Costa Rica Academic Information

 Costa Rica have four public universities:
Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR)
Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC)
Universidad Nacional (UNA)
Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED)

The University of Costa Rica (in Spanish, Universidad de Costa Rica, abbreviated UCR) is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, whose central campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is established in San Pedro, San José. It is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious institution of higher education in Costa Rica. Approximately 40,000 students attend UCR throughout the year.



The Costa Rica Institute of Technology (Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica), also known as "ITCR" or "TEC", is a public educational institute in Cartago, Costa Rica. It has the mission of: "Contributing to the integral development of the country, by means of the formation of human resources, research and extension; keeping the scientific-technical leadership, the academic excellence and the strict attachment to the ethical, environmental and humanists norms, from a state university perspective of quality and competitiveness at national and international level". Costa Rica Institute of Technology is one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Central America. Among its principal academic fields is Electronics, Computer Science as well as the agriculturally and forestry oriented.


The National University (Universidad Nacional), also known as "UNA", is a public higher educational institute that generates and socialize knowledge of scientific and cultural relevance in a strategical way for the national and international development, with no gender, ethnics, creeds nor social distinctions. Its dedication consists in the formation of excellence professionals in diverse knowledge fields and scientific and artistic disciplines, with humanistic principles and knowledges, with environmental conscience and respect for life.

Academic Start of Costa Rica

Location: At the center of America.
Coordinates: 9°55'N 84°4'W
Subdivisions: Provinces: 7, Cantons: 81, Districts: 473
Area: 51,100 km² (19,730 sq mi)
Population: 4,451,262 (Dec 31, 2008)
Longest linear distance: 464 km (288.3 mi) NW-SE.
Shortest linear distance: 119 km (73.9 mi) NE-SW (this is the shortest distance between the oceans).
Capital: San José.
     Elevation: 1,156 m ASL (3,792.6 feet)
     Average Temperature: 20.3°C (68.5°F)
     Annual Rainfall: 1,500 - 2,000 mm (59-79 inches)

 The University of St. Thomas (Universidad de Santo Tomás) was the first institution devoted to higher education in Costa Rica, and was established in 1843. Its close bonds with the Roman Catholic Church drove to its closure in 1888 by the progressive and anti-clerical government of President Bernardo Soto Alfaro (due of his campaign to modernize public education). The only four schools continued to operate independently was the law, agronomy, fine arts, and pharmacy; which were re-united to establish the modern University of Costa Rica (UCR) in 1940, during the reformist administration of President Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia.