Efficiency in higher education institutions: an analysis of data envelopment analysis applications

Estimating efficiency in higher education has been a challenge due to the complexity and heterogeneity of institutions.Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has emerged as the main technique used to evaluate efficiency in the educational field.This study aims to analyse the applications of DEA in evaluating efficiency in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).This article contributes to the literature by discussing efficiency in higher education and by providing methodological and practical advances.Firstly, we carried out a Content Analysis considering 113 relevant studies in the fields of efficiency evaluation using DEA in HEIs.We identified motivators, results and main methodological approaches.In addition, we identified the need to expand studies focussing on the process of evaluating efficiency in resource allocation using DEA.