Private company

Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica)

Logo: Universidad Nacional, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Public university in Costa Rica founded in 19731

The National University of Costa Rica (in Spanish, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, abbreviated UNA) is one of five public universities in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. The main campus is located in the city of Heredia. More than 12,000 students study in its main campus.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1973Founded1
National University of Costa Rica
Photo: Tillor87, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

The National University of Costa Rica (in Spanish, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, abbreviated UNA) is one of five public universities in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. The main campus is located in the city of Heredia. More than 12,000 students study in its main campus. In addition to offering a broad undergraduate curriculum, it offers 16 Master of Arts degrees. It is known for its strong programs in ecology, sociology and education.2

Corporate structure

Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica) sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica)
    • Editorial Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica Subsidiary · Costa Rica

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

The National University of Costa Rica was created in 1973 in the province of Heredia. Uladislao Gámez Solano, The Minister of Public Education under the government of José Figueres Ferrer, approved the creation of the university on 15 February 1973, through law #5182. Benjamín Núñez Vargas (a Roman Catholic priest, academic and politician) was the founder and first rector of the university.

The University opened its doors on 14 March 1973, following the legacy of the Normal School of Costa Rica and the Superior Normal School.

During its developmental phase, it brought together some of the greatest minds in Latin America at the time. This phase is defined as the "Universidad Necesaria" and laid the foundation for an institution that serves the underprivileged in Costa Rica and offers access to a superior education for all.

Today, the university has diverse academic offerings and a rigorous curriculum. UNA offers more than 65 graduate and postgraduate degree programs in various fields, such as natural sciences, earth and marine sciences, education, social sciences, health sciences, philosophy, literature and arts.

Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica

(OVSICORI) has an international team of seismologists and volcanologists that is dedicated to research of volcanoes, earthquakes and other tectonic processes in Costa Rica, which is located in the Central America Volcanic Arc. There are many geologists who study the eruptive activity for the volcanos in the country and observe volcanic eruptions, especially Poás Volcano, which is an active 2,708-metre (8,885 ft) stratovolcano hat is located in central Costa Rica and has erupted 39 times since 1828. [1] [2][3] The event was captured from a webcam from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) captured the moment a dark cloud exploded about 1,000 feet in the air from a massive crater of the Poás Volcano. On February 25, 2014, A webcam from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) captured the moment a dark cloud exploded about 1,000 feet in the air from a massive crater of the Poás Volcano.

In 1984, the OVSICORI-A initiates the operation of a seismographic network designed to monitor seismic and volcanic activity throughout the national territory. Currently the seismographic network has a registration system analog and one digital. The latter enables online analysis of seismic signals, allowing to expedite the analysis of signals and their study using modern computerized methods.

From Wikipedia’s article on National University of Costa Rica, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Editorial Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1973Founded Founded1