National University of Colombia

National University of Colombia (UNAL) is a national public research university in Colombia, with general campuses in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales, and Palmira, and satellite campuses in Leticia, San Andrés, Arauca, Tumaco, and La Paz, Cesar.

The National University of Colombia was founded on September 22, 1867, by an act of the Congress of Colombia. It was originally called the National School of Engineering, but was renamed the National University of Colombia in 1920.

The university was the brainchild of Colombian President Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, who envisioned a national university that would provide the country with the skilled professionals it needed to develop and modernize. The university's first faculties were law, medicine, engineering, and natural sciences.

In the early years, the university was housed in a variety of different buildings in Bogotá. In 1936, the university moved to its current campus, which was designed by German architect Leopold Rother. The campus is considered to be one of the most important examples of modern architecture in Colombia.

The National University of Colombia has played a leading role in the development of higher education in Colombia. It has been a pioneer in the creation of new programs and faculties, and has been at the forefront of research and innovation.

The university has also been a center of political and social activism throughout its history. Students and faculty have played a leading role in many of the country's major social movements, including the student protests of the 1960s and the anti-government protests of the early 2000s.

Today, the National University of Colombia is one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, and is home to a number of world-class research institutes and centers.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, National University of Colombia is positioned as the #219 top university in the world, which makes it the #2 top university in Colombia. The university's global rank is improved by 7 points from last year.