Resumo Este estudo, de carater descritivo-exploratorio, tem por objetivo conhecer o perfil dos alunos de uma determinada instituicao privada de ensino superior localizada no municipio de Sao Paulo, considerando expectativas, situacao economica e opinioes sobre a vida universitaria. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi um questionario aplicado a 449 alunos de primeiro, segundo e oitavo semestre do Curso de Administracao de Empresas em dois campi da mesma universidade. Entre os resultados obtidos percebeu-se a inexistencia do “aluno universitario”, pois cada um deles se configura num universo a parte com suas expectativas, motivo pelo qual ingressou na vida universitaria, desempenhando o papel que o coloca no mundo, fatores que afetam diretamente sua vida no âmbito da universidade. Palavras-chave: Perfil dos alunos; Instituicao privada de educacao superior; Vida escolar; Expectativa do aluno;Satisfacao. ABSTRACT This work, made as an exploratory-descriptive study, aims to present student profile of a specific private university located in the city of Sao Paulo, as well as their expectations, economic situation and opinions about the university life. Our questionnaire was applied to 449 students from first, second and last semester in the Business Administration course from a specific private university in the city of Sao Paulo. In the obtained results, we have realized that in a general way, the figure of the University student doesn’t exist. Each student represents an individual universe with his/her own expectations and reasons for being in the university life as well as the roles he/she is engaged, factors which are strictly related with the student university life. Key words: Student profile; Private institution of higher education;School Life;Student expectations. Satisfaction.