List of 100 best universities in Latin America

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 38.7M citations received by 4.28M academic publications made by 1,756 universities from Latin America, the popularity of 6,398 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#1 in Brazil

#51 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

#1 in Mexico

#89 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#2 in Brazil

#239 in the World

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

4. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#1 in Chile

#243 in the World

Founded: 1842

5. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

#3 in Brazil

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

6. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#4 in Brazil

#276 in the World

Founded: 1934

7. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#1 in Argentina

#291 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

8. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#5 in Brazil

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1927

9. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

#2 in Chile

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

10. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#6 in Brazil

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

11. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

#7 in Brazil

#453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1960

12. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

#8 in Brazil

#484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

13. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 54,284
Founded: 1867

14. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#9 in Brazil

#508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1912

15. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

#2 in Argentina

#568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

16. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

#10 in Brazil

#609 in the World

Founded: 1946

17. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

#11 in Brazil

#663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1960

18. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#12 in Brazil

#664 in the World

Founded: 1950

19. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

#13 in Brazil

#669 in the World

Founded: 1946

20. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#14 in Brazil

#675 in the World

Founded: 1933

21. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

#2 in Mexico

#703 in the World

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

22. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

#15 in Brazil

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

23. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

#3 in Mexico

#713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 170,000
Founded: 1936

24. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#16 in Brazil

#714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

25. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

#3 in Argentina

#717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 120,055
Founded: 1613

26. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica | San Jose

#1 in Costa Rica

#726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 30,436
Founded: 1940

27. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

#17 in Brazil

#739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

28. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

#4 in Mexico

#766 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1974

29. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

#769 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

30. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#18 in Brazil

#807 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

31. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

#19 in Brazil

#830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1948

32. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

#20 in Brazil

#834 in the World

Founded: 1960

33. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

#5 in Mexico

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1792

34. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

#3 in Chile

#865 in the World

Founded: 1920

35. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

#21 in Brazil

#878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

36. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

#880 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

37. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

#943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1623

38. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

#22 in Brazil

#948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

39. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

#1 in Peru

#976 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

40. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

#23 in Brazil

#998 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1922

41. Federal University of Para

#24 in Brazil

#1003 in the World

Founded: 1957

42. National Major San Marcos University

#2 in Peru

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 32,399
Founded: 1551

43. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

#25 in Brazil

#1057 in the World

Founded: 1970

44. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

#26 in Brazil

#1066 in the World

Founded: 1970

45. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

#27 in Brazil

#1068 in the World

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

46. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

#6 in Mexico

#1080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1933

47. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

#28 in Brazil

#1112 in the World

Founded: 1969

48. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

#1 in Venezuela

#1116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

49. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

#29 in Brazil

#1130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1969

50. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

#30 in Brazil

#1189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

51. University of the West Indies, Mona

#1196 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

52. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

#4 in Argentina

#1204 in the World

Founded: 1968

53. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#31 in Brazil

#1211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

54. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

#4 in Chile

#1251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1849

55. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

#1259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Founded: 1945

56. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#32 in Brazil

#1269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1959

57. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

#5 in Chile

#1297 in the World

Founded: 1954

58. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

#7 in Mexico

#1299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

59. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

#33 in Brazil

#1309 in the World

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

60. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

#8 in Mexico

#1337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1944

61. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

#1355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

62. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

#34 in Brazil

#1386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1909

63. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

#2 in Venezuela

#1423 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1810

64. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

#9 in Mexico

#1432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1956

65. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

#35 in Brazil

#1456 in the World

Founded: 1958

66. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

#10 in Mexico

#1476 in the World

Founded: 1945

67. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

#5 in Argentina

#1483 in the World

Founded: 1919

68. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

#36 in Brazil

#1497 in the World

Founded: 1961

69. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

#37 in Brazil

#1506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1909

70. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

#38 in Brazil

#1531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

71. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

#1550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

72. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

#6 in Argentina

#1558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

73. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

#6 in Chile

#1559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Founded: 1911

74. Mackenzie Presbyterian University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

#39 in Brazil

#1575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1952

75. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

#7 in Chile

#1577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

76. University of La Frontera

#8 in Chile

#1588 in the World

Founded: 1981

77. University of Havana

#1 in Cuba

#1592 in the World

Founded: 1728

78. Ibero-American University, Mexico City

Mexico | Mexico City

#11 in Mexico

#1596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1943

79. Pontificia Bolivariana University

Colombia | Medellin

#1602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1937

80. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

#40 in Brazil

#1615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

81. National Technological University

Argentina | Buenos Aires

#7 in Argentina

#1623 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1959

82. Diego Portales University

Chile | Santiago

#9 in Chile

#1656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1982

83. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

#41 in Brazil

#1667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1963

84. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

#8 in Argentina

#1685 in the World

Founded: 1939

85. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

#10 in Chile

#1710 in the World

Founded: 1956

86. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

#42 in Brazil

#1745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

87. Autonomous University of Baja California

Mexico | Mexicali

#12 in Mexico

#1753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 67,944
Founded: 1957

88. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

#13 in Mexico

#1765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

89. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

#43 in Brazil

#1787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

90. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

#44 in Brazil

#1796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1969

91. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

#45 in Brazil

#1812 in the World

Founded: 1973

92. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

#46 in Brazil

#1813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

93. University for Development

Chile | Santiago

#11 in Chile

#1826 in the World

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

94. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

#47 in Brazil

#1830 in the World

Founded: 1970

95. Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University

#3 in Peru

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1961

96. National University of Asuncion

Paraguay | Asuncion

#1851 in the World

Enrollment: 55,362
Founded: 1889

97. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

#14 in Mexico

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

98. National University, Costa Rica

Costa Rica | Heredia

#2 in Costa Rica

#1881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1973

99. University of Caxias do Sul

Brazil | Caxias do Sul

#48 in Brazil

#1920 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1967

100. Colegio de Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

#15 in Mexico

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1940