Best universities in Latin America 2024

By seeta.bhardwa@…, 12 November, 2024

Top 10 universities in Latin America 2024

Latin America Rank 2024Latin America Rank 2023UniversityCountryWorld University Rank 2025
12University of São PauloBrazil=199
23University of CampinasBrazil351–400
311Federal University of Rio de JaneiroBrazil601–800
41Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileChile501–600
510Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)Brazil801–1000
68Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)Brazil601–800
=74Tecnológico de MonterreyMexico601–800
=76Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulBrazil601–800
99University of ChileChile1001–1200
1012Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaBrazil1001–1200

 

If you are looking to study at one of the top universities in Latin America, heading to Brazil might be your best bet, based on the results of the 2024 Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings. The country has an impressive 69 universities in the league table.

The 2024 ranking includes 214 institutions in 16 countries.

The University of São Paulo has claimed the first place position this year, knocking Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile off the top spot, ending the Chilean institution’s five-year run at number one.

Colombia is another good choice for students looking to study in Latin America, with 38 universities in the ranking. Other countries with a strong presence include Chile (32 universities) and Mexico (26).

The Latin America University Rankings use the same methodology as THE’s World University Rankings, but some of the indicators have been recalibrated to reflect the profile of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The full methodology can be found here.

1. University of São Paulo, Brazil

The University of São Paulo is Brazil’s oldest and largest university. Four of its 11 campuses are in São Paulo, while the remaining campuses are in the cities of Bauru, Lorena, Piracicaba, Pirassununga, Ribeirão Preto and São Carlos, which has two.

The university has many recreational activities and facilities, including museums and galleries, two theatres, a cinema, a TV channel and an orchestra.

Five hospitals are affiliated with the institution, including the University of São Paulo Medical School Public Hospital, which is a major training hospital for the university’s School of Medicine.

2. University of Campinas, Brazil

The University of Campinas, or Unicamp, is based in the city of Campinas in the São Paulo region of Brazil.

Although it is one of Brazil’s youngest universities (it was founded in 1964), Unicamp has established itself as a primary medical and scientific research centre. The institution is responsible for about 15 per cent of academic research conducted in Brazil.

International undergraduates will need to sit an exam before acceptance. The exam requires prospective students to have a good grasp of Portuguese.

Neither domestic nor international students pay tuition fees, as is the case in all state-run universities in Brazil.

The university offers 66 undergraduate programmes and 152 postgraduate programmes across four main areas: exact sciences, human sciences, biological sciences, and technologies.

3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, sometimes known as the "University of Brazil" and commonly abbreviated to UFRJ, is one of the largest and best-known universities in Brazil. It was founded by the Brazilian state in 1792.

The university operates across a number of campuses and facilities throughout Rio de Janeiro, but is primarily focused on Ilha do Fundão, an artificial island off the western shore of Rio’s famous Guanabara Bay. This campus, known as College City, offers a huge range of services and activities for students, including a free shuttle bus services for crossing Rio de Janeiro, various restaurants and cafes, a sports centre, as well as accommodation for students.

4. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile

The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is one of six private Catholic universities in Chile and one of two pontifical universities in the country.

Founded in 1888, the university originally taught law, mathematics, legal sciences and physical sciences. However, the course catalogue has since expanded to include subjects such as theology, philosophy, commerce and technology.

Four of the university’s campuses are located in Santiago, Chile’s capital and its cultural, political and financial centre, home to the headquarters of many multinational companies.

The fifth campus is in Villarrica, next to the city’s lake.

5. Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Brazil

Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) was created in 1976 through the merger of a range of institutions in São Paulo.

Unesp has 34 centres in 24 cities, including one in the capital and one on the coast of São Paulo, more specifically in the city of São Vicente.

Unesp offers 136 undergraduate courses and 150 postgraduate programmes in a range of subjects including health, engineering, communications, humanities, arts, social sciences and theoretical sciences.

The university’s various campuses are also home to a diverse range of contemporary artworks, historical artefacts, farms, museums and a zoo, as well as hospitals and libraries.


The 50 top universities in Latin America 2024

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results

Latin America Rank 2024Latin America Rank 2023UniversityCountryWorld University Rank 2025
12University of São PauloBrazil=199
23University of CampinasBrazil351–400
311Federal University of Rio de JaneiroBrazil601–800
41Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileChile501–600
510Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)Brazil801–1000
68Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)Brazil601–800
=74Tecnológico de MonterreyMexico601–800
=76Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulBrazil601–800
99University of ChileChile1001–1200
1012Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaBrazil1001–1200
115Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Brazil801–1000
1214University of the Andes, ColombiaColombia1001–1200
137Federal University of Minas GeraisBrazil801–1000
1416Federal University of São CarlosBrazil1201–1500
1515National Autonomous University of MexicoMexico801–1000
1619Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR)Brazil1201–1500
1713Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS)Brazil1001–1200
1817University of BrasíliaBrazil1201–1500
=1921Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ)Brazil1501+
=1923Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)Brazil1501+
21=28Federal University of PernambucoBrazil1501+
2218Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC)Brazil1201–1500
2324Federal University of ViçosaBrazil1501+
2420National University of ColombiaColombia1501+
2532Federal University of LavrasBrazil1201–1500
26=36Fluminense Federal UniversityBrazil1501+
27=28Federal University of Santa MariaBrazil1201–1500
28NRNational University of La PlataArgentina1501+
2926Universidade Federal da BahiaBrazil1501+
3038University of Santiago, Chile (USACH)Chile1501+
3139University of HavanaCuba1501+
3241University of the Andes, ChileChile1501+
3322University of ConcepciónChile1201–1500
3435Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)Brazil1501+
3540Pontifical Catholic University of PeruPeru1501+
=3630Pontifical Javeriana UniversityColombia1501+
=36=33University of AntioquiaColombia1201–1500
3850Universidade Estadual de MaringáBrazil1501+
3943Pontifical Catholic University of ValparaísoChile1501+
=4031Metropolitan Autonomous UniversityMexico1501+
=40=33Universidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaPeru1001–1200
42NRFederal University of PelotasBrazil1501+
=4327Austral UniversityArgentina1001–1200
=4356Unisinos UniversityBrazil1201–1500
4551Londrina State UniversityBrazil1501+
4647Pontifícia Universidade Católica do ParanáBrazil1201–1500
4748National University of CórdobaArgentina1501+
48=45Federal University of UberlândiaBrazil1201–1500
4949Federal University of Espírito SantoBrazil1501+
5060Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN)Mexico1501+

 

 

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Explore the best universities in Latin America from data collected by Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings

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