List of 100 best universities in Brazil

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 43.5M citations received by 3.53M academic publications made by 198 universities from Brazil, the popularity of 1,580 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Sao Paulo

#1 in Latin America

#47 in the World

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

2. State University of Campinas

#4 in Latin America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

#5 in Latin America

#244 in the World

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

4. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

#7 in Latin America

#282 in the World

Founded: 1934

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

#8 in Latin America

#307 in the World

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

6. Sao Paulo State University

#9 in Latin America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. Federal University of Santa Catarina

#11 in Latin America

#446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

8. University of Brasilia

#12 in Latin America

#464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

9. Federal University of Parana

#13 in Latin America

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

10. Federal University of Pernambuco

#17 in Latin America

#591 in the World

Founded: 1946

11. Fluminense Federal University

#18 in Latin America

#611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

12. Federal University of Bahia

#19 in Latin America

#640 in the World

Founded: 1946

13. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

#21 in Latin America

#647 in the World

Founded: 1950

14. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

#24 in Latin America

#687 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

15. Federal University of Ceara

#25 in Latin America

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

16. Federal University of Sao Paulo

#26 in Latin America

#702 in the World

Founded: 1933

17. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#30 in Latin America

#759 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

18. Federal University of Sao Carlos

#31 in Latin America

#777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

19. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

#32 in Latin America

#783 in the World

Founded: 1948

20. Federal University of Santa Maria

#33 in Latin America

#786 in the World

Founded: 1960

21. Federal University of Paraiba

#34 in Latin America

#798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

22. Federal University of Goias

#38 in Latin America

#843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Vicosa

#39 in Latin America

#853 in the World

Founded: 1922

24. Federal University of Para

#41 in Latin America

#976 in the World

Founded: 1957

25. State University of Maringa

#43 in Latin America

#1007 in the World

Founded: 1970

26. Federal University of Uberlandia

#44 in Latin America

#1036 in the World

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

27. Federal University of Espirito Santo

#45 in Latin America

#1037 in the World

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

28. Federal University of Pelotas

#46 in Latin America

#1056 in the World

Founded: 1969

29. State University of Londrina

#48 in Latin America

#1067 in the World

Founded: 1970

30. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

#51 in Latin America

#1116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

31. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

#52 in Latin America

#1119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

32. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

#58 in Latin America

#1232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

33. Federal University of Technology - Parana

#61 in Latin America

#1297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

34. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

#62 in Latin America

#1347 in the World

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

35. Federal University of Alagoas

#65 in Latin America

#1389 in the World

Founded: 1961

36. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

#69 in Latin America

#1430 in the World

Founded: 1958

37. Federal University of Sergipe

#70 in Latin America

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

38. Federal University of Lavras

#71 in Latin America

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

39. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

#72 in Latin America

#1472 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

40. Federal University of Piaui

#73 in Latin America

#1478 in the World

Founded: 1973

41. Federal University of Mato Grosso

#74 in Latin America

#1489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

42. Federal University of Amazonas

#75 in Latin America

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

43. Federal University of Maranhao

#79 in Latin America

#1553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

44. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

#81 in Latin America

#1579 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

45. Federal University of ABC

#85 in Latin America

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

46. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

#86 in Latin America

#1661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

47. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

#87 in Latin America

#1668 in the World

Founded: 1969

48. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

#88 in Latin America

#1671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

49. Federal University of Ouro Preto

#92 in Latin America

#1722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

50. State University of Ponta Grossa

#102 in Latin America

#1821 in the World

Founded: 1970

51. University of Caxias do Sul

#104 in Latin America

#1851 in the World

Founded: 1967

52. Western Parana State University

#114 in Latin America

#1950 in the World

Founded: 1994

53. State University of Ceara

#118 in Latin America

#1996 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

54. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

#125 in Latin America

#2054 in the World

Founded: 1912

55. State University of Feira de Santana

Feira de Santana

#128 in Latin America

#2160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

56. University of Fortaleza

#131 in Latin America

#2176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1973

57. University of Passo Fundo

#134 in Latin America

#2240 in the World

Founded: 1968

58. Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

Sao Joao del-Rei

#137 in Latin America

#2283 in the World

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

59. State University of Paraiba

#143 in Latin America

#2333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1966

60. Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

#145 in Latin America

#2360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1941

61. Bahia State University

#161 in Latin America

#2581 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1983

62. Minas Gerais State University

#164 in Latin America

#2604 in the World

Founded: 1989

63. Santa Catarina State University

#166 in Latin America

#2613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

64. Catholic University of Brasilia

#176 in Latin America

#2670 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

65. Nove de Julho University

#178 in Latin America

#2681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

66. University of Pernambuco

#184 in Latin America

#2729 in the World

Founded: 1990

67. Federal University of Campina Grande

#186 in Latin America

#2758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

68. Pontifical Catholic University of Goias

#187 in Latin America

#2767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Founded: 1959

69. Methodist University of Sao Paulo

Sao Bernardo do Campo

#195 in Latin America

#2867 in the World

Founded: 1970

70. Lutheran University of Brazil

#197 in Latin America

#2895 in the World

Founded: 1972

71. Federal University of Itajuba

#199 in Latin America

#2934 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

72. State University of Southwest Bahia

Vitoria da Conquista

#200 in Latin America

#2939 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1980

73. Federal University of Rondonia

#201 in Latin America

#2943 in the World

Founded: 1982

74. State University of Santa Cruz

#205 in Latin America

#3014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

75. University of Ribeirao Preto

#206 in Latin America

#3016 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

76. State University of Montes Claros

#208 in Latin America

#3041 in the World

Founded: 1962

77. Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia

#214 in Latin America

#3080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 2005

78. Federal University of Acre

#216 in Latin America

#3109 in the World

Founded: 1964

79. Catholic University of Pernambuco

#224 in Latin America

#3159 in the World

Founded: 1951

80. Mato Grosso State University

#230 in Latin America

#3257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

81. Salvador University

#231 in Latin America

#3265 in the World

Founded: 1997

82. Estacio de Sa University

#232 in Latin America

#3268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

83. Feevale University

#234 in Latin America

#3300 in the World

Founded: 1969

84. Parana State University

#240 in Latin America

#3355 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2013

85. Para State University

#242 in Latin America

#3416 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1993

86. Federal University of Tocantins

#247 in Latin America

#3502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2000

87. Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre

#253 in Latin America

#3587 in the World

Founded: 1953

88. Catholic University Dom Bosco

#254 in Latin America

#3632 in the World

Founded: 1961

89. Positivo University

#255 in Latin America

#3633 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

90. University of Santa Cruz do Sul

Santa Cruz do Sul

#271 in Latin America

#3815 in the World

Founded: 1993

91. University of Paraiba Valley

Sao Jose dos Campos

#275 in Latin America

#3862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1954

92. Anhembi Morumbi University

#277 in Latin America

#3864 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1972

93. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

#278 in Latin America

#3867 in the World

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

94. Federal University of Western Para

#281 in Latin America

#3916 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1970

95. University of Taubate

#282 in Latin America

#3923 in the World

Founded: 1974

96. Federal University of Grande Dourados

#284 in Latin America

#3957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

97. Sao Francisco University

Braganca Paulista

#293 in Latin America

#4066 in the World

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

98. Federal University of Pampa

#295 in Latin America

#4109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2006

99. FUMEC University

#296 in Latin America

#4122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1965

100. University of Amazon

#297 in Latin America

#4162 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1993

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

Average cost of living for students in Brazil is $435 + $47-336 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).