Latin America University Rankings 2021

The Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings lists the top universities in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

It is based on the same 13 rigorous performance indicators that underpin the THE World University Rankings, but the weightings have been recalibrated to reflect the characteristics of Latin America’s universities. We evaluate universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The 2021 ranking includes 177 institutions across 13 countries, up from 166 institutions last year.


Read the Latin America University Rankings 2021 methodology


The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is number one for the third consecutive year, while Brazil’s universities of São Paulo and Campinas hold on to second and third place respectively.

Argentina and Peru each have a new top institution this year. Argentina’s National University of San Martín now leads the nation, rising four places to 33rd and overtaking Austral University, while Pontifical Catholic University of Peru is top in its nation, despite declining slightly this year, as Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia falls out of the top 50.

The University of Costa Rica joins the top 25 for the first time.

Brazil’s University of South Santa Catarina (Unisul) is the highest new entry at 80th place, closely followed by Peru’s Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos at 81st.

Brazil is the most-represented country in the table, with 67 institutions, followed by Chile with 28, Colombia with 24 and Mexico with 23.


Read our analysis of the Latin America University Rankings 2021 results

Download a copy of the Latin America University Rankings 2021 digital supplement


To raise your university’s global profile with Times Higher Education, contact branding@timeshighereducation.com

To unlock the data behind THE’s rankings, and access a range of analytical and benchmarking tools, contact data@timeshighereducation.com

How to get your uni ranked