Academic Index Last updated: May 18, 2026

54 Best Universities in Costa Rica

Exploring the academic landscape of Costa Rica, our index provides a definitive ranking of the top 54 higher education institutions. By assessing 56.2K research papers and their 489K citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers.

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1

San Jose

University of Costa Rica

#29 in Latin America #737 in the World

40% Acceptance

30,436 Enrollment

1940 Founded

2

Heredia

National University, Costa Rica

#103 in Latin America #1832 in the World

79% Acceptance

30,436 Enrollment

1973 Founded

3

Cartago

Costa Rica Institute of Technology

#157 in Latin America #2536 in the World

12% Acceptance

30,436 Enrollment

1971 Founded

4

Alajuela

INCAE Business School, Costa Rica

#321 in Latin America #4538 in the World

30% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

5

Guacimo

EARTH University

#349 in Latin America #5122 in the World

30% Acceptance

30,436 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

6

San Jose

University of Medical Sciences, Costa Rica

#421 in Latin America #6548 in the World

30% Acceptance

30,436 Enrollment

1999 Founded

7

San Pedro

Latin University of Costa Rica

#500 in Latin America #7858 in the World

37% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1989 Founded

8

San Jose

Latin American University of Science and Technology

#631 in Latin America #8689 in the World

42% Acceptance

2,559 Enrollment

1987 Founded

9

San Pedro

Fidelitas University

#650 in Latin America #8804 in the World

47% Acceptance

1980 Founded

10

San Jose

University for International Cooperation

#665 in Latin America #8904 in the World

54% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1994 Founded

11

Cipreses de Curridabat

Autonomous University of Centro America

#740 in Latin America #9406 in the World

69% Acceptance

1976 Founded

12

San Jose

Cenfotec University

#817 in Latin America #9956 in the World

89% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

2000 Founded

13

San Jose

Hispano-American University

#819 in Latin America #9968 in the World

71% Acceptance

1992 Founded

14

San Jose

Veritas University

#829 in Latin America #10025 in the World

64% Acceptance

1976 Founded

15

San Jose

Business University of Costa Rica

#862 in Latin America #10234 in the World

61% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

16

San Jose

International University of the Americas

#913 in Latin America #10574 in the World

59% Acceptance

1986 Founded

17

San Jose

LEAD University

#934 in Latin America #10678 in the World

59% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

18

Cartago

Florencio del Castillo University of Cartago

#944 in Latin America #10765 in the World

60% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1995 Founded

19

San Jose

University of Ibero-America

#1009 in Latin America #11056 in the World

60% Acceptance

1995 Founded

20

San Jose

International Polytechnic University

#1020 in Latin America #11122 in the World

60% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1998 Founded

21

San Jose

Latin American Biblical University

#1023 in Latin America #11131 in the World

60% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1997 Founded

22

San Jose

American University, Costa Rica

#1064 in Latin America #11315 in the World

59% Acceptance

1997 Founded

23

Alajuela

Adventist University of Central America

#1119 in Latin America #11607 in the World

59% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

1927 Founded

24

San Jose

Catholic University of Costa Rica

#1126 in Latin America #11632 in the World

59% Acceptance

1993 Founded

25

San Jose

Free University of Costa Rica

#1130 in Latin America #11644 in the World

59% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

1993 Founded

26

Perez Zeledon

International University San Isidro Labrador

#1132 in Latin America #11662 in the World

59% Acceptance

1997 Founded

27

San Jose

La Salle University of Costa Rica

#1138 in Latin America #11684 in the World

59% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1994 Founded

28

San Jose

Panamerican University, Costa Rica

#1147 in Latin America #11705 in the World

59% Acceptance

1988 Founded

29

San Jose

Creative University

#1158 in Latin America #11770 in the World

59% Acceptance

2,000 Enrollment

2000 Founded

30

San Jose

Castro Carazo University

#1185 in Latin America #11873 in the World

59% Acceptance

2,000 Enrollment

1996 Founded

31

Uruca

Fundepos Alma Mater University

#1205 in Latin America #11962 in the World

60% Acceptance

1999 Founded

32

San Jose

San Marcos University

#1211 in Latin America #11982 in the World

60% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1996 Founded

33

San Jose

Free University Law School

#1247 in Latin America #12154 in the World

60% Acceptance

1996 Founded

34

San Jose

Costa Rican University of Technology

#1361 in Latin America #12634 in the World

59% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1999 Founded

35

San Jose

Autonomous University of Monterrey

#1384 in Latin America #12696 in the World

59% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1994 Founded

36

San Jose

University of Science and Art of Costa Rica

#1399 in Latin America #12753 in the World

59% Acceptance

1981 Founded

37

San Jose

University of Tourism

#1400 in Latin America #12755 in the World

58% Acceptance

1996 Founded

38

Tilaran

Invenio University

#1411 in Latin America #12794 in the World

58% Acceptance

39

San Jose

John Paul II University

#1412 in Latin America #12802 in the World

58% Acceptance

1996 Founded

40

San Jose

Southern Christian University

#1426 in Latin America #12850 in the World

58% Acceptance

1998 Founded

41

San Jose

Santa Lucia University

#1437 in Latin America #12905 in the World

58% Acceptance

1996 Founded

42

San Jose

University of San Jose

#1448 in Latin America #12930 in the World

57% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1992 Founded

43

San Jose

Santa Paula University

#1493 in Latin America #13108 in the World

57% Acceptance

1994 Founded

44

San Jose

Evangelical University of the Americas

#1514 in Latin America #13158 in the World

57% Acceptance

1992 Founded

45

San Jose

Central University, Costa Rica

#1541 in Latin America #13236 in the World

57% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1990 Founded

46

San Pedro

Magister University

#1546 in Latin America #13267 in the World

57% Acceptance

1996 Founded

47

San Jose

Federated University of Costa Rica

#1563 in Latin America #13331 in the World

57% Acceptance

1992 Founded

48

San Jose

Braulio Carrillo University

#1610 in Latin America #13495 in the World

57% Acceptance

1994 Founded

49

San Jose

Isaac Newton University

#1618 in Latin America #13512 in the World

57% Acceptance

1995 Founded

50

San Jose

Central American University of Social Sciences

#1649 in Latin America #13653 in the World

57% Acceptance

2000 Founded

51

San Jose

Continental University of Arts and Sciences

#1665 in Latin America #13698 in the World

57% Acceptance

1999 Founded

52

San Jose

Independent University of Costa Rica

#1724 in Latin America #13955 in the World

57% Acceptance

1996 Founded

53

San Jose

San Juan de la Cruz University

#1747 in Latin America #14082 in the World

57% Acceptance

1996 Founded

54

Alajuela

University of Business Sciences

#1752 in Latin America #14120 in the World

56% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1997 Founded