Established in 1551, it is the oldest university in the Americas and is highly regarded as an influential institution of higher education in Peru. With 66 academic-professional schools and 20 faculties, it offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in various fields. The university has a diverse student body of over 30,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students, including international students. It is known for its competitive admissions process, quality curricular contents, and contributions to scientific research. The university also houses public institutions such as the San Marcos Cultural Center and the Museum of Natural History of Lima. Notably, it counts Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa among its alumni.