Best Universities for 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 Engineering. A graph of 31.6M citations received by 1.72M academic papers made by 425 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 Engineering

#1 in Brazil

#83 in the World

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

2. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Engineering

#2 in Brazil

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

3. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Engineering

#1 in Mexico

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

4. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Engineering

#4 in Brazil

#344 in the World

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

6. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#380 in the World

Founded: 1934

7. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Engineering

#6 in Brazil

#455 in the World

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

8. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#493 in the World

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

9. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#528 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

10. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Engineering

#8 in Brazil

#538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

11. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Engineering

#1 in Chile

#539 in the World

Founded: 1842

12. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

13. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Engineering

#2 in Chile

#698 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

14. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Engineering

#9 in Brazil

#737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

15. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#776 in the World

Founded: 1946

16. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Engineering

#789 in the World

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

17. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

18. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

19. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#844 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

20. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Engineering

#13 in Brazil

#865 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

21. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#882 in the World

Founded: 1960

22. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#909 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

23. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#919 in the World

Founded: 1933

24. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#948 in the World

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

25. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

26. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#986 in the World

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

27. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Engineering

#3 in Chile

#1010 in the World

Founded: 1920

28. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#1064 in the World

Founded: 1946

29. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#1069 in the World

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

30. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1083 in the World

Founded: 1922

31. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1084 in the World

Founded: 1950

32. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1129 in the World

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

33. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1142 in the World

Founded: 1970

34. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

35. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

36. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

37. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Engineering

#1319 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

38. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Engineering

#1322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

39. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1353 in the World

Founded: 1970

40. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

41. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

42. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

43. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

44. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1405 in the World

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

45. Federal University of Para

For Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1414 in the World

Founded: 1957

46. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1443 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

47. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1451 in the World

Founded: 1969

48. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1462 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

49. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1472 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

50. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

51. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Engineering

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

52. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1504 in the World

Founded: 1956

53. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1511 in the World

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

54. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1523 in the World

Founded: 1970

55. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

56. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1540 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

57. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1610 in the World

Founded: 1948

58. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1620 in the World

Founded: 1969

59. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Engineering

#1669 in the World

Founded: 1945

60. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

61. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

62. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

63. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1718 in the World

Founded: 1968

64. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Engineering

#1724 in the World

Founded: 1958

65. Federal University of Itajuba

Brazil | Itajuba

For Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

66. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1742 in the World

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

67. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

68. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1774 in the World

Founded: 1919

69. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#1846 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

70. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Engineering

#3 in Venezuela

#1872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

71. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1916 in the World

Founded: 1928

72. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#1920 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

73. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#1963 in the World

Founded: 1956

74. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#1969 in the World

Founded: 1961

75. University of Havana

For Engineering

#1 in Cuba

#1971 in the World

Founded: 1728

76. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#1977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

77. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#1985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

78. University of Sonora

Mexico | Hermosillo

For Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#2022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1942

79. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#2031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

80. Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

Mexico | Cuernavaca

For Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#2060 in the World

Founded: 1938

81. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#2068 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

82. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Engineering

#2079 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

83. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Engineering

#42 in Brazil

#2153 in the World

Founded: 1912

84. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

85. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Engineering

#7 in Chile

#2177 in the World

Founded: 1954

86. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Engineering

#2188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

87. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2197 in the World

Founded: 1970

88. National University of San Luis

Argentina | San Luis

For Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#2226 in the World

Founded: 1973

89. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Engineering

#16 in Mexico

#2229 in the World

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

90. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Engineering

#2239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

91. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2240 in the World

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

92. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Engineering

#46 in Brazil

#2245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

93. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

For Engineering

#1 in Peru

#2257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

94. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Engineering

#47 in Brazil

#2258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

95. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

For Engineering

#48 in Brazil

#2273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

96. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Engineering

#10 in Argentina

#2293 in the World

Founded: 1914

97. University of La Frontera

For Engineering

#8 in Chile

#2303 in the World

Founded: 1981

98. Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo

Mexico | Pachuca

For Engineering

#17 in Mexico

#2319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1869

99. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Engineering

#49 in Brazil

#2333 in the World

Founded: 1973

100. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Engineering

#50 in Brazil

#2336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

Engineering subfields in Latin America

Acoustical Engineering277

Aerospace Engineering282

Agricultural Engineering68

Applied/Engineering Physics41

Architectural Engineering54

Automation and Control engineering103

Automotive Engineering114

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

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

Structural Engineering230

Systems Engineering183

Technical Drawing19

Telecommunications281

Transportation Engineering70