Real y Pontificia Universidad de México

The Real y Pontificia Universidad de México was created by royal decree in 1551 and began teaching in 1553, making it one of the first universities in the Americas. During the colonial era it operated under royal and church authority.

It was closed in the 19th century, and in 1910 Justo Sierra founded the National University of Mexico as its modern successor, under state rather than church control. That institution became the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), which gained autonomy in 1929.