Best Surgeons Medical Schools in Latin America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Latin America ranked based on their research performance in Surgery. A graph of 6.09M citations received by 364K academic papers made by 338 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 Surgery

#1 in Brazil

#51 in the World

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

2. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#2 in Brazil

#177 in the World

Founded: 1933

3. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Surgery

#3 in Brazil

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#4 in Brazil

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Surgery

#5 in Brazil

#342 in the World

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

6. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Surgery

#6 in Brazil

#351 in the World

Founded: 1934

7. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#7 in Brazil

#378 in the World

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

8. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#1 in Chile

#448 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

9. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#2 in Chile

#452 in the World

Founded: 1842

10. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Surgery

#1 in Argentina

#511 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

11. University Institute of the Italian Hospital

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Surgery

#2 in Argentina

#532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 2000

12. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Surgery

#1 in Mexico

#577 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

13. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Surgery

#8 in Brazil

#587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

14. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#9 in Brazil

#588 in the World

Founded: 1950

15. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Surgery

#10 in Brazil

#647 in the World

Founded: 1946

16. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Surgery

#11 in Brazil

#659 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

17. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Surgery

#12 in Brazil

#667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

18. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Surgery

#13 in Brazil

#727 in the World

Founded: 1948

19. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Surgery

#14 in Brazil

#735 in the World

Founded: 1946

20. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Surgery

#15 in Brazil

#740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

21. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Surgery

#16 in Brazil

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

22. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Surgery

#17 in Brazil

#743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

23. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Surgery

#746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

24. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Surgery

#18 in Brazil

#772 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

25. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Surgery

#2 in Mexico

#795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

26. St. George's University

Grenada | St. George's

For Surgery

#1 in Grenada

#809 in the World

Enrollment: 7,400
Founded: 1976

27. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Surgery

#19 in Brazil

#813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

28. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Surgery

#20 in Brazil

#852 in the World

Founded: 1969

29. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Surgery

#21 in Brazil

#893 in the World

Founded: 1960

30. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Surgery

#22 in Brazil

#897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

31. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Surgery

#23 in Brazil

#899 in the World

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

32. University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Surgery

#24 in Brazil

#902 in the World

Founded: 1990

33. Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University

For Surgery

#1 in Peru

#905 in the World

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

34. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Surgery

#25 in Brazil

#935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

35. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#945 in the World

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

36. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Surgery

#26 in Brazil

#948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

37. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Surgery

#27 in Brazil

#951 in the World

Founded: 1970

38. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

39. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Surgery

#28 in Brazil

#989 in the World

Founded: 1970

40. University of the West Indies, Mona

For Surgery

#1010 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

41. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Surgery

#1020 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

42. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Surgery

#3 in Mexico

#1026 in the World

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

43. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Surgery

#4 in Mexico

#1030 in the World

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

44. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Surgery

#5 in Mexico

#1031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 1792

45. Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Surgery

#29 in Brazil

#1033 in the World

Founded: 1953

46. University of La Frontera

For Surgery

#3 in Chile

#1036 in the World

Founded: 1981

47. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Surgery

#1053 in the World

Founded: 1945

48. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Surgery

#30 in Brazil

#1059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

49. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Surgery

#31 in Brazil

#1068 in the World

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

50. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Surgery

#32 in Brazil

#1113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

51. Nove de Julho University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#33 in Brazil

#1120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

52. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Surgery

#1 in Venezuela

#1137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

53. Brasil University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#34 in Brazil

#1140 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

54. University for Development

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#4 in Chile

#1160 in the World

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

55. Federal University of Para

For Surgery

#35 in Brazil

#1199 in the World

Founded: 1957

56. Lutheran University of Brazil

Brazil | Canoas

For Surgery

#36 in Brazil

#1201 in the World

Founded: 1972

57. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Surgery

#3 in Argentina

#1217 in the World

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

58. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Surgery

#4 in Argentina

#1238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

59. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#37 in Brazil

#1244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

60. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Surgery

#38 in Brazil

#1280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

61. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Surgery

#39 in Brazil

#1293 in the World

Founded: 1973

62. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#1301 in the World

Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

63. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Surgery

#5 in Argentina

#1335 in the World

Founded: 1968

64. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Surgery

#40 in Brazil

#1344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

65. El Bosque University

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#1359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1978

66. University of Health Sciences Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda Flag

Antigua and Barbuda | Dow Hill

For Surgery

#1 in Antigua and Barbuda

#1382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1982

67. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Surgery

#6 in Mexico

#1385 in the World

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

68. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#41 in Brazil

#1418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

69. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#42 in Brazil

#1420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

70. National Major San Marcos University

For Surgery

#2 in Peru

#1423 in the World

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

71. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Surgery

#43 in Brazil

#1433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

72. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Surgery

#44 in Brazil

#1434 in the World

Founded: 1958

73. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Surgery

#1 in Costa Rica

#1441 in the World

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

74. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#1445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

75. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Surgery

#5 in Chile

#1457 in the World

Founded: 1954

76. Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Surgery

#45 in Brazil

#1467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1941

77. University of the Andes, Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#6 in Chile

#1474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1989

78. University of Fortaleza

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Surgery

#46 in Brazil

#1477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1973

79. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Surgery

#47 in Brazil

#1478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

80. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Surgery

#48 in Brazil

#1487 in the World

Founded: 1970

81. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Surgery

#7 in Chile

#1498 in the World

Founded: 1920

82. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Surgery

#49 in Brazil

#1515 in the World

Founded: 1961

83. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Surgery

#50 in Brazil

#1546 in the World

Founded: 1922

84. National University of Asuncion

Paraguay | Asuncion

For Surgery

#1556 in the World

Enrollment: 55,362
Founded: 1889

85. Western Parana State University

Brazil | Cascavel

For Surgery

#51 in Brazil

#1579 in the World

Founded: 1994

86. Estacio de Sa University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#52 in Brazil

#1580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

87. University of Passo Fundo

Brazil | Passo Fundo

For Surgery

#53 in Brazil

#1586 in the World

Founded: 1968

88. University of La Sabana

Colombia | Chia

For Surgery

#1587 in the World

Founded: 1980

89. State University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Surgery

#54 in Brazil

#1592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

90. University of Caxias do Sul

Brazil | Caxias do Sul

For Surgery

#55 in Brazil

#1606 in the World

Founded: 1967

91. Catholic University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Surgery

#56 in Brazil

#1629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

92. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Surgery

#1630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

93. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Surgery

#57 in Brazil

#1641 in the World

Founded: 1969

94. University of Cartagena

Colombia | Cartagena

For Surgery

#10 in Colombia

#1657 in the World

Founded: 1827

95. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Surgery

#8 in Chile

#1673 in the World

Founded: 1911

96. University of Zulia

Venezuela | Maracaibo

For Surgery

#2 in Venezuela

#1691 in the World

Founded: 1891

97. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Surgery

#7 in Mexico

#1692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

98. University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Criciuma

For Surgery

#58 in Brazil

#1718 in the World

Founded: 1968

99. Positivo University

Brazil | Curitiba

For Surgery

#59 in Brazil

#1723 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

100. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Surgery

#60 in Brazil

#1732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

Medicine subfields in Latin America

Anatomy and Physiology310

Anesthesiology216

Bioethics/Medical Ethics72

Biomedical Engineering83

Clinical Psychology218

Critical Care Nursing170

Epidemiology117

Family medicine210

Forensic Science42

Gastroenterology and Hepatology182

Health Science255

Healthcare Management (MHA)173

Medical Physics34

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)256

Occupational Therapy54

Oncology and Cancer research239

Ophthalmology80

Orthodontics159

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine148

Pharmacology250

Physical Therapy253

Plastic Surgery70

Public Health363

Radiation Therapy81

Radiology and Nuclear medicine301

Respiratory Therapy58

Sonography and Ultrasound35

Sports / Exercise science105

Sports Medicine171