Universities in Venezuela ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 55 Universities in Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is divided into 23 states (Spanish: estados), 1 Capital District (Spanish: distrito capital), and the Federal Dependencies (Spanish: dependencias federales de ultramar), which consist of numerous Venezuelan islands. The majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the Capital District of Caracas, which is both the capital and the largest city of Venezuela. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables take into account all states that include at least one Venezuelan higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Anzoategui (1)  
Aragua (1)  
Barinas (2)  
Bolivar (2)  
Carabobo (5)  
Caracas (17)  
Cojedes (1)  
Falcon (2)  
Guarico (1)  
Lara (5)  
Merida (1)  
Monagas (1)  
Nueva Esparta (1)  
Sucre (1)  
Tachira (3)  
Trujillo (1)  
Vargas (1)  
Yaracuy (1)  
Zulia (8)  

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Overview of Venezuela Universities

Venezuela's higher education system comprises public and private institutions offering diverse academic programs. Public universities, primarily funded by the government, dominate the landscape and include comprehensive research universities like Universidad Central de Venezuela. Private universities emerged later, focusing on specialized fields such as business and education. The National Council of Universities (CNU) regulates accreditation and quality standards. Venezuelan universities typically award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees across scientific, technical and humanities disciplines.

Top 10 Venezuela Universities

1. Universidad de Los Andes (University of the Andes) - ULA ranks #1 in Venezuela and #1570 globally. Established in 1810, this public research university is located in Mérida, Mérida State.
2. Universidad Central de Venezuela (Central University of Venezuela) - UCV holds Venezuela's #2 rank and #1672 worldwide. Founded in 1721, this public institution operates in Caracas, Capital District.
3. Universidad Simón Bolívar (Simón Bolívar University) - USB ranks #3 nationally and #2481 globally. Established in 1967, this public university is based in Caracas, Capital District.
4. Universidad Católica Andres Bello (Andres Bello Catholic University) - UCAB is Venezuela's #4 university (#2522 worldwide). This private institution was founded in 1953 in Caracas, Capital District.
5. Universidad de Carabobo (University of Carabobo) - UC ranks #5 nationally (#3430 globally). Established in 1833, this public university is located in Valencia, Carabobo State.
6. Universidad Dr. Rafael Belloso Chacín (Rafael Belloso Chacín University) - URBE is Venezuela's #6 university (#3702 worldwide). This private institution was founded in 1989 in Maracaibo, Zulia State.
7. Universidad Nacional Experimental de los Llanos Occidentales (National Experimental University of the Western Plains) - UNELLEZ ranks #7 nationally (#4802 globally). Established in 1975, this public university operates in Barinas, Barinas State.
8. Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado (Lisandro Alvarado Central Western University) - UCLA holds Venezuela's #8 rank (#5166 worldwide). Founded in 1962, this public institution is based in Barquisimeto, Lara State.
9. Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (Libertador Experimental Pedagogical University) - UPEL ranks #9 in Venezuela (#5315 globally). Established in 1983, this public university is located in Rubio, Táchira State.
10. Universidad Metropolitana (Metropolitan University) - UNIMET is Venezuela's #10 university (#5577 worldwide). This private institution was founded in 1965 in Caracas, Capital District.

Analysis of University Types

Venezuela has 55 recognized universities. Public institutions dominate with 29 universities (52.7% of the total), while private universities comprise 26 institutions (47.3%). This near-balanced distribution reflects significant private sector participation in higher education alongside historically established public universities.

Global Ranking and Standing

Currently, no Venezuelan universities rank among the world's top 200 institutions (0% of national universities). Similarly, none appear in the global top 1,000 (0% of national universities). This indicates opportunities for enhanced international collaboration and research investment among Venezuela's top-ranked universities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the oldest university in Venezuela?
A: Universidad Central de Venezuela, founded in 1721, is the country's oldest and most historically significant institution.

Q: Are public universities free in Venezuela?
A: Yes, public universities offer tuition-free education to undergraduate students as mandated by Venezuela's constitution.

Q: Which Venezuelan university is best for engineering studies?
A: Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB) is particularly renowned for its engineering and technological programs.

Q: Do Venezuelan universities offer programs in English?
A: Some private universities like Universidad Metropolitana (UNIMET) offer select programs in English, though Spanish remains the primary language of instruction.

Q: How does Venezuela's economic situation affect university rankings?
A: Economic challenges have impacted research funding and faculty retention, contributing to the current absence of Venezuelan universities in global top-1000 rankings.

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

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