Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla

What Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla does

Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) is a private non-profit Catholic university founded in 1973 and incorporated in Puebla, Mexico as an Asociación Civil. It operates two physical campuses — the main Campus Puebla at 21 Sur #1103 and a secondary campus in Tehuacán — enrolling more than 9,000 students across preparatory, undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and specialty programs, supported by 1,000+ professors and 114 federally and state-certified researchers. The institution holds 49 national and international accreditations, a 4-star QS Stars rating (reaffirmed in 2024 with 5 stars in 6 of 8 criteria), top-20 QS national ranking, Ashoka Changemaker Campus designation, and WASC Senior College and University Commission preliminary eligibility.

UPAEP's product portfolio spans the full educational lifecycle: degree programs (Licenciaturas, Maestrías, Doctorados, Especialidades), preparatory education through Colegios UPAEP and Colegios Altum, continuing education (diplomados, certifications, Learn Plus micro-courses, In Company corporate training), and auxiliary services including the CRAI learning resource center, Editorial UPAEP publishing, UPRESS, U Radio broadcasting, Centro de Salud Integral, dental and veterinary clinics, university housing, and the Museo UPAEP. Research is organized through 4 research centers and 3 study centers, with 14 programs integrated into the Sistema Nacional de Posgrados, and the Modelo Educativo U50 frames the pedagogy around transformative leadership development.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition (degree programs and continuing education, with diplomados priced at $12,200 MXN for an 80-hour program), supplemented by corporate training, consulting services through CESAT and Consultoría Estratégica, and educational financing partnerships with Laudex, FIDERH, and Estudia más. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer admissions via campus visits, open houses, WhatsApp inquiries, and school-partnership direct-admission pathways (pase directo/convenios), with 4,116 students receiving scholarships across 17 financial support options. As a non-profit civil association, financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla

Legal name

Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, A.C.

Website

https://upaep.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

UPAEP is a private non-profit Catholic university in Puebla, Mexico, founded 1973, enrolling 9,000+ students across two campuses with degree programs, continuing education, K-12 schools, and an 11-subsidiary ecosystem serving students, working professionals, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adult High School Diploma Completion Programs (EDAAABAB)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Continuing education courses
• Corporate training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Puebla

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Tuition fees for undergraduate (licenciatura), graduate (maestrías, doctorados), and preparatory programs. Pricing varies by program level with scholarships covering up to 80-100% of costs.
2. Continuing Education Programs: Revenue from diploma programs, courses, certifications, workshops, seminars, and corporate training (In Company programs). Example: 80-hour programs at $12,200 MXN total.
3. Educational Financing Partnerships: Partnerships with Laudex, FIDERH, and Estudia más for student financing, providing installment payment options for tuition.
4. Consulting and Enterprise Services: Strategic consulting services and high-tech service center (CESAT) for business partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UPAEP is a private Catholic university offering multi-tiered educational programs including preparatory (Prepas), undergraduate (Licenciaturas), master's (Maestrías), and doctoral (Doctorados) degrees across disciplines such as engineering, business, health sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts. It also delivers continuing education (diplomas, certifications, micro-courses), customized corporate training (In Company), and operates specialized services like research centers, a learning resource center (CRAI), career services, university press, and student housing across its Puebla and Tehuacán campuses.

Product overview

Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) is a comprehensive private university offering a multi-tiered educational platform. The core offerings include undergraduate programs (Licenciaturas), graduate programs (Maestrías and Doctorados), and preparatory education (Prepas), supported by specialized divisions for research, continuing education, and publishing. The institution operates a modern library system (CRAI) with digital resources, maintains clinical facilities including a health center, dental clinic, and veterinary hospital, and provides student services such as housing, career placement, international exchange, and cultural programs. The university's continuing education division offers professional certifications, micro-courses (Learn Plus), and corporate training (In Company). Research activities are coordinated through dedicated centers focused on human development, life sciences, competitiveness, and technology innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colegios UPAEP: K-12 educational institutions operating under the UPAEP umbrella, including primary and secondary education.
• Colegios Altum
• Vuela UPAEP
• UPRESS
• U Radio
• CRAI
• Educación Continua
• Learn Plus
• Changemaker Campus

Products and services

• Licenciaturas (Undergraduate Programs)
• Maestrías (Master's Programs)
• Doctorados (Doctoral Programs)
• Prepas (Preparatory Programs)
• Educación Continua (Continuing Education)
• Learn Plus
• Certificaciones (Certifications)
• In Company (Corporate Training)
• Consultoría Estratégica y Servicios Empresariales
• Editorial UPAEP (University Press)
• Centro de Servicios de Alta Tecnología (CESAT)

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and minor.

• Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Technical university partner in Olinia Uno electric vehicle development consortium led by Secihti. Contributing engineering expertise to Mexico's first accessible electric vehicle for urban mobility, targeting 35,000 units annually.
• Tecnológico Nacional de México (TecNM)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Technical higher education consortium partner in Olinia Uno electric vehicle project. Part of government-backed initiative for developing Mexico's first accessible electric vehicle.
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Mexico's largest public university partner in Olinia Uno electric vehicle development. Contributing research and development capabilities to the accessible electric mobility initiative.
• Secretaría de Educación, Cultura, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Secihti)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Government-backed initiative leading the Olinia Uno electric vehicle project. Coordinating consortium of Mexican universities including UPAEP to develop and manufacture first Mexican electric vehicle.
• University of Notre DamecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Academic partner in Proyecto ABRAZO pediatric oncology clinical trial. Collaborating on evaluation of digital CBT platform for pain management, emotional regulation, and resilience in children undergoing cancer treatment. Trial enrolls 150 patients and caregivers in Puebla.
• Harper Cancer Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Clinical research partner for Proyecto ABRAZO pediatric oncology study. Contributing to generate clinical evidence on digital therapeutic approaches for pediatric oncology pain and mental health care.
• Una Nueva EsperanzacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Clinical partner in Puebla for Proyecto ABRAZO pediatric oncology clinical trial. Supports enrollment and care coordination for pediatric patients and caregivers participating in digital therapeutic intervention study.
• QS Stars Rating SystemcoreOthersInternational university evaluation and ranking system that assessed and recognized UPAEP with 4 stars (reaffirmed in 2024 with 5 stars in 6 of 8 criteria).
• WASC Senior College and University CommissioncoreOthersWestern Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation body that determined UPAEP eligible to proceed with formal accreditation candidacy process.
• Ashoka (Changemaker Campus)coreOthersGlobal partnership supporting social innovation in higher education. Designation recognizes UPAEP's commitment to innovation and collaborative approaches for positive societal change.
• FEMSAC (Federación de entidades educativas superiores privadas)majorOthersFederation of private higher education institutions supporting mobility, exchange programs, and doctoral research through Beca Movilidad-FEMSAC and Beca UPAEP-FEMSAC programs.
• RECLA (Red de Educación Continua de América Latina)minorOthersLatin American continuing education network of which UPAEP is a member, supporting professional development and lifelong learning initiatives.
• AMECYD (Asociación Mexicana de Educación Continua y a Distancia)minorOthersMexican association for continuing and distance education supporting quality standards in professional development programs offered by UPAEP.
• International Exchange Partner UniversitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 350 university partnerships across 55 countries enabling student exchanges, dual degrees, international internships, and global mobility programs for UPAEP students.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM): Mexico's largest and most prestigious private university with multi-city campuses, strong QS rankings, and extensive international programs. Direct competitor for top-tier Mexican private undergraduate and graduate students, with significantly greater scale and brand.
• ITAM: Elite private Mexican university focused on social sciences, business, and law. Competes for top-tier graduate and undergraduate talent and is a benchmark for QS-style rankings within Mexico.
• Boston College: US Jesuit Catholic university with WSCUC (WASC) accreditation, strong internationalization, and continuing education division. Useful benchmark for UPAEP's WASC candidacy trajectory and Catholic-private-university operating model.
• UNAM: Mexico's largest public university and top-ranked institution. Partner in the Olinia Uno EV consortium and a benchmark for national prestige, research output, and graduate program scale (relevant given UPAEP's SNP integration).

Direct peers

• Universidad Anáhuac: Private Mexican Catholic university with multi-campus presence, strong internationalization focus, and similar mission-driven identity. Closest Catholic private competitor in Mexico with overlapping student demographics and continuing education programs.
• Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO): Jesuit private university in Mexico City with comparable Christian-humanist mission, social-impact orientation, and continuing education division. Strong direct peer for faith-based private higher education positioning in Mexico.
• Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP): Private university located in Puebla with strong international programs and US-style curriculum. Most direct geographic competitor for students and faculty in the Puebla private higher education market.
• Universidad La Salle: Catholic Lasallian university network with multiple campuses across Mexico. Comparable in mission (Christian education), continuing education offerings, and scholarship programs to UPAEP.
• Universidad Panamericana (UP): Catholic private university with campuses in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Aguascalientes. Competes for similar high-achieving undergraduate and graduate segments with strong international exchange programs.

Regional players

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC): Catholic Latin American research university with QS top-100 global ranking and similar social-impact mission. Regional peer for benchmarking Catholic-private-university strategy and Latin American higher education positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UPAEP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/UPAEP
• Facebookfacebook.com/UPAEP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/upaep
• Instagraminstagram.com/upaepoficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla