Best Surgeons Medical 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 Surgery. A graph of 6.53M citations received by 380K academic papers made by 341 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

#50 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

#176 in the World

Founded: 1933

3. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Surgery

#3 in Brazil

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#4 in Brazil

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

5. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Surgery

#5 in Brazil

#339 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

#350 in the World

Founded: 1934

7. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#7 in Brazil

#379 in the World

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

8. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#1 in Chile

#446 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

9. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#2 in Chile

#456 in the World

Founded: 1842

10. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Surgery

#1 in Argentina

#516 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

11. University Institute of the Italian Hospital

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Surgery

#2 in Argentina

#533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 2000

12. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Surgery

#1 in Mexico

#579 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

13. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Surgery

#8 in Brazil

#586 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

#589 in the World

Founded: 1950

15. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Surgery

#10 in Brazil

#646 in the World

Founded: 1946

16. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Surgery

#11 in Brazil

#655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

17. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Surgery

#12 in Brazil

#668 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

#731 in the World

Founded: 1948

19. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Surgery

#14 in Brazil

#736 in the World

Founded: 1946

20. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Surgery

#15 in Brazil

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

21. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Surgery

#16 in Brazil

#741 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

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

24. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Surgery

#18 in Brazil

#773 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

#791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

26. St. George's University

Grenada | St. George's

For Surgery

#1 in Grenada

#813 in the World

Enrollment: 7,400
Founded: 1976

27. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Surgery

#19 in Brazil

#814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

28. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Surgery

#20 in Brazil

#857 in the World

Founded: 1969

29. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Surgery

#21 in Brazil

#896 in the World

Founded: 1960

30. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Surgery

#22 in Brazil

#899 in the World

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

31. University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Surgery

#23 in Brazil

#903 in the World

Founded: 1990

32. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Surgery

#24 in Brazil

#905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

33. Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University

For Surgery

#1 in Peru

#917 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

#933 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

35. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Surgery

#26 in Brazil

#946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

36. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#950 in the World

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

37. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Surgery

#27 in Brazil

#955 in the World

Founded: 1970

38. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

39. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Surgery

#28 in Brazil

#987 in the World

Founded: 1970

40. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Surgery

#3 in Mexico

#1026 in the World

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

41. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Surgery

#4 in Mexico

#1028 in the World

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

42. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Surgery

#1031 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

43. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Surgery

#5 in Mexico

#1032 in the World

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

44. Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Surgery

#29 in Brazil

#1035 in the World

Founded: 1953

45. University of the West Indies, Mona

For Surgery

#1037 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

46. University of La Frontera

For Surgery

#3 in Chile

#1045 in the World

Founded: 1981

47. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Surgery

#30 in Brazil

#1063 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

48. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Surgery

#1064 in the World

Founded: 1945

49. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Surgery

#31 in Brazil

#1071 in the World

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

50. Nove de Julho University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#32 in Brazil

#1107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

51. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Surgery

#33 in Brazil

#1110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

52. Brasil University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#34 in Brazil

#1146 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1989

53. University for Development

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#4 in Chile

#1156 in the World

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

54. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Surgery

#1 in Venezuela

#1160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

55. Federal University of Para

For Surgery

#35 in Brazil

#1193 in the World

Founded: 1957

56. Lutheran University of Brazil

Brazil | Canoas

For Surgery

#36 in Brazil

#1222 in the World

Founded: 1972

57. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Surgery

#3 in Argentina

#1244 in the World

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

58. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Surgery

#37 in Brazil

#1259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

59. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Surgery

#4 in Argentina

#1260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

60. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Surgery

#38 in Brazil

#1264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

61. El Rosario University

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#1291 in the World

Enrollment: 13,226
Founded: 1653

62. Federal University of Piaui

Brazil | Teresina

For Surgery

#39 in Brazil

#1294 in the World

Founded: 1973

63. University of Health Sciences Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda Flag

Antigua and Barbuda | Dow Hill

For Surgery

#1 in Antigua and Barbuda

#1316 in the World

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

64. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

Brazil | Campo Grande

For Surgery

#40 in Brazil

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

65. El Bosque University

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#1350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1978

66. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Surgery

#5 in Argentina

#1355 in the World

Founded: 1968

67. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Surgery

#6 in Mexico

#1400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 61,152
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. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Surgery

#1438 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

70. National Major San Marcos University

For Surgery

#2 in Peru

#1439 in the World

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

71. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Surgery

#42 in Brazil

#1442 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

72. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#43 in Brazil

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

73. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Surgery

#1 in Costa Rica

#1447 in the World

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

74. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Surgery

#44 in Brazil

#1455 in the World

Founded: 1958

75. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Surgery

#45 in Brazil

#1464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

76. University of the Andes, Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Surgery

#5 in Chile

#1467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1989

77. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Surgery

#46 in Brazil

#1472 in the World

Founded: 1970

78. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Surgery

#6 in Chile

#1480 in the World

Founded: 1954

79. University of Fortaleza

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Surgery

#47 in Brazil

#1482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1973

80. Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Surgery

#48 in Brazil

#1490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1941

81. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Surgery

#7 in Chile

#1515 in the World

Founded: 1920

82. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Surgery

#49 in Brazil

#1523 in the World

Founded: 1961

83. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Surgery

#50 in Brazil

#1553 in the World

Founded: 1922

84. University of La Sabana

Colombia | Chia

For Surgery

#1557 in the World

Founded: 1980

85. National University of Asuncion

Paraguay | Asuncion

For Surgery

#1561 in the World

Enrollment: 55,362
Founded: 1889

86. Western Parana State University

Brazil | Cascavel

For Surgery

#51 in Brazil

#1585 in the World

Founded: 1994

87. State University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Surgery

#52 in Brazil

#1604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

88. University of Passo Fundo

Brazil | Passo Fundo

For Surgery

#53 in Brazil

#1605 in the World

Founded: 1968

89. University of Caxias do Sul

Brazil | Caxias do Sul

For Surgery

#54 in Brazil

#1618 in the World

Founded: 1967

90. Catholic University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Surgery

#55 in Brazil

#1626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1974

91. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Surgery

#1635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

92. Estacio de Sa University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Surgery

#56 in Brazil

#1638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1970

93. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Surgery

#57 in Brazil

#1667 in the World

Founded: 1969

94. University of Cartagena

Colombia | Cartagena

For Surgery

#10 in Colombia

#1670 in the World

Founded: 1827

95. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Surgery

#8 in Chile

#1689 in the World

Founded: 1911

96. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Surgery

#7 in Mexico

#1703 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

97. University of Zulia

Venezuela | Maracaibo

For Surgery

#2 in Venezuela

#1706 in the World

Founded: 1891

98. Positivo University

Brazil | Curitiba

For Surgery

#58 in Brazil

#1715 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1988

99. Pontificia Bolivariana University

Colombia | Medellin

For Surgery

#11 in Colombia

#1720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1937

100. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Surgery

#59 in Brazil

#1726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

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

Public Health366

Radiation Therapy83

Radiology and Nuclear medicine303

Respiratory Therapy58

Sonography and Ultrasound39

Sports / Exercise science106

Sports Medicine177