Universidad Santo Tomás

What Universidad Santo Tomás does

Universidad Santo Tomás is a Chilean private multi-institutional educational group operating Universidad Santo Tomás (UST), Instituto Profesional Santo Tomás (IPST), and Centro de Formación Técnica Santo Tomás (CFT) under the holding entity Instituciones Educacionales Santo Tomás (IEST). It serves more than 69,000 students across 21 physical campuses spanning Chile from Arica to Punta Arenas plus an Online campus, with a deliberately social-inclusion student profile (73% first-generation in higher education, 90% from public or subsidized schools, 75% financed through the government gratuidad program). Its product portfolio spans undergraduate and graduate university degrees, technical and professional careers, continuing education, postgraduate studies, and an overarching student experience framework called Experiencia Tomasina.

The core technology layer is Aulas Virtuales, a Moodle-based virtual learning environment with Microsoft integration that supports the PES (semi-presential), Formato Flexclass (flexible afternoon in-person), and Cursos Online modalities; this platform is complemented by ancillary systems such as the Centro de Aprendizaje academic support unit, the Mercado E entrepreneurship program, and the Red Aulas Globales international COIL network. The group's research and innovation footprint expanded materially in 2025–2026, with over 630 scientific publications (a 50%+ year-over-year increase), 9 Fondecyt de Iniciación projects awarded in 2026, and integration of the Ruta Formativa de Innovación y Emprendimiento into more than half of its careers.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition streams — both self-paid and via the government gratuidad program that covers three-quarters of students — supplemented by grants, scholarships, postgraduate tuition, continuing education fees, and competitive research and community-engagement funds (Fondos Concursables VcM). Distribution runs through a centralized admission portal (tupuedes.cl), on-campus open houses and career fairs, and outreach targeted at first-generation students from public schools, with the Experiencia Tomasina program functioning as both a retention mechanism and a brand differentiator. The group operates autonomously under a national board of directors with separate rectors for the UST and IP-CFT divisions.

Name

Universidad Santo Tomás

Legal name

Instituciones Educacionales Santo Tomás

Website

https://santotomas.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Universidad Santo Tomás is a Chilean private multi-institution educational group operating a university, professional institute, and technical training center serving over 69,000 students across 21 campuses and an online campus nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Junior Colleges (6112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Technical vocational training
• Online learning platforms
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Government Subsidies: Tuition-based revenue from students, with significant government funding through the gratuidad (free education) program for eligible students. Three-quarters of students finance their education through government grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universidad Santo Tomás operates a multi-institutional educational ecosystem comprising three divisions: Universidad Santo Tomás (UST) for university-level degrees, Instituto Profesional Santo Tomás (IPST) for professional/technical degrees, and Centro de Formación Técnica Santo Tomás (CFT) for technical-level training. The group delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, continuing education, and international exchange programs across 21 physical campuses and one online campus throughout Chile.

Product overview

Universidad Santo Tomás operates as an integrated educational ecosystem comprising three main institutions: Universidad Santo Tomás (UST), Instituto Profesional Santo Tomás, and Centro de Formación Técnica Santo Tomás. The core educational technology platform is Aulas Virtuales (Virtual Classrooms), a learning management system integrated with Microsoft technology. The institutions offer complementary programs including Carreras PES (semi-presential), Formato Flexclass (afternoon format), and Cursos Online, all supported through the Aulas Virtuales platform. Experiencia Tomasina serves as the overarching student experience framework, while specialized programs include Postgrados UST (graduate studies), Experiencia Internacional (exchange programs), and the Ruta Formativa de Innovación y Emprendimiento (innovation pathway). Community engagement is supported through Fondos Concursables VcM, while student development is enhanced via Centro de Aprendizaje and Mercado E entrepreneurship program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Experiencia Tomasina: A comprehensive student support and service pathway program that accompanies students throughout their academic journey with excellence and integral formation
• Aulas Virtuales
• Formato Flexclass
• Mercado E
• Ruta Formativa de Innovación y Emprendimiento
• Instituto Confucio
• Fondecyt
• Fondos Concursables VcM
• Trabajos Voluntarios
• Premio Sello
• Mechoneo Solidario
• Ceremonia de Investidura
• Canal Único de Denuncias
• Modelo de Prevención de Delitos

Products and services

• Universidad Santo Tomás (UST) The university institution of the Santo Tomás group, offering undergraduate, graduate, and research degree programs across faculties including Health, Engineering, Social Sciences, Business, Law, and Education. Targets students seeking full university degrees with national coverage across Chile.
• Instituto Profesional Santo Tomás (IPST) Professional institute division providing technical and professional career programs for students seeking shorter, employment-focused credentials. Part of the multi-institutional Santo Tomás group and currently in its seventh CNA accreditation cycle.
• Centro de Formación Técnica Santo Tomás (CFT) Technical training center offering technical-level career programs for students seeking quick entry to the workforce with practical skills. Received a 6-year accreditation of excellence from Chile's National Accreditation Commission (CNA) in 2025.
• Postgrados UST Graduate program portfolio offering doctoral degrees, master's degrees, postgraduate titles, and diplomas aimed at working professionals seeking advanced specialization and career advancement.
• Carreras PES (Programa de Educación Semipresencial) Semi-presential career programs that blend in-person instruction with virtual learning support, giving students flexible options to complete professional degrees via the Aulas Virtuales platform.
• Formato Flexclass Afternoon in-person program format with flexible classroom scheduling, targeted at students who need to balance studies with work or other daytime obligations.
• Cursos Online (Continuing Education) Online continuing education courses delivered through the Direction of Training and Identity, supporting personal development and professional upskilling for adult learners and external participants.
• Educación Continua / Capacitación Continuing education and corporate training programs targeted at working professionals and organizations seeking skills updating, certifications, and professional development.
• Experiencia Internacional (International Exchange Programs) International student mobility and exchange programs enabling cross-border academic experiences through partnerships with universities in Latin America (Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador) and China.
• Instituto Confucio (Chinese Language Program) Confucius Institute partnership program offering Chinese language instruction and cultural education, including summer camps in China through Anhui University partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of new students are first-generation in higher education, demonstrating social mobility impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tecnológico de Costa RicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Facultad de Ingeniería UST signed a cooperation agreement with Tecnológico de Costa Rica for academic exchange and joint development programs.
• Aulas Globales Network (Latin America)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UST participates as the only Chilean university in this Latin American network coordinating COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methodology across 9 universities from Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile. UST leads validation of learning instruments for COIL programs with over 100 regional faculty participating.
• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Dra. Carolina Gutstein collaborated with Smithsonian Institution on paleontological research, particularly regarding marine mammal studies at Cerro Ballena and Patagonia sites.
• Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT) de ArgentinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborative research partnership with CENPAT on marine mammal paleontology, coordinated through the Paleontological Network at Universidad de Chile.
• Anhui UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International exchange partnership for student mobility and cultural programs including summer camps in China.
• Delegación Presidencial Provincial CordilleraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Santo Tomás Puente Alto strengthens institutional relationships with government delegation for collaborative community projects and territorial development initiatives.
• JUNJIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Junta Nacional de Jardines Infantiles for the Creciendo Juntos program, supporting early childhood education through UST Faculty of Social Sciences.
• Universidad Feevale (Brasil)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International exchange partnership for Preparador Físico students enabling internships and academic experiences in Brazil.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: Chile's largest and most prestigious private university with broad research portfolio. Overlaps with UST in graduate programs and continuing education, though serves a higher-income student base.

Direct peers

• Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Chilean technical university with strong engineering and applied sciences focus and significant research output (Fondecyt programs). Comparable in technical higher education and research orientation.
• Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA): Private Chilean university with multi-campus operations, part of Laureate network historically. Comparable in private higher education scale and program breadth.
• Universidad Mayor: Private Chilean university with national campus footprint offering professional and graduate programs. Competes for similar mid-tier professional student demographic.
• Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD): Chilean private university with strong research profile and multi-campus presence. Comparable in private university positioning with growing research output.
• INACAP: Chilean technical and professional training institution with nationwide campus network serving a similar social-mobility-focused student base. Closest comparable in multi-tier technical/professional education at scale.
• Duoc UC: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's professional institute arm offering technical and professional careers nationwide. Comparable in vocational training focus and multi-campus delivery across Chile.
• Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB): One of Chile's largest private universities, originally part of Laureate International Universities. Comparable in private university scale, multi-campus model, and broad professional program portfolio.
• Universidad Autónoma de Chile: Private Chilean university with multiple campuses serving similar student demographics and offering comparable professional programs across Chile.
• AIEP: Large Chilean technical training institution with broad national presence serving similar working-class and first-generation student segments. Direct competitor in CFT-level programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SantoTomas_ST
• Facebookfacebook.com/SantoTomasST
• Instagraminstagram.com/santotomas_st
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universidad-santo-tom-s

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Santo Tomás