Times Higher Education (THE) has released its 2023 Latin American University Rankings, highlighting the significant achievements of 36 Colombian universities, including Medellin’s University of Antioquia. Among the Colombian universities listed, 13 are public and 23 are private.
The rankings placed Universidad de los Andes at 14th, Universidad Nacional at 20th, Universidad Javeriana at 30th, and Medellin’s Universidad de Antioquia at 33rd, further testifying to the significant strides in education that Colombian institutions have made.
The ranking comes as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the faculty, students, and alumni of these institutions, and signifies the international recognition of the quality of education in the andean country, stated a release by Universidad del Rosario.
The top ten positions in the ranking were dominated by institutions from Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. The 212 Latin American universities analyzed in the ranking were evaluated based on five pillars: research, citations, international outlook, teaching, and institutional income from research.
Brazil has the most universities in the ranking, with Colombia following close behind.
Despite this recognition, gaining access to high-quality higher education remains a challenge for many students. Data from the Ministry of Education shows that only 42% of Colombians are able to access an academic program, and a mere 18% manage to complete it. The recently approved ‘Matrícula Cero’ Law 260 of 2022, which guarantees free tuition for undergraduate programs at public higher education institutions, is set to bring relief to many students.
In addition to the listed universities, there are more affordable institutions for budget-conscious individuals, like Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN), Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios, Universidad Libre, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Universidad Autónoma de Colombia, and Universidad ECCI, which provide various academic programs in multiple study modes across the country.