# List of universities in Ecuador

This is a list of universities in Ecuador, including Ecuadorian universities and foreign institutions offering degrees in Ecuador.
The Higher Education Council (CES) of Ecuador is responsible for accrediting as qualified and suitable for teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels; Ecuadorian Universities will be listed in accordance to their acreditation Status

## Accredited universities
### Universities qualified for graduate and undergraduate studies

| Acronym | University | Type | City | Province | Date of Creation |
| YACHAY | Universidad de Investigación de Tecnología Experimental Yachay | Public | Urcuquí | Imbabura | December 16, 2013 |
| EPN | Escuela Politécnica Nacional | Public | Quito | Pichincha | August 27, 1869 |
| ESPAM | Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí | Public | Calceta | Manabí | April 30, 1999 |
| ESPOCH | Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo | Public | Riobamba | Chimborazo | April 18, 1969 |
| ESPOL | Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral | Public | Guayaquil | Guayas | November 11, 1958 |
| PUCE | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador | Private | Quito | Pichincha | November 4, 1946 |
| UAE | Universidad Agraria del Ecuador | Public | Guayaquil | Guayas | July 16, 1992 |
| UCG | Universidad Casa Grande | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | June 11, 1999 |
| UCACUE | Universidad Católica de Cuenca | Private | Cuenca | Azuay | September 7, 1970 |
| UCSG | Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | May 16, 1962 |
| UCE | Universidad Central del Ecuador | Public | Quito | Pichincha | May 19, 1620 |
| UARTES | Universidad de las Artes | Public | Guayaquil | Guayas | December 17, 2013 |
| UNAE | Universidad Nacional de Educación | Public | Azogues | Cañar | December 19, 2013 |
| IKIAM | Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam | Public | Tena | Napo | December 16, 2013 |
| ESPE | Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas - ESPE | Public | Sangolquí | Pichincha | June 19, 1922 |
| UCUENCA | Universidad de Cuenca | Public | Cuenca | Azuay | October 15, 1867 |
| USFQ | Universidad San Francisco de Quito | Private | Quito | Pichincha | September 1, 1988 |
| UEES | Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo | Private | Samborondón | Guayas | November 18, 1993 |
| UDLA | Universidad de las Américas | Private | Quito | Pichincha | November 21, 1995 |
| UG | Universidad de Guayaquil | Public | Guayaquil | Guayas | May 29, 1897 |
| UDA | Universidad del Azuay | Private | Cuenca | Azuay | August 9, 1968 |
| UDLH | Universidad de los Hemisferios | Private | Quito | Pichincha | May 20, 2004 |
| UEA | Universidad Estatal Amazónica | Public | Puyo | Pastaza | October 18, 2002 |
| UNEMI | Universidad Estatal de Milagro | Public | Milagro | Guayas | February 7, 2001 |
| UNIBE | Universidad Iberoamericana del Ecuador | Private | Quito | Pichincha | May 20, 1994 |
| UIDE | Universidad Internacional del Ecuador | Private | Quito | Pichincha | October 21, 1992 |
| UISEK | Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador | Private | Quito | Pichincha | June 30, 1993 |
| UNL | Universidad Nacional de Loja | Public | Loja | Loja | December 31, 1859 |
| UPEC | Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi | Public | Tulcán | Carchi | April 5, 2006 |
| UPS | Universidad Politécnica Salesiana | Private | Cuenca | Azuay | August 4, 1994 |
| UTA | Universidad Técnica de Ambato | Public | Ambato | Tunguragua | April 14, 1969 |
| UTN | Universidad Técnica del Norte | Public | Ibarra | Imbabura | July 18, 1986 |
| UTMACH | Universidad Técnica de Machala | Public | Machala | El Oro | April 14, 1969 |
| UTM | Universidad Técnica de Manabí | Public | Portoviejo | Manabí | October 29, 1952 |
| UTEQ | Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo | Public | Quevedo | Los Ríos | February 1, 1984 |
| UTPL | Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja | Private | Loja | Loja | May 3, 1971 |
| UTEG | Universidad Tecnológica Empresarial de Guayaquil | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | January 31, 2000 |
| UTE | Universidad UTE | Private | Quito | Pichincha | February 18, 1971 |
| UTI | Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica | Private | Ambato | Tunguragua | July 31, 1998 |
| UPACIFICO | Universidad Del Pacífico | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | December 18, 1997 |
| UO | Universidad de Otavalo | Private | Otavalo | Imbabura | December 21, 2002 |
| UEB | Universidad Estatal de Bolívar | Public | Guaranda | Bolivar | October 22, 1977 |
| UNESUM | Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí | Public | Jipijapa | Manabí | February 7, 2001 |
| UPSE | Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena | Public | La Libertad | Santa Elena | July 22, 1998 |
| ULEAM | Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí | Public | Manta | Manabí | November 13, 1985 |
| ULVR | Universidad Laica Vicente Rocafuerte | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | November 10, 1966 |
| UMET | Universidad Metropolitana | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | May 2, 2000 |
| UNACH | Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo | Public | Riobamba | Chimborazo | August 31, 1995 |
| UNIANDES | Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes | Private | Ambato | Tungurahua | February 20, 1997 |
| USGP | Universidad San Gregorio de Portoviejo | Private | Portoviejo | Manabí | December 14, 2000 |
| UTC | Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi | Public | Latacunga | Cotopaxi | January 24, 1995 |
| UISRAEL | Universidad Tecnológica Israel | Private | Quito | Pichincha | November 20, 1999 |
| ECOTEC | Universidad Tecnológica Ecotec | Private | Samborondón | Guayas | December 18, 2006 |

### Graduate universities

| Acronym | University | Type | City | Province | Date of Creation |
| FLACSO | Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales | Public | Quito | Pichincha | October 28, 1975 |
| UASB | Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar | Public | Quito | Pichincha | July 24, 1992 |
| IAEN | Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales | Public | Quito | Pichincha | May 20, 1972 |

## Universities awaiting accreditation

| Acronym | University | Type | City | Province | Date of Creation |
| UBE | Universidad Bolivariana del Ecuador | Private | Durán | Ecuador | May 14, 2021 |
| UDET | Universidad de Especialidades Turísticas | Privada | Quito | Ecuador | March 14, 2000 |
| UDR | Universidad Del Río | Private | Guayaquil | Ecuador | December 6, 2018 |
| UAW | Universidad Intercultural de las Nacionalidades y Pueblos Indígenas Amawtay Wasi | Public | Quito | Ecuador | August 2, 2018 |
| UTB | Universidad Técnica de Babahoyo | Public | Babahoyo | Ecuador | October 8, 1971 |
| UTE-LVT | Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres | Public | Esmeraldas | Ecuador | May 9, 1970 |

## Foreign universities and business schools operating In Ecuador

| Acronym | University | Type | Methodology | Country of Origin | Date of Original Offer in Ecuador |
| GU | Global University | Private | Formal Education & Online | United States | February 7, 2000 |
| BC | Broward College | Private | Formal Education | United States | January 7, 2007 |
| ADEN | Aden University | Private | Online | Panama | March 4, 2010 |
| ITAérea | IT Aeronautical Business School | Private | Formal Education & Online | Spain | March 5, 2014 |
| UNIR | Universidad Internacional de La Rioja | Private | Online | Spain | July 1, 2016 |
| Nebrija | Universidad Nebrija | Private | Online | Spain | June 22, 2018 |
| TEC | Tecnológico de Monterrey | Private | Online | Mexico | March 21, 2019 |
| EUDE | EUDE Business School | Private | Online | Spain | July 21, 2019 |
| UTEL | Universidad Tecnológica Latinoamericana en Línea | Private | Online | Mexico | July 15, 2020 |
| Uk | Universidad Kuepa | Private | Online | Mexico | March 28, 2021 |
| MBTU | Miami Business Technological University | Private | Online | United States | May 16, 2021 |
| UGR | Universidad del Gran Rosario | Private | Online | Argentina | October 12, 2021 |
| IMF | IMF Global University | Private | Online | Spain | October 15, 2021 |
| UIIX | Universidad de Investigación e Innovación de México | Private | Online | Mexico | August 29, 2022 |
| EAN | Universidad EAN | Private | Online | Colombia | January 31, 2023 |
| UE | Universidad Europea | Private | Online | Spain | May 17, 2023 |
| CUF | Continental University of Florida | Private | Online | United States | June 8, 2023 |

## Closed universities

The following universities have ceased operations in Ecuador.
| Acronym | University | Type | City | Province | Date of Creation | Date of Closure |
| ESPEA | Escuela Superior Politécnica Ecológica Amazónica | Private | Tena | Ecuador | September 30, 1997 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| ESPOJ | Escuela Politécnica Javeriana | Privada | Quito | Pichincha | November 29, 1995 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) June 2, 2017 (Extinguished) |
| UNAQ | Universidad Autónoma de Quito | Private | Quito | Pichincha | July 7, 1999 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UCC | Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia | Private | Quevedo | Los Ríos | August 10, 1998 | December 19, 2001 |
| UCL | Universidad Cristiana Latinoamericana | Private | Quito | Pichincha | March 31, 2000 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UI | Universidad Intercontinental | Public | Quito | Pichincha | May 18, 1992 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UAPG | Universidad Alfredo Pérez Guerrero | Private | Quito | Pichincha | January 15, 2001 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UPAC | Universidad Panamericana de Cuenca | Private | Cuenca | Azuay | June 25, 2004 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UNIDEC | Universidad Interamericana del Ecuador | Private | Riobamba | Chimborazo | October 31, 2006 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UOMQ | Universidad Og Mandino de Quito | Private | Quito | Pichincha | November 27, 2005 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UTSAM | Universidad Tecnológica San Antonio de Machala | Private | Quito | Pichincha | June 15, 1999 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UTA | Universidad Tecnológica América | Private | Quito | Pichincha | August 20, 1997 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UE | Universitas Ecuatorialis | Private | Quito | Pichincha | December 27, 2002 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UE | Escuela Superior Politécnica Ecológica Prof. Servio Tulio Montero Ludeña | Private | Quito | Pichincha | August 20, 1997 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UE | Universidad Técnica Particular de Ciencias Ambientales José Peralta | Private | Quito | Pichincha | July 31, 1998 | April 12, 2012 (Closed) August 2, 2016 (Extinguished) |
| UJ | Universidad Jefferson | Private | Guayaquil | Guayas | July 31, 1998 | April 29, 2005 (Closed) August 28, 2008 (Extinguished) |