List of 100 best universities in Brazil

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Top 100 universities in Brazil ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 26.5M citations received by 2.83M academic publications made by 198 universities from Brazil, the popularity of 1,327 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Sao Paulo

#1 in Latin America

#48 in the World

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

2. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

#3 in Latin America

#225 in the World

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

3. State University of Campinas

#4 in Latin America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

#7 in Latin America

#292 in the World

Founded: 1934

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

#8 in Latin America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1927

6. Sao Paulo State University

#10 in Latin America

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. Federal University of Santa Catarina

#11 in Latin America

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

8. University of Brasilia

#12 in Latin America

#499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

9. Federal University of Parana

#13 in Latin America

#501 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

10. Federal University of Pernambuco

#16 in Latin America

#624 in the World

Founded: 1946

11. Fluminense Federal University

#17 in Latin America

#669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

12. Federal University of Bahia

#18 in Latin America

#673 in the World

Founded: 1946

13. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

#19 in Latin America

#676 in the World

Founded: 1950

14. Federal University of Sao Paulo

#20 in Latin America

#690 in the World

Founded: 1933

15. Federal University of Ceara

#23 in Latin America

#723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

16. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

#25 in Latin America

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

17. Federal University of Sao Carlos

#27 in Latin America

#757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

18. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#31 in Latin America

#816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

19. Federal University of Santa Maria

#32 in Latin America

#853 in the World

Founded: 1960

20. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

#33 in Latin America

#867 in the World

Founded: 1948

21. Federal University of Paraiba

#36 in Latin America

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

22. Federal University of Goias

#37 in Latin America

#918 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Para

#41 in Latin America

#1036 in the World

Founded: 1957

24. Federal University of Vicosa

#42 in Latin America

#1055 in the World

Founded: 1922

25. State University of Londrina

#43 in Latin America

#1095 in the World

Founded: 1970

26. Federal University of Espirito Santo

#44 in Latin America

#1098 in the World

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

27. State University of Maringa

#45 in Latin America

#1106 in the World

Founded: 1970

28. Federal University of Pelotas

#47 in Latin America

#1148 in the World

Founded: 1969

29. Federal University of Uberlandia

#49 in Latin America

#1156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1969

30. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

#51 in Latin America

#1194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

31. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

#53 in Latin America

#1218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

32. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

#57 in Latin America

#1295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

33. Federal University of Technology - Parana

#60 in Latin America

#1357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

34. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

#62 in Latin America

#1406 in the World

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

35. Federal University of Lavras

#68 in Latin America

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

36. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

#69 in Latin America

#1497 in the World

Founded: 1958

37. Federal University of Mato Grosso

#70 in Latin America

#1500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

38. Federal University of Amazonas

#74 in Latin America

#1541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

39. Federal University of Alagoas

#75 in Latin America

#1545 in the World

Founded: 1961

40. Federal University of Sergipe

#77 in Latin America

#1582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

41. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

#78 in Latin America

#1605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

42. Federal University of Piaui

#81 in Latin America

#1645 in the World

Founded: 1973

43. Federal University of ABC

#84 in Latin America

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

44. Federal University of Maranhao

#87 in Latin America

#1725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

45. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

#88 in Latin America

#1733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

46. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

#90 in Latin America

#1776 in the World

Founded: 1969

47. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

#91 in Latin America

#1794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

48. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

#94 in Latin America

#1830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

49. State University of Ponta Grossa

#99 in Latin America

#1906 in the World

Founded: 1970

50. Federal University of Ouro Preto

#104 in Latin America

#1946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

51. University of Caxias do Sul

#108 in Latin America

#1983 in the World

Founded: 1967

52. Western Parana State University

#115 in Latin America

#2085 in the World

Founded: 1994

53. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

#116 in Latin America

#2086 in the World

Founded: 1912

54. State University of Feira de Santana

Feira de Santana

#122 in Latin America

#2163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

55. State University of Ceara

#125 in Latin America

#2201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

56. University of Passo Fundo

#131 in Latin America

#2308 in the World

Founded: 1968

57. University of Fortaleza

#134 in Latin America

#2371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1973

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

#136 in Latin America

#2401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1941

59. State University of Paraiba

#144 in Latin America

#2496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1966

60. Lutheran University of Brazil

#148 in Latin America

#2526 in the World

Founded: 1972

61. Bahia State University

#150 in Latin America

#2545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1983

62. Santa Catarina State University

#152 in Latin America

#2638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

63. Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

Sao Joao del-Rei

#155 in Latin America

#2665 in the World

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

64. Pontifical Catholic University of Goias

#157 in Latin America

#2678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Founded: 1959

65. Methodist University of Sao Paulo

Sao Bernardo do Campo

#158 in Latin America

#2682 in the World

Founded: 1970

66. Catholic University of Brasilia

#168 in Latin America

#2778 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

67. Federal University of Campina Grande

#172 in Latin America

#2826 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

68. Federal University of Acre

#176 in Latin America

#2881 in the World

Founded: 1964

69. Minas Gerais State University

#179 in Latin America

#2897 in the World

Founded: 1989

70. Estacio de Sa University

#180 in Latin America

#2930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

71. Federal University of Itajuba

#183 in Latin America

#2954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

72. State University of Montes Claros

#191 in Latin America

#3076 in the World

Founded: 1962

73. University of Pernambuco

#194 in Latin America

#3093 in the World

Founded: 1990

74. Catholic University of Pernambuco

#195 in Latin America

#3106 in the World

Founded: 1951

75. State University of Santa Cruz

#204 in Latin America

#3153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

76. State University of Southwest Bahia

Vitoria da Conquista

#213 in Latin America

#3280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1980

77. Federal University of Rondonia

#215 in Latin America

#3312 in the World

Founded: 1982

78. Catholic University Dom Bosco

#219 in Latin America

#3355 in the World

Founded: 1961

79. Nove de Julho University

#222 in Latin America

#3423 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

80. Mato Grosso State University

#224 in Latin America

#3447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

81. University of Ribeirao Preto

#225 in Latin America

#3451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

82. Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia

#231 in Latin America

#3509 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 2005

83. Parana State University

#241 in Latin America

#3637 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2013

84. University of Santa Cruz do Sul

Santa Cruz do Sul

#247 in Latin America

#3711 in the World

Founded: 1993

85. Federal University of Tocantins

#248 in Latin America

#3713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2000

86. Federal University of Roraima

#251 in Latin America

#3810 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1989

87. Para State University

#254 in Latin America

#3828 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1993

88. University of Taubate

#259 in Latin America

#3882 in the World

Founded: 1974

89. Salvador University

#264 in Latin America

#3910 in the World

Founded: 1997

90. Federal University of Grande Dourados

#266 in Latin America

#3952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

91. Anhembi Morumbi University

#273 in Latin America

#4023 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1972

92. Federal University of Amapa

#274 in Latin America

#4053 in the World

Founded: 1990

93. University of Northern Parana

#277 in Latin America

#4082 in the World

Enrollment: 200,000
Founded: 1972

94. University of Paraiba Valley

Sao Jose dos Campos

#280 in Latin America

#4105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1954

95. Positivo University

#283 in Latin America

#4130 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

96. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

#285 in Latin America

#4199 in the World

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

97. FUMEC University

#287 in Latin America

#4237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1965

98. Federal University of Pampa

#288 in Latin America

#4238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2006

99. Federal University of Vale do Sao Francisco

#291 in Latin America

#4256 in the World

Founded: 2002

100. Sao Francisco University

Braganca Paulista

#307 in Latin America

#4409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 9,622
Founded: 1976

The best cities to study in Brazil based on the number of universities and their ranks are Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Campinas, and Porto Alegre.

Average cost of living for students in Brazil is $425 + $46-329 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).