The oldest institution of higher education in Nicaragua is the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, which was founded in León in 1812, during the Spanish colonial period. In Nicaragua, there are ten core public and private non-profit universities that receive state funding, and these constitute the members of the National Council of Universities.Tunnermann Bernheim C, La educación superior en Nicaragua. Avaliação, 13:2, 2008, This body is responsible for strategic planning for higher education in Nicaragua, and it is also the organization that provide accreditation to other universities.The Europa World of Learning 2010. Volume 2, 60th edition. P. 1500-1502

The members of the National Council of Universities are the oldest universities in Nicaragua, with the last one founded in 1992. Since the early 1990s, a large number of new private universities have been established in Nicaragua, responding to a greatly increased educational demand fueled by the increasing student enrollment in elementary and secondary schools during the 1980s. Most private universities that are not part of the National Council of Universities are members of either the Federation of Nicaraguan Private Universities (FENUP) or the Superior Council of Private Universities (COSUP). The major focus of these private universities are on business, computers and law, but together they span most areas of academic study.

The majority of higher education institutions are in Managua. Higher education has financial, organic and administrative autonomy, according to the law. Also, freedom of subjects is recognized. Nicaragua's higher education system consists of 58 universities, and 113 colleges and technical institutes in the areas of electronics, computer systems and sciences, agroforestry, construction and trade-related services. In 2005, almost 400,000 (7%) of Nicaraguans held a university degree.

Academic degrees

Admission to higher education is on the basis of the Bachillerato, the leading secondary school qualification. Students are also subject to an entrance examination. The Licenciado (or Ingenierio in the case of engineering programs), is the main undergraduate degree and a four or five-year course of study. A professional title may also be awarded depending on the subject. Following the Licenciado, the first postgraduate degree is the Maestria, which lasts two years and culminates with the submission of a thesis.

Institutions of higher learning also offer two or three year courses in technical and vocational education. The main qualification studied for is the Técnico Superior.

TitleTypeDurationPre-requisiteTécnico SuperiorAssociate degree1 to 3 years 10th grade/high school diplomaLicenciadoLicentiate's degree4 to 5 yearsHigh school diplomaIngenieroEngineer's degree5 years High school diplomaArquitectoBachelor of Architecture5 yearsHigh school diplomaDoctor en MedicinaDoctor of Medicine6 yearsHigh school diplomaSpecialist degree6 to 9 months; 3 years specialized training in the form of a residency for MDsBD, ED or MDMásterMaster's degree2 yearsBD, ED or MDDoctorPhD3 to 5 yearsMaster's degree

List of universities This is a list of the 58 universities accredited by the National Council of Universities in Nicaragua.UNESCO The International Association of Universities (IAU), 2004CNU Consejo Nacional de Universidades - official list of universitiesInstituciones legalmente acreditadas por el CNU al 01/12/2008

Notes:

Names in bold indicates that the university is a member of the National Council of Universities (CNU). Main campus first on universities with multiple locations.

UniversityDegree programs (2012)LocationsStudentsTypeFounded / accreditedMain fields of studyRemarksAdventist University of NicaraguaUniversidad Adventista de Nicaragua (UNADENIC)4 Managua, Matagalpa private 2003 Business, education, informatics, theology American College (AC)Universidad American College9 Managua private 2005 Business, informatics, law American UniversityUniversidad Americana (UAM)13 Managua 2000 private 1992 Architecture, business, dentistry, informatics, international relations, law, medicine Not to be confused with La American University (LAAU)American University of Health Sciences (AUHS)2 Managua Dentistry, medicine Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University (BICU)25 Bluefields 7225 1992 Agriculture, business, civil engineering, education, forestry, law, marine biology, medicine, natural resources Catholic University of Dry Tropic Farming and LivestockUniversidad Católica Agropecuaria del Trópico Seco (UCATSE)10Estelí, León 1392 private, Diocese of Estelí 1974 Agriculture, dentistry, law, medicine, theology, veterinary medicine Catholic University Redemptoris MaterUniversidad Católica Redemptoris Mater (UNICA) 30Managua private 1991 Architecture, art, business, civil engineering, dentistry, informatics, education, law, medicine, theology UNICA was the first private for-profit university founded in Nicaragua.Center for Advanced Military StudiesCentro Superior de Estudios Militares (CSEM)11 Managua public 1993 Military studies Central American UniversityUniversidad Centroamericana (UCA)26 Managua10008 private, Jesuit 1960Architecture, business, engineering, informatics, humanities, law, social work Oldest university in Managua.Central American University of Business StudiesUniversidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales (UCEM) 25Managua private 1997 Business, law, medicine, microbiology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacology, psychology Central University of NicaraguaUniversidad Central de Nicaragua (UCN)10 Managua, Jinotepe, Estelí private 1998 Business, informatics, law, medicine, pharmacology, psychology, veterinary medicine Not to be confused with the defunct university with the same name founded in 1941.Christian Autonomous University of NicaraguaUniversidad Cristiana Autónoma de Nicaragua (UCAN)29 León, Juigalpa, Chinandega, Masaya, Matagalpa 4000 private 2001 Agriculture, architecture, engineering, health sciences, international relations, law Ibero-American University of Science and TechnologyUniversidad Iberoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (UNICIT) 24Managua private 1997 Architecture, business, design, engineering, informatics, law, optometry, pharmacology Immaculate Conception Catholic University of the Archdiocese of ManaguaUniversidad Católica Inmaculada Concepción de la Arquidiócesis de Managua (UCICAM)2 Managua private, Archdiocese of Managua 2011 Philosophy, theology Institute of Higher Legal StudiesInstituto de Altos Estudios Judiciales (IAEJ)1 Managua Law International University of Agriculture and LivestockUniversidad Internacional de Agricultura y Ganadería (UNIAG)9 Rivas, Chinandega 806 private 1951 Agriculture, veterinary medicine International University for Sustainable DevelopmentUniversidad Internacional de Desarrollo Sostenible (UNIDES) 4Managua private 2005 Business, medicine International University of Latin American IntegrationUniversidad Internacional de la Integración de América Latina (UNIVAL) 28Managua, Ocotal, Juigalpa, León, Matagalpa, Estelí, Chinandega, Jalapa, Jinotega private 1997 Business, informatics, law Jean Jacques Rosseau UniversityUniversidad Jean Jacques Rosseau (UNIJJAR) 9Managua private 2002 Business, dentistry, informatics, law, medicine, pharmacology John Paul II University of Applied Social SciencesUniversidad de Ciencias Sociales Aplicadas Juan Pablo II (UCSA) 7Managua private, Nicaraguan Bishops Conference 2002 Communication, philosophy, social work, theology Keiser University-Latin American Campus (KU) 9 San Marcos 500 private 1993 Business, informatics Formerly Ave Maria University; became Keiser University in 2013.La American University (LAAU) 8Managua 2007 Architecture, business, informatics, law, pharmacology, psychology Not to be confused with the American University (UAM).La Anunciata UniversityUniversidad La Anunciata (UA)5 Rivas private 2002 Business, informatics, pharmacology La Salle Technological UniversityUniversidad Tecnológica La Salle (ULSA)4 León private, Lasallian brothers 2009 Engineering, informatics Latin American Institute of ComputingInstituto Latinoamericano de Computación (ILCOMP) 6Managua, Matagalpa, Masaya 2002 Business, informatics Founded in 1991, ILCOMP was accredited as a university in 2002.Acerca de ILCOMPMartin Luther King Nicaraguan Evangelical UniversityUniversidad Evangélica Nicaragüense Martin Luther King (UENIC-MLK) 11Masaya, Rio Blanco, Nagarote, Matagalpa, San Rafael del Sur, Bonanza, Juigalpa 4000 private 1999 Business, education, informatics, law, psychology, theology Education DatabaseMartin Luther UniversityUniversidad Martín Lutero (UML) 15Managua, Jalapa, Ocotal, Quilalí, Condega, Muelle de los Bueyes, Nueva Guinea, Rivas, Somoto private 2002 Business, education, informatics, journalism, law, nursing, theology Metropolitan UniversityUniversidad Metropolitana (UNIMET) 8Managua private 2002 Business, civil engineering, informatics, law National Agrarian UniversityUniversidad Nacional Agraria (UNA)12 Managua, Camoapa, Juigalpa 4110 public 1990 Agriculture, environmental science, forestry, rural development, veterinary medicine Founded as the National Agricultural School in 1917. Converted to a faculty of UNAN Managua in 1980. Became the National Agrarian University in 1990. National Autonomous University of Nicaragua-LeónUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León (UNAN-León) 43 León, Jinotega, Somoto, Somotillo, San Carlos 19850 public 1812 Business, dentistry, education, engineering, informatics, law, medicine, nursing, natural sciences, veterinary medicine The oldest university in Nicaragua and the second oldest in Central America. The last university founded by Spain in its American colonies.National Autonomous University of NicaraguaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-Managua (UNAN-Managua)87 Managua, Estelí, Matagalpa, Jinotepe, Juigalpa 33629public 1969 Architecture, business, dance, education, engineering, health, humanities, informatics, languages, law, science The Managua campus of UNAN opened in 1969. Since 1982, UNAN-Managua and UNAN-León operates as separate entities. National University of EngineeringUniversidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI)12