Among 731 institutions evaluated, the Brazilian school ranked in the top 10 in Latin America

São Paulo, March 2026 – São Leopoldo Mandic College ranks among the world’s leading dental institutions, according to the SCImago Institutions Rankings 2026, released this week. The school ranks 131st among 731 universities evaluated globally, and in Latin America, it ranks among the top 10 and is the highest-ranked private institution.

The SCImago ranking is one of the leading international indicators of academic and scientific performance, based on criteria such as research output, the impact of publications, and performance in innovation—all factors that carry significant weight in the evaluation, in addition to undergraduate education. The rigorous methodology evaluates not only physical infrastructure but also actual scientific impact and the excellence of graduate programs.

Rather than merely reflecting one-off results from a single year, performance in the SCImago ranking is linked to the academic and scientific consistency built up over time. The ranking considers indicators related to the robustness of scientific output, technological development, and innovation—including patent registrations and applications—as well as the social impact generated by these academic and technical achievements. In practice, this is recognition of the institution’s ability to continuously sustain high-quality research of international relevance.

In Latin America, the institution’s rise into the top 10 also reinforces a trajectory of consolidation: in two years, the university has moved from 11th to 10th place in the region, a result that aligns with the trend observed in recent years of increased investment in research and graduate programs in the health field in Brazil, especially at institutions focused on advanced education.

For Marcelo Napimoga, Director of Graduate Studies and Research at São Leopoldo Mandic, the institution’s advancement is a direct result of joint efforts: “This achievement is the result of the collective work of faculty, researchers, students, and staff, who build an academic culture of excellence, innovation, and social impact every day,” he comments.

This performance aligns with a trend toward greater international visibility for Brazilian institutions, even amid intense global competition. “Being among the world’s top dental schools reflects a trajectory guided by science, dedication, and a vision for the future, demonstrating that investing in research and graduate studies is the path to transforming knowledge into real impact for society,” concludes Napimoga.

About the Ranking

The SCImago Institutions Rankings is one of the leading international rankings of educational and research institutions, focusing on scientific performance. The ranking evaluates universities and academic centers based on a composite indicator that considers three dimensions: research output and impact, innovation outcomes, and social impact, as measured by the institution’s online visibility.

In the methodology, scientific output carries the greatest weight, followed by indicators of innovation and knowledge transfer, as well as the institutions’ digital presence, which makes the ranking particularly relevant for measuring performance in research and graduate studies.

About São Leopoldo Mandic

Ranked for 15 consecutive years as one of the top ten institutions of higher education in the country according to the Ministry of Education’s (MEC) General Course Index (IGC), São Leopoldo Mandic College, in Campinas, boasts a faculty of professors with doctorates and extensive scientific output, all graduates of the best educational institutions in Brazil and abroad. Equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, fully-fledged dental clinics, and practical training settings at affiliated hospitals and Basic Health Units, the institution offers students hands-on experience in the Dentistry and Medicine programs starting in the first year, as well as research activities and community service. It features realistic simulation labs, modern diagnostic and training resources, and an innovation hub, all of which support undergraduate and graduate programs. It also runs outreach projects such as the “Barco da Saúde” (Health Boat), which brings medical and dental care to underserved communities. São Leopoldo Mandic College is part of the Mandic Group, which has nine other graduate campuses throughout Brazil and one in Portugal. The Group also includes three additional undergraduate medical schools, located in the cities of Araras, São Paulo; Limeira, São Paulo; and the Sertão School of Medicine (FMS) in Arcoverde, Pernambuco.

Mandic Group Press Office:

Nayrim Pinheiro | InPress Porter Novelli – mandic@inpresspni.com.br  

Sílvia Balbo Messias | São Leopoldo Mandic – silvia.balbo@slmandic.edu.br