Best Universities for Civil Engineering in Latin America

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 878K citations received by 58.9K academic papers made by 188 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

#112 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

#156 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

#333 in the World

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

4. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Chile

#355 in the World

Founded: 1842

5. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

6. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Chile

#419 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

#461 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1927

9. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

10. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Brazil

#546 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

11. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#599 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

12. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Brazil

#618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

13. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Brazil

#685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

14. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Colombia

#736 in the World

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

15. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

16. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

17. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#799 in the World

Founded: 1950

18. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Brazil

#815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

19. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 92,736
Founded: 1943

20. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#902 in the World

Founded: 1946

21. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Chile

#944 in the World

Founded: 1920

22. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#976 in the World

Founded: 1922

23. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Colombia

#978 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

24. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#1014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 61,908
Founded: 1974

25. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#1031 in the World

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

26. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#1038 in the World

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

27. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Brazil | Natal

For Civil Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#1066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

28. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

29. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Civil Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#1104 in the World

Founded: 1946

30. Federal University of Para

Brazil | Belem

For Civil Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#1172 in the World

Founded: 1957

31. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Civil Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#1199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

32. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1207 in the World

Founded: 1956

33. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Civil Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

34. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1246 in the World

Founded: 1970

35. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Civil Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

36. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

37. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

38. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1318 in the World

Founded: 1954

39. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1351 in the World

Founded: 1956

40. University of Colima

Mexico | Colima

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 28,317
Founded: 1940

41. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1367 in the World

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

42. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

43. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Civil Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1444 in the World

Founded: 1960

44. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

45. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

46. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Civil Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1969

47. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Civil Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

48. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Civil Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1459 in the World

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

49. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Colombia

#1466 in the World

Founded: 1958

50. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Civil Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

51. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Civil Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1500 in the World

Founded: 1961

52. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Chile

#1507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

53. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Peru | Lima

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Peru

#1514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

54. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

55. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Uruguay

#1551 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

56. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

57. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Colombia

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

58. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

59. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Colombia

#1599 in the World

Founded: 1945

60. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1607 in the World

Founded: 1959

61. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1630 in the World

Founded: 1914

62. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Civil Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1636 in the World

Founded: 1970

63. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Civil Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

64. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1669 in the World

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

65. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Civil Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1673 in the World

Founded: 1933

66. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

67. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Chile

#1698 in the World

Founded: 1928

68. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Colombia

#1770 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

69. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Civil Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

70. Northern University

Colombia | Barranquilla

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Colombia

#1788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1966

71. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Civil Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1816 in the World

Founded: 1969

72. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Civil Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

73. Autonomous University of Sinaloa

Mexico | Culiacan

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1906 in the World

Founded: 1872

74. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Venezuela

#1916 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

75. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#1956 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

76. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Civil Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1969 in the World

Founded: 1912

77. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#1988 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

78. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#2006 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

79. Brasil University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Civil Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#2011 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

80. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Civil Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#2012 in the World

Founded: 1969

81. University of the West Indies, Mona

Jamaica | Mona

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Jamaica

#2037 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

82. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Civil Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#2087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

83. National University of San Juan

Argentina | San Juan

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#2106 in the World

Founded: 1973

84. National University, Costa Rica

Costa Rica | Heredia

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Costa Rica

#2107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1973

85. University of Cuenca

Ecuador | Cuenca

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Ecuador

#2126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1867

86. National University of Salta

Argentina | Salta

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#2157 in the World

Founded: 1972

87. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Civil Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#2168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

88. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Civil Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#2173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

89. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#2202 in the World

Founded: 1956

90. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Civil Engineering

#42 in Brazil

#2204 in the World

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

91. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Colombia

#2212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

92. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Argentina

#2222 in the World

Founded: 1939

93. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Civil Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2223 in the World

Founded: 1948

94. University of Antofagasta

Chile | Antofagasta

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Chile

#2231 in the World

Founded: 1981

95. EAFIT University

Colombia | Medellin

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Colombia

#2233 in the World

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

96. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Civil Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

97. University of La Frontera

Chile | Temuco

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Chile

#2264 in the World

Founded: 1981

98. State University of Feira de Santana

Brazil | Feira de Santana

For Civil Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

99. ESPOL Polytechnic University

Ecuador | Guayaquil

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Ecuador

#2333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1958

100. University of Bio Bio

Chile | Concepcion

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Chile

#2338 in the World

Founded: 1988

Engineering subfields in Latin America

Acoustical Engineering251

Aerospace Engineering252

Agricultural Engineering79

Applied/Engineering Physics27

Architectural Engineering38

Architecture60

Automation and Control engineering96

Automotive Engineering98

Aviation26

Biochemical Engineering57

Biomedical Engineering69

Biotechnology229

Chemical Engineering273

Computer Engineering83

Computer Networking243

Construction Management29

Electrical Engineering304

Electronic Engineering186

Engineering Management40

Environmental Engineering174

Firefighting and Fire Science28

Geotechnical Engineering207

Human-Computer Interaction197

Industrial Engineering30

Landscape Architecture39

Marine Engineering24

Materials Science360

Mechanical Engineering356

Metallurgical Engineering309

Mining Engineering33

Nanotechnology237

Nuclear Engineering22

Operations Research86

Optical Engineering335

Petroleum Engineering51

Polymer science and Plastics engineering37

Product and Industrial Design24

Reliability and Quality Engineering86

Remote Sensing114

Renewable Energy Engineering129

Robotics65

Structural Engineering204

Systems Engineering165

Technical Drawing17

Telecommunications269

Transportation Engineering57