university and the broader community. Student organizations are active and varied, including academic groups, political organizations, cultural collectives, athletic teams, and community service initiatives. Brazilian university culture includes strong traditions of student organizing, and UFJF students participate in debates about university governance, national politics, and social issues. Music, theater, and arts groups contribute to campus culture and perform for the community. Most students either commute from homes in Juiz de Fora or rent rooms and apartments in neighborhoods near campus. The area around the university includes student-oriented housing, restaurants, bars, and shops. The cost of living in Juiz de Fora runs lower than in major Brazilian cities, making student budgets more manageable. Social life mixes on-campus activities with the bars, clubs, and cultural events available in the city.
Location & Surroundings
Juiz de Fora sits in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, a mountainous area in southeastern Brazil. The city developed in the 19th century as a commercial center and textile manufacturing hub, with historic architecture that reflects that period of prosperity. Today it serves as a regional service center with commerce, healthcare, and education driving the economy. The climate is subtropical highland, with mild temperatures moderated by elevation. Summers are warm and rainy, while winters are dry and cool, occasionally cold by Brazilian standards. The mountain setting provides scenic surroundings and opportunities for hiking and outdoor recreation in surrounding areas. The city sits about 250 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro, connected by a highway that makes weekend trips to the coast feasible. São Paulo is further but still accessible. Juiz de Fora itself offers cultural facilities including museums, theaters, and music venues proportionate to its size. The cost of living is significantly lower than in Rio or São Paulo, allowing students and families to afford comfortable lifestyles on modest budgets. The pace of life is slower than in major metropolises, which some find refreshing and others find limiting.
Costs & Career Outcomes
As a federal public university, UFJF charges no tuition fees, making higher education accessible to students regardless of family income. This free tuition represents one of the most significant features of Brazil's public university system and removes financial barriers that would otherwise exclude many students. Living costs constitute the main expense, including housing, food, transportation, and materials. The university provides assistance to students in need through scholarships, subsidized housing and meals, and support programs. These resources help students from low-income backgrounds afford the indirect costs of education. Students should research available support and apply early for limited programs. Career outcomes vary by field but benefit from UFJF's recognition within Minas Gerais and nationally. Medical graduates enter a healthcare system that needs physicians, particularly in underserved areas. Engineering, law, and business graduates find positions in regional enterprises and public agencies. Education graduates staff schools throughout the state. The alumni network extends across Minas Gerais, with particular concentration in Juiz de Fora and surrounding areas. Graduates seeking careers in São Paulo or Rio can leverage their education but may need to build new networks in those competitive markets.
Campus Location
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