List of 100 best universities in Brazil

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 17.7M citations received by 1.54M academic publications made by 198 universities from Brazil, the popularity of 1,204 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

#230 in the World

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

3. State University of Campinas

#5 in Latin America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

4. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

#6 in Latin America

#263 in the World

Founded: 1934

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

#7 in Latin America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1927

6. Sao Paulo State University

#10 in Latin America

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. Federal University of Santa Catarina

#11 in Latin America

#429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1960

8. University of Brasilia

#12 in Latin America

#477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

9. Federal University of Parana

#14 in Latin America

#500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1912

10. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

#18 in Latin America

#623 in the World

Founded: 1950

11. Federal University of Pernambuco

#19 in Latin America

#625 in the World

Founded: 1946

12. Federal University of Bahia

#20 in Latin America

#644 in the World

Founded: 1946

13. Federal University of Sao Paulo

#21 in Latin America

#648 in the World

Founded: 1933

14. Fluminense Federal University

#22 in Latin America

#668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1960

15. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

#26 in Latin America

#709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

16. Federal University of Ceara

#27 in Latin America

#712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

17. Federal University of Sao Carlos

#31 in Latin America

#787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

18. Federal University of Santa Maria

#32 in Latin America

#797 in the World

Founded: 1960

19. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

#33 in Latin America

#801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1948

20. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#34 in Latin America

#815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

21. Federal University of Paraiba

#37 in Latin America

#841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

22. Federal University of Goias

#40 in Latin America

#933 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Vicosa

#42 in Latin America

#975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1922

24. Federal University of Para

#43 in Latin America

#1014 in the World

Founded: 1957

25. State University of Londrina

#44 in Latin America

#1022 in the World

Founded: 1970

26. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

#45 in Latin America

#1046 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

27. Federal University of Espirito Santo

#47 in Latin America

#1056 in the World

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

28. State University of Maringa

#48 in Latin America

#1058 in the World

Founded: 1970

29. Federal University of Pelotas

#50 in Latin America

#1071 in the World

Founded: 1969

30. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

#54 in Latin America

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1959

31. Federal University of Uberlandia

#55 in Latin America

#1232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1969

32. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

#57 in Latin America

#1245 in the World

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

33. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

#58 in Latin America

#1247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

34. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

#62 in Latin America

#1397 in the World

Founded: 1958

35. Federal University of Alagoas

#68 in Latin America

#1487 in the World

Founded: 1961

36. Federal University of Amazonas

#71 in Latin America

#1521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1909

37. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

#74 in Latin America

#1525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

38. Federal University of Mato Grosso

#75 in Latin America

#1551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

39. Federal University of Sergipe

#79 in Latin America

#1585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1963

40. Federal University of ABC

#81 in Latin America

#1588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

41. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

#87 in Latin America

#1669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

42. Federal University of Maranhao

#88 in Latin America

#1678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

43. State University of Ponta Grossa

#96 in Latin America

#1760 in the World

Founded: 1970

44. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

#97 in Latin America

#1773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

45. Federal University of Piaui

#98 in Latin America

#1780 in the World

Founded: 1973

46. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

#99 in Latin America

#1790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1969

47. University of Caxias do Sul

#101 in Latin America

#1816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1967

48. Federal University of Technology - Parana

#108 in Latin America

#1905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1909

49. Federal University of Ouro Preto

#110 in Latin America

#1914 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 1969

50. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

#116 in Latin America

#2086 in the World

Founded: 1912

51. State University of Feira de Santana

Feira de Santana

#119 in Latin America

#2126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

52. State University of Ceara

#127 in Latin America

#2208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

53. Lutheran University of Brazil

#128 in Latin America

#2221 in the World

Founded: 1972

54. Western Parana State University

#130 in Latin America

#2260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1994

55. Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

#132 in Latin America

#2316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1941

56. University of Passo Fundo

#134 in Latin America

#2323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1968

57. Santa Catarina State University

#141 in Latin America

#2381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1965

58. State University of Paraiba

#143 in Latin America

#2400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1966

59. Pontifical Catholic University of Goias

#145 in Latin America

#2407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Founded: 1959

60. University of Fortaleza

#154 in Latin America

#2507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1973

61. Methodist University of Sao Paulo

Sao Bernardo do Campo

#156 in Latin America

#2542 in the World

Founded: 1970

62. Federal University of Lavras

#157 in Latin America

#2545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

63. Catholic University of Brasilia

#159 in Latin America

#2563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

64. Estacio de Sa University

#160 in Latin America

#2571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

65. Federal University of Acre

#163 in Latin America

#2633 in the World

Founded: 1964

66. Federal University of Campina Grande

#164 in Latin America

#2640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

67. Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

Sao Joao del-Rei

#166 in Latin America

#2653 in the World

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

68. Federal University of Itajuba

#170 in Latin America

#2688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1913

69. University of Pernambuco

#183 in Latin America

#2832 in the World

Founded: 1990

70. State University of Santa Cruz

#186 in Latin America

#2875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

71. Federal University of Roraima

#189 in Latin America

#2913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1989

72. Minas Gerais State University

#191 in Latin America

#2957 in the World

Founded: 1989

73. Catholic University of Pernambuco

#192 in Latin America

#2959 in the World

Founded: 1951

74. State University of Southwest Bahia

Vitoria da Conquista

#207 in Latin America

#3199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1980

75. Federal University of Rondonia

#211 in Latin America

#3255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

76. Catholic University Dom Bosco

#212 in Latin America

#3256 in the World

Founded: 1961

77. Federal University of Vale do Sao Francisco

#223 in Latin America

#3407 in the World

Founded: 2002

78. Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia

#226 in Latin America

#3455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 2005

79. University of Santa Cruz do Sul

Santa Cruz do Sul

#232 in Latin America

#3514 in the World

Founded: 1993

80. State University of Montes Claros

#238 in Latin America

#3621 in the World

Founded: 1962

81. Federal University of Amapa

#244 in Latin America

#3691 in the World

Founded: 1990

82. Federal University of Tocantins

#246 in Latin America

#3736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2000

83. Federal University of Grande Dourados

#250 in Latin America

#3777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

84. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

#257 in Latin America

#3828 in the World

Founded: 1969

85. Anhembi Morumbi University

#258 in Latin America

#3842 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1972

86. University of Taubate

#259 in Latin America

#3845 in the World

Founded: 1974

87. Nove de Julho University

#263 in Latin America

#3881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

88. Sao Francisco University

Braganca Paulista

#271 in Latin America

#4012 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1976

89. Positivo University

#273 in Latin America

#4032 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

90. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

#274 in Latin America

#4037 in the World

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

91. University of Northern Parana

#276 in Latin America

#4069 in the World

Enrollment: 200,000
Founded: 1972

92. Feevale University

#278 in Latin America

#4080 in the World

Founded: 1969

93. Catholic University of Pelotas

#282 in Latin America

#4126 in the World

Founded: 1960

94. University of Taquari Valley

#287 in Latin America

#4158 in the World

Founded: 1969

95. FUMEC University

#291 in Latin America

#4187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1965

96. Federal University of Pampa

#297 in Latin America

#4266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2006

97. University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina

#300 in Latin America

#4306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1968

98. State University of Piaui

#301 in Latin America

#4321 in the World

Founded: 1988

99. Salvador University

#302 in Latin America

#4374 in the World

Founded: 1997

100. Catholic University of Santos

#303 in Latin America

#4381 in the World

Founded: 1986

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 $384 + $41-291 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).