Best Universities for Ecology 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 Ecology. A graph of 20.1M citations received by 1.02M academic papers made by 402 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 Ecology

#1 in Brazil

#19 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Ecology

#1 in Mexico

#73 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Ecology

#2 in Brazil

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Ecology

#3 in Brazil

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Ecology

#4 in Brazil

#157 in the World

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

6. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Ecology

#5 in Brazil

#206 in the World

Founded: 1934

7. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Ecology

#1 in Argentina

#236 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Ecology

#6 in Brazil

#259 in the World

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

9. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Ecology

#7 in Brazil

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

10. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Ecology

#8 in Brazil

#282 in the World

Founded: 1922

11. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Ecology

#1 in Chile

#371 in the World

Founded: 1842

12. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Ecology

#9 in Brazil

#382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

13. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Ecology

#2 in Mexico

#397 in the World

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

14. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Ecology

#10 in Brazil

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

15. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Ecology

#11 in Brazil

#438 in the World

Founded: 1946

16. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Ecology

#439 in the World

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

17. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Ecology

#12 in Brazil

#447 in the World

Founded: 1960

18. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Ecology

#2 in Chile

#464 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

19. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Ecology

#13 in Brazil

#469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

20. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Ecology

#14 in Brazil

#523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

21. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Ecology

#15 in Brazil

#527 in the World

Founded: 1970

22. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Ecology

#2 in Argentina

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

23. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Ecology

#16 in Brazil

#545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

24. Federal University of Para

For Ecology

#17 in Brazil

#553 in the World

Founded: 1957

25. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Ecology

#3 in Argentina

#581 in the World

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

26. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Ecology

#3 in Chile

#584 in the World

Founded: 1920

27. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Ecology

#1 in Costa Rica

#607 in the World

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

28. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Ecology

#18 in Brazil

#610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

29. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Ecology

#19 in Brazil

#642 in the World

Founded: 1912

30. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Ecology

#20 in Brazil

#668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

31. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Ecology

#21 in Brazil

#690 in the World

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

32. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Ecology

#22 in Brazil

#718 in the World

Founded: 1969

33. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Ecology

#23 in Brazil

#721 in the World

Founded: 1946

34. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Ecology

#24 in Brazil

#730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

35. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Ecology

#25 in Brazil

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

36. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Ecology

#739 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

37. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Ecology

#4 in Chile

#759 in the World

Founded: 1954

38. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Ecology

#3 in Mexico

#801 in the World

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

39. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Ecology

#26 in Brazil

#808 in the World

Founded: 1969

40. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Ecology

#27 in Brazil

#819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

41. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Ecology

#28 in Brazil

#821 in the World

Founded: 1950

42. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Ecology

#4 in Argentina

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

43. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Ecology

#29 in Brazil

#842 in the World

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

44. National University of Comahue

Argentina | Neuquen

For Ecology

#5 in Argentina

#859 in the World

Founded: 1972

45. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Ecology

#883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

46. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Ecology

#30 in Brazil

#888 in the World

Founded: 1970

47. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Ecology

#31 in Brazil

#924 in the World

Founded: 1933

48. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Ecology

#32 in Brazil

#937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

49. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Ecology

#4 in Mexico

#946 in the World

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

50. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Ecology

#33 in Brazil

#952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

51. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Ecology

#34 in Brazil

#992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

52. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Ecology

#5 in Mexico

#1016 in the World

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

53. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Ecology

#1036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

54. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

For Ecology

#35 in Brazil

#1088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

55. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Ecology

#6 in Mexico

#1122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

56. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Ecology

#1 in Venezuela

#1162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

57. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Ecology

#6 in Argentina

#1165 in the World

Founded: 1956

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Ecology

#36 in Brazil

#1166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

59. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Ecology

#1208 in the World

Founded: 1945

60. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Ecology

#37 in Brazil

#1219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

61. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Ecology

#38 in Brazil

#1234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

62. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Ecology

#39 in Brazil

#1237 in the World

Founded: 1948

63. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Ecology

#5 in Chile

#1245 in the World

Founded: 1956

64. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Ecology

#40 in Brazil

#1263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

65. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Ecology

#7 in Mexico

#1287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

66. State University of Feira de Santana

Brazil | Feira de Santana

For Ecology

#41 in Brazil

#1296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

67. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Ecology

#7 in Argentina

#1308 in the World

Founded: 1914

68. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Ecology

#42 in Brazil

#1319 in the World

Founded: 1961

69. Autonomous University of Yucatan

Mexico | Merida

For Ecology

#8 in Mexico

#1322 in the World

Founded: 1812

70. National Major San Marcos University

For Ecology

#1 in Peru

#1344 in the World

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

71. University of the West Indies, Mona

For Ecology

#1369 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

72. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Ecology

#43 in Brazil

#1383 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

73. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Ecology

#44 in Brazil

#1387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

74. University of La Frontera

For Ecology

#6 in Chile

#1402 in the World

Founded: 1981

75. State University of Santa Cruz

Brazil | Ilheus

For Ecology

#45 in Brazil

#1407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

76. Western Parana State University

Brazil | Cascavel

For Ecology

#46 in Brazil

#1419 in the World

Founded: 1994

77. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Ecology

#9 in Mexico

#1420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

78. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Ecology

#47 in Brazil

#1444 in the World

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

79. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Ecology

#1466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

80. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Ecology

#8 in Argentina

#1473 in the World

Founded: 1919

81. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Ecology

#7 in Chile

#1482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

82. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

For Ecology

#10 in Mexico

#1518 in the World

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

83. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Ecology

#8 in Chile

#1537 in the World

Founded: 1928

84. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Ecology

#48 in Brazil

#1545 in the World

Founded: 1973

85. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

Brazil | Mossoro

For Ecology

#49 in Brazil

#1556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1967

86. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Ecology

#50 in Brazil

#1592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

87. National University, Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | Heredia

For Ecology

#2 in Costa Rica

#1612 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1973

88. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Ecology

#11 in Mexico

#1614 in the World

Founded: 1956

89. Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

Mexico | Cuernavaca

For Ecology

#12 in Mexico

#1628 in the World

Founded: 1938

90. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Ecology

#51 in Brazil

#1630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

91. Brasil University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Ecology

#52 in Brazil

#1641 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

92. University of Talca

For Ecology

#9 in Chile

#1650 in the World

Founded: 1981

93. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Ecology

#9 in Argentina

#1684 in the World

Founded: 1968

94. Mato Grosso State University

Brazil | Caceres

For Ecology

#53 in Brazil

#1693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

95. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Ecology

#13 in Mexico

#1699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

96. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Ecology

#10 in Argentina

#1710 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

97. University of Sonora

Mexico | Hermosillo

For Ecology

#14 in Mexico

#1727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1942

98. State University of Paraiba

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Ecology

#54 in Brazil

#1743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1966

99. University of Havana

For Ecology

#1 in Cuba

#1746 in the World

Founded: 1728

100. Federal University of Tocantins

Brazil | Palmas

For Ecology

#55 in Brazil

#1760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2000

Environmental Science subfields in Latin America

Agricultural Science336

Earth science and Geophysics241

Environmental Chemistry244

Environmental Engineering196

Environmental Management311

Geography and Cartography426

Geotechnical Engineering229

Hydrology and Water resources management49

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science311

Mining Engineering36

Oceanography324

Paleontology398

Petrology and Geochemistry162

Urban and Regional planning77

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation283