Universities in Brazil ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 203 Universities in Brazil

The Federative Republic of Brazil is divided into 26 states (Portuguese: estados) and one federal district (Portuguese: distrito federal). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are concentrated in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Rio Grande do Sul. São Paulo is the country's economic powerhouse, while Rio de Janeiro is renowned for its cultural significance and tourism. Minas Gerais is known for its rich history and mining industry and Rio Grande do Sul has a strong agricultural base and a vibrant cultural identity. The following uniRank league tables and sub-rankings consider all states that include at least one Brazilian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Acre (1)  
Alagoas (3)  
Amapa (2)  
Amazonas (3)  
Bahia (10)  
Ceara (7)  
Distrito Federal (2)  
Espirito Santo (2)  
Goias (7)  
Maranhao (3)  
Maranhão (1)  
Mato Grosso (4)  
Mato Grosso do Sul (5)  
Minas Gerais (20)  
Para (6)  
Paraiba (3)  
Parana (16)  
Pernambuco (6)  
Piaui (3)  
Rio de Janeiro (17)  
Rio Grande do Norte (4)  
Rio Grande do Sul (21)  
Rondonia (1)  
Roraima (2)  
Santa Catarina (13)  
Sao Paulo (36)  
Sergipe (2)  
Tocantins (3)  

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Overview of Brazilian Universities

Brazil's higher education system comprises public and private institutions, with public universities generally holding higher prestige due to greater research funding. The system is regulated by the Ministry of Education (MEC), which assigns quality scores through the Índice Geral de Cursos (IGC). Public universities are primarily funded by state or federal governments, offer tuition-free education and dominate research output. Private institutions enroll most students but vary significantly in quality. Key academic strengths include agriculture, tropical medicine, engineering and environmental sciences, reflecting Brazil's diverse ecosystems and industrial needs. Admission is highly competitive, particularly at public universities where entrance exams (vestibular) are rigorous.

Top 10 Universities in Brazil

1. Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - Founded in 1934 in São Paulo. Public non-profit research university offering 300+ programs across all academic levels. World Rank: #96. Leads in research output nationally.
2. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) - Established 1927 in Belo Horizonte. Public non-profit comprehensive university. World Rank: #345. Strong in engineering and health sciences.
3. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) - Founded 1962 in Campinas. Public non-profit research-intensive institution. World Rank: #377. Excels in technology and agricultural research.
4. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) - Established 1934 in Porto Alegre. Public non-profit university. World Rank: #424. Offers comprehensive programs with research emphasis.
5. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Founded 1920 in Rio de Janeiro. Public non-profit research university. World Rank: #426. Strong in biomedical sciences and engineering.
6. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) - Established 1960 in Florianópolis. Public non-profit university. World Rank: #536. Known for engineering and coastal/marine studies.
7. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) - Founded 1976 with campuses statewide. Public non-profit research university. World Rank: #580. Multi-campus system emphasizing applied sciences.
8. Universidade de Brasília (UnB) - Established 1962 in Brasília. Public non-profit university. World Rank: #594. Strong in public policy and environmental law.
9. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) - Founded 1950 in Rio de Janeiro. Public non-profit institution. World Rank: #648. Comprehensive programs with urban studies focus.

Analysis of Top-Ranked Institutions

Control & Entity Distribution: All top-ranked Brazilian universities are public (100%) and non-profit (100%), reflecting the dominance of state-funded institutions in elite education. No private or for-profit universities appear in the national top 9.

Age-Ranking Correlation: While older universities like UFRJ (1920) and USP (1934) occupy top positions, mid-20th century institutions like Unicamp (1962) and UnB (1962) demonstrate that strategic funding can overcome age disadvantages. The youngest top-tier institution, UNESP (1976), achieved prominence through its multi-campus model and specialized research.

Global Standing

Brazil has 1 university in the uniRank top 200 (USP at #96) and 9 universities in the top 1000. All ranked Brazilian institutions place within the top 650 globally, with USP leading as Latin America's highest-ranked university.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are Brazilian public universities free?
A: Yes, federal and state universities offer tuition-free education for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Q: What is Brazil's top research university?
A: USP produces approximately 25% of Brazil's scientific publications and leads in research impact nationally.

Q: Do Brazilian universities teach in English?
A: While Portuguese is the primary language, many graduate programs (especially STEM fields) offer English-taught courses.

Q: How competitive are admissions?
A: Top public universities like USP and Unicamp have acceptance rates below 10% for popular programs.

Q: What distinguishes Brazilian academic strengths?
A: Brazil leads globally in tropical agriculture, biofuels, infectious disease research and Amazonian environmental studies.

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

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