Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

87 Best Universities in Brazil

Exploring the academic landscape of Brazil, our index provides a definitive ranking of the top 87 higher education institutions. By assessing 2.32M research papers and their 30.8M citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers.

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1

Sao Paulo

University of Sao Paulo

#1 in Latin America #47 in the World

9% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1827 Founded

2

Campinas

State University of Campinas

#4 in Latin America #236 in the World

15% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1966 Founded

3

Rio de Janeiro

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

#5 in Latin America #244 in the World

10% Acceptance

67,329 Enrollment

1920 Founded

4

Porto Alegre

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

#7 in Latin America #282 in the World

18% Acceptance

67,329 Enrollment

1934 Founded

5

Belo Horizonte

Federal University of Minas Gerais

#8 in Latin America #307 in the World

17% Acceptance

45,038 Enrollment

1927 Founded

6

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo State University

#9 in Latin America #337 in the World

35% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1976 Founded

7

Florianopolis

Federal University of Santa Catarina

#11 in Latin America #446 in the World

15% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1960 Founded

8

Niteroi

Fluminense Federal University

#18 in Latin America #611 in the World

15% Acceptance

67,329 Enrollment

1960 Founded

9

Rio de Janeiro

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

#24 in Latin America #687 in the World

37% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1941 Founded

10

Natal

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#30 in Latin America #759 in the World

14% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1958 Founded

11

Sao Carlos

Federal University of Sao Carlos

#31 in Latin America #777 in the World

9% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1968 Founded

12

Porto Alegre

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

#32 in Latin America #783 in the World

11% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1948 Founded

13

Santa Maria

Federal University of Santa Maria

#33 in Latin America #786 in the World

11% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1960 Founded

14

Goiania

Federal University of Goias

#38 in Latin America #843 in the World

12% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1960 Founded

15

Vicosa

Federal University of Vicosa

#39 in Latin America #853 in the World

15% Acceptance

12,000 Enrollment

1922 Founded

16

Belem

Federal University of Para

#41 in Latin America #976 in the World

17% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1957 Founded

17

Uberlandia

Federal University of Uberlandia

#44 in Latin America #1036 in the World

20% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1969 Founded

18

Vitoria

Federal University of Espirito Santo

#45 in Latin America #1037 in the World

26% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1954 Founded

19

Sao Paulo

Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

#51 in Latin America #1116 in the World

50% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1946 Founded

20

Curitiba

Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

#58 in Latin America #1232 in the World

80% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1959 Founded

21

Curitiba

Federal University of Technology – Parana

#61 in Latin America #1297 in the World

20% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1909 Founded

22

Sao Leopoldo

University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

#62 in Latin America #1347 in the World

80% Acceptance

23,988 Enrollment

1969 Founded

23

Belo Horizonte

Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais

#69 in Latin America #1430 in the World

31% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

24

Sao Paulo

Mackenzie Presbyterian University

#72 in Latin America #1472 in the World

50% Acceptance

23,988 Enrollment

1952 Founded

25

Manaus

Federal University of Amazonas

#75 in Latin America #1491 in the World

10% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1909 Founded

26

Seropedica

Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

#81 in Latin America #1579 in the World

27% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1910 Founded

27

Santo Andre

Federal University of ABC

#85 in Latin America #1658 in the World

10% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

2005 Founded

28

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

#88 in Latin America #1671 in the World

15% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1969 Founded

29

Ouro Preto

Federal University of Ouro Preto

#92 in Latin America #1722 in the World

15% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1969 Founded

30

Caxias do Sul

University of Caxias do Sul

#104 in Latin America #1851 in the World

16% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1967 Founded

31

Cascavel

Western Parana State University

#114 in Latin America #1950 in the World

20% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1994 Founded

32

Recife

Federal Rural University of Pernambuco

#125 in Latin America #2054 in the World

22% Acceptance

12,000 Enrollment

1912 Founded

33

Feira de Santana

State University of Feira de Santana

#128 in Latin America #2160 in the World

16% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1976 Founded

34

Passo Fundo

University of Passo Fundo

#134 in Latin America #2240 in the World

31% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1968 Founded

35

Sao Joao del-Rei

Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei

#137 in Latin America #2283 in the World

13% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1987 Founded

36

Campinas

Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas

#145 in Latin America #2360 in the World

60% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1941 Founded

37

Salvador

Bahia State University

#161 in Latin America #2581 in the World

9% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1983 Founded

38

Florianopolis

Santa Catarina State University

#166 in Latin America #2613 in the World

70% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1965 Founded

39

Brasilia

Catholic University of Brasilia

#176 in Latin America #2670 in the World

60% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1974 Founded

40

Recife

University of Pernambuco

#184 in Latin America #2729 in the World

48% Acceptance

1990 Founded

41

Canoas

Lutheran University of Brazil

#197 in Latin America #2895 in the World

34% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

42

Itajuba

Federal University of Itajuba

#199 in Latin America #2934 in the World

20% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1913 Founded

43

Porto Velho

Federal University of Rondonia

#201 in Latin America #2943 in the World

29% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1982 Founded

44

Ribeirao Preto

University of Ribeirao Preto

#206 in Latin America #3016 in the World

58% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1924 Founded

45

Paranavai

Parana State University

#240 in Latin America #3355 in the World

42% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

2013 Founded

46

Belem

Para State University

#242 in Latin America #3416 in the World

31% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1993 Founded

47

Porto Alegre

Federal University of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre

#253 in Latin America #3587 in the World

26% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1953 Founded

48

Campo Grande

Catholic University Dom Bosco

#254 in Latin America #3632 in the World

29% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1961 Founded

49

Curitiba

Positivo University

#255 in Latin America #3633 in the World

31% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1988 Founded

50

Santa Cruz do Sul

University of Santa Cruz do Sul

#271 in Latin America #3815 in the World

29% Acceptance

23,988 Enrollment

1993 Founded

51

Sao Jose dos Campos

University of Paraiba Valley

#275 in Latin America #3862 in the World

33% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1954 Founded

52

Sao Paulo

Anhembi Morumbi University

#277 in Latin America #3864 in the World

31% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

53

Mossoro

Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region

#278 in Latin America #3867 in the World

30% Acceptance

12,000 Enrollment

1967 Founded

54

Belo Horizonte

FUMEC University

#296 in Latin America #4122 in the World

50% Acceptance

23,988 Enrollment

1965 Founded

55

Belem

University of Amazon

#297 in Latin America #4162 in the World

38% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1993 Founded

56

Criciuma

University of the Extreme South of Santa Catarina

#305 in Latin America #4279 in the World

28% Acceptance

9,622 Enrollment

1968 Founded

57

Boa Vista

Federal University of Roraima

#307 in Latin America #4301 in the World

10% Acceptance

7,000 Enrollment

1989 Founded

58

Alfenas

Federal University of Alfenas

#308 in Latin America #4305 in the World

28% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1914 Founded

59

Sao Caetano do Sul

Municipal University of Sao Caetano do Sul

#319 in Latin America #4495 in the World

80% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1967 Founded

60

Diamantina

Federal University of the Valleys of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri

#366 in Latin America #5531 in the World

20% Acceptance

7,000 Enrollment

1953 Founded

61

Petropolis

Catholic University of Petropolis

#388 in Latin America #6047 in the World

73% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1953 Founded

62

Cruz Alta

University of Cruz Alta

#417 in Latin America #6519 in the World

48% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1988 Founded

63

Bauru

Sacred Heart University – Brazil

#447 in Latin America #7127 in the World

70% Acceptance

1953 Founded

64

Itajai

University of the Valley of Itajai

#467 in Latin America #7500 in the World

60% Acceptance

1964 Founded

65

Tubarao

University of South Santa Catarina

#498 in Latin America #7842 in the World

68% Acceptance

1964 Founded

66

Blumenau

Regional University of Blumenau

#504 in Latin America #7893 in the World

70% Acceptance

1964 Founded

67

Sao Paulo

Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul

#510 in Latin America #7932 in the World

80% Acceptance

1973 Founded

68

Aracaju

Tiradentes University

#514 in Latin America #7949 in the World

51% Acceptance

1962 Founded

69

Uberaba

University of Uberaba

#562 in Latin America #8286 in the World

50% Acceptance

1947 Founded

70

Marilia

University of Marilia

#575 in Latin America #8348 in the World

35% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

71

Sorocaba

University of Sorocaba

#594 in Latin America #8455 in the World

35% Acceptance

8,132 Enrollment

1994 Founded

72

Ijui

Regional University of Northwestern Rio Grande do Sul State

#611 in Latin America #8581 in the World

51% Acceptance

12,000 Enrollment

1957 Founded

73

Guarulhos

Guarulhos University

#622 in Latin America #8624 in the World

50% Acceptance

1970 Founded

74

Natal

Potiguar University

#627 in Latin America #8657 in the World

56% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1981 Founded

75

Sao Paulo

City University of Sao Paulo

#629 in Latin America #8677 in the World

62% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

76

Joinville

University of the Region of Joinville

#649 in Latin America #8798 in the World

80% Acceptance

1967 Founded

77

Jacarezinho

State University of Northern Parana

#651 in Latin America #8814 in the World

51% Acceptance

2006 Founded

78

Itabuna

Federal University of Southern Bahia

#657 in Latin America #8879 in the World

15% Acceptance

6,000 Enrollment

2013 Founded

79

Redencao

University of International Integration of the Afro-Brazilian Lusophony

#660 in Latin America #8892 in the World

39% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2010 Founded

80

Rio Verde

University of Rio Verde

#668 in Latin America #8934 in the World

50% Acceptance

1973 Founded

81

Rio de Janeiro

Veiga de Almeida University

#685 in Latin America #9046 in the World

50% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1971 Founded

82

Erechim

Regional Integrated University of Upper Uruguai and Missions

#696 in Latin America #9117 in the World

82% Acceptance

1992 Founded

83

Juazeiro do Norte

Federal University of Cariri

#712 in Latin America #9255 in the World

20% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

2013 Founded

84

Piracicaba

Methodist University of Piracicaba

#732 in Latin America #9371 in the World

41% Acceptance

1964 Founded

85

Mafra

Contestado University

#782 in Latin America #9699 in the World

80% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1997 Founded

86

Rio de Janeiro

Castelo Branco University

#788 in Latin America #9758 in the World

68% Acceptance

1971 Founded

87

Araraquara

University of Araraquara

#874 in Latin America #10301 in the World

74% Acceptance

1972 Founded