Any move by the Abbott government to dramatically shake-up the university sector by extending federal funding to private colleges could have ‘‘devastating consequences’’, the peak universities body has warned.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne is considering the findings of a major report into university funding that recommended government funding go to for-profit colleges.

Government funding looks toward for-profit colleges: Education Minister Christopher Pyne. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Pyne suggested he was open to the proposal on Friday by posting a link on his Facebook page to an article by University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Warren Bebbington that praised the ‘‘teaching-only’’ undergraduate colleges that operate in the US.

‘‘Could we have US-style colleges in Australia as proposed by Warren Bebbington?’’ Mr Pyne wrote.