RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To analyze how university students self-evaluate their academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic in a public university in southern Brazil. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 527 students of undergraduate courses in the health field. Descriptive statistical analyses and the chi-square test were performed to assess associations. RESULTS: For 49.5% of participants their academic performance was insufficient; for 24.1%, sufficient; 19.40%, good; 5.90% very good; and 1.10% excellent. It was found that there was an association between the variables, course (p=0.034), form of enrollment into the institution (p=0.016) and work activity (p=0.010) in academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Academic performance during the suspension of face-to-face classes is insufficient for many students, and groups of students from the occupational therapy course, who entered the university through the system of quotas and who work in addition to studying showed an inferior academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.