South America is home to a diverse array of universities, each with its own unique strengths and traditions. The region’s top universities are consistently ranked among the best in the world, and they offer a wide range of academic programs in a variety of disciplines.
Argentina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA): The University of Buenos Aires is the largest and most prestigious university in Argentina. It is a public university with over 300,000 students. UBA offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo (USP): The University of São Paulo is the largest and most prestigious university in Brazil. It is a public university with over 100,000 students. USP offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP): The University of Campinas is a public university located in Campinas, Brazil. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Brazil and is known for its strong research programs. UNICAMP offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ): The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is a public university located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Brazil. UFRJ offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Chile
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC): The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is a private university located in Santiago, Chile. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Chile and is known for its strong research programs. PUC offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
- Universidad de Chile (UCH): The University of Chile is a public university located in Santiago, Chile. It is the oldest university in Chile and is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. UCH offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Colombia
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL): The National University of Colombia is a public university with campuses throughout Colombia. It is the largest and most prestigious university in Colombia. UNAL offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
- Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes): The University of the Andes is a private university located in Bogotá, Colombia. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Colombia and is known for its strong research programs. Uniandes offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Ecuador
- Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE): The Central University of Ecuador is a public university located in Quito, Ecuador. It is the oldest university in Ecuador and is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. UCE offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Peru
- Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM): The National University of Major San Marcos is a public university located in Lima, Peru. It is the oldest university in Peru and is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. UNMSM offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Uruguay
- Universidad de la República (UDELAR): The University of the Republic is a public university located in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is the only public university in Uruguay and is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. UDELAR offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
Venezuela
- Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV): The Central University of Venezuela is a public university located in Caracas, Venezuela. It is the oldest and most prestigious university in Venezuela. UCV offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
- Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB): The Simón Bolívar University is a public university located in Caracas, Venezuela. It is a relatively new university, but it has quickly become one of the most prestigious universities in Venezuela. USB offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines.
This is just a brief overview of some of the many country universities in South America. Each university has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to do your research before deciding which university is right for you.
List Of Best 100 Universities In South America By QS Ranking 2024
| Rank | University | Location | Country | QS Stars |
| 1 | Universidade de São Paulo | São Paulo | Brazil | 100 |
| 2 | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile | Santiago | Chile | 99.1 |
| 3 | Universidade Estadual de Campinas | Campinas | Brazil | 98.8 |
| 4 | Universidad de Chile | Santiago | Chile | 97.3 |
| 5 | Universidad de los Andes | Bogotá | Colombia | 96 |
| 6 | Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 94.7 |
| 7 | Universidad de Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 91.9 |
| 8 | UNESP | São Paulo State | Brazil | 90.8 |
| 9 | Universidad de Concepción | Concepción | Chile | 90 |
| 10 | Universidad Nacional de Colombia | Bogotá | Colombia | 89.5 |
| 11 | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | Lima | Peru | 88.8 |
| 12 | Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais | Belo Horizonte | Brazil | 86.7 |
| 13 | Universidad de Santiago de Chile | Santiago | Chile | 85.9 |
| 14 | Pontificia Universidad Javeriana | Bogotá | Colombia | 84.9 |
| 15 | Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 84.7 |
| 16 | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | Mexico City | Mexico | 84.2 |
| 17 | Universidad de los Andes – Facultad de Ingeniería | Bogotá | Colombia | 83.5 |
| 18 | Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey | Monterrey | Mexico | 83.2 |
| 19 | Universidad de la República | Montevideo | Uruguay | 82.9 |
| 20 | Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos | Lima | Peru | 82.7 |
| 21 | Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana | Medellín | Colombia | 81.9 |
| 22 | Universidad de São Paulo – Ribeirão Preto | Ribeirão Preto | Brazil | 81.7 |
| 23 | Universidad Católica de Chile – Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas | Santiago | Chile | 81.2 |
| 24 | Universidad de Antioquia | Medellín | Colombia | 81.1 |
| 25 | Universidad Católica de Chile – Facultad de Medicina | Santiago | Chile | 80.3 |
| 26 | Universidad de Brasilia | Brasília | Brazil | 80 |
| 27 | Universidad Nacional de Córdoba | Córdoba | Argentina | 79.9 |
| 28 | Universidad de Valparaíso | Valparaíso | Chile | 79.4 |
| 29 | Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia | Lima | Peru | 79.3 |
| 30 | Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería | Lima | Peru | 79 |
| 31 | Universidad de la Frontera | Temuco | Chile | 78.7 |
| 32 | Universidad de Puerto Rico – Recinto Río Piedras | San Juan | Puerto Rico | 78.5 |
| 33 | Universidad Católica de Chile – Facultad de Matemáticas | Santiago | Chile | 78.5 |
| 34 | Universidad Católica del Norte | Antofagasta | Chile | 78.3 |
| 35 | Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina | Florianópolis | Brazil | 78.2 |
| 36 | Universidad Federal Fluminense | Niterói | Brazil | 77.9 |
| 37 | Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas | Lima | Peru | 77.8 |
| 38 | Universidad de Carabobo | Valencia | Venezuela | 77.7 |
| 39 | Universidad Central de Venezuela | Caracas | Venezuela | 77.6 |
| 40 | Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos – Facultad de Medicina | Lima | Peru | 77.6 |
| 41 | Universidad Católica de Chile – Facultad de Ingeniería | Santiago | Chile | 77.5 |
| 42 | Universidad Simón Bolívar | Caracas | Venezuela | 77.4 |
| 43 | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 77.4 |
| 44 | Pontificia Universidad Javeriana – Facultad de Medicina | Bogotá | Colombia | 77.3 |
| 45 | Universidad de Oviedo | Oviedo | Spain | 76.9 |
| 46 | Universidad de Navarra | Pamplona | Spain | 76.3 |
| 47 | Universidad Pontificia Comillas | Madrid | Spain | 76.2 |
| 48 | Universidad de los Andes – Facultad de Ciencias | Bogotá | Colombia | 76.1 |
| 49 | Universidad del Rosario | Bogotá | Colombia | 76.1 |
| 50 | Universidad de la Sabana | Chía | ||
| 51 | Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María | Valparaíso | Chile | 75.9 |
| 52 | Universidad Católica de Córdoba | Córdoba | Argentina | 75.7 |
| 53 | Universidad Federal de Pernambuco | Recife | Brazil | 75.6 |
| 54 | Universidad Externado de Colombia | Bogotá | Colombia | 75.5 |
| 55 | Universidad Austral de Chile | Valdivia | Chile | 75.4 |
| 56 | Universidad de Talca | Talca | Chile | 75.4 |
| 57 | Universidad del Norte | Barranquilla | Colombia | 75.3 |
| 58 | Universidad de Cuenca | Cuenca | Ecuador | 75.3 |
| 59 | Universidad de San Martín de Porres | Lima | Peru | 75.3 |
| 60 | Universidad de Chile – Facultad de Medicina | Santiago | Chile | 75.2 |
| 61 | Universidad de Tarapacá | Arica | Chile | 75.1 |
| 62 | Universidad del Valle | Cali | Colombia | 75.1 |
| 63 | Universidad de Córdoba | Córdoba | Argentina | 75 |
| 64 | Universidad de la Sierra | Managua | Nicaragua | 74.9 |
| 65 | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador | Quito | Ecuador | 74.7 |
| 66 | Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería | Lima | Peru | 74.7 |
| 67 | Universidad de Pamplona | Pamplona | Colombia | 74.6 |
| 68 | Universidad de Concepción – Facultad de Medicina | Concepción | Chile | 74.6 |
| 69 | Universidad del Atlántico | Barranquilla | Colombia | 74.5 |
| 70 | Universidad de Manizales | Manizales | Colombia | 74.5 |
| 71 | Universidad del Zulia | Maracaibo | Venezuela | 74.3 |
| 72 | Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana – Seccional Medellín | Medellín | Colombia | 74.2 |
| 73 | Universidad Nacional de Trujillo | Trujillo | Peru | 74.2 |
| 74 | Universidad Privada Antonio Ruiz de Montoya | Lima | Peru | 74.2 |
| 75 | Universidad de Boyacá | Tunja | Colombia | 74.1 |
| 76 | Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar | Cartagena | Colombia | 74.1 |
| 77 | Universidad Pontificia Javeriana – Facultad de Ingeniería | Cali | Colombia | 74 |
| 78 | Universidad ESAN | Lima | Peru | 74 |
| 79 | Universidad Católica de Pereira | Pereira | Colombia | 73.9 |
| 80 | Universidad Industrial de Santander | Bucaramanga | Colombia | 73.8 |
| 81 | Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener | Lima | Peru | 73.8 |
| 82 | Universidad de Ibagué | Ibagué | Colombia | 73.7 |
| 83 | Universidad Católica de Temuco | Temuco | Chile | 73.7 |
| 84 | Universidad de La Frontera | Temuco | Chile | 73.7 |
| 85 | Universidad del Pacífico | Lima | Peru | 73.6 |
| 86 | Universidad de Santiago de Cali | Cali | Colombia | 73.6 |
| 87 | Universidad de Santander | Bucaramanga | Colombia | 73.5 |
| 88 | Universidad EIA | Medellín | Colombia | 73.5 |
| 89 | Universidad de San Buenaventura | Medellín | Colombia | 73.4 |
| 90 | Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León | Monterrey | Mexico | 73.4 |
| 91 | Universidad del Valle de Guatemala | Guatemala City | Guatemala | 73.4 |
| 92 | Universidad de Cuenca – Facultad de Medicina | Cuenca | Ecuador | 73.3 |
| 93 | Universidad de Lima | Lima | Peru | 73.3 |
| 94 | Universidad Católica San Pablo | Arequipa | Peru | 73.2 |
| 95 | Universidad Católica de la Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | Bolivia | 73.2 |
| 96 | Universidad Privada César Vallejo | Lima | Peru | 73.1 |
| 97 | Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas | Lima | Peru | 73.1 |
| 98 | Universidad Católica del Norte – Facultad de Medicina | Antofagasta | Chile | 73.1 |
| 99 | Universidad de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú | Lima | Peru | 73.1 |
| 100 | Universidad de San Agustín | Arequipa | Peru | 73 |