Objective. We analyzed the research output of Chilean universities with the primary objective of guid-ing leadership teams in formulating and prioritizing their strategic goals. Design/Methodology/Approach. The research was descriptive and documentary in nature, involving a systematic, comprehensive, transparent, and detailed review of articles published in various indexed scientific journals. Between 2008 and 2022, we searched the Scopus database at each institution to obtain information on its scientific production. Results/Discussion. We have demonstrated the presence of a select group of universities with exceptionally high levels of scientific productivity, as indicated by significant performance metrics. The analysis of university productivity shows that, in absolute terms, the most outstanding institutions are the Universidad de La Frontera, the Universidad de Tarapacá, and the Universidad de Chile. This study high-lights the efficiency and performance of these academic institutions in terms of their scientific output. Only 12 institutions manage to exceed the national average in terms of productivity, while 19 universities perform at an alarmingly low level. Conclusions. This research provides valuable insights into institutions that achieve commendable results but remain underrepresented in rankings due to their smaller size. It underscores the importance of valuing outcomes over raw numbers, providing a more nuanced understanding of scientific productivity.