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

#46 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

#221 in the World

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

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

#3 in Brazil

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#1 in Chile

#255 in the World

Founded: 1842

6. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#1 in Argentina

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

7. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#4 in Brazil

#287 in the World

Founded: 1934

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#5 in Brazil

#309 in the World

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

9. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#6 in Brazil

#360 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

#452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

12. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#8 in Brazil

#482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

13. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

#9 in Brazil

#483 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

14. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#493 in the World

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

15. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

#2 in Argentina

#570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

16. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

#10 in Brazil

#602 in the World

Founded: 1946

17. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

#2 in Mexico

#618 in the World

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

18. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

#11 in Brazil

#646 in the World

Founded: 1946

19. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#12 in Brazil

#650 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

#13 in Brazil

#660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

21. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#14 in Brazil

#685 in the World

Founded: 1933

22. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

#3 in Mexico

#686 in the World

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

23. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

#3 in Argentina

#703 in the World

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

24. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#15 in Brazil

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

25. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

#16 in Brazil

#718 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

26. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#728 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

27. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

#1 in Costa Rica

#754 in the World

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

28. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

#17 in Brazil

#756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

29. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#18 in Brazil

#777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

30. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

#778 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

31. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

#4 in Mexico

#807 in the World

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

32. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#19 in Brazil

#837 in the World

Founded: 1948

33. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

#5 in Mexico

#849 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

34. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

#20 in Brazil

#851 in the World

Founded: 1960

35. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

#21 in Brazil

#872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

36. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

#3 in Chile

#876 in the World

Founded: 1920

37. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

#22 in Brazil

#878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

38. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

39. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

#1 in Peru

#954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

40. National Major San Marcos University

#2 in Peru

#957 in the World

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

41. Federal University of Para

#23 in Brazil

#1004 in the World

Founded: 1957

42. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

#24 in Brazil

#1029 in the World

Founded: 1922

43. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

#25 in Brazil

#1065 in the World

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

44. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

#26 in Brazil

#1083 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

#6 in Mexico

#1086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

46. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

#27 in Brazil

#1089 in the World

Founded: 1970

47. University of the West Indies, Mona

#1122 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

48. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

#28 in Brazil

#1125 in the World

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

49. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#29 in Brazil

#1136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

50. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

#30 in Brazil

#1143 in the World

Founded: 1969

51. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

#31 in Brazil

#1149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

52. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

#1 in Venezuela

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

53. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

#7 in Mexico

#1191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

54. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

#4 in Argentina

#1195 in the World

Founded: 1968

55. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

#4 in Chile

#1215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

56. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#32 in Brazil

#1263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

57. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

#1273 in the World

Founded: 1945

58. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

#8 in Mexico

#1332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

59. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

#5 in Chile

#1333 in the World

Founded: 1954

60. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#33 in Brazil

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

61. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

#1365 in the World

Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

62. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

#34 in Brazil

#1386 in the World

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

63. Ibero-American University, Mexico City

Mexico | Mexico City

#9 in Mexico

#1416 in the World

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

64. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#6 in Chile

#1433 in the World

Founded: 1928

65. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

#1458 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

66. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

#10 in Mexico

#1469 in the World

Founded: 1956

67. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

#35 in Brazil

#1485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

68. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#36 in Brazil

#1488 in the World

Founded: 1958

69. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

#11 in Mexico

#1489 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

70. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

#37 in Brazil

#1494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

71. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

#38 in Brazil

#1524 in the World

Founded: 1961

72. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

#39 in Brazil

#1530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

73. Andres Bello University

Chile | Santiago

#7 in Chile

#1543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

74. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

#5 in Argentina

#1552 in the World

Founded: 1919

75. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

#2 in Venezuela

#1561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

76. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

#40 in Brazil

#1567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

77. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

#8 in Chile

#1602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

78. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#41 in Brazil

#1605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

79. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

#6 in Argentina

#1612 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

80. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

#42 in Brazil

#1628 in the World

Founded: 1973

81. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

#43 in Brazil

#1663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

82. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#9 in Chile

#1685 in the World

Founded: 1911

83. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

#44 in Brazil

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

84. University of La Frontera

#10 in Chile

#1692 in the World

Founded: 1981

85. Diego Portales University

Chile | Santiago

#11 in Chile

#1695 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1982

86. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

#45 in Brazil

#1699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

87. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#7 in Argentina

#1730 in the World

Founded: 1959

88. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

#46 in Brazil

#1744 in the World

Founded: 1969

89. Pontificia Bolivariana University

Colombia | Medellin

#1762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1937

90. University of Havana

#1 in Cuba

#1780 in the World

Founded: 1728

91. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

#47 in Brazil

#1794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

92. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

#12 in Mexico

#1803 in the World

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

93. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#48 in Brazil

#1816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

94. University for Development

Chile | Santiago

#12 in Chile

#1822 in the World

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

95. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

#13 in Mexico

#1860 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

96. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

#13 in Chile

#1865 in the World

Founded: 1956

97. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

#14 in Mexico

#1890 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

98. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

#49 in Brazil

#1894 in the World

Founded: 1970

99. San Francisco de Quito University

Ecuador | Quito

#1897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

100. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

#8 in Argentina

#1899 in the World

Founded: 1939