Best Universities for Civil Engineering in Latin America

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 1.27M citations received by 68K academic papers made by 207 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

#97 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

#155 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

#326 in the World

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

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Chile

#362 in the World

Founded: 1842

6. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Chile

#417 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

#436 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#486 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 Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#548 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

11. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

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

#675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

14. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#687 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

15. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#708 in the World

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

16. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Colombia

#716 in the World

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

17. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

18. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#796 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

#800 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#824 in the World

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

21. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#906 in the World

Founded: 1946

22. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Colombia

#921 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

23. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Chile

#949 in the World

Founded: 1920

24. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#984 in the World

Founded: 1922

25. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Civil Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#997 in the World

Founded: 1946

26. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Brazil | Natal

For Civil Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

27. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#1037 in the World

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

28. Federal University of Para

Brazil | Belem

For Civil Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#1087 in the World

Founded: 1957

29. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#1099 in the World

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

30. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

31. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Civil Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#1142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

32. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Civil Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

33. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Civil Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

34. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

35. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1292 in the World

Founded: 1956

36. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

37. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1312 in the World

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

38. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

39. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1331 in the World

Founded: 1954

40. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1349 in the World

Founded: 1970

41. University of Colima

Mexico | Colima

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1369 in the World

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

42. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Civil Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

43. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Civil Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1399 in the World

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

44. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1416 in the World

Founded: 1956

45. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Civil Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1437 in the World

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

46. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Civil Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1447 in the World

Founded: 1960

47. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Uruguay

#1452 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

48. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Civil Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

49. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Peru | Lima

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Peru

#1482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

50. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

51. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Civil Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

52. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Colombia

#1527 in the World

Founded: 1945

53. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Civil Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1553 in the World

Founded: 1933

54. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Civil Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1562 in the World

Founded: 1961

55. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

56. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Chile

#1580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

57. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Colombia

#1627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Civil Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

59. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Civil Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1646 in the World

Founded: 1970

60. ESPOL Polytechnic University

Ecuador | Guayaquil

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Ecuador

#1684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1958

61. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1705 in the World

Founded: 1914

62. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

63. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1718 in the World

Founded: 1959

64. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Chile

#1740 in the World

Founded: 1928

65. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Colombia

#1750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

66. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1756 in the World

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

67. Northern University

Colombia | Barranquilla

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Colombia

#1796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1966

68. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Civil Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

69. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Civil Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1824 in the World

Founded: 1969

70. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Colombia

#1832 in the World

Founded: 1958

71. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

72. University of the West Indies, Mona

Jamaica | Mona

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Jamaica

#1844 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

73. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Civil Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

74. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

75. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Civil Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1894 in the World

Founded: 1912

76. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

77. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Civil Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#1933 in the World

Founded: 1969

78. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Ecuador

#1979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

79. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Civil Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#1997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

80. Autonomous University of Sinaloa

Mexico | Culiacan

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#2053 in the World

Founded: 1872

81. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#2055 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

82. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Civil Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#2063 in the World

Founded: 1948

83. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Civil Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#2080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

84. University of Cartagena

Colombia | Cartagena

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Colombia

#2097 in the World

Founded: 1827

85. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#2142 in the World

Founded: 1956

86. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Civil Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#2155 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

#2167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

88. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#2172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

89. University of La Frontera

Chile | Temuco

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Chile

#2173 in the World

Founded: 1981

90. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Civil Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2195 in the World

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

91. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Colombia

#2208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

92. National University, Costa Rica

Costa Rica | Heredia

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Costa Rica

#2210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1973

93. EAFIT University

Colombia | Medellin

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Colombia

#2219 in the World

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

94. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Civil Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

95. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Civil Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2249 in the World

Founded: 1970

96. University of Cuenca

Ecuador | Cuenca

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Ecuador

#2265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1867

97. University of Bio Bio

Chile | Concepcion

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Chile

#2285 in the World

Founded: 1988

98. National University of San Juan

Argentina | San Juan

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#2296 in the World

Founded: 1973

99. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Venezuela

#2303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

100. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#2305 in the World

Founded: 1939

Engineering subfields in Latin America

Acoustical Engineering274

Aerospace Engineering277

Agricultural Engineering73

Applied/Engineering Physics41

Architectural Engineering54

Architecture69

Automation and Control engineering101

Automotive Engineering112

Aviation25

Biochemical Engineering67

Biomedical Engineering83

Biotechnology245

Chemical Engineering283

Computer Engineering91

Computer Networking265

Construction Management34

Electrical Engineering319

Electronic Engineering192

Engineering Management48

Environmental Engineering190

Firefighting and Fire Science29

Geotechnical Engineering223

Human-Computer Interaction216

Industrial Engineering30

Landscape Architecture23

Marine Engineering27

Materials Science368

Mechanical Engineering368

Metallurgical Engineering321

Mining Engineering34

Nanotechnology251

Nuclear Engineering27

Operations Research96

Optical Engineering343

Petroleum Engineering56

Polymer science and Plastics engineering38

Product and Industrial Design26

Reliability and Quality Engineering96

Remote Sensing125

Renewable Energy Engineering141

Robotics67

Structural Engineering227

Systems Engineering178

Technical Drawing19

Telecommunications282

Transportation Engineering64