Universidad Industrial de Santander
A well-established university providing quality higher education. Offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs with dedicated faculty and supportive learning environment.
- Acceptance Rate
- 70.8%
- SAT Range
- 950–1150
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.1
- Size
- Large (26,024 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:25
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 82.0%
- Retention Rate
- 72.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- $4,000
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $8,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
The UIS campus spreads across a large urban area that feels like a small city within Bucaramanga. Students move between academic buildings, laboratories, athletic facilities, and green spaces throughout their daily routines. The university maintains its own cultural center hosting concerts, theater performances, and art exhibitions that enrich campus life beyond pure academics. Sports play a significant role in student culture, with soccer obviously popular but also volleyball, basketball, and swimming. The university participates in national university competitions, and intramural leagues let anyone join in regardless of skill level. Fitness facilities include a modern gym and swimming pool available to all enrolled students. Student organizations cover political, cultural, and recreational interests. Given Colombia's complex political history, campus debates can get passionate, and UIS has a tradition of student activism that dates back decades. Cultural groups celebrate regional traditions from across the country, and the mixing of students from the Atlantic coast, Pacific region, Andean highlands, and Amazon frontier creates an environment where you encounter perspectives very different from wherever you grew up.
Location & Surroundings
Bucaramanga offers students a pleasant living environment that balances urban conveniences with natural beauty. The city has developed enough to provide good shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, yet it never feels as overwhelming as Bogota or Medellin. The eternal spring climate hovers between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius most days, which means you can own essentially one wardrobe year-round. The surrounding geography is stunning. The city sits near the Chicamocha Canyon, one of the largest and most dramatic canyons in South America, where adventure tourism has developed rapidly in recent years. Paragliding, whitewater rafting, hiking, and caving are all accessible within a short drive from campus. The Mesa de los Santos area provides escapes to cooler elevations when you need a break from even Bucaramanga's mild heat. Living costs in Bucaramanga remain lower than in Colombia's largest cities, which helps stretch student budgets further. The transit system serves most neighborhoods, though traffic can frustrate during rush hours. Student apartments cluster in areas near campus where landlords understand the rhythms of academic life. The food scene includes excellent regional dishes like mute santandereano and cabrito, along with international options if you crave variety.
Costs & Career Outcomes
Tuition at UIS varies by program and family income level, following a tiered system where wealthier families pay more while students from modest backgrounds pay significantly less. Even at the highest tier, costs remain far below private universities in Colombia and represent a genuine bargain compared to studying abroad. The university posts detailed fee schedules so you can calculate expected expenses before committing. Living expenses in Bucaramanga are manageable on a student budget if you are willing to live simply. Sharing an apartment with roommates, cooking at home most days, and taking advantage of student discounts keeps monthly costs reasonable. Many students work part-time to supplement family support or financial aid, and the university career center helps connect students with appropriate opportunities. Graduates of UIS engineering programs especially find ready employment with major Colombian and international companies operating in the region. The petroleum and energy sectors have historically hired many alumni, though diversification into renewable energy is changing the landscape. Health science graduates staff hospitals and clinics throughout Santander and beyond. The UIS name carries weight regionally and opens doors that might stay closed to graduates of lesser-known institutions.
Campus Location
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