Study and find schools in Costa Rica

Studying in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small Spanish-speaking country in Central America, between the Caribbean and the Pacific. International students come here for two main reasons: to learn Spanish at one of the many language schools, often combined with time on the coast, or to study for a semester or a full degree at a Costa Rican university.

Our directory lists 16 schools in Costa Rica: 6 universities and 9 Spanish language schools, most of them in and around San José.

The education system in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has five public universities, which together form the National Council of Rectors (Consejo Nacional de Rectores, CONARE):

• the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), founded on 26 August 1940
• the Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC), created by law in 1971 for teaching and research in technology and related sciences
• the Universidad Nacional (UNA), created by law on 15 February 1973
• the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), created in 1977, a pioneer of distance education in Latin America
• the Universidad Técnica Nacional (UTN), the fifth public university, created on 4 June 2008 for scientific, technical and technological training

Our directory also lists several other universities in San José. Degree titles at UCR include the bachillerato, licenciatura, maestría and doctorado. UCR charges tuition by credit and by term (ciclo lectivo), and its first term of the academic year runs from March to July.

Admission and recognition

Students who want to take a full degree at UCR must sit its admission exam, an academic aptitude test with items on mathematical and verbal reasoning. Applicants from abroad go through the same undergraduate admission process via the Office of Registration (Oficina de Registro e Información), and apply for postgraduate programmes through the Postgraduate Studies System (Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado).

Exchange students (estudiantes visitantes) spend a semester or a year at UCR, take courses and transfer the credits to their home university, without sitting the admission exam. UCR's requirements are:

• active enrolment at a higher-education institution with a student mobility agreement with UCR (without an agreement, students pay tuition and credits)
• a weighted average of at least 8.0 on a 0-10 scale
• at least three semesters of the degree completed
• Spanish at level B2 or higher for non-native speakers

Applications for the first term (March to July) are sent by the home university's exchange coordinator in October of the previous year.

People with a university degree from abroad who want to work in their profession in Costa Rica must have it recognised and made equivalent (reconocimiento y equiparación). This is handled by CONARE's Office for the Recognition and Equivalence of Degrees (ORE) together with the public universities.

Student visa and residence

Immigration matters are handled by the Directorate General of Migration and Foreigners (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, DGME), whose website we could not consult. Universities help their students with the process: UCR's international affairs office (OAICE) answers questions on the immigration requirements for international students, whether applying for the first time or renewing, by email to its visa desk. As part of the exchange application, UCR asks for proof of financial means of at least USD 600 per month, such as a scholarship certificate or bank statements, and, after admission, proof of health insurance covering hospitalisation, surgery, dental emergencies, medical evacuation and repatriation.

Students on a short Spanish course should check the entry rules for their nationality with the DGME or the Costa Rican consulate before travelling.

Costs

At UCR, tuition depends on nationality and is charged per credit, up to a maximum of 12 credits per term. In 2026, foreign undergraduate students pay ₡58,410 per credit, so a full-time term costs ₡700,920; Costa Rican students pay ₡16,050 per credit. For foreign postgraduate students the rate is ₡88,775 per credit. Small fees come on top, such as the admission exam (₡7,000) and student insurance (₡9,485).

Spanish schools price their courses in US dollars. At WAYRA Instituto de Español in Tamarindo, for example, a standard group course of 20 lessons costs USD 367 for one week and USD 326 for each additional week, including registration and VAT; books cost USD 45.

Where to study

San José, the capital, and its suburbs have most of the schools in our directory. UCR's Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio is in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, where language schools such as ILISA, established in Costa Rica in 1987, and the Costa Rica Spanish Institute (COSI) are also based. Other San José institutions in the directory include the Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT), the Universidad Internacional de las Américas, the Universidad de San José and the Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional, as well as Spanish schools such as Personalized Spanish and Centro de Idiomas Logos.

The Universidad Nacional is in Heredia, north of San José. On the Pacific coast, students can combine Spanish lessons with beach towns: WAYRA is in Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste, and Manuel Antonio has schools such as El Paraiso Language School and Academia de Español D'Amore.

Practical life

Spanish schools such as ILISA and WAYRA arrange accommodation for their students, and WAYRA also runs activities and tours around Tamarindo. Exchange students at UCR should budget for health insurance from the start, since proof of coverage is required after admission.

The colón (₡) is the local currency for university fees, while language schools usually quote prices in US dollars.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to study at the Universidad de Costa Rica as a foreigner?

In 2026, foreign undergraduates pay ₡58,410 per credit, with a cap of 12 credits per term (₡700,920). Exchange students from partner universities may be exempt under their agreement.

Do I need to speak Spanish to study at a Costa Rican university?

For an exchange at UCR, non-native speakers need at least level B2. Students who need to improve their Spanish first can start with a course at a language school.

How much does a Spanish course in Costa Rica cost?

At WAYRA in Tamarindo, a 20-lesson group course costs USD 367 for the first week and USD 326 per additional week in 2026.

Is my foreign degree valid in Costa Rica?

To work in your profession you must have it recognised through CONARE's Office for the Recognition and Equivalence of Degrees (ORE) and the public universities.