PUCRS named Brazil's top private university in 2026 RUF rankings

The 2026 Ranking Universitário Folha (RUF) has released its latest evaluations of Brazilian higher education institutions. The Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) has been named the best private university in Brazil for the seventh consecutive time.

PUCRS secured first place among private institutions in the research category and was recognized for having the top private Biological Sciences and Biomedicine courses in the country. The ranking, conducted by Folha de S. Paulo, evaluates 205 institutions across dimensions including teaching, research, market, innovation, and internationalization.

Additionally, the Universidade Santa Cecília (Unisanta) achieved significant rankings, placing in the top ten private universities in Brazil for innovation. Unisanta also ranked first in the state of São Paulo for innovation among private institutions and led the Baixada Santista region in innovation, internationalization, and market perception among private universities.