Best Public Health Schools in Latin America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Latin America ranked based on their research performance in Public Health. A graph of 7.32M citations received by 332K academic papers made by 366 universities in Latin America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Public Health

#1 in Brazil

#38 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Public Health

#1 in Mexico

#199 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Public Health

#2 in Brazil

#208 in the World

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

4. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Public Health

#3 in Brazil

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

5. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Public Health

#4 in Brazil

#229 in the World

Founded: 1934

6. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Public Health

#5 in Brazil

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

7. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Public Health

#6 in Brazil

#277 in the World

Founded: 1933

8. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Public Health

#7 in Brazil

#280 in the World

Founded: 1969

9. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Public Health

#8 in Brazil

#293 in the World

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

10. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Public Health

#1 in Chile

#309 in the World

Founded: 1842

11. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Public Health

#2 in Chile

#407 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

12. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Public Health

#1 in Argentina

#413 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

13. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Public Health

#9 in Brazil

#427 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

14. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Public Health

#10 in Brazil

#436 in the World

Founded: 1946

15. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Public Health

#11 in Brazil

#445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

16. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Public Health

#12 in Brazil

#457 in the World

Founded: 1950

17. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Public Health

#13 in Brazil

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

18. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Public Health

#14 in Brazil

#552 in the World

Founded: 1946

19. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Public Health

#15 in Brazil

#569 in the World

Founded: 1922

20. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Public Health

#16 in Brazil

#582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

21. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Public Health

#611 in the World

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

22. Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University

For Public Health

#1 in Peru

#615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1961

23. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Public Health

#618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

24. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Public Health

#2 in Mexico

#649 in the World

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

25. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Public Health

#17 in Brazil

#656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

26. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Public Health

#18 in Brazil

#660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

27. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Public Health

#2 in Argentina

#705 in the World

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

28. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Public Health

#19 in Brazil

#725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

29. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Public Health

#3 in Mexico

#738 in the World

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

30. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Public Health

#20 in Brazil

#744 in the World

Founded: 1970

31. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Public Health

#748 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

32. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Public Health

#1 in Costa Rica

#776 in the World

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

33. Federal University of Para

For Public Health

#21 in Brazil

#782 in the World

Founded: 1957

34. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Public Health

#22 in Brazil

#804 in the World

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

35. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Public Health

#23 in Brazil

#812 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

36. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Public Health

#823 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

37. University of the West Indies, Mona

For Public Health

#835 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

38. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Public Health

#24 in Brazil

#838 in the World

Founded: 1970

39. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Public Health

#25 in Brazil

#843 in the World

Founded: 1960

40. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Public Health

#26 in Brazil

#856 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

41. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Public Health

#4 in Mexico

#858 in the World

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

42. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Public Health

#27 in Brazil

#870 in the World

Founded: 1948

43. Brasil University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Public Health

#28 in Brazil

#874 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

44. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Public Health

#3 in Argentina

#891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

45. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Public Health

#3 in Chile

#914 in the World

Founded: 1920

46. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Public Health

#29 in Brazil

#915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

47. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Public Health

#923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

48. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Public Health

#30 in Brazil

#959 in the World

Founded: 1969

49. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Public Health

#31 in Brazil

#1005 in the World

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

50. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Public Health

#32 in Brazil

#1038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

51. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Public Health

#33 in Brazil

#1058 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

52. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Public Health

#4 in Chile

#1085 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Public Health

#34 in Brazil

#1111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

54. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Public Health

#1127 in the World

Founded: 1945

55. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Public Health

#5 in Mexico

#1132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

56. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Public Health

#35 in Brazil

#1133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

57. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Public Health

#6 in Mexico

#1192 in the World

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

58. National University of Comahue

Argentina | Neuquen

For Public Health

#4 in Argentina

#1201 in the World

Founded: 1972

59. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Public Health

#36 in Brazil

#1205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

60. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Public Health

#37 in Brazil

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

61. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Public Health

#1 in Venezuela

#1235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

62. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Public Health

#38 in Brazil

#1242 in the World

Founded: 1912

63. University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Public Health

#39 in Brazil

#1247 in the World

Founded: 1990

64. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

For Public Health

#1263 in the World

Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

65. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Public Health

#40 in Brazil

#1266 in the World

Founded: 1973

66. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Public Health

#41 in Brazil

#1294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

67. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Public Health

#42 in Brazil

#1298 in the World

Founded: 1961

68. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Public Health

#43 in Brazil

#1321 in the World

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

69. Federal University of Amazonas

Brazil | Manaus

For Public Health

#44 in Brazil

#1345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1909

70. University of Veracruz

Mexico | Xalapa

For Public Health

#7 in Mexico

#1370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1944

71. State University of Paraiba

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Public Health

#45 in Brazil

#1386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1966

72. University of La Frontera

For Public Health

#5 in Chile

#1395 in the World

Founded: 1981

73. University Institute of the Italian Hospital

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Public Health

#5 in Argentina

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 2000

74. National Major San Marcos University

For Public Health

#2 in Peru

#1430 in the World

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

75. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Public Health

#6 in Argentina

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

76. Autonomous University of Yucatan

Mexico | Merida

For Public Health

#8 in Mexico

#1454 in the World

Founded: 1812

77. Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Public Health

#46 in Brazil

#1468 in the World

Founded: 1953

78. Estacio de Sa University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Public Health

#47 in Brazil

#1474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

79. State University of Montes Claros

Brazil | Montes Claros

For Public Health

#48 in Brazil

#1475 in the World

Founded: 1962

80. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Public Health

#6 in Chile

#1484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

81. Catholic University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Public Health

#49 in Brazil

#1492 in the World

Founded: 1960

82. Lutheran University of Brazil

Brazil | Canoas

For Public Health

#50 in Brazil

#1534 in the World

Founded: 1972

83. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Public Health

#7 in Argentina

#1541 in the World

Founded: 1968

84. Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Public Health

#1543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

85. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Public Health

#51 in Brazil

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

86. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Public Health

#7 in Chile

#1580 in the World

Founded: 1956

87. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Public Health

#9 in Mexico

#1584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

88. University of Cartagena

Colombia | Cartagena

For Public Health

#1628 in the World

Founded: 1827

89. State University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Public Health

#52 in Brazil

#1633 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

90. State University of Feira de Santana

Brazil | Feira de Santana

For Public Health

#53 in Brazil

#1666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1976

91. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Public Health

#1675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

92. State University of Santa Cruz

Brazil | Ilheus

For Public Health

#54 in Brazil

#1698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1972

93. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Public Health

#10 in Mexico

#1727 in the World

Founded: 1956

94. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Public Health

#55 in Brazil

#1729 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

95. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Public Health

#56 in Brazil

#1737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

96. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Public Health

#1750 in the World

Founded: 1958

97. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Public Health

#2 in Venezuela

#1758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

98. Catholic University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Public Health

#57 in Brazil

#1767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

99. University of Zulia

Venezuela | Maracaibo

For Public Health

#3 in Venezuela

#1769 in the World

Founded: 1891

100. University of Havana

For Public Health

#1 in Cuba

#1770 in the World

Founded: 1728

Medicine subfields in Latin America

Anatomy and Physiology311

Anesthesiology220

Bioethics/Medical Ethics74

Biomedical Engineering84

Clinical Psychology221

Critical Care Nursing177

Epidemiology121

Family medicine217

Forensic Science42

Gastroenterology and Hepatology185

Health Science258

Healthcare Management (MHA)177

Medical Physics37

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)261

Occupational Therapy56

Oncology and Cancer research245

Ophthalmology84

Orthodontics164

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine157

Pharmacology250

Physical Therapy258

Plastic Surgery74

Radiation Therapy83

Radiology and Nuclear medicine303

Respiratory Therapy58

Sonography and Ultrasound39

Sports / Exercise science106

Sports Medicine177