List of 100 best universities in Latin America

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 69.6M citations received by 5.9M academic publications made by 1,756 universities from Latin America, the popularity of 7,505 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

#90 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#2 in Brazil

#225 in the World

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

4. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#1 in Chile

#235 in the World

Founded: 1842

5. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

#3 in Brazil

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

6. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#1 in Argentina

#273 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

7. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#4 in Brazil

#289 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#5 in Brazil

#293 in the World

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

9. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#6 in Brazil

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

10. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#2 in Chile

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

11. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

#7 in Brazil

#435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

12. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

#8 in Brazil

#453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

13. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#457 in the World

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

14. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#9 in Brazil

#485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

15. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

#2 in Argentina

#542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

16. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

#2 in Mexico

#590 in the World

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

17. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

#10 in Brazil

#612 in the World

Founded: 1946

18. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#11 in Brazil

#622 in the World

Founded: 1950

19. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

#12 in Brazil

#630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

20. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

#13 in Brazil

#654 in the World

Founded: 1946

21. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

#14 in Brazil

#680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

22. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#15 in Brazil

#689 in the World

Founded: 1933

23. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

#3 in Mexico

#690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 92,736
Founded: 1943

24. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

#3 in Argentina

#706 in the World

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

25. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#16 in Brazil

#708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

26. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

27. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#17 in Brazil

#745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

28. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

#746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

29. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

#1 in Costa Rica

#762 in the World

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

30. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

#18 in Brazil

#764 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

31. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#19 in Brazil

#812 in the World

Founded: 1948

32. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

#4 in Mexico

#818 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 61,908
Founded: 1974

33. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

#20 in Brazil

#837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

34. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

#3 in Chile

#841 in the World

Founded: 1920

35. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

#5 in Mexico

#866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

36. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

#21 in Brazil

#868 in the World

Founded: 1960

37. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

#22 in Brazil

#891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

38. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

#911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

39. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

#1 in Peru

#925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

40. National Major San Marcos University

#2 in Peru

#968 in the World

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

41. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

#23 in Brazil

#985 in the World

Founded: 1922

42. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

#24 in Brazil

#1022 in the World

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

43. Federal University of Para

#25 in Brazil

#1023 in the World

Founded: 1957

44. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

#26 in Brazil

#1038 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

#6 in Mexico

#1044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

46. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

#27 in Brazil

#1049 in the World

Founded: 1970

47. University of the West Indies, Mona

#1081 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

48. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

#28 in Brazil

#1083 in the World

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

49. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

#29 in Brazil

#1099 in the World

Founded: 1969

50. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

#1 in Venezuela

#1145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

51. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#30 in Brazil

#1155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

52. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

#4 in Argentina

#1160 in the World

Founded: 1968

53. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

#31 in Brazil

#1170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

54. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

#7 in Mexico

#1209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

55. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#32 in Brazil

#1224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

56. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

#1231 in the World

Founded: 1945

57. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

#4 in Chile

#1232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

58. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

#8 in Mexico

#1282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

59. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

#5 in Chile

#1284 in the World

Founded: 1954

60. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#33 in Brazil

#1293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

61. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

#34 in Brazil

#1344 in the World

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

62. Ibero-American University, Mexico City

Mexico | Mexico City

#9 in Mexico

#1372 in the World

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

63. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

#1377 in the World

Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

64. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#6 in Chile

#1395 in the World

Founded: 1928

65. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

#10 in Mexico

#1431 in the World

Founded: 1956

66. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

#35 in Brazil

#1478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

67. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

#1480 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

68. Andres Bello University

Chile | Santiago

#7 in Chile

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

69. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

#36 in Brazil

#1503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

70. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#37 in Brazil

#1507 in the World

Founded: 1958

71. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

#11 in Mexico

#1508 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

72. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

#38 in Brazil

#1515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

73. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

#39 in Brazil

#1542 in the World

Founded: 1961

74. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#40 in Brazil

#1552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

75. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

#5 in Argentina

#1555 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

76. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

#6 in Argentina

#1575 in the World

Founded: 1919

77. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

#2 in Venezuela

#1586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

78. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

#41 in Brazil

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

79. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

#8 in Chile

#1630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

80. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

#42 in Brazil

#1643 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

81. University of La Frontera

#9 in Chile

#1647 in the World

Founded: 1981

82. Diego Portales University

Chile | Santiago

#10 in Chile

#1649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1982

83. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

#43 in Brazil

#1651 in the World

Founded: 1973

84. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

#44 in Brazil

#1656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

85. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

#12 in Mexico

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

86. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

#45 in Brazil

#1683 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

87. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

#13 in Mexico

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

88. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#11 in Chile

#1708 in the World

Founded: 1911

89. Pontificia Bolivariana University

Colombia | Medellin

#1709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1937

90. University of Havana

#1 in Cuba

#1731 in the World

Founded: 1728

91. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

#12 in Chile

#1732 in the World

Founded: 1956

92. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

#46 in Brazil

#1742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

93. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#7 in Argentina

#1757 in the World

Founded: 1959

94. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#47 in Brazil

#1772 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

95. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

#48 in Brazil

#1775 in the World

Founded: 1969

96. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

#49 in Brazil

#1834 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

97. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

#14 in Mexico

#1840 in the World

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

98. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

#8 in Argentina

#1857 in the World

Founded: 1939

99. University for Development

Chile | Santiago

#13 in Chile

#1861 in the World

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

100. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

#1868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948