Best Universities for Biology in Latin America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Latin America ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 51.3M citations received by 2.72M academic papers made by 433 universities in Latin America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Biology

#1 in Brazil

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Biology

#1 in Mexico

#178 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Biology

#2 in Brazil

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Biology

#3 in Brazil

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Biology

#4 in Brazil

#265 in the World

Founded: 1934

6. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Biology

#5 in Brazil

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 67,329
Founded: 1920

7. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Biology

#1 in Argentina

#308 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Biology

#6 in Brazil

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 45,038
Founded: 1927

9. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Biology

#7 in Brazil

#376 in the World

Founded: 1933

10. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Biology

#1 in Chile

#380 in the World

Founded: 1842

11. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Biology

#8 in Brazil

#480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

12. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Biology

#2 in Mexico

#485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 170,000
Founded: 1936

13. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Biology

#9 in Brazil

#500 in the World

Founded: 1922

14. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Biology

#10 in Brazil

#541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

15. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Biology

#2 in Chile

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

16. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Biology

#11 in Brazil

#554 in the World

Founded: 1960

17. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Biology

#12 in Brazil

#596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

18. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Biology

#13 in Brazil

#613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

19. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Biology

#14 in Brazil

#629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

20. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Biology

#15 in Brazil

#646 in the World

Founded: 1946

21. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Biology

#676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 54,284
Founded: 1867

22. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Biology

#2 in Argentina

#688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

23. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Biology

#16 in Brazil

#714 in the World

Founded: 1970

24. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Biology

#17 in Brazil

#717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

25. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Biology

#18 in Brazil

#769 in the World

Founded: 1946

26. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Biology

#3 in Argentina

#784 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 178,288
Founded: 1613

27. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Biology

#19 in Brazil

#798 in the World

Founded: 1969

28. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Biology

#20 in Brazil

#805 in the World

Founded: 1950

29. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Biology

#21 in Brazil

#830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

30. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Biology

#22 in Brazil

#837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

31. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Biology

#23 in Brazil

#852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

32. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Biology

#863 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

33. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Biology

#24 in Brazil

#874 in the World

Founded: 1970

34. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Biology

#25 in Brazil

#879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

35. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Biology

#26 in Brazil

#909 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,494
Founded: 1969

36. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Biology

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

37. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Biology

#3 in Chile

#936 in the World

Founded: 1920

38. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Biology

#3 in Mexico

#948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 61,152
Founded: 1974

39. Federal University of Para

For Biology

#27 in Brazil

#967 in the World

Founded: 1957

40. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Biology

#28 in Brazil

#985 in the World

Founded: 1912

41. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Biology

#1 in Costa Rica

#991 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 30,436
Founded: 1940

42. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Biology

#4 in Mexico

#1042 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

43. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Biology

#29 in Brazil

#1077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 23,744
Founded: 1954

44. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Biology

#1 in Venezuela

#1121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

45. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Biology

#30 in Brazil

#1122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

46. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Biology

#5 in Mexico

#1128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 339,508
Founded: 1792

47. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Biology

#31 in Brazil

#1131 in the World

Founded: 1948

48. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Biology

#32 in Brazil

#1159 in the World

Founded: 1969

49. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Biology

#4 in Chile

#1182 in the World

Founded: 1954

50. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Biology

#33 in Brazil

#1201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

51. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Biology

#6 in Mexico

#1207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1943

52. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Biology

#4 in Argentina

#1214 in the World

Founded: 1968

53. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Biology

#5 in Argentina

#1222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

54. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Biology

#34 in Brazil

#1287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

55. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Biology

#35 in Brazil

#1309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

56. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Biology

#36 in Brazil

#1351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

57. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Biology

#37 in Brazil

#1363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

58. Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University

For Biology

#1 in Peru

#1367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1961

59. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Biology

#6 in Argentina

#1409 in the World

Founded: 1956

60. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Biology

#5 in Chile

#1410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

61. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Biology

#38 in Brazil

#1424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

62. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Biology

#39 in Brazil

#1429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

63. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Biology

#40 in Brazil

#1451 in the World

Founded: 1973

64. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Biology

#7 in Argentina

#1452 in the World

Founded: 1914

65. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Biology

#8 in Argentina

#1453 in the World

Founded: 1919

66. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Biology

#1491 in the World

Founded: 1945

67. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Biology

#41 in Brazil

#1514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

68. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Biology

#1530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

69. Brasil University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Biology

#42 in Brazil

#1539 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

70. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Biology

#43 in Brazil

#1545 in the World

Founded: 1961

71. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Biology

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

72. University of the West Indies, Mona

For Biology

#1573 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

73. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Biology

#44 in Brazil

#1575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

74. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Biology

#7 in Mexico

#1610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

75. National Major San Marcos University

For Biology

#2 in Peru

#1613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 32,399
Founded: 1551

76. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Biology

#8 in Mexico

#1614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

77. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

For Biology

#45 in Brazil

#1632 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

78. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Biology

#9 in Argentina

#1637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

79. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Biology

#9 in Mexico

#1645 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

80. University of La Frontera

For Biology

#6 in Chile

#1646 in the World

Founded: 1981

81. National University of Comahue

Argentina | Neuquen

For Biology

#10 in Argentina

#1656 in the World

Founded: 1972

82. Western Parana State University

Brazil | Cascavel

For Biology

#46 in Brazil

#1659 in the World

Founded: 1994

83. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Biology

#47 in Brazil

#1668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

84. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Biology

#10 in Mexico

#1669 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

85. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Biology

#48 in Brazil

#1695 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

86. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Biology

#11 in Mexico

#1701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

87. University Institute of the Italian Hospital

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Biology

#11 in Argentina

#1732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 2000

88. University of Havana

For Biology

#1 in Cuba

#1742 in the World

Founded: 1728

89. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Biology

#12 in Mexico

#1751 in the World

Founded: 1956

90. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Biology

#49 in Brazil

#1752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

91. Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

Mexico | Cuernavaca

For Biology

#13 in Mexico

#1758 in the World

Founded: 1938

92. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

Brazil | Mossoro

For Biology

#50 in Brazil

#1765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1967

93. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Biology

#51 in Brazil

#1774 in the World

Founded: 1970

94. Autonomous University of Yucatan

Mexico | Merida

For Biology

#14 in Mexico

#1786 in the World

Founded: 1812

95. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Biology

#2 in Venezuela

#1792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

96. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Biology

#15 in Mexico

#1802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

97. State University of Feira de Santana

Brazil | Feira de Santana

For Biology

#52 in Brazil

#1805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

98. Andres Bello University

Chile | Santiago

For Biology

#7 in Chile

#1815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

99. State University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Biology

#53 in Brazil

#1831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

100. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Biology

#54 in Brazil

#1836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005