Best Universities for Civil Engineering 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 Civil Engineering. A graph of 1.37M citations received by 69.7K academic papers made by 211 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 Civil Engineering

#1 in Brazil

#95 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Mexico

#159 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Brazil

#328 in the World

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

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Chile

#364 in the World

Founded: 1842

6. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Chile

#413 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

7. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Brazil

#435 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#489 in the World

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

9. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Brazil

#498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

10. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

11. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#568 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

12. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Brazil

#574 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

13. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Brazil

#680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

14. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

15. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Colombia

#713 in the World

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

16. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#715 in the World

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

17. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

18. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#803 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

19. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Brazil

#807 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#831 in the World

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

21. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#914 in the World

Founded: 1946

22. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Colombia

#927 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

23. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Chile

#952 in the World

Founded: 1920

24. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#976 in the World

Founded: 1922

25. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Civil Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#1006 in the World

Founded: 1946

26. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Brazil | Natal

For Civil Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#1021 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

27. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#1049 in the World

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

28. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#1114 in the World

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

29. Federal University of Para

Brazil | Belem

For Civil Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#1119 in the World

Founded: 1957

30. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Civil Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#1140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

31. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

32. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Civil Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

33. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Civil Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

34. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

35. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

36. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1329 in the World

Founded: 1956

37. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1344 in the World

Founded: 1954

38. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1345 in the World

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

39. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1351 in the World

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

40. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1365 in the World

Founded: 1970

41. University of Colima

Mexico | Colima

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1940

42. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Civil Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

43. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Civil Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1408 in the World

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

44. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Civil Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1435 in the World

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

45. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Civil Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1437 in the World

Founded: 1960

46. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1438 in the World

Founded: 1956

47. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Uruguay

#1440 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

48. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Peru | Lima

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Peru

#1476 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

49. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Civil Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

50. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

51. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Colombia

#1507 in the World

Founded: 1945

52. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Civil Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

53. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Civil Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1579 in the World

Founded: 1933

54. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Civil Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1581 in the World

Founded: 1961

55. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

56. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Chile

#1598 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

57. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Colombia

#1616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

58. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Civil Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1636 in the World

Founded: 1970

59. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

60. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Chile

#1703 in the World

Founded: 1928

61. ESPOL Polytechnic University

Ecuador | Guayaquil

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Ecuador

#1715 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1958

62. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

63. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Colombia

#1736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

64. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1743 in the World

Founded: 1914

65. Northern University

Colombia | Barranquilla

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Colombia

#1759 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1966

66. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1761 in the World

Founded: 1959

67. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 67,944
Founded: 1957

68. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Civil Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

69. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Civil Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1847 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

70. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Civil Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1852 in the World

Founded: 1969

71. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Colombia

#1887 in the World

Founded: 1958

72. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

73. University of the West Indies, Mona

Jamaica | Mona

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Jamaica

#1893 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

74. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Civil Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1896 in the World

Founded: 1912

75. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Civil Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#1928 in the World

Founded: 1969

76. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1932 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

77. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Civil Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#1962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

78. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1974 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

79. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Ecuador

#1986 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

80. Autonomous University of Sinaloa

Mexico | Culiacan

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#2050 in the World

Founded: 1872

81. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Civil Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#2094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

82. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#2097 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

83. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Civil Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#2100 in the World

Founded: 1948

84. University of Cartagena

Colombia | Cartagena

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Colombia

#2102 in the World

Founded: 1827

85. University of La Frontera

Chile | Temuco

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Chile

#2128 in the World

Founded: 1981

86. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Civil Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#2129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

87. State University of Feira de Santana

Brazil | Feira de Santana

For Civil Engineering

#42 in Brazil

#2141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

88. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#2162 in the World

Founded: 1956

89. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Civil Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 23,988
Founded: 1969

90. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#2187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

91. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Colombia

#2194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

92. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Civil Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2204 in the World

Founded: 1970

93. EAFIT University

Colombia | Medellin

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Colombia

#2222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 2,868
Founded: 1960

94. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Civil Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

95. National University, Costa Rica

Costa Rica | Heredia

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Costa Rica

#2246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1973

96. University of Cuenca

Ecuador | Cuenca

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Ecuador

#2255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1867

97. University of Bio Bio

Chile | Concepcion

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Chile

#2262 in the World

Founded: 1988

98. State University of Santa Cruz

Brazil | Ilheus

For Civil Engineering

#46 in Brazil

#2318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

99. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#2326 in the World

Founded: 1939

100. National University of San Juan

Argentina | San Juan

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#2332 in the World

Founded: 1973

Engineering subfields in Latin America

Acoustical Engineering277

Aerospace Engineering282

Agricultural Engineering68

Applied/Engineering Physics41

Architectural Engineering54

Architecture70

Automation and Control engineering103

Automotive Engineering114

Aviation23

Biochemical Engineering70

Biomedical Engineering84

Biotechnology251

Chemical Engineering289

Computer Engineering90

Computer Networking269

Construction Management34

Electrical Engineering324

Electronic Engineering194

Engineering Management52

Environmental Engineering196

Firefighting and Fire Science30

Geotechnical Engineering229

Human-Computer Interaction221

Industrial Engineering29

Landscape Architecture23

Marine Engineering31

Materials Science371

Mechanical Engineering369

Metallurgical Engineering323

Mining Engineering36

Nanotechnology261

Nuclear Engineering28

Operations Research97

Optical Engineering343

Petroleum Engineering58

Polymer science and Plastics engineering37

Product and Industrial Design26

Reliability and Quality Engineering99

Remote Sensing133

Renewable Energy Engineering143

Robotics70

Structural Engineering230

Systems Engineering183

Technical Drawing19

Telecommunications281

Transportation Engineering70