Private Universities

Almost all of the private universities are located in the metropilitan area and some have satellite campuses. Most of the private univerisites in Costa Rica offer scholarships. They are also becoming a more popular option for students who want or need to finish their studies in shorter periods of time and offer quite flexible schedules. Although in the past it was more prestigious to attend only the main public Univeristy the Universidad de Costa Rica, social norms have been changing and due to the need for more professionals in the work place more and more companies are hiring students who have graduated from private universities.

Below is a current list of all of the private universities, linked to their websites and with a short description of what they specialize in:

• Universidad de Iberoamerica (Unibe) characteriszed for preparing heathcare professionals. Offers 9 different areas of study.
• Universidad Creativa for the profesional formation in the areas of design, art, and architecture. Offers 58 different areas of study. Offers 58 different areas of study.
• Univeridad para la Cooperacion Internacional (UCI) leaders in virtual education in Latina America and the Carribean. Offers 21 different areas of study.
• INCAE Business School dedicated to the investigation of business administration and economics. Offers one main area of study in masters in business administration and has a link to the Harvard School of Business.
• Ulatina for the promising Young leaders dedicated to academic excellence. Offers 37 different  areas of study.
• Universidad Latinoamericana de Cienca y Technologia (ULACIT) making strides in science and technology. Offers 53 different areas of study.
• Universidad Fidelitas focuses on engineering, business, and law. Offers 17 different areas of study.
• Universidad Hispanoamericana dedicated to investigation, social action, technology and business. Offers 31 different areas of study.
• Universidad de Ciencias Medicas (UCIMED) focused on health and wellness related fields. Offers 9 different areas of study.
• Instituto Politecnico Internacional focuses on technology related fields. Offers 8 different areas of study.
• Universidad Americana (UAM) is a combination of several different fields all under one roof.  Offers 17 different areas of study.
• Universidad Santa Paula (USP) dominates the therapy and rehabilitation sector in education. Offers 10 different areas of study.
• Universidad Interamericana is a combination of several different fields all under one roof. Offers 38 different areas of study.
• Universidad Atonoma de Cento America (UACA) primarily dedicated to investigation and social projection. Offers 36 different areas of study
• Universidad EARTH is competely dedicated to conservation, protection of the planet, and creating sustainable projects. Offers 31 different areas of study.
• The Univeristy for Peace is the United Nations mandated graduate school for peace and conflict studies. Offers 11 different areas of study.
• Universidad Internacional de las Americas for the formation of critical, creative, and consious citizens. Offers 16 different areas of study.
• Universidad Florencio del Castillo (UCA) focuses on bettering the Costa Rican community. Offers 12 different areas of study.
• Universidad Catolica de Costa Rica is dedicated to teaching, law, and masters in business. Offers 23 different areas of study.
• Universidad Metropolitana Castro Carazo (UMCA) has courses in almost every major field of study. Offers 21 different areas of study.
• Univerisidad de Diseño is made for creative minds. Offers 2 different areas of study.
• Universidad Veritas is mainly for art, design, architecture, and other creative fields. Offers 7 different areas of study.
• Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho soley dedicated to legal fields. Offers 4 different areas of study.
• Universidad de San Marco for investigation, administration, and other academia. Offers 20 different areas of study.
• Universidad de la Salle (ULASALLE) soley for law, psychology, administration, and education. Offers 15 different areas of study.
• Universidad de San Jose has a little of everything in almost every field. Offers 19 different areas of study.
• Univeridad del Turismo (UTUR) careers related to tourism.Offers 3 different areas of study.
• Universidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales (UCEM) mainly focused on business, tourism, education and engineering. Offers 7 different areas of study.
• Universidad del Valle for business, law, psychology, and some specific engineering. Offers 6 different areas of study.
• Universidad Federada de Costa Rica for interactive creation. Offer 3 different areas of study.
• Universidad Libre de Costa Rica (ULICORI) focus on education, administration, health, and social sciences. Offers four major areas of study.
• Universidad Central has a focus on business, engineering, and law. Offers 16 different areas of study.