List of 60 best universities in Chile

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 60 universities in Chile ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 6.94M citations received by 412K academic publications made by 60 universities from Chile, the popularity of 1,273 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Chile

#5 in Latin America

#255 in the World

Founded: 1842

2. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

#10 in Latin America

#363 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

3. University of Concepcion

#36 in Latin America

#876 in the World

Founded: 1920

4. University of Santiago de Chile

#55 in Latin America

#1215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

5. Southern University of Chile

#59 in Latin America

#1333 in the World

Founded: 1954

6. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

#64 in Latin America

#1433 in the World

Founded: 1928

7. Andres Bello University

#73 in Latin America

#1543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

8. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

#77 in Latin America

#1602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

9. University of Valparaiso

#82 in Latin America

#1685 in the World

Founded: 1911

10. University of La Frontera

#84 in Latin America

#1692 in the World

Founded: 1981

11. Diego Portales University

#85 in Latin America

#1695 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1982

12. University for Development

#94 in Latin America

#1822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 16,544
Founded: 1990

13. Catholic University of the North

#96 in Latin America

#1865 in the World

Founded: 1956

14. University of Talca

#101 in Latin America

#1922 in the World

Founded: 1981

15. Adolfo Ibanez University

#110 in Latin America

#1994 in the World

Founded: 1953

16. University of Bio Bio

#136 in Latin America

#2374 in the World

Founded: 1988

17. Autonomous University of Chile

#150 in Latin America

#2560 in the World

Founded: 1989

18. University of the Andes, Chile

#172 in Latin America

#2808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1989

19. University of Tarapaca

#173 in Latin America

#2817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1981

20. Major University

#184 in Latin America

#2975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1988

21. San Sebastian University

#197 in Latin America

#3116 in the World

Founded: 1990

22. Catholic University of the Holy Conception

#204 in Latin America

#3153 in the World

Founded: 1991

23. University of La Serena

#208 in Latin America

#3193 in the World

Founded: 1981

24. Catholic University of the Maule

#214 in Latin America

#3304 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1991

25. Catholic University of Temuco

#235 in Latin America

#3566 in the World

Founded: 1959

26. Alberto Hurtado University

#249 in Latin America

#3701 in the World

Founded: 1997

27. University of Antofagasta

#250 in Latin America

#3712 in the World

Founded: 1981

28. University of Magallanes

#260 in Latin America

#3880 in the World

Founded: 1961

29. Arturo Prat University

#281 in Latin America

#4137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1984

30. Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences

#326 in Latin America

#4717 in the World

Founded: 1889

31. University of Atacama

#327 in Latin America

#4719 in the World

Founded: 1857

32. University of Technology of Chile

#357 in Latin America

#5333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1992

33. University of Los Lagos

#489 in Latin America

#7748 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. Central University of Chile

#490 in Latin America

#7752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1990

35. Metropolitan University of Technology

#491 in Latin America

#7758 in the World

Founded: 1993

36. Finis Terrae University

#495 in Latin America

#7788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1981

37. Playa Ancha University of Educational Sciences

#499 in Latin America

#7843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1947

38. Vina del Mar University

#505 in Latin America

#7962 in the World

Founded: 1989

39. University of Las Americas

#508 in Latin America

#7993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

40. Autonomous University Academy of Christian Humanism

#513 in Latin America

#8036 in the World

Founded: 1975

41. Gabriela Mistral University

#516 in Latin America

#8066 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1981

42. Santo Tomas University, Chile

#527 in Latin America

#8126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1988

43. Catholic University Cardinal Raul Silva Henriquez

#563 in Latin America

#8358 in the World

Founded: 1991

44. UNIACC University

#596 in Latin America

#8637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 4,000
Founded: 1981

45. Bernardo O'Higgins University

#679 in Latin America

#9276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1990

46. University of O'Higgins

#701 in Latin America

#9395 in the World

Founded: 2015

47. University of the Pacific, Chile

#736 in Latin America

#9638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1976

48. Pedro de Valdivia University

#752 in Latin America

#9711 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1987

49. International University SEK

#765 in Latin America

#9769 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. University of Aysen

#790 in Latin America

#9926 in the World

Founded: 2015

51. University of Arts and Social Sciences ARCIS

#813 in Latin America

#10067 in the World

Founded: 1982

52. Chilean Adventist University

#833 in Latin America

#10178 in the World

Founded: 1906

53. La Republica University

#860 in Latin America

#10339 in the World

Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1989

54. Bolivariana University

#904 in Latin America

#10647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1988

55. University of Aconcagua, Chile

#964 in Latin America

#11052 in the World

Founded: 1989

56. Chilean-British University of Santiago

#997 in Latin America

#11201 in the World

Founded: 2006

57. Miguel de Cervantes University

#1051 in Latin America

#11454 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1997

58. UCINF University

#1265 in Latin America

#12339 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1989

59. Ibero-American University of Science and Technology, Chile

#1315 in Latin America

#12575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

60. Los Leones

#1592 in Latin America

#13501 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1981

The best cities to study in Chile based on the number of universities and their ranks are Santiago, Concepcion, Valdivia, and Valparaiso.

Average cost of living for students in Chile is $565 + $66-470 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).