Out now: Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings 2024

• University of São Paulo in Brazil returns to the number one spot in the rankings, up from second place last year
• Brazil dominates the top 10 with seven universities, including all of the top three, thanks to strong research quality
• Chile has two universities in the top 10, but Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile drops from the top spot to fourth
• Mexico’s top ranked Tecnológico de Monterrey drops to joint seventh
• University of the Andes, Colombia edges closer to top 10
• Argentina has a new number one: National University of La Plata is newly ranked at 28th
• 27 universities make their debut in this year’s rankings. Brazil boasts the most newcomers with seven additions to the rankings
• 214 Latin American universities are ranked this year, up from 197
• 16 countries are ranked in this year’s rankings
• Honduras and Dominican Republic make their debut with one ranked university each
• Brazil is the most represented nation with 69 universities ranked

Top 10 universities overall in the THE Latin America University Rankings 2024

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Brazil triumphs as the University of São Paulo is in first place and Brazil returns as a country to the top spot for the first time in six years in the Times Higher Education (THE) Latin America University Rankings 2024 released today. Brazil is the standout success story from this year’s rankings thanks to a new research influence metric, which has allowed the nation to demonstrate its excellence in the field.

Brazil dominates the top 10 with seven institutions represented, including all three top spots. University of Campinas hops from third to second place and Brazil’s Federal University of Rio de Janeiro jumps forward to third place from 11th. Meanwhile, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina also joins the top 10, moving up to 10th place from 12th.

Brazil has proven its strength in research influence as a new rankings metric means the country tops the research quality pillar, pushing the former number one university, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, off the top spot.

The new metric in research influence prioritises quality of research, giving more weight to citations used in important papers, over citations used in less significant ones.

Forty-four Brazilian universities have increased their research quality rank this year, compared with their citation rank last year. Top-ranking University of São Paulo is ranked number one for citation impact, up from 38.

Brazil is the most represented nation in the rankings, with 69 institutions ranked. It also boasts the highest number of newcomers, with Federal University of Pelotas (42) the highest ranked of seven debutants.

Two more Brazilian institutions join the top 50: Unisinos University is joint 43rd up from 56th, and Londrina State University is in 45th place, up from 51st.

Despite having two universities drop out of the top 10 – Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) (11th, down from fifth) and Federal University of Minas Gerais (13th down from seventh) – Brazil is the standout success story from this year’s rankings, proving its excellence in higher education and particularly in research influence.

Top 10 Brazilian universities in the THE Latin America University Rankings 2024

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Chile’s former number one university, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (now in fourth place), has been pushed out of the top spot by Brazil’s University of São Paulo after a new research quality metric allows Brazil to prove its strength in research influence.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile held the top spot for five years but an improvement in the assessment of research quality means it can no longer keep up with Brazil’s dominance in research influence.

Chile has two universities in the top 10, University of Chile in ninth place (no movement) and the former number one Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile now in fourth place.

It’s a mixed year for Chile, which has experienced some drops towards the top of the table. University of Concepción has dropped 11 places down to 33rd (from 22nd) and Austral University of Chile has dropped to 58th from joint 45th. However, Chile has six universities up from four in the top 40. And there have a been a few notable rises. University of Santiago, Chile (USACH) rises to 30th place, up from 38th, and Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción jumps forward to 64th place, from joint 90th.

Chile has 32 universities in the rankings and just one newcomer, Alberto Hurtado University, which has gone straight into the top 100 in 85th position.

Top 10 Chilean universities in the THE Latin America University Rankings 2024

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Elsewhere, Argentina has a brand new number one as newcomer National University of La Plata leads the nation at number 28, making it the highest ranked debutant in the rankings. Previous Argentinian leader, Austral University, has slipped down to joint 43rd from 27th. All of Argentina’s three newly ranked institutions enter the table in the top 100: National University of Cuyo at 83rd and National University of Comahue (UNCo) at joint 100th. Meanwhile, Universidad Nacional del Litoral leaps forward to joint 70th place from 97th, whereas National University of San Martín sees a significant drop to 52nd position, down from joint 36th.

Mexico is showing signs of progress with 11 universities represented in the top 100, up from nine last year. Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro is joint 88th up from 101-125, and University of Guadalajara is joint 94th up from 101-125.

Mexico has 26 universities overall in the table. Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) has leapt forward to join the top 50 in 50th place, up from 60th, and Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla jumps 21 places to joint 67th, up from 88th. However, right at the top of the table, Mexico’s Tecnológico de Monterrey drops down to joint seventh place from fourth.

Mexico has two newcomers to the rankings, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo in group 101-125 and Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo in group 151+.

Top 10 Mexican universities in the THE Latin America University Rankings 2024

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University of the Andes, Colombia is edging ever closer to the top 10 in 12th place, up from 14th. Colombia boasts five debutants this year and has 38 universities in the rankings. The country has seen a few declines in the table, including Icesi University, which has dropped down to band 101-125 from 66th place.

Meanwhile, Honduras and Dominican Republic enter the rankings for the first time with one institution ranked each. Honduras‘ Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC) is ranked in group 151+, and Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Dominican Republic is in group 126-150.

Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela are each represented by one institution in the rankings, with the highest ranked, University of Havana in Cuba, at 31st, up from 39th.

Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said:

“THE’s Latin America University Rankings 2024 wonderfully demonstrates the rich diversity of higher education institutions across a very varied region. It is fantastic to see that year-on-year we have increased the number of universities ranked from 197 to 214 and also really positive to see new countries in the LATAM region entering for the first time with Honduras and Dominican Republic making their debut this year.

“We hope those working in higher education can utilise the ranking, and the vast wealth of data that underpins the overall scores, to improve universities in their respective country even further.

“The ranking is also intended as a valuable tool for millions of students seeking information about where to study in their country or, potentially, further afield.”

View the full Latin America University Rankings 2024 results and see Latin America University Rankings 2024 methodology.