🇨🇱 55 universities · 127 recognised institutions
Chile's universities — every one the state recognises today.
The ministry's own list of closed universities runs to 24. This is its current directory of the ones still open: 55 universities, 30 professional institutes and 42 technical training centres holding official recognition.
State universities
18
Private universities with state funding
9
Private universities
28
Accredited at the excellence level
17
of 55 universities
Accredited, any level
50
Not accredited
5
How accreditation works
Institutional accreditation is decided by the Comisión Nacional de Acreditación at one of three levels — basic (3 years), advanced (4–5) or excellence (6–7). It is compulsory, and an institution's access to state student funding such as gratuidad depends on it. “New process under way” is our wording for the Commission's label “acreditada (en proceso)”: accredited, with its next accreditation being decided. The status shown is as the Commission's search listed it on 1 October 2026; check cnachile.cl for the current position.
What isn't here, and why
Chile's ministry publishes, for every programme at every institution, the annual fee, enrolment fee, vacancies, entry weightings, enrolment and graduates. It labels those datasets for non-commercial use only, so none of that is here unless and until the ministry permits it. The national education council's statistics are under the same kind of restriction.
The list is the ministry's own directory of institutions holding official recognition in May 2026. A university that has closed is not on it. Institutions marked “closing” are still recognised but are winding down — do not enrol in one without checking with the ministry.
Marked as closing in May 2026: Universidad Tecnológica de Chile INACAP; Instituto Profesional Instituto de Estudios Bancarios Guillermo Subercaseaux; Instituto Profesional Los Lagos; Centro de Formación Técnica Los Lagos.
The 55 universities
Each university is shown with its accreditation level, the length of the term and the year it runs to. Region is where the university has its seat; many teach in several. Region, founding year and website links come from Wikidata and may be incomplete.
State universities (18)
Created by law and owned by the state. They charge fees, which students from lower-income households do not pay under the gratuidad policy.
| Universidad Arturo Prat | Tarapacá | Advanced · 5 years, to 2027Tarapacá | est. 1984 |
| Universidad de Antofagasta | Antofagasta | Advanced · 5 years, to 2027Antofagasta | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de Atacama | Atacama | Advanced · 5 years, to 2031Atacama | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de Aysén | Aysén | Basic · new process under wayAysén | est. 2015 |
| Universidad de Chile | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 7 years, to 2032Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1842 |
| Universidad de La Frontera | Araucanía | Advanced · 5 years, to 2030Araucanía | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de La Serena | Coquimbo | Advanced · 5 years, to 2026Coquimbo | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de Los Lagos | Los Lagos | Advanced · new process under wayLos Lagos | est. 1993 |
| Universidad de Magallanes | Magallanes | Advanced · 5 years, to 2028Magallanes | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de O'Higgins | O'Higgins | Advanced · 4 years, to 2027O'Higgins | est. 2015 |
| Universidad de Playa Ancha de Ciencias de la Educación | Valparaíso | Advanced · 5 years, to 2027Valparaíso | est. 1948 |
| Universidad de Santiago de Chile | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 7 years, to 2028Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1948 |
| Universidad de Talca | Maule | Excellence · 7 years, to 2033Maule | est. 1980 |
| Universidad de Tarapacá | Arica y Parinacota | Excellence · 6 years, to 2029Arica y Parinacota | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de Valparaíso | Valparaíso | Excellence · 6 years, to 2029Valparaíso | est. 1981 |
| Universidad del Bío-Bío | Biobío | Advanced · 5 years, to 2030Biobío | est. 1947 |
| Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 4 years, to 2027Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1889 |
| Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 4 years, to 2030Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1993 |
Private universities with state funding (9)
Older private universities, most of them founded before 1981, that receive direct state funding and belong to the Council of Rectors alongside the state universities.
| Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 7 years, to 2033Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1888 |
| Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso | Valparaíso | Excellence · 7 years, to 2029Valparaíso | est. 1925 |
| Universidad Austral de Chile | Los Ríos | Excellence · 6 years, to 2028Los Ríos | est. 1954 |
| Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción | Biobío | Excellence · 6 years, to 2032Biobío | est. 1991 |
| Universidad Católica de Temuco | Araucanía | Advanced · 5 years, to 2029Araucanía | est. 1959 |
| Universidad Católica del Maule | Maule | Advanced · new process under wayMaule | est. 1991 |
| Universidad Católica del Norte | Antofagasta | Excellence · 6 years, to 2028Antofagasta | est. 1956 |
| Universidad de Concepción | Biobío | Excellence · 7 years, to 2030Biobío | est. 1919 |
| Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María | Valparaíso | Excellence · 6 years, to 2028Valparaíso | est. 1929 |
Private universities (28)
Private universities recognised under the rules in force since 1981. Founding years, from Wikidata, can be earlier where a university grew out of an older institution.
| Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · new process under waySantiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1975 |
| Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 6 years, to 2027Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad Adventista de Chile | Ñuble | Basic · new process under wayÑuble | est. 1906 |
| Universidad Alberto Hurtado | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2030Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1997 |
| Universidad Andrés Bello | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 6 years, to 2028Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad Autónoma de Chile | Araucanía | Advanced · 5 years, to 2030Araucanía | est. 1989 |
| Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2027Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1990 |
| Universidad Bolivariana | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Not accreditedSantiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1987 |
| Universidad Católica Cardenal Raúl Silva Henríquez | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 4 years, to 2030Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1982 |
| Universidad Central de Chile | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2027Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1982 |
| Universidad de Aconcagua | Los Lagos | Not accreditedLos Lagos | est. 1989 |
| Universidad de Artes, Ciencias y Comunicación - UNIACC | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Basic · new process under waySantiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1981 |
| Universidad de las Américas | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2028Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad de Los Andes | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 6 years, to 2028Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1989 |
| Universidad de Viña del Mar | Valparaíso | Advanced · new process under wayValparaíso | est. 1988 |
| Universidad del Alba | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Basic · new process under waySantiago Metropolitan Region | est. 2006 |
| Universidad del Desarrollo | Biobío | Excellence · 6 years, to 2027Biobío | est. 1990 |
| Universidad Diego Portales | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Excellence · 6 years, to 2029Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1982 |
| Universidad Finis Terrae | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2029Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad Gabriela Mistral | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 4 years, to 2029Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1981 |
| Universidad La República | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Not accreditedSantiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad Los Leones | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Not accreditedSantiago Metropolitan Region | est. 2010 |
| Universidad Mayor | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2026Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad Miguel de Cervantes | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Basic · 3 years, to 2028Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1996 |
| Universidad San Sebastián | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2026Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1989 |
| Universidad Santo Tomás | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Advanced · 5 years, to 2030Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1988 |
| Universidad SEK | Santiago Metropolitan Region | Basic · 3 years, to 2028Santiago Metropolitan Region | est. 1990 |
| Universidad Tecnológica de Chile INACAPclosing | Not accredited |
Professional institutes and technical training centres
Accreditation is shown where we could match the institution to a row in the Commission's search. No line under a name means we found no matching row — not that it is unaccredited.
Professional institutes (institutos profesionales) (30)
They award professional titles that do not require a university degree, and technical qualifications.
- Instituto Profesional Agrario Adolfo MattheiAdvanced · 5 years, to 2029
- Instituto Profesional AIEPAdvanced · 5 years, to 2027
- Instituto Profesional Arcos
- Instituto Profesional Chileno Británico de CulturaNot accredited
- Instituto Profesional Cicerón
- Instituto Profesional de ChileAdvanced · 5 years, to 2030
- Instituto Profesional del Valle Central
- Instituto Profesional Diego PortalesNot accredited
- Instituto Profesional Dr. Virginio Gómez G.
- Instituto Profesional DUOC UCExcellence · 7 years, to 2031
- Instituto Profesional EatriBasic · 3 years, to 2029
- Instituto Profesional Escuela de Cine de ChileNot accredited
- Instituto Profesional Escuela de Comercio de SantiagoBasic · new process under way
- Instituto Profesional Escuela de Contadores Auditores de SantiagoAdvanced · 4 years, to 2027
- Instituto Profesional Escuela de Marina Mercante Piloto PardoBasic · 3 years, to 2029
- Instituto Profesional Escuela Moderna de MúsicaAdvanced · 5 years, to 2026
- Instituto Profesional IACC
- Instituto Profesional INACAPExcellence · 7 years, to 2030
- Instituto Profesional Instituto de Estudios Bancarios Guillermo Subercaseauxclosing
- Instituto Profesional Instituto Internacional de Artes Culinarias y Servicios
- Instituto Profesional Instituto Nacional del Fútbol
- Instituto Profesional Ipg
- Instituto Profesional Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior - IPLACEXAdvanced · 4 years, to 2030
- Instituto Profesional Libertador de Los AndesNot accredited
- Instituto Profesional Los LagosclosingNot accredited
- Instituto Profesional Los LeonesBasic · 3 years, to 2027
- Instituto Profesional ProjazzAdvanced · 4 years, to 2027
- Instituto Profesional ProvidenciaAdvanced · 4 years, to 2029
- Instituto Profesional San SebastiánAdvanced · 4 years, to 2029
- Instituto Profesional Santo TomásExcellence · 7 years, to 2033
Technical training centres (centros de formación técnica) (27)
They award higher-level technical qualifications, typically in two to two and a half years.
- Centro de Formación Técnica Academia Chilena de Yoga
- Centro de Formación Técnica AlpesBasic · 3 years, to 2028
- Centro de Formación Técnica AsisteNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica CEDUC - UCNAdvanced · new process under way
- Centro de Formación Técnica CencoBasic · 3 years, to 2029
- Centro de Formación Técnica Centro Tecnológico Superior InfomedNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica de ENAC o Centro de Formación Técnica de los Establecimientos Nacionales de Educación Cáritas-Chile
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso o CFT PUCV
- Centro de Formación Técnica del Medio Ambiente
- Centro de Formación Técnica Escuela Culinaria FrancesaAdvanced · 4 years, to 2026
- Centro de Formación Técnica Escuela de Comercio
- Centro de Formación Técnica INACAPExcellence · 7 years, to 2032
- Centro de Formación Técnica Instituto Central de Capacitación Educacional Icce
- Centro de Formación Técnica Instituto Superior Alemán de Comercio InsalcoBasic · 3 years, to 2028
- Centro de Formación Técnica Instituto Superior de Estudios Jurídicos Canon
- Centro de Formación Técnica IprosecNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica Juan BohonAdvanced · 4 years, to 2027
- Centro de Formación Técnica Laplace O C.f.t. de Estudios Superiores y Capacitación Profesional Laplace
- Centro de Formación Técnica Los LagosclosingNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica Lota - AraucoAdvanced · 4 years, to 2027
- Centro de Formación Técnica ManpowerNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica ProdataNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica ProfasocNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica ProtecNot accredited
- Centro de Formación Técnica San AgustínAccredited · 5 years, to 2029
- Centro de Formación Técnica Santo TomásExcellence · 6 years, to 2030
- Centro de Formación Técnica Teodoro Wickel KluwenNot accredited
State technical training centres (15)
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Antofagasta
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Arica y Parinacota
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Atacama
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Coquimbo
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de La Araucanía
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Los Lagos
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Los Ríos
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Tarapacá
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región de Valparaíso
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región del Bío Bio
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región del Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región del Maule
- Centro de Formación Técnica de la Región Metropolitana de Santiago
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Source: Ministerio de Educación de Chile, Subsecretaría de Educación Superior — Directorio de instituciones de educación superior (May 2026), under Creative Commons Atribución 2.0 Chile (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/cl/). Institutional accreditation: Comisión Nacional de Acreditación (cnachile.cl), accreditation search, as at 1 October 2026. Names converted from capitals and the two lists joined by CollegeMatcher. Region, website and founding year of universities from Wikidata (CC0), which is community-maintained.