Costa Rica's Institutions of Higher Learning

If you who wish to continue your education, university level courses are available to foreigners in subjects such as: business, art, history, political science, biology, psychology, literature, and Spanish, as well as all other major academic areas.

Foreigners can enroll directly as special students for their first two years at the University of Costa Rica. Tuition is much lower than in most U.S. universities. Students can also audit classes for a nominal fee. Contact the University of Costa Rica (UCR), Tel: 506-207-4000 Fax: 506-225-6950 www.ucr.ac.cr. Another excellent public university is The University Nacional (UNA) in Heredia. Tel: 506-261-0101 Fax: 506-237-7593, E-mail: webmaster@una.co.ac.cr, www.una.accr. National Correspondence University (UNED) offers correspondence programs. Tel: 506-253-2121 Fax: 506-253-4990, E-mail: cendocu@arenal.uned.ac.cr, www.uned.ac.cr.

During the last ten years there has been a proliferation of private universities. They are mainly for those students who can't qualify academically for the University of Costa Rica or National University of Heredia. These schools are more expensive than the public universities and their degrees aren't quite as prestigious. Autonomous University of Central America or UACA, as it is more commonly known here, is the oldest of these private universities and has an excellent reputation. Tel: 506-234-0701 Fax: 506-224-0391, E-mail: lauaca@racsa.co.cr. Please see the local phone book for a listing of the many private universities found in the San José area. Some U.S. universities offer programs in Costa Rica where you can get university credit. We understand the University of California offers one such program. However, you are better off surfing the Internet to see what is available if you want to continue your education here and receive credits towards a degree in the United States or Canada.

Public Universities
o Technical Institute of Costa Rica (ITCR), Apdo. 159-7050, CartagoTel:551-5333, Fax:551-5348

Private Universities
o Adventist University of Central America, Tel: (506) 441-5622, Fax: (506) 441-3465, E-mail: unadeca@racsa.co.cr
o Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmedo (EARTH),Tel: (506) 255-2000, Fax: (5060 255-2726, E-mail: relext@ns.earth.acca, www.earth.accr.
o Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT) Tel:(506) 257-5767, Fax: (506) 222-4542, E-mail: info@ulacit.ac.cr
o Inter-American University of Costa Rica, Apdo. 6495-1000, San José. Tel: (506) 234-6262, Fax: (506) 253-8744
o International University of the Americas (UIA), Apdo. 1447-1002, San José) Tel:(506) 233-5304, Fax: (506)222-3216, E-mail:infomatri@uia.ac.cr, www.uia.ac.cr
o Instituto Centroamericano Para la Administration de Empresa (INCAE). Apdo. 960-4050, Alajuela. Tel: (506) 433-0506, Fax: (506) 433-9101.
o University for Peace, Apdo. 138, Ciudad Colón.Tel: (506) 249-1072, Fax: (506) 249-1929
o University Mundial, Tel: (506) 240-7057, Fax: (506) 236-6537

Of course, certain requirements for these schools of higher learning must be met. Once again, remember that private universities are generally more expensive than public universities.