This article provides an overview of distance education in Brazil and compares it with that in the United States. It presents a brief historical perspective of private and public initiatives in Brazil and concentrates on present governmental projects and educational policies guiding distance education, with emphasis on higher education. Deficits of higher education are discussed and e-learning is presented as a partial solution to the problem of supply and demand of higher education in the country. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)