The University of Costa Rica is an institution of higher education championed by humanistic teaching. On March 12, 2001, the deputies of the Legislative Assembly, taking into account the contribution of the UCR to the country, declared it the Meritorious Institution of Costa Rican Education and Culture by Law No. 8098 . Since its constitution in 1940, this Institution has enjoyed University Autonomy .

The aspirations of the institution are, in the first place, to strengthen academic excellence through the development and permanent cultivation of a culture of quality, with a close articulation between teaching, social action and research and through the updating of study plans. in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in all its university campuses, the generation of innovative careers, continuous improvement, and high-level training of academic and administrative staff, in order to attend, in a pertinent way, the needs of Costa Rican society and enhance its leadership in the development of national education.

Second, to promote the generation of scientific, technological, sociocultural, and innovative knowledge in all units of the University and between disciplines, as well as to join international academic networks, based on reciprocal recognition, respect and shared benefits, with a view to to strengthen the academic culture.

Third, promote integration, alliances, social commitment, cooperation, solidarity relations, the dissemination of university work and innovation in order to forge new spaces, in order to transfer and exchange the knowledge generated between the University and society.

Fourth, promote the democratization of admission to higher education through programs that favor equity and social inclusion and, at the same time, promote initiatives to strengthen support services for the student population, to facilitate the permanence and the successful completion of their studies at the Institution.

The University of Costa Rica (UCR) is integrated as a community of professors/teachers, students, and administrative staff, sorted in faculties dedicated to teaching, research, social action, artistic creation, and knowledge spreading with the goal of preparing professionals with a human, ethical and responsible sense. To achieve its goals UCR has 5500 professors/teachers, 4200 administrative staff and 40500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The enrollment of approximately 8000 students every year is estimated, they are distributed in 14 faculties. Furthermore, UCR has 7 regional campuses, 46 research institutes and centers, 14 farms and experimental stations including biological reserves.

UCR is placed as the best University of Central America and the Caribbean and has a spot among the best 20 universities in Latin America. It contributes with 60% of the scientific production of Central America and develops 70% of Costa Rican investigation.