This article has the objective of analyzing the strategic direction processes of chilean state and non-state universities in order to gather the state situation developed by them, establish comparison and evaluate the impact in their results. For this, the Wheelen, Hunger and Oliva (2007), model was used, which has 4 stages: environmental analysis, strategic formulation, strategic implementation and evaluation and control of strategy. This last stage is defined in the model as performance evaluation. The methodology is ascribed to the mixed research paradigm, qualitative through techniques of documentary research from websites and chilean state agencies. By expert judgment the progress of universities was evaluated for the strategic planning process. Statistical analysis include descriptive statistics, non parametric tests, analysis of bivariate correlation and linear regression model. Results show different degrees of progress in the strategic direction process, detecting significant differences between state and non state universities in all model variables. The data also show that the higher the degree of progress in the strategic planning process a greater indicator of quality of undergraduate teaching is observed. Moreover, the level of development of state universities regarding the implementation of the strategy positively impacts the number of accreditation years, while for non-state universities environmental analysis positively impacts the number of accreditation years.

Strategic planning; Accreditation; Higher education; Chile