List of 40 best universities in San Jose, Costa Rica

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 40 universities in San Jose ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 357K citations received by 43.6K academic publications made by 40 universities from San Jose, the popularity of 88 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Costa Rica

#1 in Costa Rica

#29 in Latin America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 30,436
Founded: 1940

2. University of Medical Sciences, Costa Rica

#6 in Costa Rica

#421 in Latin America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

3. Latin American University of Science and Technology

#8 in Costa Rica

#631 in Latin America

Enrollment: 2,559
Founded: 1987

4. University for International Cooperation

#10 in Costa Rica

#665 in Latin America

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1994

5. Cenfotec University

#12 in Costa Rica

#817 in Latin America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2000

6. Hispano-American University

#13 in Costa Rica

#819 in Latin America

Founded: 1992

7. Veritas University

#14 in Costa Rica

#829 in Latin America

Founded: 1976

8. Business University of Costa Rica

#15 in Costa Rica

#862 in Latin America

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1992

9. International University of the Americas

#16 in Costa Rica

#913 in Latin America

Founded: 1986

10. LEAD University

#17 in Costa Rica

#934 in Latin America

Enrollment: 1,500

11. University of Ibero-America

#19 in Costa Rica

#1009 in Latin America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1995

12. International Polytechnic University

#20 in Costa Rica

#1020 in Latin America

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1998

13. Latin American Biblical University

#21 in Costa Rica

#1023 in Latin America

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1997

14. American University, Costa Rica

#22 in Costa Rica

#1064 in Latin America

Founded: 1997

15. Catholic University of Costa Rica

#24 in Costa Rica

#1126 in Latin America

Founded: 1993

16. Free University of Costa Rica

#25 in Costa Rica

#1130 in Latin America

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1993

17. La Salle University of Costa Rica

#27 in Costa Rica

#1138 in Latin America

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1994

18. Panamerican University, Costa Rica

#28 in Costa Rica

#1147 in Latin America

Founded: 1988

19. Creative University

#29 in Costa Rica

#1158 in Latin America

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2000

20. Castro Carazo University

#30 in Costa Rica

#1185 in Latin America

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1996

21. San Marcos University

#32 in Costa Rica

#1211 in Latin America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1996

22. Free University Law School

#33 in Costa Rica

#1247 in Latin America

Founded: 1996

23. Costa Rican University of Technology

#34 in Costa Rica

#1361 in Latin America

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1999

24. Autonomous University of Monterrey

#35 in Costa Rica

#1384 in Latin America

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1994

25. University of Science and Art of Costa Rica

#36 in Costa Rica

#1399 in Latin America

Founded: 1981

26. University of Tourism

#37 in Costa Rica

#1400 in Latin America

Founded: 1996

27. John Paul II University

#39 in Costa Rica

#1412 in Latin America

Founded: 1996

28. Southern Christian University

#40 in Costa Rica

#1426 in Latin America

Founded: 1998

29. Santa Lucia University

#41 in Costa Rica

#1437 in Latin America

Founded: 1996

30. University of San Jose

#42 in Costa Rica

#1448 in Latin America

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1992

31. Santa Paula University

#43 in Costa Rica

#1493 in Latin America

Founded: 1994

32. Evangelical University of the Americas

#44 in Costa Rica

#1514 in Latin America

Founded: 1992

33. Central University, Costa Rica

#45 in Costa Rica

#1541 in Latin America

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1990

34. Federated University of Costa Rica

#47 in Costa Rica

#1563 in Latin America

Founded: 1992

35. Braulio Carrillo University

#48 in Costa Rica

#1610 in Latin America

Founded: 1994

36. Isaac Newton University

#49 in Costa Rica

#1618 in Latin America

Founded: 1995

37. Central American University of Social Sciences

#50 in Costa Rica

#1649 in Latin America

Founded: 2000

38. Continental University of Arts and Sciences

#51 in Costa Rica

#1665 in Latin America

Founded: 1999

39. Independent University of Costa Rica

#52 in Costa Rica

#1724 in Latin America

Founded: 1996

40. San Juan de la Cruz University

#53 in Costa Rica

#1747 in Latin America

Founded: 1996

Universities near San Jose

Distance, km 📏 km	University	Country rank 🏆	City
0	Autonomous University of Centro America	11	Cipreses de Curridabat
3	Magister University	46	San Pedro
4	Latin University of Costa Rica	7	San Pedro
5	Fidelitas University	9	San Pedro
8	National University, Costa Rica	2	Heredia
17	Adventist University of Central America	23	Alajuela
17	University of Business Sciences	54	Alajuela
19	Fundepos Alma Mater University	31	Uruca
20	Florencio del Castillo University of Cartago	18	Cartago
21	Costa Rica Institute of Technology	3	Cartago