Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB) is a private, non-profit university with campuses in Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz. It was founded on 10 October 1992 by Bolivian business leaders.[1][2][3] In the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027 it is in the 191–200 band; a QS World University Rankings 2027 placement could not be confirmed.[4]
The university publishes no tuition figure on the pages we read. Applicants sit its Prueba de Aptitud Académica (PAA); international applicants need at least 1300 of 1600 points across the areas relevant to their programme, and a UPB International Scholarship covers 50% to 100% of tuition.[5] Most courses are taught in Spanish (level B2 for exchange students); some are in English.[2]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB)[1] |
| Campuses | Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz; exchange students can study at any of them[2] |
| Address (Cochabamba) | Avenida Blanco Galindo Km 6.5, Santa Rosa, Cochabamba, according to uniRank; the university’s own pages give no street addresses[3] |
| Type | Private, non-profit[3] |
| Founded | 10 October 1992, by Bolivian business leaders (uniRank gives 1993)[1] |
| Undergraduate programmes | 22, in business and law and in engineering and architecture[6] |
| Students | No figure on the university’s pages; uniRank gives a range of 1,000–1,999 (undated)[3] |
| QS Latin America & Caribbean 2027 | 191–200 (edition published 1 October 2026)[4] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed |
| Entrance test | Prueba de Aptitud Académica (PAA); international applicants: at least 1300/1600 summed across relevant areas[5] |
| Tuition | Not published on the pages read[7] |
| Scholarships | Four listed: 100 Mejores y Mérito Académico (up to 100%), Talento, Patrocinio Empresarial, Equidad; plus an International Scholarship (50–100% of tuition)[7] |
| Language of teaching | Mostly Spanish (B2 for exchange students); some courses fully in English (B2 English)[2] |
| Official website | upb.edu |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
What is Universidad Privada Boliviana?
UPB was founded on 10 October 1992, in response to the economic and institutional crisis that began in Bolivia in the 1980s. Bolivian business leaders founded it to improve higher education and promote entrepreneurship and innovation.[1] uniRank classes it as private and non-profit and gives 1993 as the founding year; we follow the university’s own date.[3]
It has campuses in Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz.[2] The Cochabamba address given by uniRank is Avenida Blanco Galindo Km 6.5; the university’s own pages show no street addresses and do not say which campus is the headquarters.[3][2]
How is UPB ranked?
In the QS Latin America and the Caribbean ranking 2027, published on 1 October 2026 with 517 universities from 27 countries, UPB is in the 191–200 band.[4][9] On our Bolivia list that is the second-highest band, after Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (161–170) and ahead of Universidad Mayor de San Simón (201–250).[4][10]
We could not confirm a position in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The university’s own pages mention rankings of master’s programmes and accreditations, which we do not repeat because they give no edition or details.[11] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one band as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at UPB?
UPB lists 22 undergraduate programmes in two groups. The pages do not say which campus offers which programme or how long each lasts.[6]
- Olave School of Business and Faculty of Business and Law (12): Administración de Empresas, Analítica Gerencial de Datos, Economía, Ingeniería Comercial, Ingeniería Financiera, Marketing y Logística, Relaciones y Negocios Internacionales, Comunicación, Derecho, Diseño Gráfico, Gerencia Global en Turismo y Hospitalidad, Psicología Organizacional.
- School of Technological Development and Innovation and Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (10): Arquitectura, Ingeniería Civil, Ingeniería de la Producción, Ingeniería del Medio Ambiente y Energías Alternativas, Ingeniería Industrial y de Sistemas, Bioingeniería en Recursos Naturales, Ingeniería de Inteligencia Artificial, Ingeniería de Sistemas Computacionales, Ingeniería Electromecánica, Ingeniería Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones.
Programme titles are given in Spanish as published. The university’s accreditation page lists BGA (Business Graduates Association), MERCOSUR ARCU-SUR (undergraduate), EFMD programme accreditation (bachelor’s, master’s, MBA, DBA) and the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2018 management certifications. It gives no years for the accreditations.[11]
How much does UPB cost?
We found no tuition amounts on UPB’s website: neither the admissions page nor the pages for national and international applicants list fees or semester costs, so we give no figure and no currency.[7][5] Ask the admissions advisor of your campus for the current fee schedule.
The university lists four scholarships: Beca 100 Mejores y Mérito Académico (up to 100% for top school graduates, any programme), Beca Talento (arts, sports, leadership, entrepreneurship), Beca Patrocinio Empresarial (company-sponsored) and Beca Equidad (support for academically strong students facing economic difficulty).[7]
Foreign applicants can apply for the UPB International Scholarship, which covers 50% to 100% of tuition depending on academic performance. It does not cover housing, food, transport, equipment, health and accident insurance, semester enrolment or graduation processing.[5] UPB has no university housing; the international office helps exchange students find accommodation, and health and accident insurance from the home country is required.[2]
How do you apply to UPB?
National applicants
Steps: create a user account on the application platform (postulaciones.upb.edu), upload your documents (essay, CV, report card of the last school year and, optionally, an English certificate), schedule and take the PAA, check the result, then contact your advisor to start the preuniversitario (pre-university) courses.[12]
International applicants
Steps: request advice through the contact page, register and complete the application form, schedule the PAA, then attend an interview and receive the result. The page states a minimum PAA score of 1300 out of 1600, summed across the areas relevant to your programme.[5] It does not list required documents or a visa procedure.
Exchange students
UPB accepts direct (bilateral) exchange, ISEP, freemovers and short stays. A student visa and a Learning Agreement for credit recognition are required; the semester has four modules and students take four to eight courses.[2]
We give no deadlines because they change every year; ask the admissions advisor of your campus.
Which language do you need for UPB?
For exchange students the university states that most courses are taught in Spanish and need level B2 (the upper-intermediate level of the CEFR scale, A1 to C2). Some courses and programmes are fully in English and need B2 English; confirm the English-taught options with the international office.[2]
The admission pages for degree students name no language certificate; an English certificate is only an optional upload for national applicants.[12][5]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is tuition at Universidad Privada Boliviana?
We found no tuition figure on UPB’s pages, so we do not give one. The university does list scholarships, including an International Scholarship covering 50% to 100% of tuition.[5]
Is there an entrance exam at UPB?
Yes, the Prueba de Aptitud Académica (PAA). International applicants need at least 1300 of 1600 points, summed across the areas relevant to their programme.[5]
Are there courses in English at UPB?
Some courses and programmes are fully in English, but most are in Spanish (B2 required for exchange students). Confirm the English options with the international office.[2]
Which campuses does UPB have?
Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz.[2]
How is UPB ranked?
It is in the 191–200 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
- Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”
- Universidad Mayor de San Andrés
- Universidad Mayor de San Simón
Sources
[1] UPB: Conócenos (page without a reliable date; founding date and history)
[2] UPB, Departamento de Internacionalización: Información Institucional 2025/2026 (exchange fact sheet, PDF) (fact sheet for the 2025/26 year, hosted by a partner university; campuses, language, insurance and visa)
[3] uniRank: Bolivian Private University, Cochabamba (page without a date; address, type, size range; secondary source)
[4] 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)
[5] UPB: Postulantes extranjeros (page without a date; PAA threshold, international scholarship)
[6] UPB: Pregrado (page without a date; 22 undergraduate programmes)
[7] UPB: Postula a la UPB (page without a date; scholarships; no fees listed)
[8] Wikipedia: Pontifical Bolivarian University (secondary source; Medellín, Colombia)
[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 5 (ranks 201–250) (edition published 1 Oct 2026; page without a date)
[11] UPB: Acreditaciones (page without a date; no accreditation years given)
[12] UPB: Postulantes nacionales (page without a date; application steps and documents)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.