Universities in Cuba ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 46 Universities in Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is divided into 15 provinces (Spanish: provincias) and the Isla de la Juventud special municipality (Spanish: municipio especial). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in the La Habana province, which is home to the nation’s capital, Havana. As the cultural and educational center of Cuba, La Habana plays a significant role in higher education. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables consider all provinces that include at least one Cuban higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Ciego de Avila (2)  
Cienfuegos (2)  
Granma (2)  
Holguin (4)  
La Habana (12)  
Las Tunas (3)  
Matanzas (2)  
Mayabeque (3)  
Pinar del Rio (2)  
Sancti Spiritus (2)  
Santiago de Cuba (3)  
Villa Clara (3)  

Unlock your University's potential: spotlight your Institution on UniRank for leads, local recognition and branding. Enquiry now to feature your University here.

Overview of Cuba Universities

Cuba's higher education system is exclusively public and state-funded, with tuition-free education guaranteed for citizens. Established under the Ministry of Higher Education (MES), the system prioritizes accessibility and social development. All 46 universities are non-profit public institutions with no private alternatives. Universities fall into two categories: comprehensive (offering diverse disciplines like Universidad de La Habana) and specialized (focused on fields like technology or design). Cuban universities emphasize research aligned with national priorities including healthcare, biotechnology and sustainable agriculture. Programs span undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels.

Top 10 Cuba Universities

1. Universidad de La Habana (University of Havana) - UH
   Country Rank: 1 | World Rank: 2842
   Havana, La Habana | Founded: 1728 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
2. Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas (Marta Abreu University of Las Villas) - UCLV
   Country Rank: 2 | World Rank: 4702
   Santa Clara, Villa Clara | Founded: 1952 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
3. Universidad Tecnológica de la Habana José Antonio Echeverría (Technological University of Habana) - CUJAE
   Country Rank: 3 | World Rank: 5018
   Havana, La Habana | Founded: 1964 | Public | Specialized
   Fields: Engineering & Technology | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
4. Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas (University of Information Sciences) - UCI
   Country Rank: 4 | World Rank: 5160
   Havana, La Habana | Founded: 2002 | Public | Specialized
   Fields: Computing & IT | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
5. Universidad de Cienfuegos Carlos Rafael Rodríguez (University of Cienfuegos) - UCf
   Country Rank: 5 | World Rank: 5231
   Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos | Founded: 1979 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
6. Universidad de Pinar del Río Hermanos Saíz Montes de Oca (Hermanos Saíz Montes de Oca University) - UPR
   Country Rank: 6 | World Rank: 5475
   Pinar del Río, Pinar del Rio | Founded: 1972 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
7. Universidad de Oriente (University of the East) - UO
   Country Rank: 7 | World Rank: 5657
   Santiago de Cuba, Santiago de Cuba | Founded: 1947 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
8. Universidad de Granma (University of Granma) - UDG
   Country Rank: 8 | World Rank: 6469
   Bayamo, Granma | Founded: 1976 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
9. Universidad de Sancti Spíritus José Martí Pérez (José Martí Pérez University) - UNISS
   Country Rank: 9 | World Rank: 6969
   Sancti Spíritus, Sancti Spiritus | Founded: 1976 | Public | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multidisciplinary | Levels: Bachelor's to Doctoral
10. Instituto Superior de Diseño (Higher Institute of Design) - ISDi
    Country Rank: 10 | World Rank: 7172
    Havana, La Habana | Founded: 2011 | Public | Specialized
    Fields: Design & Visual Arts | Levels: Bachelor's to Master's

Analysis of University Types

Cuba's 46 universities operate under a unified public model. The distribution is:

• 100% public institutions (46 universities)
• 0% private institutions (0 universities)

This reflects Cuba's state-managed education system where all higher education institutions receive government funding and oversight.

Global Ranking and Standing

While Cuban universities excel regionally in fields like medicine and biotechnology, their global ranking presence remains limited:

• 0 universities rank in the global top 200 (0% of total)
• 0 universities rank in the global top 1,000 (0% of total)

This positioning reflects the system's focus on domestic priorities rather than international ranking metrics. The top-ranked Cuba university globally is Universidad de La Habana at world rank #2842.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are there private universities in Cuba?
No. Cuba's higher education system is entirely public and state-funded.

What is Cuba's oldest university?
Universidad de La Habana, founded in 1728, is Cuba's oldest and highest-ranked institution.

Do Cuban universities teach in English?
Spanish is the primary language of instruction. Some medical programs offer English tracks for international students.

How many universities exist in Cuba?
There are 46 universities nationwide, all public institutions.

Can international students attend Cuban universities?
Yes, particularly in medicine and Spanish language programs, though admission processes differ for foreign applicants.

What is unique about Cuba's education model?
Key features include universal free access, integration of academic work with community service and curriculum alignment with national development goals.

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

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