28 cheapest universities in Colombia in 2026
The most affordable universities in Colombia, ranked by minimum bachelor fees. Ideal for optimising your study budget.
Lowest fee
400,000 COP/yr
Price range
28 universities ranked by increasing fees
No. 1Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (UTP)
Public university in Pereira, known for its health and sport sciences programs.
No. 2Universidad del Magdalena
Public university in Santa Marta, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, strong in health and engineering.
No. 3Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander (UFPS)
Public university in Cúcuta, on the Venezuelan border, strong in engineering and health.
No. 4Universidad de los Llanos
Public university in Villavicencio, at the heart of Colombia's eastern plains.
No. 5Universidad Manuela Beltrán
Private Bogota university specialized in health, sciences and engineering, founded in 1967.
No. 6Universidad del Quindío
Public university in Armenia, in the heart of the coffee region, known for its accessibility.
No. 7Universidad Católica de Manizales
Catholic private university in Manizales, known for its health and education programs.
No. 8Universidad del Atlántico
Public university in Barranquilla, the Caribbean coast's reference in health and engineering.
No. 9Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar (UTB)
Private university in Cartagena de Indias, strong in engineering and applied research.
No. 10Universidad de Pamplona
Public university in Norte de Santander, strong in health, law and agronomy.
No. 11Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana
Accessible private Bogota university, strong in psychology, law and social sciences.
No. 12Universidad Sergio Arboleda
Private university in Bogota and Santa Marta, known for law and finance.
No. 13Universidad Santiago de Cali (USC)
Major Cali university, known for law, communication and health programs.
No. 14Universidad del Sinú
Private university in Montería, Córdoba, renowned for its medicine and health sciences.
No. 15Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO)
Private university in Cali, known for its engineering and mechatronics research.
No. 16Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana (UNAULA)
Private university in Medellín known for medicine and law, independent since 1966.
No. 17Universidad de Boyacá
Private university in Tunja, known for its architecture and health sciences.
No. 18Universidad Mariana
First private university of Nariño, in Pasto, strong in health, law and education.
No. 19Universidad Militar Nueva Granada (UMNG)
Public Bogota university linked to the armed forces, strong in health, law and engineering.
No. 20Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (UDCA)
Private Bogota university known for veterinary and environmental sciences.
No. 21Universidad de la Costa (CUC)
Private university in Barranquilla, known for its health and communication programs.
No. 22Universidad Libre
Historic university founded in 1890, a reference for law and health in Colombia.
No. 23Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (UNAB)
Top private university in Bucaramanga, recognized for its medicine program and internationalization.
No. 24Escuela Colombiana de Ingeniería Julio Garavito
Elite engineering school in Bogota, ranked among the best in the country.