In South America, the closure of universities responds mainly to three reasons: state imposition due to the oversupply of courses, implementation of quality laws and financial crises. This research uses a qualitative descriptive analysis, based on scientific articles and institutional sources, to analyze the role of the State and quality assurance systems in these processes. The results highlight the diversity of interests and actors involved, especially for students who must be relocated considering various factors. State intervention and quality organizations are essential in this context.