Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) is a Mexican private university, considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America. It was founded in 1940 under the name of “Mexico City College”, which offered associate degrees in Arts and Sciences. Unique to Mexico, Universidad de las Américas Puebla has a housing system very similar to those used in the United States. Additionally, UDLAP is one of the few private universities in the country to invest a reasonable amount of resources in research. Its big campus is made up of 38 buildings spread on a land of 180 acres (728.000 m²). It has been ranked as the best private and single-campus university in Mexico by the newspaper El Universal, and is one of the only seven universities in Latin America accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.