Notable Universities in Costa Rica

A closer look at 20 universities in Costa Rica — founding, campus language, and academic strengths.

School	City	Type	Founded	Language	Notable Programs
Universidad San Marcos	San José	Private	1922	Spanish	Business AdministrationMarketingAccounting
Universidad Adventista de Centro América	La Ceiba	Private	1927	Spanish	EducationNursingTheology
Universidad Metropolitana Castro Carazo	San José	Private	1936	Spanish	EducationBusiness AdministrationNursing
Universidad de Costa Rica	San Pedro	Public	1940	Spanish	MedicineEngineeringSocial Sciences
Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica	Cartago	Public	1971	Spanish	EngineeringComputer ScienceBiotechnology
Universidad Nacional	Heredia	Public	1973	Spanish	Environmental SciencesMarine BiologyEducation
Universidad Autónoma de Centro América	San José	Private	1975	Spanish	LawBusiness AdministrationArchitecture
Universidad Veritas	San José	Private	1975	Spanish	ArchitectureGraphic DesignInterior Design
Universidad de Ciencias Médicas	San José	Private	1976	Spanish	MedicineDentistryPharmacy
Universidad Estatal a Distancia	San José	Public	1978	Spanish	Distance EducationEducationBusiness Administration
Universidad Fidélitas	San Pedro	Private	1980	Spanish	EngineeringComputer ScienceBusiness Administration
University for Peace	San José	Private	1980	English	Peace StudiesInternational LawEnvironmental Security
Universidad Hispanoamericana	San José	Private	1982	Spanish	NursingPharmacyBusiness Administration
Universidad Fundepos Alma Mater	San José	Private	1985	Spanish	Business AdministrationFinanceProject Management
Universidad Internacional de las Américas	San José	Private	1986	Spanish	MedicineNursingPharmacy
Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología	San José	Private	1987	Spanish, English	Business AdministrationComputer ScienceIndustrial Engineering
Universidad Central	San José	Private	1988	Spanish	Business AdministrationLawNursing
Universidad de Iberoamérica	San José	Private	1988	Spanish	MedicineNursingPhysical Therapy
Universidad Latina de Costa Rica	San Pedro	Private	1989	Spanish	MedicineDentistryBusiness Administration
Universidad Libre de Costa Rica	San José	Private	1990	Spanish	LawBusiness AdministrationPsychology