Del Rosario University (Universidad del Rosario), officially the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, is one of Colombia’s most historic universities. Founded in 1653 by Dominican friar Cristóbal de Torres y Motones, it has played a pivotal role in the country’s political and legal history—producing over 28 presidents and influencing both independence and constitutional developments
1. History, Heritage & Campuses
- Established in the heart of Bogotá in 1653, modeled after the University of Salamanca
- Maintained continuous operation except for a brief interruption in 1819, when it was used as a prison under Spanish reconquest
- The historic Cloister campus is a national heritage site with a cloister and art gallery dating to the 17th century
2. Academic Offerings & Faculties
Del Rosario offers:
- 40+ undergraduate programs, including Law, Medicine, Economics, Business, International Relations, Communication, Science & Technology.
- 48 master’s programs, 10 doctorates, and 79 postgraduate specializations and medical-surgical diplomas .
- Faculties are organized into areas such as Management, Law, Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering .
3. Rankings & Academic Excellence
- Ranked #60 in Best Global Universities Latin America and #5 in Colombia by US News urosario.edu.co+4usnews.com+4reddit.com+4.
- Placed #771–780 in QS World Rankings 2025 .
- Named 4th best private university in Colombia by THE Latin America Rankings induccion.urosario.edu.co+1timeshighereducation.com+1.
- Ranked 6th in Colombia and 1365th globally by EduRank, with strong social sciences and medical research presence edurank.org.
4. Research & Subject Strengths
- QS Subject Rankings highlight URosario as top 3 among private Colombian universities in Economics & Econometrics, Political Science, Law, Medicine, and Biological Sciences
- Hosts over 90 labs and 52 research groups recognized by national and international agencies—scientific output includes patents, startups, and social innovation RM projects
5. Scholarships & Student Support
- Offers the Dream To Be philanthropic scholarship program: over 3,100 undergrads receive aid and around 300 full scholarships awarded annually urosario.edu.co.
- Additional merit- and need-based scholarships, with support ranging from tuition to research funding and extracurricular involvement.
6. Internationalization & Global Opportunities
- Maintains more than 579 active international agreements—including exchanges, dual degrees, research stays, and volunteer opportunities .
- Features high QS Stars ratings in teaching, employability, internationalization, inclusion, online learning, and arts .
- Boasts approximately 3.2% international student representation (~328 students) .
7. Campus Life
- Historic Cloister campus and modern Northern Campus blend heritage with contemporary learning spaces: libraries, labs, auditoriums, health centers, gardens .
- Citywide sports and cultural center El Alcázar supports athletics and arts programming.
- Student–faculty ratio (~12.5:1) and small classes foster engagement .
Final Thoughts
Del Rosario University stands out as an elite, research-driven institution with deep historical roots and strong strengths in law, economics, social sciences, and health. Its blend of cultural heritage, academic excellence, and international outreach makes it an excellent option for students seeking a globally recognized education.
If you need help with admissions, scholarships, or comparing Del Rosario with other top Latin American universities, check out MyUnigate—your expert companion for global education planning.