Our Lady of the Rosary University

Under the authorization of King Philip IV of Spain, the archbishop of Santa Fe, Cristóbal de Torres founded the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in 1653. By the Royal Decree of 1768 Charles III recognized the institution as a 'College' among with the six halls of Spain, which continued the tradition of the University of Salamanca. Original constitutions of the university, were written by its founder Fray Cristóbal de Torres and published by Crístobal de Araque Ponce de León, then Chancellor.

The founder established the Calatrava Cross as the symbol of the university and issued the Constitutions, which remain as the governing documents of the school. The University of El Rosario has always been "from" and "for" the students, established on the basis of "Universitas Scholarium".

It is Colombia's oldest higher education institution, never having interrupted instruction during its almost 360 years of existence, except for a couple of years in 1819 when General Morillo of Spain pursued reconquest of Colombian territory. During those years it served as a prison, and many of the republic's most notable characters were held imprisoned at the university.

Jose Celestino Mutis taught astronomy and mathematics at the university beginning on March 13, 1762. He is buried at the university's chapel. For over five years, from 1762 to 1767, Jose Celestino Mutis was a professor of El Rosario. He taught mathematics and physical and natural sciences, both in Latin.

In 1790 after several attempts to consolidate the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Vincent Cancino Román was appointed responsible of the Medicine Program. Of his initial disciples only one, the young Juan Bautista Vargas, graduated in 1974, shortly before the death of his preceptor. It then became the first medical school in Colombia.

It is the only Colombian university that made an accreditation process, supported by the European Association of Universities. It is ranked as "Very Superior" by the ICFES.