Best Universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 30.3M citations received by 1.61M academic papers made by 419 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 Physics

#1 in Brazil

#74 in the World

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

2. National Autonomous University of Mexico

Mexico | Mexico City

For Physics

#1 in Mexico

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 360,883
Founded: 1551

3. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Physics

#2 in Brazil

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Physics

#3 in Brazil

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

5. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Physics

#4 in Brazil

#342 in the World

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

6. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Physics

#5 in Brazil

#401 in the World

Founded: 1934

7. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Physics

#6 in Brazil

#481 in the World

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

8. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Physics

#1 in Argentina

#489 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

9. National Polytechnic Institute

Mexico | Mexico City

For Physics

#2 in Mexico

#490 in the World

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

10. University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Physics

#1 in Chile

#499 in the World

Founded: 1842

11. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Physics

#7 in Brazil

#520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

12. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Physics

#8 in Brazil

#541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

13. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Physics

#2 in Chile

#642 in the World

Enrollment: 33,971
Founded: 1888

14. National University of La Plata

Argentina | La Plata

For Physics

#2 in Argentina

#654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1905

15. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Physics

#9 in Brazil

#763 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

16. National University of Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Physics

#776 in the World

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

17. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Physics

#10 in Brazil

#784 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

18. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Physics

#11 in Brazil

#805 in the World

Founded: 1946

19. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Physics

#12 in Brazil

#822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

20. Metropolitan Autonomous University

Mexico | Mexico City

For Physics

#3 in Mexico

#851 in the World

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

21. National University of Cordoba

Argentina | Cordoba

For Physics

#3 in Argentina

#880 in the World

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

22. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Physics

#13 in Brazil

#903 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

23. University of Concepcion

Chile | Concepcion

For Physics

#3 in Chile

#917 in the World

Founded: 1920

24. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Physics

#14 in Brazil

#920 in the World

Founded: 1960

25. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Physics

#15 in Brazil

#952 in the World

Founded: 1933

26. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Physics

#16 in Brazil

#955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

27. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Physics

#17 in Brazil

#963 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

28. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Physics

#18 in Brazil

#970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

29. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Physics

#19 in Brazil

#1019 in the World

Founded: 1950

30. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Physics

#20 in Brazil

#1099 in the World

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

31. Monterrey Institute of Technology

Mexico | Monterrey

For Physics

#4 in Mexico

#1107 in the World

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

32. Federico Santa Maria Technical University

Chile | Valparaiso

For Physics

#4 in Chile

#1131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1931

33. University of Santiago de Chile

Chile | Santiago

For Physics

#5 in Chile

#1148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1849

34. Autonomous University of Puebla

Mexico | Delicias

For Physics

#5 in Mexico

#1151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1587

35. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Physics

#21 in Brazil

#1160 in the World

Founded: 1970

36. University of the Republic

Uruguay | Montevideo

For Physics

#1199 in the World

Enrollment: 209,129
Founded: 1833

37. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Physics

#22 in Brazil

#1202 in the World

Founded: 1946

38. Federal University of Vicosa

Brazil | Vicosa

For Physics

#23 in Brazil

#1217 in the World

Founded: 1922

39. University of Guanajuato

Mexico | Guanajuato

For Physics

#6 in Mexico

#1261 in the World

Enrollment: 44,503
Founded: 1945

40. Federal University of ABC

Brazil | Santo Andre

For Physics

#24 in Brazil

#1265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2005

41. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Physics

#25 in Brazil

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

42. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Physics

#26 in Brazil

#1281 in the World

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

43. University of Antioquia

Colombia | Medellin

For Physics

#1307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1803

44. Federal University of Para

For Physics

#27 in Brazil

#1358 in the World

Founded: 1957

45. University of America in Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Physics

#1383 in the World

Founded: 1958

46. Federal University of Technology - Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Physics

#28 in Brazil

#1393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1909

47. University of the Northeast

Mexico | Tampico

For Physics

#7 in Mexico

#1397 in the World

Founded: 1970

48. Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon

Mexico | San Nicolas de los Garza

For Physics

#8 in Mexico

#1406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1933

49. Federal University of Lavras

Brazil | Lavras

For Physics

#29 in Brazil

#1414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1908

50. National University of Mar del Plata

Argentina | Mar del Plata

For Physics

#4 in Argentina

#1424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1975

51. Federal University of Campina Grande

Brazil | Campina Grande

For Physics

#30 in Brazil

#1428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 2002

52. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Physics

#31 in Brazil

#1436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

53. National University of the South

Argentina | Bahia Blanca

For Physics

#5 in Argentina

#1447 in the World

Founded: 1956

54. Federal University of Pelotas

Brazil | Pelotas

For Physics

#32 in Brazil

#1449 in the World

Founded: 1969

55. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi

Mexico | San Luis Potosi

For Physics

#9 in Mexico

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1859

56. University of the Andes, Colombia

Colombia | Bogota

For Physics

#1457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1949

57. Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Physics

#1 in Venezuela

#1516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

58. Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo

Mexico | Morelia

For Physics

#10 in Mexico

#1531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1540

59. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Physics

#33 in Brazil

#1534 in the World

Founded: 1970

60. National University of Rosario

Argentina | Rosario

For Physics

#6 in Argentina

#1546 in the World

Founded: 1968

61. University of Guadalajara

Mexico | Guadalajara

For Physics

#11 in Mexico

#1547 in the World

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

62. University of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Flag

Costa Rica | San Jose

For Physics

#1 in Costa Rica

#1586 in the World

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

63. Central University of Venezuela

Venezuela | Caracas

For Physics

#2 in Venezuela

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1721

64. University of the Valley

Colombia | Cali

For Physics

#1613 in the World

Founded: 1945

65. Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Physics

#6 in Chile

#1700 in the World

Founded: 1928

66. Federal University of Itajuba

Brazil | Itajuba

For Physics

#34 in Brazil

#1730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1913

67. University of Havana

For Physics

#1 in Cuba

#1768 in the World

Founded: 1728

68. Federal Foundation University of Rio Grande

Brazil | Rio Grande

For Physics

#35 in Brazil

#1769 in the World

Founded: 1969

69. University of the Andes

Venezuela | Merida

For Physics

#3 in Venezuela

#1798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1810

70. National University of Litoral

Argentina | Santa Fe

For Physics

#7 in Argentina

#1813 in the World

Founded: 1919

71. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Physics

#36 in Brazil

#1837 in the World

Founded: 1948

72. Autonomous University of the State of Morelos

Mexico | Cuernavaca

For Physics

#12 in Mexico

#1849 in the World

Founded: 1938

73. Federal University of Alagoas

Brazil | Maceio

For Physics

#37 in Brazil

#1851 in the World

Founded: 1961

74. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Physics

#38 in Brazil

#1867 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

75. University of Ribeirao Preto

Brazil | Ribeirao Preto

For Physics

#39 in Brazil

#1874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1924

76. Industrial University of Santander

Colombia | Bucaramanga

For Physics

#1904 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1948

77. University of Sonora

Mexico | Hermosillo

For Physics

#13 in Mexico

#1912 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1942

78. Federal University of Ouro Preto

Brazil | Ouro Preto

For Physics

#40 in Brazil

#1935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

79. Autonomous University of the State of Mexico

Mexico | Toluca

For Physics

#14 in Mexico

#1937 in the World

Founded: 1956

80. Andres Bello University

Chile | Santiago

For Physics

#7 in Chile

#1999 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

81. National University of Rio Cuarto

Argentina | Rio Cuarto

For Physics

#8 in Argentina

#2034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

82. Catholic University of the North

Chile | Antofagasta

For Physics

#8 in Chile

#2090 in the World

Founded: 1956

83. National University of San Luis

Argentina | San Luis

For Physics

#9 in Argentina

#2093 in the World

Founded: 1973

84. State University of Ponta Grossa

Brazil | Ponta Grossa

For Physics

#41 in Brazil

#2094 in the World

Founded: 1970

85. National University of Cuyo

Argentina | Mendoza

For Physics

#10 in Argentina

#2121 in the World

Founded: 1939

86. Southern University of Chile

Chile | Valdivia

For Physics

#9 in Chile

#2122 in the World

Founded: 1954

87. Santa Catarina State University

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Physics

#42 in Brazil

#2135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

88. National Polytechnic School, Ecuador

Ecuador | Quito

For Physics

#2142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1869

89. University of Talca

For Physics

#10 in Chile

#2146 in the World

Founded: 1981

90. Federal University of Maranhao

Brazil | Sao Luis

For Physics

#43 in Brazil

#2171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1966

91. National University of Tucuman

Argentina | San Miguel de Tucuman

For Physics

#11 in Argentina

#2173 in the World

Founded: 1914

92. Autonomous University of Queretaro

Mexico | Queretaro

For Physics

#15 in Mexico

#2189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1951

93. Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Physics

#44 in Brazil

#2218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1959

94. University of La Frontera

For Physics

#11 in Chile

#2224 in the World

Founded: 1981

95. Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Physics

#45 in Brazil

#2242 in the World

Founded: 1912

96. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

For Physics

#1 in Peru

#2264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1917

97. Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

Brazil | Sao Joao del-Rei

For Physics

#46 in Brazil

#2270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 12,446
Founded: 1987

98. Pontifical Javeriana University

Colombia | Bogota

For Physics

#2318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1623

99. University of the West Indies, Mona

For Physics

#2324 in the World

Enrollment: 49,092
Founded: 1948

100. University of Valparaiso

Chile | Valparaiso

For Physics

#12 in Chile

#2329 in the World

Founded: 1911

Physics subfields in Latin America

Acoustical Engineering277

Applied/Engineering Physics41

Astrophysics and Astronomy305

Atomic and Molecular physics129

Condensed Matter Physics169

Materials Science371

Medical Physics37

Nanotechnology261

Nuclear Physics214

Optical Engineering343

Quantum and Particle physics392

Theoretical Physics144