List of 100 best universities in Brazil

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 40.5M citations received by 3.44M academic publications made by 198 universities from Brazil, the popularity of 1,422 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Sao Paulo

#1 in Latin America

#46 in the World

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

2. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

#3 in Latin America

#221 in the World

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

3. State University of Campinas

#4 in Latin America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

#7 in Latin America

#287 in the World

Founded: 1934

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

#8 in Latin America

#309 in the World

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

6. Sao Paulo State University

#9 in Latin America

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. Federal University of Santa Catarina

#11 in Latin America

#452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

8. Federal University of Parana

#12 in Latin America

#482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

9. University of Brasilia

#13 in Latin America

#483 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

10. Federal University of Pernambuco

#16 in Latin America

#602 in the World

Founded: 1946

11. Federal University of Bahia

#18 in Latin America

#646 in the World

Founded: 1946

12. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

#19 in Latin America

#650 in the World

Founded: 1950

13. Fluminense Federal University

#20 in Latin America

#660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

14. Federal University of Sao Paulo

#21 in Latin America

#685 in the World

Founded: 1933

15. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

#24 in Latin America

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

16. Federal University of Ceara

#25 in Latin America

#718 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

17. Federal University of Sao Carlos

#28 in Latin America

#756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

18. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#29 in Latin America

#777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

19. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

#32 in Latin America

#837 in the World

Founded: 1948

20. Federal University of Santa Maria

#34 in Latin America

#851 in the World

Founded: 1960

21. Federal University of Paraiba

#35 in Latin America

#872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

22. Federal University of Goias

#37 in Latin America

#878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Para

#41 in Latin America

#1004 in the World

Founded: 1957

24. Federal University of Vicosa

#42 in Latin America

#1029 in the World

Founded: 1922

25. Federal University of Espirito Santo

#43 in Latin America

#1065 in the World

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

26. State University of Londrina

#44 in Latin America

#1083 in the World

Founded: 1970

27. State University of Maringa

#46 in Latin America

#1089 in the World

Founded: 1970

28. Federal University of Uberlandia

#48 in Latin America

#1125 in the World

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

29. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

#49 in Latin America

#1136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

30. Federal University of Pelotas

#50 in Latin America

#1143 in the World

Founded: 1969

31. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

#51 in Latin America

#1149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

32. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

#56 in Latin America

#1263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

33. Federal University of Technology - Parana

#60 in Latin America

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

34. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

#62 in Latin America

#1386 in the World

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

35. Federal University of Mato Grosso

#67 in Latin America

#1485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

36. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

#68 in Latin America

#1488 in the World

Founded: 1958

37. Federal University of Amazonas

#70 in Latin America

#1494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

38. Federal University of Alagoas

#71 in Latin America

#1524 in the World

Founded: 1961

39. Federal University of Lavras

#72 in Latin America

#1530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

40. Federal University of Sergipe

#76 in Latin America

#1567 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

#80 in Latin America

#1628 in the World

Founded: 1973

43. Federal University of ABC

#81 in Latin America

#1663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

44. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

#83 in Latin America

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

45. Federal University of Maranhao

#86 in Latin America

#1699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

46. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

#88 in Latin America

#1744 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

#93 in Latin America

#1816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

49. State University of Ponta Grossa

#98 in Latin America

#1894 in the World

Founded: 1970

50. Federal University of Ouro Preto

#105 in Latin America

#1954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

51. University of Caxias do Sul

#111 in Latin America

#2000 in the World

Founded: 1967

52. Western Parana State University

#114 in Latin America

#2035 in the World

Founded: 1994

53. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

#115 in Latin America

#2061 in the World

Founded: 1912

54. State University of Feira de Santana

Feira de Santana

#118 in Latin America

#2103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

55. State University of Ceara

#123 in Latin America

#2180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

56. University of Passo Fundo

#132 in Latin America

#2274 in the World

Founded: 1968

57. University of Fortaleza

#134 in Latin America

#2329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1973

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

#137 in Latin America

#2376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1941

59. State University of Paraiba

#141 in Latin America

#2462 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1966

60. Bahia State University

#145 in Latin America

#2474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1983

61. Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

Sao Joao del-Rei

#148 in Latin America

#2551 in the World

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

62. Lutheran University of Brazil

#152 in Latin America

#2579 in the World

Founded: 1972

63. Pontifical Catholic University of Goias

#155 in Latin America

#2637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Founded: 1959

64. Santa Catarina State University

#156 in Latin America

#2657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

65. Methodist University of Sao Paulo

Sao Bernardo do Campo

#162 in Latin America

#2717 in the World

Founded: 1970

66. Federal University of Campina Grande

#169 in Latin America

#2783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

67. Catholic University of Brasilia

#171 in Latin America

#2789 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

68. Minas Gerais State University

#174 in Latin America

#2825 in the World

Founded: 1989

69. Federal University of Acre

#175 in Latin America

#2840 in the World

Founded: 1964

70. Federal University of Itajuba

#185 in Latin America

#2980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

71. State University of Montes Claros

#187 in Latin America

#3014 in the World

Founded: 1962

72. University of Pernambuco

#189 in Latin America

#3022 in the World

Founded: 1990

73. Catholic University of Pernambuco

#191 in Latin America

#3057 in the World

Founded: 1951

74. Estacio de Sa University

#200 in Latin America

#3128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

75. State University of Santa Cruz

#207 in Latin America

#3162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

76. State University of Southwest Bahia

Vitoria da Conquista

#212 in Latin America

#3233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1980

77. Federal University of Rondonia

#218 in Latin America

#3340 in the World

Founded: 1982

78. Catholic University Dom Bosco

#219 in Latin America

#3379 in the World

Founded: 1961

79. Mato Grosso State University

#220 in Latin America

#3412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

80. University of Ribeirao Preto

#221 in Latin America

#3415 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

81. Nove de Julho University

#223 in Latin America

#3426 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

82. Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia

#229 in Latin America

#3486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 2005

83. Parana State University

#238 in Latin America

#3599 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2013

84. Para State University

#242 in Latin America

#3665 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1993

85. Federal University of Tocantins

#245 in Latin America

#3672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2000

86. University of Santa Cruz do Sul

Santa Cruz do Sul

#246 in Latin America

#3689 in the World

Founded: 1993

87. Salvador University

#253 in Latin America

#3782 in the World

Founded: 1997

88. University of Taubate

#261 in Latin America

#3885 in the World

Founded: 1974

89. Federal University of Grande Dourados

#266 in Latin America

#3943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

90. Anhembi Morumbi University

#267 in Latin America

#3945 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1972

91. Federal University of Roraima

#269 in Latin America

#3997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1989

92. University of Northern Parana

#275 in Latin America

#4047 in the World

Enrollment: 200,000
Founded: 1972

93. Positivo University

#279 in Latin America

#4091 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

94. University of Paraiba Valley

Sao Jose dos Campos

#280 in Latin America

#4119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1954

95. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

#286 in Latin America

#4204 in the World

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

96. FUMEC University

#287 in Latin America

#4206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1965

97. Federal University of Vale do Sao Francisco

#290 in Latin America

#4254 in the World

Founded: 2002

98. Federal University of Amapa

#291 in Latin America

#4258 in the World

Founded: 1990

99. Federal University of Pampa

#292 in Latin America

#4283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2006

100. Sao Francisco University

Braganca Paulista

#306 in Latin America

#4416 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 $398 + $43-307 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).