The Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso was founded in 1928 and in Valparaíso Region of Chlie and has about 17,000 students.
It is recognized as an institution with high academic prestige and as a complex university due to its important research and educational development in the fields of science, engineering, humanities and arts. As a Catholic university, it answers directly to the Holy See and the Bishopric of Valparaíso. The PUCV is a traditional university and one of the twenty-five institutions within the Rectors’ Council. Although it is not state-owned, a substantial part of its budget is given by state transfers under different programs.
PUCV is an urban university. It has a central campus known as Casa Central (Central House) located in downtown Valparaíso, only a few blocks away from the Chilean Congress, the Metro, and the Pacific Ocean. Several PUCV buildings are on the historic palm-tree-lined Avenida Brasil, but most of its schools are dispersed in throughout Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quilpué and Quillota.
At the 2019 edition of the América Economía magazine university ranking, it was positioned 4th nationwide and first in the Valparaiso Region. It was positioned 22th at the QS Latin America University Ranking 2023 (5th nationwide). The university is accredited by seven years, the maximum awarded by the National Accreditation Commission, for the period between 2021 and 2028. The PUCV, the University of Chile, the Catholic University, the University of Santiago and the University of Concepción are the only institutions in Chile that have the highest accreditation.
PUCV attracts students from different regions of Chile, as well as hundreds of exchange students from Europe, North America and several countries from South America, due to its convenient student exchange programs.