25 Best Universities In Mexico City For International Students 2026

Mexico City is surely one of the places you should be considering if you’re looking to study in Mexico. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 27 universities and colleges in Mexico City, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 27 universities in Mexico City, National Autonomous University of Mexico and Instituto Politecnico Nacional are the top-performing schools in Mexico City. This list covers both public and private institutions in Mexico City.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Mexico City. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Mexico City.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Mexico City?

Applying to the universities in Mexico City involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Mexico City to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

As we cover the best universities in Mexico City for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Mexico City for International Students

The National Autonomous University of Mexico, or Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, is a public university that caters to over 340,000 students. Situated in Mexico City, the university is known for being the largest in enrollment and the top in the country. The university is also among the most prestigious in Latin America.

Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) is Mexico’s national polytechnic university. As it welcomes more than 100,000 students annually, it is one of the country’s most prominent and extensive. Such a large crowd is drawn to IPN because of its high education, training, and research quality, especially in engineering and technical disciplines.

Besides undergraduate and postgraduate programs, the institute also offers middle-high school courses for aspiring technicians in various fields. Other students may also pursue foreign language courses at IPN.

The Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana was envisioned to be a cradle of innovation in Mexico, and it does so by being open, flexible, autonomous, and interdisciplinary. It also realizes its vision by pioneering research, launching novel programs, and committing to sustainability. Moreover, its programs undergo a regular assessment to ensure the quality of teaching and training is up to par with global standards.

El Colegio de Mexico was established in 1940 with the intention of providing higher education in social sciences and humanities. Over the years, the university has undergone several reformations, which have expanded its departments and developed more diverse and multidisciplinary programs. Today, it is widely known for its high standards of teaching and research and is considered to be one of the most prominent Mexican institutes.

Guided by its Franciscan values, University Simon Bolivar is a private university founded in 1944 that was initially established to offer preschool and elementary education. It has eventually expanded to provide education at the tertiary level. The Franciscan values, called Franciscan Charism, mainly focus on finding humility, simplicity, and joy.

University Simon Bolivar has three faculties: Economics, Business and Administrative Sciences, Human Sciences, and Science and Technology. These faculties handle all undergraduate and graduate programs offered at the university.

Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology is a private university offering undergraduate and graduate business, mathematics, social sciences, and engineering programs. The university believes in higher education as one of the critical factors in making people’s lives better and achieving a free, well-developed, and harmonious society. Programs and activities at the university are intended to develop individuals with intellect, skills, and ethical and moral values, which will positively impact industries around the world.

The Center for Research and Teaching in Economics is a research and teaching university located in Mexico. This university dates back to 1974 when it was established to develop a credible institution that can contribute to the field of economics. Today, the institute has become one of the leading schools that have contributed significantly to research studies in the country.

The Technological University of Mexico (UNITEC) is a private university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was founded in 1966 with bachelor’s degrees in business and accounting. Undergraduate and postgraduate programs in marketing, management, architecture, design, and engineering are available at the university. UNITEC has over 90,000 students, making it the region’s largest private higher education institution.

The Universidad Autonoma de la Ciudad de Mexico, or Autonomous University of Mexico City, is among the youngest universities in the region, and until the establishment of this university, this Federal District was the only one without a public university. The university was born out of the need for a public institution that provides affordable tuition for domestic and international students.

La Salle University (ULSA) is a private Catholic university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was established in 1962 as a result of the relocation of Colegio Cristobal Colon to Colonia Condesa. ULSA is one of Mexico’s top private universities, with rankings in the top three in a variety of fields, such as architecture, natural sciences, engineering, accounting, and medicine.

The Ibero-American University is a private institution located in Mexico City. This university was established in 1943 and is known for its excellent programs, such as arts, humanities, business, and engineering. Even though this university dates back to 1943, it is still known in the region for its innovation and research studies.

Latinoamericana University is a private institution that is a part of a specific education group called Lottus Education. This university offers various programs that are available to students in different formats, such as physical, online, and part-time studies. The main aim of this university is to become one of the elite universities in Mexico.

The Intercontinental University is a private Catholic university founded in 1976 and located in Mexico City. This university offers all the basic study programs in many locations and facilities because it is spread throughout the country. This university is also recognized in the region because it offers affordable tuition fees for international and domestic students.

National Pedagogic University is a public university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was founded in 1978 and is recognized as the national university for teacher education. It has many campuses across the country with a large student population of over 60,000 students. The university provides a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate education programs.

The School of Banking and Commerce is a private higher education institution in Mexico. The institution’s main objective is to create experts who will contribute to the region’s socioeconomic development. The School of Banking and Commerce is known for its high-quality academic programs, preparing students to become competent professionals who will pursue careers in the banking and financial sector. The university offers a range of programs at every level and professional development courses.

The Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, or the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana, is a private education university established in 1975. This university is located in Mexico City, Mexico, and provides formal education for international and domestic students. The main objective of this university is to establish a great rapport between students and the region.

Universidad ICEL is a private university known for its outstanding, accessible, and flexible educational programs. This university does not require entrance examinations and registration costs and conducts morning and evening classes in both virtual and face-to-face modes. Its interdisciplinary programs are constantly updated so students can have higher chances for employment after graduation. 

The Latin University (Universidad Latina) is a unique institution with a history that dates back to 1967. The institution’s main campus is located in Mexico City, but it has several campuses across the region. The university’s primary goal is to provide affordable tuition fees for both domestic and international students.

Insurgentes University, or Universidad Insurgentes S.C. in Spanish, is a private university in Mexico City’s Iztacalco district. It was founded in 1976 and now has campuses in Alamos, Ecatepec, Leon, San Angel, Toreo, Xola, and many other cities. Officially recognized by the Secretariat of Public Education of Mexico, the university currently offers programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate levels.

The University of Londres is a private university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was established in 1980. It is accredited by the Federation of Private Mexican Institutions of Higher Education (FIMPES), an organization dedicated to training professionals within a cultural and value framework. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in a mix of face-to-face learning and distance learning.

The Pontifical University of Mexico is a Catholic university located in Mexico City. This university was established by the Holy See organization, which is under the direct jurisdiction of the Pope. This institution was established in 1982, but its history in this field dates back to 1553, when it got its start and started to advance to its current form.

With two campuses in Mexico, the Graduate Center of San Angel S.C. (CESSA) divides its study opportunities effectively and adequately. Each campus is comprised of two academic divisions: the Division of Globalized Studies and the Division of Studies for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises. Interested applicants may pursue bachelor’s, master’s, or associate degrees on either campus of CESSA. Applicants may choose programs in the fields of Food, Finance, and Management.

The University of Communication is a private university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was founded in 1976 with the objective of supporting students in developing their talent and creativity in the fields of advertising, marketing, communication, and media production. Students have access to a variety of facilities at the university, including audio booths, laboratories, art galleries, and photography studios.

ETAC University is a private university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was founded in 1993. It is part of the Aliat University network, which has over 32 campuses situated across the country. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate programs, the university offers sports and extracurricular activities to help students hone their talents and skills.

YMCA University is a private university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was founded in the year 2000. As a secular university, the YMCA strives to defend universal values and instill in its students the importance of justice, truth, solidarity, and freedom. Currently, the university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in management, sports science, law, engineering, music, marketing, and psychology.