List of 100 best universities in Latin America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 100 universities in Latin America ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 74.9M citations received by 6.06M academic publications made by 1,756 universities from Latin America, the popularity of 8,461 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#1 in Brazil

#47 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

#1 in Mexico

#93 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#1 in Chile

#230 in the World

Founded: 1842

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

#2 in Brazil

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#3 in Brazil

#244 in the World

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

6. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#1 in Argentina

#269 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

7. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#4 in Brazil

#282 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#5 in Brazil

#307 in the World

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

9. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#6 in Brazil

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

10. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#2 in Chile

#363 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

11. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

#7 in Brazil

#446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

12. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

#8 in Brazil

#464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

13. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#9 in Brazil

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

14. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 54,284
Founded: 1867

15. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

#2 in Argentina

#564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

16. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

#2 in Mexico

#571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 170,000
Founded: 1936

17. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

#10 in Brazil

#591 in the World

Founded: 1946

18. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

#11 in Brazil

#611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

19. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

#12 in Brazil

#640 in the World

Founded: 1946

20. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

#3 in Mexico

#642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 61,152
Founded: 1974

21. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#13 in Brazil

#647 in the World

Founded: 1950

22. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

#4 in Mexico

#669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1943

23. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

#3 in Argentina

#685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 178,288
Founded: 1613

24. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#14 in Brazil

#687 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

25. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

#15 in Brazil

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

26. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#16 in Brazil

#702 in the World

Founded: 1933

27. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

28. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

#721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

29. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

#1 in Costa Rica

#737 in the World

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

30. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#17 in Brazil

#759 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

31. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

#18 in Brazil

#777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

32. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#19 in Brazil

#783 in the World

Founded: 1948

33. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

#20 in Brazil

#786 in the World

Founded: 1960

34. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

#21 in Brazil

#798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

35. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

#3 in Chile

#801 in the World

Founded: 1920

36. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

#819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

37. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

#5 in Mexico

#827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 339,508
Founded: 1792

38. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

#22 in Brazil

#843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

39. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

#23 in Brazil

#853 in the World

Founded: 1922

40. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

#1 in Peru

#888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

41. Federal University of Para

#24 in Brazil

#976 in the World

Founded: 1957

42. National Major San Marcos University

#2 in Peru

#989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 32,399
Founded: 1551

43. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

#25 in Brazil

#1007 in the World

Founded: 1970

44. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

#26 in Brazil

#1036 in the World

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

45. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

#27 in Brazil

#1037 in the World

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

46. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

#28 in Brazil

#1056 in the World

Founded: 1969

47. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

#6 in Mexico

#1065 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

48. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

#29 in Brazil

#1067 in the World

Founded: 1970

49. University of the West Indies, Mona

#1112 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

50. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

#1 in Venezuela

#1113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

51. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#30 in Brazil

#1116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

52. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

#31 in Brazil

#1119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

53. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

#7 in Mexico

#1181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

54. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

#4 in Chile

#1188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

55. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

#1189 in the World

Founded: 1945

56. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

#4 in Argentina

#1226 in the World

Founded: 1968

57. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

#8 in Mexico

#1227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#32 in Brazil

#1232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

59. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

#1251 in the World

Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

60. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

#5 in Chile

#1294 in the World

Founded: 1954

61. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#33 in Brazil

#1297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

62. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

#34 in Brazil

#1347 in the World

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

63. Ibero-American University, Mexico City

Mexico | Mexico City

#9 in Mexico

#1366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1943

64. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#6 in Chile

#1377 in the World

Founded: 1928

65. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

#35 in Brazil

#1389 in the World

Founded: 1961

66. Andres Bello University

Chile | Santiago

#7 in Chile

#1396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

67. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

#10 in Mexico

#1414 in the World

Founded: 1956

68. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

#11 in Mexico

#1422 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

69. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#36 in Brazil

#1430 in the World

Founded: 1958

70. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

#37 in Brazil

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

71. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

#38 in Brazil

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

72. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#39 in Brazil

#1472 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

73. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

#40 in Brazil

#1478 in the World

Founded: 1973

74. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

#41 in Brazil

#1489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

75. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

#42 in Brazil

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

76. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

#5 in Argentina

#1493 in the World

Founded: 1919

77. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

#1527 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

78. Diego Portales University

Chile | Santiago

#8 in Chile

#1549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1982

79. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

#43 in Brazil

#1553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

80. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

#12 in Mexico

#1560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

81. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

#44 in Brazil

#1579 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

82. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

#2 in Venezuela

#1580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

83. University of La Frontera

#9 in Chile

#1611 in the World

Founded: 1981

84. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

#6 in Argentina

#1620 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

85. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

#45 in Brazil

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

86. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

#46 in Brazil

#1661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

87. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

#47 in Brazil

#1668 in the World

Founded: 1969

88. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#48 in Brazil

#1671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

89. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#10 in Chile

#1676 in the World

Founded: 1911

90. Pontificia Bolivariana University

Colombia | Medellin

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1937

91. University of Havana

#1 in Cuba

#1708 in the World

Founded: 1728

92. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

#49 in Brazil

#1722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

93. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#7 in Argentina

#1734 in the World

Founded: 1959

94. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

#1744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

95. University of Talca

#11 in Chile

#1753 in the World

Founded: 1981

96. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

#12 in Chile

#1762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

97. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

#13 in Chile

#1779 in the World

Founded: 1956

98. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

#13 in Mexico

#1794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 67,944
Founded: 1957

99. San Francisco de Quito University

Ecuador | Quito

#1799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

100. University for Development

Chile | Santiago

#14 in Chile

#1813 in the World

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