Universities in Guatemala

Guatemala's university system has one public university and a group of private ones. Under the Constitution, the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) is the only state university and has the exclusive task of organising and developing state higher education. Private universities are independent institutions that organise private higher education; once authorised, they are free to create faculties and set their own study plans and programmes.

Private universities are supervised by the Consejo de la Enseñanza Privada Superior (CEPS), created in 1966, which maintains academic standards and authorises new universities. Its website lists more than a dozen private universities, among them Universidad Galileo, Universidad del Valle, Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Universidad del Istmo, Universidad Mariano Gálvez and Universidad Rafael Landívar. Teaching is in Spanish, which makes Guatemala a realistic option mainly for students who already speak the language or plan to learn it first.

How it works

Only legally authorised universities may award degrees in Guatemala. The usual qualifications follow the Latin American pattern:

• profesorado: a teacher-training qualification
• licenciatura: the main first degree
• maestría and posgrado programmes, followed by the doctorado

Programmes, duration and admission rules are set by each university. USAC is a large public institution with faculties in Guatemala City and regional university centres across the country, such as the Centro Universitario de Occidente (CUNOC). Its funding is set in the Constitution: no less than 5% of the state's ordinary budget.

The university in our directory is the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), a private university founded on 29 January 1966 according to the CEPS register. Its main campus is in Guatemala City, with external campuses in the south (PROESUR) and the highlands (UVG-Altiplano). UVG offers licenciaturas in engineering, sciences, social sciences, education and design, bachelor's programmes (Baccalaureatus en Artibus and en Scientiis), teaching qualifications and UVG Masters programmes, some of them with English names.

Admission

Each university runs its own admission process. At USAC, new students go through a vocational orientation test, basic knowledge tests (PCB) and specific tests for their chosen field. Private universities set their own entrance exams, interviews and language requirements; UVG, for example, publishes an English requirement for its students. Ask the admissions office whether your foreign school-leaving certificate is accepted and what documents you need.

For a stay of several months or more, foreign students apply to the Instituto Guatemalteco de Migración (IGM) for a temporary residence for students (checked October 2026). The main requirements are an enrolment letter from the Guatemalan institution, signed and stamped, with your timetable or study plan; proof of financial means, through a guarantor or a bank statement of the student or the parents; and a criminal record certificate. Documents from abroad must be apostilled or legalised and, where needed, have a sworn translation into Spanish.

Costs and funding

Tuition fees are set by each university and are not published centrally; ask the university for the current fees for your programme. Universities such as UVG offer scholarships and financial aid. Migration fees are fixed: the IGM charges $25 to submit a residence application and $100 for each year of student residence granted.

Recognition of degrees

Under the Constitution, USAC is the only body that can resolve the incorporation (recognition) of professionals who graduated from foreign universities. University professionals must also join their professional association (colegiación) to practise. If you plan to study abroad and return, or to use a Guatemalan degree in another country, check the recognition rules on both sides before you enrol.

How to choose

• Public or private: USAC has the widest regional network; private universities set their own fees and admission rules
• Authorisation: check that the university is listed by CEPS (or is USAC), because only authorised universities can award degrees
• Location: most universities are in Guatemala City, but USAC and some private universities have centres in other regions
• Language: teaching is in Spanish; a few programmes have English names or content, but check the language of instruction
• Visa: plan the student residence application with your enrolment letter

Frequently asked questions

How many public universities does Guatemala have?

One. The Constitution makes the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala the only state university; all others are private universities authorised by the CEPS.

Can foreigners study at a Guatemalan university?

Yes. You apply directly to the university and, for a longer stay, request a temporary residence for students from the IGM with your enrolment letter and proof of financial means.

How is a foreign degree recognised in Guatemala?

The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala is the only institution that can resolve the incorporation of graduates of foreign universities.