| If you wish to continue your education, university-level
courses are available to foreigners in subjects such as business,
art, history, political science, biology, psychology, literature
and Spanish, as well as all other major academic areas.
Foreigners can enroll directly as special students for their
first two years at the University of Costa Rica. Tuition is
much lower than at most U.S. universities. Students can also
audit classes for a nominal fee. Contact the University of
Costa Rica (UCR) at tel: 207-4000, fax: 225-6950 www.ucr.ac.cr.
Another excellent public university is The Nacional University
(UNA) in Heredia, tel: 506-261-0101, fax: 237-7593, e-mail:
webmaster@una.co.ac.cr, http://www.una.accr. National Correspondence
University (UNED) offers correspondence, programs,tel; 253-2121,
fax: 506-253-4990, e-mail: cendocu@arenal. uned.ac.cr, http://www.uned.ac.cr.
During the last 10 years there has been a proliferation of
private universities. They are mainly for students who can't
qualify academically for the University of Costa Rica or National
University of Heredia. These schools are more expensive than
the public universities and their degrees aren't quite as
prestigious. Autonomous University of Central America, or
UACA as it is more commonly known here, is the oldest of these
private universities and has an excellent reputation, tel:
234-0701, fax: 224-0391, e-mail: lauaca@racsa.co.cr. Please
see the local phone book for a listing of the many private
universities found in the San José area.
Some U.S. universities offer programs in Costa Rica for which
you can get university credit. We understand the University
of California offers one such program. However, you are better
off surfing the Internet to see what is available if you want
to continue your education here and receive credits towards
a degree in the United States or Canada.

The University of Costa Rica in San Pedro
Public Universities
- University of Costa Rica (Universidad de Costa Rica)- The main campus is located
in San José. There are also other campuses in Cartago,
Turrialba, Puntarenas and Alajuela. Tel: 207-5535, Web:
http://www.ucr.ac.cr.
- National University (Universidad Nacional). The main campus is in the city of
Heredia. There are branches in Liberia and Pérez
Zeledón. Tel: 277-3317. Web: http://www.una.ac.cr.
- Institute of Technology (Instituto de Tecnología) Located in the city
of Cartago. Tel: 552-5333. Web: http://wwwitcr.ac.cr
- The State University's Extension Program (Universidad Estatal a Distancia). The
main school is in San José. There are more than 30
branches in other parts of the country. Tel: 253-2121. Web:
http://www. uned.ac.cr.
Private Universities
- Adventist University of Central America. Tel: 441-5622, Fax: 4413465. E-mail:
unadeca@racsa.co.cr.
- Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmedo (EARTH). Tel:
255-2000, Fax:255-2726. E-mail: relext@ns.earth.acca. Web:
http://www.earth.accr.
- Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT). Tel: 257-5767,
Fax: 222-4542. E-mail: info@ulacit.ac.cr.
- Inter-American University of Costa Rica. Apdo. 6495-1000, San José. Tel:
234-6262, Fax: 253-8744.
- International University of the Americas (UIA). Apdo. 1447-1002, San José.
Tel: 233-5304, Fax: 222-3216, E-mail: infomatri@uia. ac.cr.
Web: http://www.uia.ac.cr.
- Instituto Centroamericano para la Administración de Empresa (INCAE). Apdo.
960-4050, Alajuela. Tel: 433-0506, Fax: 4339101.
- University for Peace, Apdo. 138, Ciudad Colón.Tel: (506) 2491072, Fax:
(506) 249-1929
- University Mundial. Tel: 240-7057, Fax: 236-6537.
Of course, certain requirements for these schools of higher
learning must be met. Once again, remember that private universities
are generally more expensive than public universities. Please
see the telephone book for a more extensive list of private
universities.
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