Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA)
At a glance
| Fact | Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas |
|---|---|
| Name | Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA) |
| Founded | September 1965 |
| Main campus | Bulevar Los Próceres, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad |
| Regional centres | None listed by the Ministry |
| Type | Private |
| Accredited (Ministry, 2024) | Yes |
| Students in 2024 | 9,089 (+3.9% on 2023) |
| Website | uca.edu.sv |
Source: UCA: the founding of the university; Ministry of Education: higher education statistics 2024, tables on pages 19, 28 and 29 (PDF, in Spanish)1,2
History
- 1965: a group of Catholic citizens asked the government and the Jesuits for a second university in the country. The Jesuits proposed a non-profit public-interest corporation, and the university was inaugurated on 15 September 1965. Its first board had five Jesuits.
- 1966: classes began with 357 students in six degrees: Economics, Business Administration and Industrial, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering.
- 1969: the university moved to its campus of 20 manzanas south-west of the capital, and created the Faculty of Human and Natural Sciences (Philosophy, Psychology and Letters).
Source: UCA: the founding of the university1
Campuses and students
In 2024 the Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas was number 5 of the 24 universities by enrolment, with 9,089 students, +3.9% on 2023. The Ministry counts students by the department where they study.2
Sources
- UCA: the founding of the university (in Spanish)
- Ministry of Education: higher education statistics 2024, tables on pages 19, 28 and 29 (PDF, in Spanish)
Facts checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information.