This paper analyze the most significant studies done globally of the efficiency measurement on higher education institutions (IES in Spanish), which for this purpose use Data Envelopment Analysis. Within each study the characteristics considered are: selected model, model guidance, inputs and outputs, main findings, conclusions and the use of a complementary method. Models and characteristics studied in the papers are statistically analyzed, highlighting patterns used by most authors. Results are expected to be useful to provide a basis for future research on how to assess the efficiency measurement and productivity indices through this methodology. As a conclusion, DEA has been extensively used to measure the efficiency of education globally, 254 input variables were identified and divided into four categories and 230 output variables were identified and grouped into three categories for analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]