Best Universities for Geotechnical 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 Geotechnical Engineering. A graph of 1.61M citations received by 87.3K academic papers made by 229 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 Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Brazil

#120 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Mexico

#193 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Brazil

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#263 in the World

Founded: 1934

5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Brazil

#279 in the World

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

6. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#409 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

8. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in Brazil

#506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

9. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Chile

#540 in the World

Founded: 1842

10. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

11. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in Brazil

#570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

12. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Chile

#586 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

13. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Colombia

#598 in the World

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

14. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#619 in the World

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

15. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in Brazil

#646 in the World

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

16. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

17. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

18. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#693 in the World

Founded: 1922

19. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

20. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Geotechnical Engineering

#13 in Brazil

#736 in the World

Founded: 1946

21. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Geotechnical Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

22. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Geotechnical Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#793 in the World

Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Geotechnical Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

24. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Geotechnical Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#854 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

25. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Geotechnical Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

26. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Chile

#902 in the World

Founded: 1920

27. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#929 in the World

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

28. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#962 in the World

Founded: 1970

29. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Brazil | Natal

For Geotechnical Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1012 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

30. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

31. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

32. Federal University of Para

Brazil | Belem

For Geotechnical Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1026 in the World

Founded: 1957

33. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Geotechnical Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1039 in the World

Founded: 1950

34. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1047 in the World

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

35. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1070 in the World

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

36. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Geotechnical Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1147 in the World

Founded: 1969

37. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Geotechnical Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1149 in the World

Founded: 1912

38. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Geotechnical Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1205 in the World

Founded: 1946

39. National University of San Luis

Argentina | San Luis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1223 in the World

Founded: 1973

40. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#1230 in the World

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

41. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1233 in the World

Founded: 1954

42. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Geotechnical Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

43. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

44. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Colombia

#1261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

45. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

46. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Geotechnical Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1282 in the World

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

47. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Geotechnical Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

48. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Geotechnical Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

49. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Uruguay

#1356 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

50. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1392 in the World

Founded: 1919

51. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1395 in the World

Founded: 1969

52. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Colombia

#1396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

53. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1413 in the World

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

54. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Geotechnical Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

55. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

56. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1459 in the World

Founded: 1956

57. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Colombia

#1488 in the World

Founded: 1945

58. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Geotechnical Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1505 in the World

Founded: 1970

59. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Geotechnical Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

60. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1516 in the World

Founded: 1956

61. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

62. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1521 in the World

Founded: 1970

63. University of Cuenca

Ecuador | Cuenca

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Ecuador

#1523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1867

64. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Geotechnical Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

65. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

66. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Geotechnical Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#1693 in the World

Founded: 1948

67. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

68. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

69. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Geotechnical Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#1740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

70. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

71. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Geotechnical Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1762 in the World

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

72. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#1776 in the World

Founded: 1970

73. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#1793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

74. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#1803 in the World

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

75. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#1837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

76. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Geotechnical Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#1849 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

77. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Geotechnical Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#1885 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

78. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in Chile

#1888 in the World

Founded: 1928

79. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Venezuela

#1899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

80. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in Chile

#1913 in the World

Founded: 1956

81. University of Sonora

Mexico | Hermosillo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#1919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1942

82. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#1933 in the World

Founded: 1968

83. National University of Comahue

Argentina | Neuquen

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in Argentina

#1938 in the World

Founded: 1972

84. University of the West Indies, Mona

Jamaica | Mona

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Jamaica

#1940 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

85. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Geotechnical Engineering

#11 in Argentina

#1960 in the World

Founded: 1914

86. Autonomous University of Yucatan

Mexico | Merida

For Geotechnical Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#1974 in the World

Founded: 1812

87. University of La Serena

Chile | La Serena

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in Chile

#1979 in the World

Founded: 1981

88. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#42 in Brazil

#1983 in the World

Founded: 1933

89. National University of San Juan

Argentina | San Juan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in Argentina

#1984 in the World

Founded: 1973

90. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Geotechnical Engineering

#16 in Mexico

#2004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

91. University of Havana

Cuba | Havana

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Cuba

#2011 in the World

Founded: 1728

92. ESPOL Polytechnic University

Ecuador | Guayaquil

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Ecuador

#2017 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1958

93. Western Parana State University

Brazil | Cascavel

For Geotechnical Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2029 in the World

Founded: 1994

94. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

For Geotechnical Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

95. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Geotechnical Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2036 in the World

Founded: 1961

96. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Ecuador

#2054 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

97. National University, Costa Rica

Costa Rica | Heredia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Costa Rica

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1973

98. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#17 in Mexico

#2078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

99. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in Colombia

#2086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

100. University of Passo Fundo

Brazil | Passo Fundo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#46 in Brazil

#2107 in the World

Founded: 1968

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

Civil Engineering211

Computer Engineering90

Computer Networking269

Construction Management34

Electrical Engineering324

Electronic Engineering194

Engineering Management52

Environmental Engineering196

Firefighting and Fire Science30

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