Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo” (U.C.B.) is a private Catholic university. Classes began in La Paz on 14 May 1966, and the university was canonically established on 16 July 1966.[1] Its national rectorate is in Obrajes, La Paz,[2] and its academic campuses are in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Tarija, La Plata (Sucre) and Virgen del Socavón (Oruro).[3] In the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027 it is in the 251–300 band; a QS World University Rankings 2027 placement could not be confirmed.[4]
We found no tuition figures on the university’s pages; its site links to a web-payments portal instead.[3] Spanish is the main language of study. Incoming exchange students get free Spanish courses, and some business courses are taught in English.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo” (U.C.B.)[3] |
| Location | La Paz: Sede La Paz at Av. 14 de Septiembre esquina calle 2, Obrajes; Rectorado Nacional at Calle 5 de Obrajes N° 458[2] |
| Type | Private, Catholic[6] |
| Founded | 1966: classes began 14 May in La Paz; canonical establishment 16 July 1966; authorised by Decree-Law No. 07745 on 1 August 1966 (Wikipedia gives 1963 for the establishment)[1] |
| Campuses (sedes) | La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Tarija, La Plata (Sucre), Virgen del Socavón (Oruro); also the Escuela de la Producción y la Competitividad (ePC) and the Facultad de Teología San Pablo[3] |
| Campus start dates | Cochabamba (nursing) 1974; Santa Cruz 1993; Tarija 2000; Oruro and Sucre 2023[1] |
| Status | Joined the Bolivian university system in 1974; canonically erected with pontifical-university-equivalent status on 16 May 2023[1] |
| Students | No figure published on the pages read (the statistics counters on the home page show 0)[3] |
| QS Latin America & Caribbean 2027 | 251–300 (edition published 1 October 2026)[4] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed |
| QS Stars | 5 stars for Inclusion, 4 for Teaching, 3 each for Innovation, Internationalisation, Employability and Infrastructure[7] |
| Tuition | Not published on the pages read[3] |
| Language of teaching | Spanish; some business courses in English[5] |
| Official website | ucb.edu.bo |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
What is Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”?
A committee of bishops for a Catholic university was formed in 1962. Classes began on 14 May 1966 at the Instituto Superior de Economía de la Empresa in La Paz, with seven professors and 31 students; the Universidad Católica Boliviana was canonically established on 16 July 1966, and Decree-Law No. 07745 of 1 August 1966 authorised its operation.[1] Wikipedia gives 1963 as the year of establishment and 1966 as the start of activity.[8] In 1974 the university joined the Bolivian university system. In May 2023 the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education approved new statutes and canonically erected the university with pontifical-university-equivalent status, effective 16 May 2023.[1]
The university has grown into a national network. Santa Cruz began academic activity in 1993, Tarija followed in 2000, and the Virgen del Socavón (Oruro) and La Plata (Sucre) campuses opened in September 2023.[1] The national rectorate is at Calle 5 de Obrajes N° 458.[2]
How is UCB ranked?
In the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027, published on 1 October 2026 with 517 universities from 27 countries, Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo” is in the 251–300 band.[4][9] On our Bolivia list the other three are in higher bands: Universidad Mayor de San Andrés 161–170, Universidad Privada Boliviana 191–200 and Universidad Mayor de San Simón 201–250.[10][11]
We could not confirm a position in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The university itself reports a QS Stars rating: 5 stars for Inclusion, 4 for Teaching and 3 each for Innovation, Internationalisation, Employability and Infrastructure.[7] QS Stars is a rating, not a ranking. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at UCB?
The undergraduate (“Grado”) page lists programmes by campus. Examples:[12]
- La Paz: engineering (for example Civil, Industrial, Mechatronics, Telecommunications, Systems, Biomedical, Environmental), Business Administration, Commercial Engineering, Economics, Law, Architecture, Psychology, Social Communication and Medicine.
- Cochabamba: Internet of Things Engineering, Civil, Industrial, Law, Psychology, Anthropology, Philosophy and Letters, Dentistry and Medicine.
- Santa Cruz: Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Software Engineering, Agronomy and Animal Science, Biotechnology, Law, Architecture, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Dentistry and Medicine.
- Tarija: Energy Engineering, Civil, Law, Architecture, Psychology and Medicine.
- Sucre (La Plata): Business Administration, Law and Medicine. Oruro: Business Administration and Medicine.
- ePC business school: Business and Data Science, International Business, Financial Engineering and others.
The university also offers postgraduate programmes and virtual education (UCBx).[3] It lists national and international accreditation, including CEUB and MERCOSUR.[7] The pages do not give programme durations or a total number of students.
How much does UCB cost?
We found no tuition amounts on the university’s pages; the website links to a web-payments portal (Pagos Web) but lists no fee schedule, so we give no tuition figure and no currency. Ask the campus you are interested in for its current fees.[3]
For exchange students the international office gives estimated monthly living costs in US dollars (page without a date): a room about $250, an apartment shared by two or three people $500 to $600, a host family $350 to $380 with meals, food about $120 and transport about $50. UCB has no dormitories but helps students find housing.[5]
How do you apply to UCB?
The pages we read describe only the route for incoming exchange students. Their home university’s mobility coordinator sends a nomination; the student then completes an online application, uploads the documents and, if there are no issues, receives an acceptance letter. Required are a passport copy, an academic transcript, a student visa and international health and life insurance for the whole stay, plus attendance at an orientation session.[5]
The requirements and procedure for degree-seeking students (national or foreign) are not stated on the pages we could read; the undergraduate page lists programmes only. uniRank describes UCB’s admission policy as open (“non-selective”) and reports no requirements.[12][6] Ask the admissions office of your campus. We give no deadlines because they change every year.
Which language do you need for UCB?
Spanish is the main language of study. UCB offers free Spanish courses to incoming exchange students, and some business courses are taught in English. Exchange students must enrol in at least one academic course.[5] The pages do not name a language certificate for degree students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Universidad Católica Boliviana a private university?
Where are the UCB campuses?
La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Tarija, La Plata (Sucre) and Virgen del Socavón (Oruro).[3]
How much is tuition at UCB?
We found no tuition figures on the university’s pages. The site links to a payments portal only.[3]
Do I need Spanish to study at UCB?
Yes, Spanish is the main language of study. Incoming exchange students get free Spanish courses, and some business courses are in English.[5]
How is UCB ranked?
It is in the 251–300 band of the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027.[4] A QS World University Rankings 2027 placement could not be confirmed.
More about studying in Bolivia
- Bolivia: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Bolivia
Sources
[1] U.C.B.: UCB en la historia (page without a date; history and legal status)
[2] U.C.B.: Contáctanos (page without a date; addresses)
[3] U.C.B.: home page (page without a date; campuses, links to postgraduate programmes and the payments portal)
[4] xuanxiao.org: QS Latin America & The Caribbean Rankings 2027, page 6 (ranks 251–300) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[5] U.C.B. Internacional: Movilidad estudiantil entrante (page without a date; exchange students only)
[6] uniRank: Bolivian Catholic University (page without a date; type and admission policy; secondary source)
[7] U.C.B.: La U.C.B. (page without a date; QS Stars, accreditation, memberships)
[8] Wikipedia: Bolivian Catholic University (secondary source; gives 1963 as establishment year)
[9] PR Newswire (QS press release, Spanish): QS World University Rankings 2027, Latin America and the Caribbean (published 1 Oct 2026; 517 universities from 27 countries)
[10] xuanxiao.org: QS Latin America & The Caribbean Rankings 2027, page 4 (ranks 151–200; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[11] xuanxiao.org: QS Latin America & The Caribbean Rankings 2027, page 5 (ranks 201–250) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[12] U.C.B.: Grado (undergraduate programmes) (page without a date; no admission or fee information)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.