Education in Lima

Universities

The city has the largest concentration of higher-education institutions in the country. The National University of San Marcos, founded on May 12, 1551 during Spanish colonial regime is the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas and considered by many peruvians “La decana” in the sense of “dean of universities” across Peru.

The Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru is the oldest private university (established on 1917). Other notable private institutions that are located in the city are Universidad del Pacifico, Universidad San Martin de Porras, Universidad de Lima, Cayetano Heredia University and Universidad Ricardo Palma.

Other state owned universities also play key roles in teaching and research, such as the Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria and Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina.

Libraries

Founded by Jose de San Martin, Peru’s oldest and most important library, the National Library of Peru is located in downtown Lima. As it has suffered wars and earthquakes throughout history, a new location for the library is being built in the San Borja district and is scheduled to be finished in early 2006. This modernization program aspires to turn the library into one of Latin America’s most modern libraries.