Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB)

What Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB) does

Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (UPB) is a private, non-profit Catholic university founded in 1936 and headquartered in Medellín, Colombia, operating under the pastoral guidance of the Archdiocese of Medellín. The institution delivers higher education across a multicampus footprint spanning Medellín (headquarters), Bucaramanga, Montería, and Palmira, supported by a Bogotá satellite office and a digital extension through UPB Virtual. UPB's academic portfolio covers the full educational ladder: 72 undergraduate programs, 185 graduate programs (including 73 master's, 108 specializations, 28 medical-surgical specializations, and 12 doctorates), 22 technical/technological programs, 39 virtual programs, 13 language programs, and over 1,000 continuing education courses, plus a K-12 colegio with 2 campuses. The university also operates a teaching hospital, Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana, delivering maternal-child, surgical, and emergency services.

UPB's technology stack centers on the SIGAA academic management system, the UPB Virtual distance-learning platform, and two proprietary mobile applications: UPB Digital (digital ID, QR access, payments, emergency hotline) and AsistIAM (clinical decision-support for Acute Coronary Syndrome management, co-developed with Clínica Las Américas Auna). Underlying research capacity includes 69 active research groups, 292 laboratories, and 4,687 research products. The institution's business model is fundamentally tuition-driven across semester-based academic programs, supplemented by healthcare service revenue at the university clinic, donations and philanthropy through Fundación UPB, and modest fees from social projection services (legal clinics, conciliation centers, psychological services, and enterprise development support). Multi-channel engagement combines physical campuses, integrated advisory services (phone, WhatsApp, email), owned media (Radio UPB, Televisión UPB, Radio Bolivariana, Editorial UPB), and digital platforms, targeting mass-market student recruitment across Colombia rather than enterprise sales.

Name

Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB)

Legal name

Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana

Website

https://upb.edu.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAEAA

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAJAFAM

Career Readiness & College Prep (In-School)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment (School-Delivered)

SECONDARYEDAIAJAA

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

SECONDARYEDAJALAE

College & Career Counseling (Admissions, Scholarships, Pathways)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Educational Support Services (Tutoring & Counseling)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Virtual online learning
• Continuing professional education
• University healthcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Medellín

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Tuition revenue from undergraduate, graduate, technical, virtual, and continuing education programs. Semester-based tuition payments from students across all campuses and modalities.
2. Healthcare Services Revenue: Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana generates revenue through healthcare services including maternal-child care, general surgeries, emergency services, and specialized medical procedures
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Donations from benefactors, alumni, and corporations supporting scholarships, healthcare, and social programs. Tax benefits available under Colombian law for donors.
4. Social Projection Services: Free and low-cost services including psychological care, legal consultation, conciliation centers, and enterprise development support generating nominal fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UPB delivers higher education and associated services across 72 undergraduate, 185 graduate, 22 technical, 39 virtual, and over 1,000 continuing education programs, plus K-12 schooling at UPB Colegio and 13 language programs. The university supplements education with healthcare through Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana, legal consultation via Consultorios Jurídicos and Centros de Conciliación, psychological services, entrepreneurship support through Centro de Desarrollo Empresarial, and philanthropic activities via Fundación UPB, all delivered across four Colombian campuses and an online modality.

Product overview

Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB) is a private Catholic university in Colombia with a multi-campus presence in Medellín, Bucaramanga, Montería, and Palmira. The institution operates a diverse portfolio of educational services and community programs, including traditional on-campus degree programs (72 undergraduate, 185 graduate, 22 technical programs), virtual education through UPB Virtual (39 programs), and UPB Academy for continuing education. Beyond academics, UPB offers specialized service units: UPB Digital and AsistIAM mobile applications; Clínical Universitaria Bolivariana for healthcare; legal consultation and mediation services; Centro de Desarrollo Empresarial for entrepreneurship; psychological services; radio and television media outlets; editorial publishing; and the Marie Poussepin Social Center. The institution also maintains research laboratories, a library system, and the UPB Foundation for philanthropy and social outreach. With 90 years of history, UPB holds institutional accreditation in high quality for its multi-campus operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UPB Virtual: Virtual programs and distance learning platform offering online undergraduate and graduate programs
• UPB Tec
• UPB Academy
• UPB Digital
• AsistIAM
• Fundación UPB
• Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana

Products and services

• UPB Tec (Technical and Technological Programs) 22 technical and technological programs available across UPB campuses, with annual tuition pricing and varying rates by program. Designed for students seeking shorter, technically oriented post-secondary credentials.
• Undergraduate Programs (Pregrado) 72 undergraduate degree programs offered across UPB campuses, with per-semester tuition (e.g., from $6,256,000 COP for Derecho Bucaramanga 2026) and per-credit pricing from $391,000 COP. Targets prospective university students pursuing bachelor's-level degrees.
• Graduate Programs (Posgrado) 185 postgraduate programs spanning 73 master's, 108 specializations, 28 medical-surgical specializations, and 12 doctorates, with annual subscription billing. Example: master's program at $15,112,600 COP first semester (52 credits). Targets working professionals and graduate-level researchers.
• UPB Virtual (Online Programs) 39 fully online academic programs delivered through UPB Virtual, accessible nationally and internationally, with semester-based online tuition. Targets remote learners and working professionals needing flexible modality.
• UPB Academy (Continuing Education) Over 1,000 continuing education programs for workforce training and skill development, priced per program on a pay-as-you-go basis. Targets working professionals seeking short-format upskilling and certification.
• Centro de Lenguas (Language Programs) 13 language programs delivered at UPB's Centro de Lenguas with annual subscription billing, supporting language acquisition for students and external learners.
• UPB Colegio (K-12 Education) Primary and secondary K-12 schooling offered at UPB Colegio across two campuses, with focus on holistic development and college preparation for younger students.
• UPB Digital App Mobile application for campus access control via digital ID card with random QR codes, payment services for parking, certificates, library fines and sports facilities, plus emergency hotline, social media access, and news. For UPB students and visitors.
• AsistIAM App Medical decision-support mobile app for diagnosis and initial management of Acute Coronary Syndromes (SCA). Provides ECG patterns, diagnostic algorithms, reperfusion strategies, risk stratification, and real-time geolocation of PCI-capable centers. Co-developed with Clínica Las Américas Auna and distributed via App Store and Google Play for emergency healthcare professionals.
• Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana University-affiliated hospital with ICONTEC health accreditation, providing maternal-child care, general and gynecological surgeries, and emergency services. Delivers approximately 6,500 annual births (50% high complexity), 4,185 general surgeries, 6,323 gynecological surgeries, 16,400 general emergencies, and 21,500 gynecological emergencies per year.
• Consultorios Jurídicos Free legal consultation services delivered by UPB law students under professional supervision across multiple campus locations, supporting community legal aid and supervised legal practice.
• Centros de Conciliación Alternative dispute resolution centers offering free mediation services for civil, commercial, family, and criminal matters. Centro de Conciliación Bucaramanga holds NTC 5906-2012 quality certification (CS-CER28381) from ICONTEC.
• Centros de Atención Psicológica Psychological services delivered across Medellín, Montería, and Palmira campuses, providing clinical mental health care, promotion and prevention programs, and supervised student practice opportunities.
• Centro de Desarrollo Empresarial (CDE) Business development center offering incubation, acceleration, training, and consulting services for entrepreneurs and startups as part of UPB's entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Instituto de Familia y Vida Family and life institute providing psychological and social support services at UPB's Bucaramanga and Palmira locations.
• Centro Social Marie Poussepin Social center in Montería providing training, services, and integral support to vulnerable populations, including computer literacy programs and broader social welfare initiatives.
• Fundación UPB University foundation managing philanthropic programs, donations, scholarships, and social responsibility initiatives, with tax benefits available under Colombian law for donors.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trust for the Americas - OEA - Microsoft ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for POETA program (Mi Llave and YOUTHSPARK) providing digital literacy education and computer skills training to vulnerable populations and persons in reintegration process.
• Alcaldía de Medellín (Red Buen Comienzo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner17 universities participating in the inter-university network promoting reflection and academic work around early childhood, with open chairs and research on first childhood topics.
• Clínica Las Américas AunacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of AsistIAM mobile application for acute coronary syndrome diagnosis and management. Joint intellectual property ownership between UPB and Clínica Las Américas Auna.
• Observatorio de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (ORSU)minorOthersGroup of Colombian higher education institutions working to generate reflection spaces for strengthening university social responsibility and contributing to sustainable human development.
• Alianza Internacional Universitaria por la Paz (ALIUP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational alliance promoting peace as a universal value, project development, experience dissemination, and creation of networks of institutions, professionals and students promoting peace culture and human rights.
• ICETEXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernmental educational credit entity providing financing options for students to access UPB academic programs.
• UniversiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic network platform providing visibility and recruitment channels for UPB programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Universidad del Valle: Major public university headquartered in Cali with regional influence across Valle del Cauca — directly overlapping with UPB's Palmira campus geography. Comparable as a regional incumbent competing for the same Valle del Cauca student pool.
• Universidad del Norte: Private university in Barranquilla with comprehensive programs and growing research output. Comparable to UPB as a regional private peer but operating primarily in the Caribbean coast rather than Antioquia/Santander.

Direct peers

• Universidad de los Andes: Colombia's leading private research university based in Bogotá, offering comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Directly comparable to UPB as a private, high-cost Colombian university competing for similar student profiles and employer recognition.
• Universidad EAFIT: Private Medellín-based university with strong business, engineering, and humanities programs plus significant continuing education operations. Comparable to UPB as a peer private institution in the same Medellín market with overlapping program mix.
• Universidad del Rosario: Bogotá-based private university with a focus on health sciences, law, and social sciences; operates a university clinic. Comparable to UPB in private status, Catholic heritage, and integrated healthcare-academic model.
• Universidad Sergio Arboleda: Bogotá-based private university offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Comparable to UPB as a mid-sized private Colombian university with similar tuition-driven business model.
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: Bogotá-based Pontifical Catholic university with multi-campus presence and broad academic portfolio including health sciences. Closest comparable to UPB by virtue of shared Pontifical Catholic identity, private non-profit status, and full-spectrum degree offerings.
• Universidad de La Sabana: Private university near Bogotá with broad undergraduate and graduate portfolio including health sciences and a university clinic. Comparable to UPB as a private Colombian university emphasizing comprehensive education and clinical training.

Broad incumbents

• Universidad de Antioquia: Largest public university in Antioquia, sharing the Medellín market with UPB and operating a major hospital (Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación). Comparable as a broader incumbent competitor with overlapping program and clinical footprint.
• Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Colombia's largest public university with multi-campus presence and dominant research output. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in Colombian higher education, though public funding and lower tuition differentiate its business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/upbcolombia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ComunicacionesUPB
• Facebookfacebook.com/upbcolombia
• Instagraminstagram.com/upbcolombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universidad-pontificia-bolivariana

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Pontifical Bolivarian University (UPB)