Welcome to the only UWC in Latin America & The Caribbean!
Short Course:
Sustainability and Spanish Immersive Experience
Are you 14 to 17 years old and looking to learn new ways to create an impact on our planet? Join us for an unforgettable 14-day sustainability and Spanish immersive experience at the UWC Costa Rica campus! Enrollment is open for our first UWC Short Course, beginning July 1st.
Our mission:
To cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet–learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.
UWC Costa Rica is a non-profit foundation and a two-year residential pre-university program for students to achieve the International Baccalaureate. Led by our mission of cultivating in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet, we offer a bilingual program, opportunities to learn more about the region's social, political, and cultural history, and embedded in our curriculum, many options to explore Costa Rica sustainably, following our Sustainability Framework.
UWC Costa Rica is home to around 200 students representing 70+ countries, so there are myriads of exotic food, new languages, and stories to share. Located in Santa Ana (soon to be in San Isidro), students have many opportunities to interact educationally and create a secure environment that is a dynamic place for our students to study and live around nature.
Start your application process and join our community!
Start your application process and join our community!
Latest News
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Bald for a Cause 2025
Read MoreUWC Costa Rica, our students are known for their commitment to positive change, and this week, they proved it once again. The annual "Bald for a Cause" event brought together around 60 students and staff members who bravely shaved their heads and donated their hair to support individuals battling cancer. -
Firsties Camp: Building Community, Leadership, and a Shared Future
Last week, UWC Costa Rica’s First Year students embarked on an unforgettable journey at Firsties Camp, a special experience designed to build community, foster leadership, and cultivate the values that define our College.Read More -
Alum Events: Strengthening Connections Across the Globe
Read MoreUWC Costa Rica is excited to share the success of three recent alum events held across different locations, reinforcing the strong bonds within our global community. -
Launching the UWC Costa Rica Alum Hub
UWC Costa Rica is thrilled to announce the launch of the UWC Costa Rica Alum Hub, a dedicated space designed to keep alums from our College and the UWC Movement connected, engaged, and informed.Read More -
Embracing Service and Sustainability: Community Action Weekends
The monthly Community Action Weekends stand out as powerful opportunities for students to make a meaningful impact while learning about the challenges and strengths of the communities around them.Read More -
Celebrating UWC Costa Rica’s Certifications and Partnerships in 2023-2024
Impact Report Showcase | At UWC Costa Rica, we strive to cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet by learning from nature and each other for a lifetime.Read More -
TEDxUWCCR Youth: Amplifying the Voices of the Unheard
After nearly a decade, TEDx has made a remarkable comeback at UWC Costa Rica!Read More -
UWC Costa Rica Partners with Green Schools National Network
Impact Report Showcase | Our partnership with GSNN is a significant step towards realizing our vision of a more sustainable and integrated educational experience.Read More -
UWC Costa Rica earns Bandera Azul Ecológica
Impact Report Showcase | We are thrilled to announce that UWC Costa Rica has been awarded the prestigious Bandera Azul Ecológica in the Climate Change category!Read More -
UWC Costa Rica Students Embrace Experiential Learning
In the spirit of our mission to cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet, UWC Costa Rica students have engaged in various experiential learning outings, embodying our commitment to learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.Read More -
A Glimpse at our New Campus
We are excited to share a preview on how our new campus in San Isidro de Heredia is going to look like!Read More -
A Learning Adventure Beyond the Classroom
Last week, UWC Costa Rica embarked on its inaugural Experiential Day, a dynamic initiative designed to bring learning to life beyond the traditional classroom setting.Read More -
UWC Costa Rica Launches AlumNights Series
UWC Costa Rica is thrilled to announce the successful launch of our AlumNights series, with the first event taking place on Monday, September 23, featuring Sonia Wargacka MUWCI '14.Read More -
Connection and Creativity for a Lifetime
Last week, UWC Costa Rica hosted the vibrant Community Day Camp, an event led by the Residential Life Program designed to foster a strong sense of belonging and connection among our students and staff.Read More -
Green Schools National Network Workshop at UWC Costa Rica
Last week, we kicked off the school year for staff with a special visit from the Green Schools National Network (GSNN) due to our Strategic Plan, Strategic Line 1: “Cultivating a holistic, experiential, and sustainability-based educational model."Read More -
Agents of Change at CTP San Isidro
On Saturday, August 24th, students from the Technical Professional College (CTP) of San Isidro de Heredia participated in an intensive Changemakers workshop led by students from UWC Costa Rica.Read More -
UWC Costa Rica is a Great Place to Work
Impact Report Showcase | It fills us with pride and joy to announce that UWC Costa Rica has obtained the prestigious Great Place to Work certification.Read More -
UWC In the Media: June, 2024
Take a look at all the showcases of UWC Costa Rica on local and international media.Read More -
Bald for a Cause 2024
More than 50 students shaved heads and donated hair for cancer patient wigs. This empathy-driven event fosters community support and personal growth, reinforcing understanding of cancer struggles.Read More -
Recap of “We Are United” Launch
Impact Report Showcase | The launch of "We Are United" celebrated community, commitment, and a shared vision for a sustainable future.Read More
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List of 4 items.
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82%
of all students receive full or partial scholarships to attend UWC Costa Rica.38% received a full scholarship, and 40% received a partial scholarship in the Class of '24 & '25. -
211
students enrolled in the 2023-2024 Academic Year.All students come from a variety of academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and language backgrounds. -
48%
of students received full scholarships to attend university in the United States.Including 4 Ivy Leagues Colleges, and awards such as the Kofi Annan Scholarship at Macalester College, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program. -
66
student nationalities represented on campus.25% of the students are from Latin America for the class of '24 & '25.
List of 4 items.
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UNHCR
Recognition of Service toYouth in Conflict Areas2015 -
ASHOKA
2015 -
Knowledgereview
2019 -
The Excelligent
2020
Our comprehensive campaign's goal is to become a college with a sustainable infrastructure and a robust scholarship endowment fund that supports learning through innovative education and social transformation.
Our mission: To cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet—learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime.
San José, Costa Rica. 10901.
+506 2282 5609 | info@uwccostarica.org
San José, Costa Rica. 10901.
+506 2282 5609 | info@uwccostarica.org
All Rights Reserved | UWC Costa Rica © 2025