{"id":3983,"date":"2025-07-20T09:37:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T09:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buhave.com\/guide\/?p=3983"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:01:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T15:01:33","slug":"universidad-catolica-santa-maria-la-antigua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buhave.com\/guide\/universities\/universidad-catolica-santa-maria-la-antigua\/","title":{"rendered":"Universidad Cat\u00f3lica Santa Mar\u00eda La Antigua"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview<\/h2>\n

Universidad Cat\u00f3lica Santa Mar\u00eda La Antigua (USMA) is Panama’s well-regarded private Catholic university, founded in 1965 with support from the Archdiocese of Panama. Named after Santa Mar\u00eda La Antigua, the patron saint of Panama, USMA brings together academic training and Catholic values to help students develop professional skills and a strong ethical foundation. Its main campus in Panama City is designed to support focused learning alongside a reflective environment for spiritual and personal growth.<\/p>\n

USMA is known for a personalized education experience, including smaller class formats in many programs and ongoing faculty-to-student interaction. The university also maintains international relationships with Catholic and academic partners worldwide, while adapting its offerings to support Panama’s development priorities. In particular, USMA is often chosen by applicants interested in law, architecture, and business<\/strong>, where coursework emphasizes responsible practice and social impact.<\/p>\n

2. General Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nUniversidad Cat\u00f3lica Santa Mar\u00eda La Antigua (USMA)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Established<\/td>\nMay 27, 1965<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Type<\/td>\nPrivate Catholic University<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Location<\/td>\nMain Campus: V\u00eda Ricardo J. Alfaro, Panama City<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Website<\/td>\nUSMA official website (usma.ac.pa)<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accreditation<\/td>\nMinistry of Education, Panama<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Student Population<\/td>\n5,000+ (2024 estimates)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If you are comparing options in Panama City or exploring different study styles, you may also want to review guides for Universidad Tecnol\u00f3gica de Panam\u00e1<\/a> and Universidad Latina de Panam\u00e1<\/a> to understand differences in program focus, learning formats, and campus resources.<\/p>\n

3. Fee Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Program<\/th>\nTuition Fee (Annual, USD)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Undergraduate Programs<\/td>\n3,500 – 6,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Law<\/td>\n4,500 – 7,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Architecture<\/td>\n5,000 – 7,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MBA Programs<\/td>\n6,000 – 9,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theology<\/td>\n3,000 – 5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note:<\/strong> Tuition ranges can change depending on course load, campus modality, and academic calendar. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, confirm your specific program fee schedule with USMA admissions and review any current financial aid or scholarship options available that year.<\/p>\n

4. Academic Programs<\/h2>\n

USMA offers a mix of undergraduate and graduate pathways that serve both traditional academic interests and career-focused goals. The university is particularly recognized for professional degrees with clear ethical and practical components.<\/p>\n