Universities in Bolivia ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 52 Universities in Bolivia

The Plurinational State of Bolivia is divided into 9 departments (Spanish: departamentos). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in the La Paz and Cochabamba departments. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all departments that include at least one Bolivian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Beni (2)  
Chuquisaca (4)  
Cochabamba (10)  
La Paz (16)  
Oruro (2)  
Pando (1)  
Potosi (2)  
Santa Cruz (13)  
Tarija (2)  

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Overview of Bolivia Universities

Bolivia's higher education system comprises universities, technical institutes and teacher training colleges. The sector is governed by the Education Ministry and divided into public autonomous universities (financed by the state) and private institutions (regulated by the Private University Superintendence). Key characteristics include:

• Public universities: Charge minimal tuition, follow autonomous governance models and dominate historical rankings.
• Private universities: Typically smaller with specialized programs in business, technology and health sciences.
• Academic structure: Offers bachelor's (4-6 years), master's and doctoral degrees across comprehensive and specialized institutions.
• Research status: Primarily concentrated in public universities with national research priorities.

Top 10 Bolivia Universities

1. Universidad Mayor de San Simón (Higher University of San Simón) - UMSS | CountryRank: 1 | WorldRank: 1344 | Cochabamba, Cochabamba | Est. 1832 | Public | Comprehensive | Fields: All major disciplines | Levels: Bachelor-Masters-Doctorate
2. Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (Higher University of San Andrés) - UMSA | CountryRank: 2 | WorldRank: 2146 | La Paz, La Paz | Est. 1830 | Public | Comprehensive | Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor-Masters-Doctorate
3. Universidad San Francisco Xavier (University of Saint Francis Xavier) - USFX | CountryRank: 3 | WorldRank: 3281 | Sucre, Chuquisaca | Est. 1624 | Public | Comprehensive | Fields: Humanities to Engineering | Levels: Bachelor-Masters-Doctorate
4. Universidad Católica Boliviana (Bolivian Catholic University) - UCB | CountryRank: 4 | WorldRank: 3328 | La Paz, La Paz | Est. 1966 | Private | Comprehensive | Fields: Social Sciences-Business-Technology | Levels: Bachelor-Masters-Doctorate
5. Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno (Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University) - UAGRM | CountryRank: 5 | WorldRank: 3504 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz | Est. 1879 | Public | Comprehensive | Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor-Masters-Doctorate
6. Universidad Privada Domingo Savio (Domingo Savio Private University) - UPDS | CountryRank: 6 | WorldRank: 4426 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz | Est. 2000 | Private | Specialized | Fields: Health Sciences-Business-Engineering | Levels: Bachelor-Masters
7. Universidad Privada Boliviana (Bolivian Private University) - UPB | CountryRank: 7 | WorldRank: 5558 | Cochabamba, Cochabamba | Est. 1993 | Private | Comprehensive | Fields: Business-Engineering-Architecture | Levels: Bachelor-Masters
8. Universidad Técnica de Oruro (Technical University of Oruro) - UTO | CountryRank: 8 | WorldRank: 5682 | Oruro, Oruro | Est. 1892 | Public | Specialized | Fields: Engineering-Mining-Technology | Levels: Bachelor-Masters
9. Universidad Privada del Valle (Valle Private University) - UNIVALLE | CountryRank: 9 | WorldRank: 6050 | Cochabamba, Cochabamba | Est. 1988 | Private | Comprehensive | Fields: Health-Business-Agriculture | Levels: Bachelor-Masters
10. Universidad Autónoma Tomás Frías (Autonomous University Tomás Frías) - UATF | CountryRank: 10 | WorldRank: 6058 | Potosí, Potosí | Est. 1892 | Public | Specialized | Fields: Mining-Geology-Industrial Engineering | Levels: Bachelor-Masters

Analysis of University Types

Bolivia has 52 recognized universities. Public institutions represent 21% (11 universities), while private universities dominate with 79% (41 institutions). This distribution reflects increased private sector participation since the 1990s education reforms. Public universities are typically larger and located in departmental capitals, whereas private institutions often focus on professional degrees in urban centers.

Global Ranking and Standing

While Bolivian universities serve critical national roles, global recognition remains developing. No institutions currently rank in the global top 200 (0% of national universities). Similarly, 0% rank within the world's top 1,000 universities. This highlights opportunities for enhanced international research collaboration and academic infrastructure investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many universities are in Bolivia?
Bolivia has 52 accredited universities: 11 public and 41 private institutions.

What is Bolivia's top-ranked university?
Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) in Cochabamba holds Bolivia's #1 position per uniRank.

Are public universities free in Bolivia?
Public universities charge minimal registration fees (typically $10-$50/year), making them effectively tuition-free compared to private institutions.

Which Bolivian city has the most universities?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cochabamba and La Paz host the highest concentrations of both public and private universities.

Do Bolivian degrees have international recognition?
Degrees from accredited institutions are recognized regionally. Students pursuing global careers should verify specific country recognition agreements.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Bolivian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Bolivia
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Bolivian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Bolivia
  Search for Bolivian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Bolivian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Bolivian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Bolivia
  Discover Bolivian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Bolivia
  Find out about Bolivian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Bolivia
  Explore Bolivian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Bolivia
  Look for Bolivian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Bolivian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Bolivia have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Bolivian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Bolivia that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Bolivian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Bolivia are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Bolivian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Bolivia with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.