Best Universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 8.01M citations received by 391K academic papers made by 343 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 Optical Engineering

#1 in Brazil

#94 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Mexico

#211 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Brazil

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Brazil

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Brazil

#416 in the World

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

6. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Brazil

#421 in the World

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

7. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Brazil

#456 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Mexico

#499 in the World

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

9. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Brazil

#505 in the World

Founded: 1933

10. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Brazil

#517 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

11. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Argentina

#530 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

12. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Chile

#575 in the World

Founded: 1842

13. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Brazil

#673 in the World

Founded: 1946

14. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Brazil

#727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

15. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Chile

#765 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

16. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Argentina

#805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

17. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Mexico

#838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

18. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Brazil

#896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

19. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Brazil

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

20. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Colombia

#907 in the World

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

21. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Brazil

#938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

22. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Brazil

#962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Optical Engineering

#15 in Brazil

#967 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

24. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Brazil | Natal

For Optical Engineering

#16 in Brazil

#996 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

25. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Argentina

#1038 in the World

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

26. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Mexico

#1059 in the World

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

27. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Mexico

#1068 in the World

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

28. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Optical Engineering

#17 in Brazil

#1112 in the World

Founded: 1950

29. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Chile

#1136 in the World

Founded: 1920

30. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Optical Engineering

#18 in Brazil

#1159 in the World

Founded: 1970

31. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Optical Engineering

#19 in Brazil

#1161 in the World

Founded: 1946

32. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Mexico

#1194 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

33. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Uruguay

#1243 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

34. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Optical Engineering

#20 in Brazil

#1253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

35. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Colombia

#1264 in the World

Founded: 1958

36. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Chile

#1270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

37. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Optical Engineering

#21 in Brazil

#1283 in the World

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

38. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Colombia

#1302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

39. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Optical Engineering

#22 in Brazil

#1305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

40. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Mexico

#1315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

41. Federal University of Para

Brazil | Belem

For Optical Engineering

#23 in Brazil

#1325 in the World

Founded: 1957

42. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Optical Engineering

#24 in Brazil

#1346 in the World

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

43. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Optical Engineering

#25 in Brazil

#1347 in the World

Founded: 1960

44. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Optical Engineering

#26 in Brazil

#1381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

45. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Optical Engineering

#27 in Brazil

#1413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

46. University of Sonora

Mexico | Hermosillo

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Mexico

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1942

47. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Chile

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

48. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Mexico

#1452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

49. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Mexico

#1458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

50. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Optical Engineering

#28 in Brazil

#1465 in the World

Founded: 1961

51. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Optical Engineering

#29 in Brazil

#1471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

52. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Optical Engineering

#30 in Brazil

#1488 in the World

Founded: 1922

53. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Mexico

#1517 in the World

Founded: 1970

54. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Argentina

#1523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

55. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Optical Engineering

#31 in Brazil

#1548 in the World

Founded: 1970

56. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Argentina

#1555 in the World

Founded: 1956

57. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Argentina

#1585 in the World

Founded: 1968

58. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Optical Engineering

#32 in Brazil

#1601 in the World

Founded: 1969

59. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Optical Engineering

#33 in Brazil

#1607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

60. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Colombia

#1618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

61. University of Havana

Cuba | Havana

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Cuba

#1625 in the World

Founded: 1728

62. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Colombia

#1661 in the World

Founded: 1945

63. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Optical Engineering

#34 in Brazil

#1673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

64. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Venezuela

#1678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

65. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Venezuela

#1689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

66. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Optical Engineering

#35 in Brazil

#1714 in the World

Founded: 1948

67. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Venezuela

#1766 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

68. Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

Mexico | Cuernavaca

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Mexico

#1769 in the World

Founded: 1938

69. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Mexico

#1789 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

70. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Colombia

#1795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

71. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Mexico

#1800 in the World

Founded: 1956

72. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Optical Engineering

#36 in Brazil

#1805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

73. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Optical Engineering

#37 in Brazil

#1828 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

74. University of Paraiba Valley

Brazil | Sao Jose dos Campos

For Optical Engineering

#38 in Brazil

#1839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1954

75. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Chile

#1845 in the World

Founded: 1928

76. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Argentina

#1847 in the World

Founded: 1914

77. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Argentina

#1855 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

78. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Argentina

#1946 in the World

Founded: 1919

79. Autonomous University of Zacatecas

Mexico | Zacatecas

For Optical Engineering

#15 in Mexico

#1948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1959

80. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Optical Engineering

#39 in Brazil

#1951 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

81. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Costa Rica

#1960 in the World

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

82. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Argentina

#1969 in the World

Founded: 1939

83. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Optical Engineering

#40 in Brazil

#1973 in the World

Founded: 1969

84. Peruvian University of Applied Sciences

Peru | Lima

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Peru

#1986 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1994

85. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Optical Engineering

#16 in Mexico

#2071 in the World

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

86. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Optical Engineering

#41 in Brazil

#2115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

87. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Optical Engineering

#42 in Brazil

#2142 in the World

Founded: 1970

88. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Optical Engineering

#17 in Mexico

#2213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

89. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Optical Engineering

#43 in Brazil

#2239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

90. University of Caxias do Sul

Brazil | Caxias do Sul

For Optical Engineering

#44 in Brazil

#2244 in the World

Founded: 1967

91. Federal University of Itajuba

Brazil | Itajuba

For Optical Engineering

#45 in Brazil

#2254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

92. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Peru | Lima

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Peru

#2255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

93. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Chile

#2276 in the World

Founded: 1911

94. University of the West Indies, Mona

Jamaica | Mona

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Jamaica

#2279 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

95. National University of San Luis

Argentina | San Luis

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Argentina

#2292 in the World

Founded: 1973

96. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Colombia

#2307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

97. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Chile

#2314 in the World

Founded: 1954

98. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Ecuador

#2316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

99. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Optical Engineering

#46 in Brazil

#2328 in the World

Founded: 1973

100. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Chile

#2332 in the World

Founded: 1956

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

Mechanical Engineering368

Metallurgical Engineering321

Mining Engineering34

Nanotechnology251

Nuclear Engineering27

Operations Research96

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