Universities in Ecuador

In Ecuador, universities and polytechnic schools (universidades y escuelas politécnicas) make up the university level of higher education. The Consejo de Educación Superior (CES), the council that regulates the system, lists 64 of them: 36 public, 20 private self-financed (particulares autofinanciadas) and 8 private institutions that also receive public funding (particulares cofinanciadas). Next to them, the CES counts 216 technical, technological, teaching and arts institutes and higher conservatories, which form the non-university part of higher education.

Several Ecuadorian universities date from the 19th century. The Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN) in Quito was founded in 1869 by decree of the National Convention and, according to its own history, became the country's first centre for teaching and scientific research. The Universidad de Cuenca was created by the Ecuadorian Congress on 15 October 1867 and describes itself as the second-oldest university in the country.

Types of universities

Public universities include large comprehensive universities and polytechnics. The Universidad de Cuenca has 12 faculties and 56 degree programmes; the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Guayaquil reports 9,811 students in 2025, 34 undergraduate programmes and 13 programmes accredited by ABET. The Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, which the CES lists among the public institutions, teaches only at postgraduate level in Quito.

Private universities are either co-financed or self-financed. The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), a co-financed university, is based in Quito and has campuses in Ambato, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Ibarra, Manabí and the Amazon region. Self-financed universities include the Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador in Quito and the Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES) in Samborondón, near Guayaquil.

Degrees and levels

Ecuadorian higher education distinguishes the third level (tercer nivel), which covers undergraduate degree programmes (carreras de grado) and shorter technical and technological programmes, from the fourth level (cuarto nivel), which covers postgraduate study. PUCE, for example, offers technical and technological programmes through PUCE TEC, undergraduate degrees, and master's programmes aimed at graduates who already hold a third-level degree.

At postgraduate level, the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar offers doctorates, research master's degrees, professional master's degrees and specialisations, taught on campus, in blended or hybrid formats and online. Most of its programmes start in October.

Quality assurance is the task of the Consejo de Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Educación Superior (CACES), which evaluates universities, institutes and postgraduate programmes. It has evaluated degree programmes in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Law for accreditation and runs a professional qualifying exam (Examen de Habilitación para el Ejercicio Profesional, EHEP).

Admission

Access to public universities starts with a mandatory national registration on the platform of the Ministry of Education (MINEDEC). Each university then runs its own application and entrance exam. At the Universidad de Cuenca, the 2026 process covered the September 2026 to February 2027 term: national registration ran from 2 to 13 June 2026 and the on-campus admission exam took place on 29 and 30 July 2026. Places are allocated by application score, quota policy, demand for each programme and available places. At ESPOL, admitted students first take a levelling course (curso de nivelación), which started on 5 October 2026.

Private universities set their own admission routes. PUCE, for example, uses an entrance exam and an admission course, and students who have studied at another university can have their courses validated. Public universities such as the EPN also accept transfers from other higher education institutions. For postgraduate programmes, applicants usually apply online and are selected on merit and the number of places, as at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar.

International students should ask the admissions office which documents it needs for foreign school or university qualifications. To live in Ecuador while studying, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists a student category among its temporary residence visas, alongside categories for MERCOSUR nationals and the Andean Migration Statute. Short stays as a tourist are limited to 90 days, and nationals of some countries need a visa to enter Ecuador at all.

Costs and funding

Public universities do not charge tuition for a student's first degree under the public free-tuition rule (gratuidad). The Universidad de Cuenca states that students may take a second degree but that it is not free, and ESPOL has a separate enrolment process for new students who have lost free tuition. Private universities set their own fees, so check each university's published fees before applying. Many universities, including the EPN, also offer scholarships for undergraduate, master's and doctoral students.

How to choose a university in Ecuador

• Public or private: free tuition at public universities, with competitive places, or private fees with the university's own admission process
• Level: an undergraduate degree, a technical programme or a postgraduate-only university
• City: Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca have the most universities in our directory
• Accreditation: whether the programme has been evaluated by CACES or holds international accreditation
• Format: on campus, hybrid or online
• Calendar: admission dates for public universities are set months before classes start

Frequently asked questions

How many universities are there in Ecuador?

The Consejo de Educación Superior lists 64 universities and polytechnic schools: 36 public, 20 private self-financed and 8 private co-financed institutions.

Are public universities in Ecuador free?

Public universities do not charge tuition for a first degree. A second degree is not free, according to the Universidad de Cuenca.

How do I apply to a public university in Ecuador?

You first register on the Ministry of Education (MINEDEC) platform, then apply to a university and take its entrance exam. Places are allocated by score, quotas and the places available in each programme.

Do I need a visa to study at a university in Ecuador?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers a student category of temporary residence visa. Tourist stays are limited to 90 days, so check the requirements with the Ecuadorian consulate before you travel.