Mexico is a country located in southern North America and is the third-largest country in Latin America. It is also a country with significant socioeconomic inequality. Enrollment in tertiary education expanded sharply from 2000 to 2017, and the public sector has continued to emphasize broader participation in higher education. The main language of instruction in Mexican higher education is Spanish, although some universities offer selected courses or programs in English.
Nursing education in Mexico is offered by many public and private higher education institutions. Formal nursing education developed in the early 20th century, with the School of Nursing founded in 1907 and nursing training becoming a 3-year program in 1929. In 1935, technical-level nursing was created, and it became a pathway for midwifery studies. At the National School of Nursing and Obstetrics, now the Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Bachelor’s in Nursing and Obstetrics was published in 1968, and postgraduate nursing studies expanded in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Mexico continues to have a relatively low number of nursing professionals compared with the OECD average. One response has been the Better Health Programme Mexico (BHPMx), funded by UKAid as part of the United Kingdom’s Global Prosperity Programme. The program supported knowledge exchange and health workforce capacity, including advanced nursing initiatives developed with Mexico’s National School of Nursing and Obstetrics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Program length varies by institution and program. In general, nursing bachelor’s degrees in Mexico commonly take at least four years, often organized in eight to 10 semesters plus social service. Master’s programs often take about two years, while doctorates generally take at least three years after a master’s degree, depending on the institution and field. Listed below are notable nursing schools in Mexico.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Mexico
1. University of Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco
The Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco (UJAT) is a public university based in Villahermosa, Tabasco. Its origins trace back to the Instituto Juárez, which began classes in 1879. The university was founded in 1958, and it officially became the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco after receiving autonomy in 1966. UJAT now operates through academic divisions in several municipalities in Tabasco, including Centro, Cunduacán, Tenosique, Comalcalco, and Jalpa de Méndez.
Admission to UJAT undergraduate programs is selective and includes an online pre-registration process and a CENEVAL selection exam. The Licenciatura en Enfermería is offered in school-based mode through the Division of Health Sciences and multidisciplinary divisions, including Comalcalco, Los Ríos, and Jalpa de Méndez. The current nursing study plan lists 254 SATCA credits, and the minimum time to complete the academic credits is four years. UJAT also offers a Master’s in Nursing. Instruction is primarily in Spanish, so international applicants should be prepared to study in Spanish and should confirm current tuition and institutional fees directly with the university.
2. Autonomous University of Hidalgo State
The Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo (UAEH) is one of the top-ranking universities in the country. It was founded in Pachuca in 1869 as the Instituto Literario y Escuela de Artes y Oficios. It is one of the oldest and largest universities in Hidalgo. The university has several schools and institutes, including locations in Actopan, Apan, Atotonilco de Tula, Ciudad Sahagún, Huejutla, Tepeji del Río, Tizayuca, Tlahuelilpan, and Zimapán.
Its nursing program is offered through the Institute of Health Sciences (ICSa). The Licenciatura en Enfermería is a 10-semester program with 50 subjects, including institutional language, arts and culture, and healthy life activities. Students should confirm current fees through UAEH’s official admissions and fee information, as costs can vary by year and service.
3. National Autonomous University of Mexico
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is internationally recognized and remains one of the highest-ranked universities in Mexico. Its nursing programs are offered through the Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics, formerly the National School of Nursing and Obstetrics, which has played a major role in professional nursing education in Mexico since the 20th century.
UNAM offers nursing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics also offers the Licenciatura en Enfermería through the Open University and Distance Education System (SUAyED), designed for nurses with technical-level studies who enter in years after the first year. Applicants should review the current FENO and UNAM calls for admission, fees, and program-specific requirements.
4. Universidad Panamericana
Universidad Panamericana has institutional roots dating to the late 1960s and grew into a university with campuses and locations that include Aguascalientes, Mexico City, UP City, and Guadalajara. Its Faculty of Health Sciences opened in 1996 with the Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
As one of the notable nursing schools in Mexico, Universidad Panamericana’s School of Nursing emphasizes research, evidence-based nursing, clinical training, and specialty-focused care. Its facilities include a high-fidelity simulation center, operating rooms, an amphitheater, and laboratories. The school also works with leading health institutions in Mexico for clinical and research training, and its nursing program includes clinical practice and international rotation opportunities. Postgraduate options include programs such as the Specialty and Master’s in Wounds, Stomas, and Burns Therapy.
5. University of Guadalajara
The University of Guadalajara is a major public university network in Jalisco. It includes thematic and regional university centers, the Virtual University System, and the Higher Secondary Education System. Its official history states that the Real Universidad de Guadalajara was inaugurated on November 3, 1792, after royal authorization in 1791, and that it began with chairs in Medicine, Law, Theology, and Philosophy. Between 1826 and 1860, the university experienced closures, interruptions, and name changes, before being restored in 1925. In 1994, a new organic law created the modern University Network.
The University of Guadalajara offers the Licenciatura en Enfermería through multiple university centers in Jalisco, including the University Center for Health Sciences (CUCS). The program is offered in person at several campuses, and CUCS also lists a distance-mode nursing option. The in-person nursing degree is structured around 490 credits, a proposed eight-cycle academic path, and one year of social service. Students should confirm clinical placement, exchange, and campus-specific requirements with the university center where they plan to enroll.
Hopefully, this article on the best nursing schools in Mexico was helpful. Make sure to also check out our Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.
