🇪🇨 64 universities · 19 provinces
Ecuador's universities — the 64 on the national council's list, and which are accredited.
Every university and polytechnic school on the Higher Education Council's list, by province: public or private, when it was created, and whether the quality council has accredited it.
Public
36
Private, co-financed by the state
8
Private, self-financed
20
Accredited
59
of 64
How to read this, and what isn't here
This is the Higher Education Council's current list. Ecuador closed fourteen universities in 2012 after a national evaluation; a university missing from this list is not one the Council currently recognises.
Accreditation is granted by CACES, the quality-assurance council, and lasts until the next national evaluation round — the council publishes no expiry date. “Not yet evaluated” universities are recently created ones that have not been through a round; it is not a finding against them.
Ecuador's higher-education ministry publishes enrolment and programme data per institution, but licenses it for non-commercial use only, so none of that is here unless and until the ministry permits it. Public universities charge no tuition for a first degree; private fees are not published as data.
All 64 universities, by province
As listed on 2026-10-01. Listed under the province of the main seat.
Pichincha (18)Guayas (15)Manabí (5)Azuay (4)Imbabura (3)Tungurahua (3)Chimborazo (2)Loja (2)Los Ríos (2)Bolívar (1)Cañar (1)Carchi (1)Cotopaxi (1)El Oro (1)Esmeraldas (1)Napo (1)Pastaza (1)Santa Elena (1)Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (1)
Pichincha (18)
| Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN)Public · Quito · created 1946 | AccreditedRes. 125-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, FLACSO (FLACSO)Public · Quito · created 1974 | AccreditedRes. 130-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales (IAEN)Public · Quito · created 1972 | AccreditedRes. 131-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE)Private, co-financed by the state · Quito · created 1946 | AccreditedRes. 132-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (UASB)Public · Quito · created 1996 | AccreditedRes. 135-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE)Public · Quito · created 1826 | AccreditedRes. 137-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de Especialidades Turísticas (UDET)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 2000 | AccreditedRes. 043-SO-09-CACES-2024 |
| Universidad de las Américas (UDLA)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 1995 | AccreditedRes. 141-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE (ESPE)Public · Rumiñahui · created 1977 | AccreditedRes. 127-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de los Hemisferios (UDH)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 2004 | AccreditedRes. 146-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de Seguridad Ciudadana y Ciencias Policiales (USECIPOL)Public · Quito · created 2024 | Not yet evaluated |
| Universidad Iberoamericana del Ecuador (UNIBE)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 2005 | AccreditedRes. 156-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi (UINPIAW)Public · Quito · created 2018 | Not yet evaluated |
| Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (UIDE)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 1996 | AccreditedRes. 147-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Particular Internacional SEK (UISEK)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 1993 | AccreditedRes. 133-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ (USFQ)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 1995 | AccreditedRes. 163-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Tecnológica Israel (UISRAEL)Private, self-financed · Quito · created 1999 | AccreditedRes. 148-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad UTE (UTE)Private, co-financed by the state · Quito · created 1986 | AccreditedRes. 167-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Guayas (15)
| Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL)Public · Guayaquil · created 1958 | AccreditedRes. 129-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Agraria del Ecuador (UAE)Public · Guayaquil · created 1992 | AccreditedRes. 134-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Bolivariana del Ecuador (UBE)Private, self-financed · Durán · created 2021 | Not yet evaluated |
| Universidad Casa Grande (UCG)Private, self-financed · Guayaquil · created 1999 | AccreditedRes. 123-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG)Private, co-financed by the state · Guayaquil · created 1962 | AccreditedRes. 138-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES)Private, self-financed · Samborondón · created 1993 | AccreditedRes. 144-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de Guayaquil (UG)Public · Guayaquil · created 1897 | AccreditedRes. 145-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de las Artes (UARTES)Public · Guayaquil · created 2013 | AccreditedRes. 157-SO-30-CACES-2024 |
| Universidad del Pacífico-Escuela de Negocios (UPACIFICO)Private, self-financed · Guayaquil · created 1997 | AccreditedRes. 159-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad del Río-UDR (UDR)Private, self-financed · Guayaquil · created 2018 | Not yet evaluated |
| Universidad Estatal de Milagro (UNEMI)Public · Milagro · created 2001 | AccreditedRes. 153-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Laica Vicente Rocafuerte de Guayaquil (ULVR)Private, co-financed by the state · Guayaquil · created 1963 | AccreditedRes. 150-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Metropolitana (UMET)Private, self-financed · Guayaquil · created 2000 | AccreditedRes. 151-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Tecnológica ECOTEC (ECOTEC)Private, self-financed · Samborondón · created 2006 | AccreditedRes. 124-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Tecnológica Empresarial de Guayaquil (UTEG)Private, self-financed · Guayaquil · created 2000 | AccreditedRes. 168-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Manabí (5)
| Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí Manuel Félix López - Espam Mfl (ESPAM MFL)Public · Bolívar · created 1996 | AccreditedRes. 126-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí (UNESUM)Public · Jipijapa · created 2001 | AccreditedRes. 154-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (ULEAM)Public · Manta · created 1985 | AccreditedRes. 149-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad San Gregorio de Portoviejo (USGP)Private, self-financed · Portoviejo · created 2000 | AccreditedRes. 164-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM)Public · Portoviejo · created 1952 | AccreditedRes. 171-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Azuay (4)
| Universidad Católica de Cuenca (UCACUE)Private, co-financed by the state · Cuenca · created 1970 | AccreditedRes. 136-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad de Cuenca (UCUENCA)Public · Cuenca · created 1867 | AccreditedRes. 139-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad del Azuay (UDA)Private, co-financed by the state · Cuenca · created 1990 | AccreditedRes. 140-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS)Private, co-financed by the state · Cuenca · created 1994 | AccreditedRes. 161-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Imbabura (3)
| Universidad de Investigación de Tecnología Experimental Yachay (UITEY)Public · San Miguel de Urcuquí · created 2013 | AccreditedRes. 154-SO-30-CACES-2024 |
| Universidad de Otavalo (UO)Private, self-financed · Otavalo · created 2002 | AccreditedRes. 158-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Técnica del Norte (UTN)Public · Ibarra · created 1986 | AccreditedRes. 173-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Tungurahua (3)
| Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes UNIANDES (UNIANDES)Private, self-financed · Ambato · created 1997 | AccreditedRes. 155-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Técnica de Ambato (UTA)Public · Ambato · created 1969 | AccreditedRes. 165-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica (UTI)Private, self-financed · Ambato · created 1998 | AccreditedRes. 170-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Chimborazo (2)
| Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH)Public · Riobamba · created 1973 | AccreditedRes. 128-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo (UNACH)Public · Riobamba · created 1995 | AccreditedRes. 152-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Loja (2)
| Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL)Public · Loja · created 1859 | AccreditedRes. 157-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
| Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL)Private, co-financed by the state · Loja · created 1971 | AccreditedRes. 174-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Los Ríos (2)
| Universidad Técnica de Babahoyo (UTB)Public · Babahoyo · created 1971 | AccreditedRes. 045-SO-09-CACES-2024 |
| Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ)Public · Quevedo · created 1984 | AccreditedRes. 169-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Bolívar (1)
| Universidad Estatal de Bolívar (UEB)Public · Guaranda · created 1989 | AccreditedRes. 143-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Cañar (1)
| Universidad Nacional de Educación (UNAE)Public · Azogues · created 2013 | AccreditedRes. 156-SO-30-CACES-2024 |
Carchi (1)
| Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi (UPEC)Public · Tulcán · created 2006 | AccreditedRes. 160-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Cotopaxi (1)
| Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC)Public · Latacunga · created 1995 | AccreditedRes. 166-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
El Oro (1)
| Universidad Técnica de Machala (UTMACH)Public · Machala · created 1969 | AccreditedRes. 172-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Esmeraldas (1)
| Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas (UTELVT)Public · Esmeraldas · created 1970 | AccreditedRes. 044-SO-09-CACES-2024 |
Napo (1)
| Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM (IKIAM)Public · Tena · created 2013 | AccreditedRes. 155-SO-30-CACES-2024 |
Pastaza (1)
| Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA)Public · Pastaza · created 2002 | AccreditedRes. 142-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Santa Elena (1)
| Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena (UPSE)Public · La Libertad · created 1998 | AccreditedRes. 162-SE-33-CACES-2020 |
Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (1)
| Universidad Pública de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas (UPSDT)Public · Santo Domingo · created 2024 | Not yet on the accreditation list |
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Sources: Consejo de Educación Superior (CES), list of universities and escuelas politécnicas; Consejo de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior (CACES), list of accredited universities. Names converted from capitals and the two lists joined by CollegeMatcher. Website links from Wikidata (CC0).