Universities in Colombia ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 207 Universities in Colombia

The Republic of Colombia is divided into 32 departments (Spanish: departamentos), which are further subdivided into provinces (Spanish: provincias) or municipalities (Spanish: municipios). Bogotá, the autonomous capital and largest city, is administered as the Capital District (Spanish: Distrito Capital). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in the Bogotá Capital District, making it a key educational center in the country. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all departments that include at least one Colombian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Antioquia (31)  
Atlantico (13)  
Bogota (78)  
Bolivar (9)  
Boyaca (3)  
Caldas (4)  
Caqueta (1)  
Casanare (1)  
Cauca (7)  
Cesar (1)  
Choco (2)  
Cordoba (2)  
Cundinamarca (3)  
Huila (4)  
La Guajira (1)  
Magdalena (1)  
Meta (2)  
Narino (5)  
Norte de Santander (3)  
Quindio (3)  
Risaralda (4)  
Santander (10)  
Sucre (3)  
Tolima (4)  
Valle del Cauca (12)  

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Overview of Colombia Universities

Colombia's higher education system comprises universities, technological institutions and technical schools. Institutions are categorized as public (state-funded) or private, with oversight by the Ministry of Education. Public universities typically offer lower tuition fees but face high demand, while private institutions provide specialized programs and modern facilities. Colombian universities emphasize comprehensive education with undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs across diverse fields like engineering, social sciences, health sciences and business. Quality assurance is maintained through mandatory accreditation processes.

Top 10 Colombia Universities

1. Universidad de los Andes (University of the Andes) - UNIANDES in Bogotá, Bogota (Est. 1949). Private nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #1 in Colombia and #482 globally.
2. Universidad Nacional de Colombia (National University of Colombia) - UNAL in Bogotá, Bogota (Est. 1867). Public nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #2 in Colombia and #529 globally.
3. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Pontifical Javeriana University) - PUJ in Bogotá, Bogota (Est. 1623). Private nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #3 in Colombia and #795 globally.
4. Universidad de Antioquía (University of Antioquia) - UDEA in Medellín, Antioquia (Est. 1803). Public nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #4 in Colombia and #922 globally.
5. Universidad del Rosario (Del Rosario University) - UR in Bogotá, Bogota (Est. 1653). Private nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #5 in Colombia and #1232 globally.
6. Universidad del Valle (University of the Valley) - UNIVALLE in Cali, Valle del Cauca (Est. 1945). Public nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #6 in Colombia and #1262 globally.
7. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (Francisco José de Caldas District University) - UDFJC in Bogotá, Bogota (Est. 1950). Public nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #7 in Colombia and #1407 globally.
8. Universidad EAFIT (EAFIT University) - EAFIT in Medellín, Antioquia (Est. 1960). Private nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #8 in Colombia and #1491 globally.
9. Universidad Industrial de Santander (Industrial University of Santander) - UIS in Bucaramanga, Santander (Est. 1948). Public nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #9 in Colombia and #1583 globally.
10. Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Pontificia Bolivariana University) - UPB in Medellín, Antioquia (Est. 1937). Private nonprofit comprehensive university. Ranked #10 in Colombia and #1588 globally.

Analysis of University Types

Colombia hosts 207 universities, with private institutions dominating the landscape. Private universities constitute 74.9% (155 institutions) of the higher education sector, while public universities make up 25.1% (52 institutions). This distribution reflects greater private investment in education and diverse specialized program offerings alongside traditional public institutions.

Global Ranking and Standing

While no Colombian universities currently rank in the global top 200, four institutions (1.9% of national universities) achieve positions within the top 1,000 worldwide. This demonstrates growing international recognition for Colombia's leading research universities and academic excellence in Latin America.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Colombia's highest-ranked university?
A: Universidad de los Andes holds Colombia's #1 position according to uniRank.

Q: Are public universities in Colombia tuition-free?
A: Public universities charge tuition, but fees are significantly subsidized compared to private institutions.

Q: Which Colombian cities have the best universities?
A: Bogotá dominates with 5 top-10 universities, followed by Medellín with 3 top-ranked institutions.

Q: Do Colombian universities teach in English?
A: Select programs (especially postgraduate) offer English instruction, but Spanish remains the primary teaching language.

Q: How old is Colombia's university system?
A: Several institutions date to colonial times, with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana established in 1623.

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

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