Public university, Manizales
UNAL Manizales cut scores in Manizales
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Manizales (Manizales, Colombia) selects applicants using the Own entrance exam system. Data reflects historical ranges of the last admitted student per program.
Admission system: Puntaje examen de admisión UNAL (escala propia ~500–900).
UNAL Manizales by the numbers
Enrolled students
~4 650
Alumni since 1948
Thousands
Categorized researchers (Minciencias)
+100
University campuses in Manizales
3
About UNAL Manizales
The Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Manizales Campus) uses the same proprietary entrance exam as the Bogotá campus (Saber-UNAL, scale ~500–900), with independent quotas and weightings per campus. Cut scores in Manizales are historically similar or slightly different from Bogotá for equivalent programs: Systems Engineering was 700–720 in Manizales vs. 667–668 in Bogotá in 2025, reflecting that competition varies by campus. The ICFES Saber 11 is a mandatory prerequisite for sitting the exam, not a direct selection criterion.
Campuses
Palogrande (campus principal), El Cable, La Nubia
Faculties
Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Administración, Ciencias Humanas y Sociales
Strengths
Engineering, Architecture, Exact and Natural Sciences, and Administration, with a strong tradition in civil, electrical, and systems engineering. Its Institute of Environmental Studies (IDEA) and Institute of Biotechnology and Agroindustry (IBA) drive applied research with regional impact.
Accreditation
High Quality Institutional Accreditation in Multicampus modality, granted by the Colombian Ministry of National Education under Resolution 015859 of 2021, valid for 10 years across all UNAL campuses, including Manizales.
Admission process
2027-1 admission
July 6, 2026 to August 19, 2026
September 20, 2026
October 9, 2026
Cut scores by program
Admission FAQ
Cut scores vary by campus and semester, so there is no universal answer. For Systems Engineering in 2025, the cut in Manizales was actually higher than in Bogotá. The most important thing is to apply to the campuses and programs that interest you most and compare historical cuts at admisiones.unal.edu.co.
Yes. You can apply to more than one campus or program in the same UNAL process. Each application has its own fee and is handled separately. The proprietary exam result is the same for all campuses, but each has its own cut scores and spots.
Not for regular admission. Resolution 19 of 2026 exempts only applicants going through PEAMA, PAET, or PTIUN, three special-admission tracks: PAET, for instance, offers Manizales-based programs to applicants from national-presence regions, but that does not change the regular process. If you apply through the ordinary process to the Manizales campus, the Saber-UNAL exam is still mandatory.
Prepare to reach the cut score
Sabero estimates your Saber 11 score using the same statistical method as ICFES (IRT). Practice for free, no credit card needed.
Keep exploring
- See ICFES guide for ManizalesCut scores, registration and admission dates for every university in Manizales.
- ICFES score calculatorTurn your five area scores into the global score out of 500 and see which universities are within reach.
- Scores by careerWhat Medicine, Law or Engineering ask for at each university, compared by admission system.
- Scores by universityAdmission cut scores program by program across Colombian public and private universities.