8 Best Public Universities in Mexico City for International Students

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Mexico City is one of the cities in Mexico you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, studying in Mexico City can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture. You can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it.

There are 27 universities you can find in Mexico City, and 8 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes Mexico City a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in Mexico City, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

Rank University Location
1 National Autonomous University of Mexico Mexico City, Mexico
2 Instituto Politecnico Nacional Mexico City, Mexico
3 Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana Mexico City, Mexico
4 El Colegio de Mexico, A.C. Mexico City, Mexico
5 Center for Research and Teaching in Economics Mexico City, Mexico
6 National Pedagogic University Mexico City, Mexico
7 Universidad Autonoma de la Ciudad de Mexico Mexico City, Mexico
8 University of Business and Educational Development Mexico City, Mexico

Public Universities in Mexico City

1. National Autonomous University of Mexico

  • National Autonomous University of Mexico Page
  • 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.

    2. Instituto Politecnico Nacional

  • Instituto Politecnico Nacional Page
  • 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.

    3. Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana

  • Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana Page
  • 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.

    4. El Colegio de Mexico, A.C.

  • El Colegio de Mexico, A.C. Page
  • 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.

    5. Center for Research and Teaching in Economics

  • Center for Research and Teaching in Economics Page
  • 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.

    6. National Pedagogic University

  • National Pedagogic University Page
  • 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.

    7. Universidad Autonoma de la Ciudad de Mexico

  • Universidad Autonoma de la Ciudad de Mexico Page
  • 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.

    8. University of Business and Educational Development

  • University of Business and Educational Development Page
  • The University of Business and Educational Development is a public university in Mexico City, Mexico. It was founded in 1978 with primary education and preschool education training programs. It is officially recognized by Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education. Currently, the university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in tourism, gastronomy, humanities, and education.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in Mexico City?

    Absolutely! International students in public universities in Mexico City can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

    As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others.


    I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in Mexico City. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.