UCSS

What UCSS does

Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae (UCSS) is a private Catholic university founded in 1998 and headquartered in Los Olivos, Lima, Peru. The institution operates a multi-campus network comprising its main Lima headquarters and five regional filiales (Atalaya/Nopoki, Tarma, Huaura/Santa María, Morropón/Chulucanas, and Rioja/Nueva Cajamarca), collectively spanning 191,513 square meters of total surface area and 133 classrooms. It delivers higher education across six faculties — Economics and Commercial Sciences, Education and Humanities, Health Sciences, Engineering, Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, and Law and Political Sciences — offering more than 20 undergraduate degree programs, graduate programs through its Escuela de Posgrado, and continuing education via sub-brands such as CEASE, CESED, and CIDIR.

The university's core technology stack centers on the Campus Virtual UCSS platform, which integrates a virtual learning environment (Aula Virtual with forums, chat, videoconferencing, and online assessments), an academic Intranet for grades, attendance, and syllabus tracking, an institutional Gmail-based email system, a virtual library (eLibro and Informe Académico/Gale), and the Bolsa de Trabajo job board. A mobile application (UCSS Móvil) extends these services to students on smartphones. Administrative functions are supported by a managed help desk (Mesa de Ayuda) and an open-access institutional repository preserving academic output.

UCSS generates revenue primarily through tuition from undergraduate and graduate programs across its six campuses, supplemented by professional development and consulting fees from continuing education units (CEASE, CESED Virtual, CIDIR), language center fees, and ancillary services such as its Maranke chocolate entrepreneurial initiative. Its go-to-market relies on a Centro Preuniversitario (preparatory program), admission exams, open-house events such as "¡A toda UCSS!", regional outreach through the filiales, and digital marketing through its CampUCSS blog and social media channels. Tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided on inquiry during the admission process. UCSS holds memberships in IFCU and ODUCAL, has longstanding cooperation with the Universidad de Insubria (Italy), and secured SINEACE accreditation for its Education programs in 2016.

Name

UCSS

Legal name

Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae

Website

https://ucss.edu.pe

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

UCSS is a private Peruvian Catholic university founded in 1998, operating six campuses across Peru with six faculties. It serves undergraduate, graduate, indigenous, and professional students through tuition-based degree programs, continuing education, and a virtual learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL), Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG), Tribal Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Bachelor’s–Granting) (EDAHANAB)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Continuing professional education
• Language learning programs
• Bilingual intercultural education

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Olivos

HQ country

Peru

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Revenue from undergraduate (pregrado) programs including tuition payments from students across Lima headquarters and 5 regional filial campuses.
2. Graduate Programs (Postgrado): Revenue from master's degrees and graduate programs offered through the Escuela de Posgrado.
3. Continuing Education (Formación Continua): Professional development courses, workshops, and certifications through CEASE, CESED VIRTUAL, and CIDIR programs targeting business professionals and entrepreneurs.
4. Language Center Services: Revenue from language courses and programs offered through the Centro de Idiomas.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UCSS (Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae) is a private Catholic university in Peru that delivers undergraduate degree programs across six faculties (Economic Sciences, Education & Humanities, Health Sciences, Engineering, Agrarian & Environmental Sciences, and Law & Political Sciences) and graduate master's programs through the Escuela de Posgrado. The university operates one main campus in Lima (Los Olivos) and five regional branch campuses across Peru, supplemented by continuing professional education (CEASE, CIDIR, CESED VIRTUAL), language programs (Centro de Idiomas), pre-university preparatory courses, and bilingual intercultural education for Amazonian indigenous communities at the Nopoki filial. Delivery is enabled by the Campus Virtual UCSS digital learning platform.

Product overview

Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae (UCSS) is a private Catholic university in Peru offering a portfolio of educational products and digital services. The core digital platform is the Campus Virtual UCSS, which encompasses the Aula Virtual (virtual learning environment for pregrado, postgrado, and continuing education with forums, chat, videoconferencing, and online assessments) and the Intranet (administrative system for grades, attendance, and syllabus tracking). This platform is complemented by the Mesa de Ayuda help desk. UCSS also offers mobile access via UCSS Móvil, media platforms including UCSS TV (YouTube), Podcast, and Webinar services, and the institutional news portal Revista CAMPUCSS. The university operates several branded sub-units: CEASE (Centro de Apoyo al Sector Empresarial) for business training and consulting; CIDIR for regional research and innovation; CESED VIRTUAL for online continuing education; and the Centro de Idiomas for language learning. Supporting resources include the Biblioteca Virtual (digital library with eLibro and Gale databases), the Repositorio Institucional Digital (open-access institutional repository), and the Bolsa de Trabajo (job board managed by OILSE). The Fondo Editorial UCSS publishes academic books and peer-reviewed journals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CEASE: Centro de Apoyo al Sector Empresarial - Business support and training services for entrepreneurs and SMEs
• NOPOKI
• Maranke
• Campus Virtual UCSS

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (Pregrado) University degree programs delivered across six faculties — Economic Sciences (FCEC), Education & Humanities (FCEH), Health Sciences (FCS), Engineering (FI), Agrarian & Environmental Sciences (FCAA), and Law & Political Sciences (FDCP) — to high school graduates pursuing professional careers. Programs include Administration, Accounting, Economics, Education (Initial, Primary, Secondary in English/Philosophy), Special Education, Nursing, Psychology, Medical Technology, Nutrition, Civil/Industrial/Systems/Environmental Engineering, Law, and Tourism & Cultural Heritage, among others.
• Graduate Programs (Postgrado) Master's degree programs and graduate-level academic offerings through the Escuela de Posgrado for working professionals and university graduates seeking advanced qualifications. Includes international cooperation for master's and doctoral programs in medical and health sciences with Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (Italy).
• Continuing Education (Formación Continua) — CEASE, CESED VIRTUAL, CIDIR Professional development courses, workshops, certifications, and consulting services targeting business professionals and entrepreneurs. CEASE offers business courses in accounting, finance, marketing, office software, and management plus accounting advisory services for SMEs; CESED VIRTUAL provides online continuing education; CIDIR focuses on regional innovation and development research.
• Language Programs (Centro de Idiomas UCSS) Language courses and learning programs offered through the Centro de Idiomas UCSS, providing foreign language instruction for students, faculty, and external community members.
• Bilingual Intercultural Education (NOPOKI Program) Bilingual intercultural higher education at the Nopoki filial in Atalaya (Ucayali) serving indigenous Amazonian communities including Ashaninka, Asheninka, Shipibo-Konibo, Yine, Amahuaca, and Matsigenka. Programs include Educación Intercultural Bilingüe (Educación Inicial y Primaria), Ingeniería Agraria con mención Forestal, Administración, and Contabilidad, preserving Amazonian languages and cultures while delivering professional qualifications in partnership with Fe y Alegría del Perú and the Ministerio de Cultura del Perú.
• Pre-University Preparatory Program (Centro Preuniversitario) Pre-university preparatory program (Centro Preuniversitario) providing intensive training to prospective students preparing for the UCSS admission examination. Functions as a feeder pipeline into UCSS undergraduate programs and operates at the Lima campus and regional filiales.

Quantifiable outcome

• First careers to achieve SINEACE accreditation in UCSS were Education programs in 2015-2016

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Visit to UCSS Tarma filial by Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance team (Jimmy Johnson, Brian Aucone, Luis Castillo Roque, Henry Tinoco Vega, William Micah Leslie Gifford) for wildlife conservation cooperation, environmental research, and biodiversity protection initiatives.
• Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (UniSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026International academic cooperation agreement for graduate programs, joint research, and mobility in health sciences. UCSS Rector Dr. Gian Battista Bolis and UniSR delegation (Dr. Andrea Salonia, Dr. Danilo De Gregorio) met to explore opportunities for master's and doctoral programs in medical and health sciences.
• Universidad Rutgers (USA)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Co-organized international congress on intercultural practices in language teaching with Universidad de Insubria. Nopoki faculty Juan López and Liz Chávez presented on indigenous language preservation and teaching.
• Asociación Fe y Alegría del PerúcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Inter-institutional cooperation agreement to expand access to higher education for Fe y Alegría students. Focus on bilingual intercultural teacher training in Amazon regions, particularly for the Atalaya Nopoki campus serving indigenous communities along the Ucayali River.
• Universidad de Insubria (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2005 for academic exchange, research collaboration, and international faculty programs. Dr. Paolo Musso serves as visiting professor and scientific coordinator. Joint projects include Magallanes Project for nursing student exchanges, Amazonian language research at Nopoki, and philosophy publications.
• Federación Internacional de Universidades Católicas (IFCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSS is a member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, connecting the institution with global Catholic higher education network for academic cooperation and institutional development.
• Organización de Universidades Católicas de América Latina y el Caribe (ODUCAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSS participates in ODUCAL, the regional association of Latin American and Caribbean Catholic universities, facilitating regional academic exchange and collaboration.
• Consorcio de Investigación Económica y Social (CIES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSS is a member of CIES, a consortium supporting economic and social research in Peru, contributing to national research initiatives and policy development.
• Ministerio de Cultura del PerúminorOthersCollaboration with government ministry for indigenous language documentation and cultural preservation in Amazon regions where UCSS Nopoki campus operates serving 21 indigenous peoples.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP): Larger and older Catholic university in Lima with broader research output and graduate programs. Directly comparable as a private Catholic university in Peru serving similar student segments across multiple faculties.
• Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC): Private Lima-based university emphasizing digital learning and innovation across professional programs. Comparable as a private Peruvian higher education competitor with strong tech-enabled delivery, targeting similar student demographics.
• Universidad César Vallejo (UCV): One of Peru's largest private universities with nationwide branch presence and a multi-faculty portfolio. Comparable as a private Peruvian multi-campus higher education operator targeting similar regional student segments.
• Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP): Large private Peruvian university with technology-oriented programs and growing nationwide presence. Comparable as a private multi-campus higher education competitor serving similar engineering and business students in regional cities.

Direct peers

• Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH): Private Lima university with strong health sciences and research focus and similar multi-campus reach. Comparable as a private Peruvian university competing for similar undergraduate and graduate students across professional faculties.
• Universidad de San Martín de Porres (USMP): Large private Lima university with multiple professional faculties and extensive student body. Comparable as a private multi-faculty Peruvian university serving similar undergraduate and continuing education segments.
• Universidad Ricardo Palma: Private Lima university offering engineering, health, law, and economics programs with similar faculty structure. Comparable as a private Peruvian university competing for the same undergraduate applicant pool in Lima.
• Universidad Continental: Private Peruvian university operating in multiple regions including central highlands. Comparable as a private multi-faculty university with regional filiales targeting similar undergraduate students outside Lima.

Others

• Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM): Public research university in Lima and Peru's oldest institution, serving as the benchmark for academic prestige. Related as a Peruvian higher education institution competing for top-tier students and faculty, but operates under a public/non-profit model.

Regional players

• Universidad Católica de Santa María (UCSM) - Arequipa: Private Catholic university based in southern Peru with similar institutional Catholic identity and faculty structure. Comparable as a Catholic university with multi-faculty structure, but its geographic focus is Arequipa rather than Lima or the regions UCSS serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ucss_pe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ucsslimanorte
• Facebookfacebook.com/UCSS.PE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universidad-catolica-sedes-sapientiae
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucss.pe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UCSS