Best Universities for Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 3.8M citations received by 281K academic papers made by 368 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 Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Brazil

#106 in the World

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

2. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Brazil

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

3. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Mexico

#308 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

4. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#330 in the World

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

5. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Brazil

#377 in the World

Founded: 1934

6. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Brazil

#436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

8. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#467 in the World

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

9. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#473 in the World

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

10. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Chile

#540 in the World

Founded: 1842

11. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Chile

#564 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

12. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#591 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

13. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Brazil

#606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

14. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Brazil

#707 in the World

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

15. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

16. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Colombia

#773 in the World

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

17. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

18. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#796 in the World

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

19. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

20. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Brazil

#831 in the World

Founded: 1946

21. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

22. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#842 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

23. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#937 in the World

Founded: 1960

24. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#940 in the World

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

25. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#941 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

26. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1010 in the World

Founded: 1970

27. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Brazil | Natal

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#1019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

28. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#1043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

29. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#1100 in the World

Founded: 1950

30. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

31. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Chile

#1130 in the World

Founded: 1920

32. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1142 in the World

Founded: 1933

33. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1183 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

34. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1193 in the World

Founded: 1946

35. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1271 in the World

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

36. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Colombia

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

37. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

38. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Uruguay

#1299 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

39. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

40. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

41. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1314 in the World

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

42. Federal University of Itajuba

Brazil | Itajuba

For Mechanical Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

43. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Colombia

#1339 in the World

Founded: 1958

44. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Colombia

#1365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

45. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1378 in the World

Founded: 1922

46. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

47. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

48. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1414 in the World

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

49. Federal University of Para

Brazil | Belem

For Mechanical Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1418 in the World

Founded: 1957

50. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Mechanical Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1426 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

51. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Colombia

#1458 in the World

Founded: 1945

52. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Mechanical Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1479 in the World

Founded: 1969

53. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1538 in the World

Founded: 1948

54. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

55. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

56. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Mechanical Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1568 in the World

Founded: 1970

57. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Mechanical Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Mechanical Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

59. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

60. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1611 in the World

Founded: 1956

61. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Colombia

#1653 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

62. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Mechanical Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1677 in the World

Founded: 1969

63. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Mechanical Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

64. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

65. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

66. Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

Mexico | Cuernavaca

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1807 in the World

Founded: 1938

67. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1808 in the World

Founded: 1928

68. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Mechanical Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

69. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1834 in the World

Founded: 1968

70. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Peru | Lima

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Peru

#1849 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

71. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

72. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#1863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

73. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Mechanical Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#1874 in the World

Founded: 1970

74. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1900 in the World

Founded: 1919

75. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Ecuador

#1936 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

76. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Mechanical Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#1950 in the World

Founded: 1958

77. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Mechanical Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#1988 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

78. Pontificia Bolivariana University

Colombia | Medellin

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Colombia

#2004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1937

79. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Mechanical Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#2032 in the World

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

80. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Mechanical Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#2044 in the World

Founded: 1961

81. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Mechanical Engineering

#42 in Brazil

#2047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

82. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#2077 in the World

Founded: 1956

83. University of Havana

Cuba | Havana

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Cuba

#2083 in the World

Founded: 1728

84. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

For Mechanical Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

85. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#2134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

86. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

87. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#2174 in the World

Founded: 1959

88. Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

Brazil | Sao Joao del-Rei

For Mechanical Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 12,446
Founded: 1987

89. ESPOL Polytechnic University

Ecuador | Guayaquil

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Ecuador

#2200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1958

90. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Venezuela

#2217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

91. University of La Frontera

Chile | Temuco

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Chile

#2234 in the World

Founded: 1981

92. EAFIT University

Colombia | Medellin

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Colombia

#2237 in the World

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

93. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#2247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

94. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in Mexico

#2298 in the World

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

95. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Colombia

#2304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

96. Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo

Mexico | Pachuca

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in Mexico

#2322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1869

97. National Major San Marcos University

Peru | Lima

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Peru

#2338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 32,399
Founded: 1551

98. Northern University

Colombia | Barranquilla

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Colombia

#2343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1966

99. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Mechanical Engineering

#46 in Brazil

#2356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

100. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Chile

#2383 in the World

Founded: 1954

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

Civil Engineering207

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

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