Universidad CES

What Universidad CES does

Universidad CES is a private, autonomous, non-profit higher education institution founded in 1977 and headquartered in Medellín, Colombia. It operates from a main campus in El Poblado with additional locations in Sabaneta, Apartadó, and Envigado, and is governed by a Superior Council under the supervision of the Colombian Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Supersalud. The university delivers a full academic stack from technical labor programs through doctoral degrees, with a strategic concentration in health sciences evidenced by a top-10 QS Medicine subject ranking and a #1 THE Impact Ranking position in Colombia in 2025.

The institution functions as an integrated platform that combines education, applied research, and commercial service delivery. It operates 25+ specialized service centers spanning the IPS Universidad CES ambulatory clinics, the Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical (ICMT), Centro de Veterinaria y Zootecnia, and a portfolio of knowledge-based units including CESNUTRAL, CESMIDE, CID CES, the Observatorio Colombiano de Cannabis Medicinal, and the Centro de Entrenamiento en Competencias (CEC) simulation center. Proprietary technology assets include the HCS (Health Community Software) clinical history platform, co-developed with Ekisa since 2017, the Hola Dr. 24/7 telemedicine mobile application, and the Mesh medical-shapes product line, alongside laboratory infrastructure such as DEXA body composition systems and a biomechanics motion-capture laboratory.

Revenue is generated across six primary streams: tuition and academic fees (undergraduate, graduate, technical, and continuing education), clinical services through IPS Universidad CES and partner insurers, research and consulting for external organizations, specialized laboratory services, knowledge-based unit services, and continuing-education programs. Distribution is regional, with all physical sites located in Antioquia, supplemented by international exchange agreements with partner universities including the University of Texas. Customer concentration is diversified across thousands of students, hundreds of allied organizations, multiple insurance providers, and government partners.

Name

Universidad CES

Legal name

Universidad CES

Website

https://ces.edu.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Universidad CES is a private non-profit university in Medellín, Colombia, founded in 1977, offering technical through doctoral programs with a health-sciences focus, operating 25+ specialized service centers including ambulatory clinics, a tropical medicine institute, and knowledge-based units serving students, patients, and organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Medicine Universities (EDAHAGAG), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Health sciences
• Medical training
• Continuing education
• Healthcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Medellín

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and academic fees: Revenue from undergraduate programs (carreras profesionales), technologies, graduate programs including specializations, master's, and doctoral degrees
2. Continuing education: Courses, diplomas, and events for professional development
3. Healthcare services: Clinical services through IPS Universidad CES, Centro de Veterinaria y Zootecnia, dermatology, psychology, physiotherapy, and other medical specialties
4. Research and consulting: Advisory and consulting services for organizations in health, education, sustainability, organizational management, data science, and biodiversity
5. Specialized laboratory services: Toxicology testing, sensory analysis, body composition analysis, and other diagnostic services
6. Knowledge-based business units: Revenue from specialized centers including CESNUTRAL, CESMIDE, CID CES, OCCM observatory, and other knowledge-based services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Universidad CES is a private non-profit university located in Medellín, Colombia, that delivers higher education programs (undergraduate, graduate, specializations, master's and doctoral degrees) with a strong emphasis on health sciences. It also operates healthcare delivery through IPS Universidad CES, telemedicine via Hola Dr., veterinary services, continuing education, research services, and proprietary health software (HCS).

Product overview

Universidad CES operates as a comprehensive educational institution offering a diverse portfolio of academic programs and knowledge-based service units. The institution's product ecosystem spans scientific publishing through Revistas Científicas CES, healthcare technology solutions including HCS clinical software and the Hola Dr. telemedicine platform, specialized research centers (ICMT, CESNUTRAL, CID CES, CESMIDE), and direct healthcare services through its IPS clinics and laboratories. The university functions as a platform of interconnected services where academic programs feed into research and service units, which in turn generate knowledge products (publications, software, consulting) that benefit students, professionals, and the broader community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs (Pregrados)

Quantifiable outcome

• THE Impact Ranking 2025: 1st in Colombia, 1st in SDG 2, SDG 15, SDG 17
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EkisacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2017Health Community Software (HCS) was created through a partnership between Universidad CES and Ekisa in May 2017. This alliance commercializes software products focused on digital clinical history and health information systems, including modules for dentistry, dermatology, psychology, and general medicine.
• PricewaterhouseCooperscoreOthersAppointed as Revisoría Fiscal (external audit) for the institution for period 2023-2026, exercising integral vigilance over financial, accounting, and administrative management.
• CROWE CO S.A.S.coreOthersAppointed as Control Interno (Internal Control) responsible for the IPS, promoting autocontrol, self-regulation, and self-management across all organizational levels.
• United Nations Academic ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES is a member of UN Academic Impact, an initiative aligned with UN commitments in education, sharing a culture of intellectual social responsibility.
• United Nations Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES supports the Global Compact principles, committing to sustainable and responsible business practices.
• UI GreenMetriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES participates in UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, measuring and comparing environmental sustainability strategies.
• GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES uses GRI standards for sustainability reporting, empowering sustainable decisions.
• PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES is a member of PRME, committed to responsible management education principles.
• URSULA (Unión de Responsabilidad Social Universitaria Latinoamericana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES participates in URSULA network promoting university social responsibility in Latin America.
• ORSU (Observatorio de Responsabilidad Social Universitaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES participates in ORSU, University Social Responsibility Observatory.
• Magna Charta UniversitatumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad CES has signed the Magna Charta Universitatum, fundamental principles of university autonomy and academic freedom.
• Universidad de TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic exchange partnership where CES students, including the 300th student in the Medicine program, have traveled for clinical training at the University of Texas.
• Becas Jóvenes Pa'Lante (Gobernación de Antioquia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship program by the Antioquia government offering 100% tuition coverage for technical and mid-technical education for residents of the department of Antioquia.
• International exchange partner universitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversidad CES has international exchange agreements with universities worldwide, including double-degree programs, academic missions, and student/faculty exchange.
• EPS and insurance providerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIPS Universidad CES has agreements with major healthcare providers including EPS Sura, Poliza Sura, Comfama-Sura, Coomeva, Medplus, Allianz, and EPM for service provision.

Scale indicators26 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universidad Externado de Colombia: Bogotá-based private university emphasizing social sciences, law, health, and economics with strong graduate programs. Comparable as a Colombian private institution with selective admissions and high-quality accreditation.
• Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana: Medellín-based private Catholic university with broad academic programs including medicine and engineering. Comparable geographically and structurally as another major Antioquia private non-profit higher education institution.
• Universidad del Norte: Barranquilla-based private research university with prominent health sciences programs and hospital affiliations. Comparable as a Colombian private university combining medical education, clinical services, and research output.
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: Major Colombian private Jesuit university with comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and health sciences programs including university hospitals. Comparable in scale, accreditation, and the combination of education plus clinical services.
• Universidad de los Andes: Leading Colombian private research university in Bogotá offering multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs. Closely comparable to Universidad CES as a top-ranked private non-profit university with strong international research output and selective admissions.
• Universidad del Rosario: Bogotá-based private university with strong health sciences and law programs and a focus on research and graduate education. Comparable in scale, private non-profit structure, and emphasis on high-quality accredited programs.
• Universidad EAFIT: Medellín-based private university known for business, engineering, and applied research with growing health sciences. Closely comparable as a Medellín peer institution with similar non-profit governance and strong consulting/industry engagement.

Regional players

• Universidad de Antioquia: Major public Colombian university headquartered in Medellín with strong medical and health sciences programs. Comparable as a regional competitor in Antioquia for medical students, faculty, and research funding, though operating under a public rather than private model.

Others

• CES University (UK): UK-based private health-focused higher education provider; included as a same-name thematic adjacency in the health professional education space, not a direct geographic competitor but a brand-adjacent comparator for health professional training.

Broad incumbents

• Tecnológico de Monterrey: Large private Mexican university with extensive health sciences programs, applied research, and commercial spinouts (e.g., TecSalud). Comparable as a Latin American private research university pursuing knowledge-transfer ventures and clinical service integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/universidadces
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UniversidadCES
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnivCES
• LinkedInco.linkedin.com/school/universidad-ces
• Instagraminstagram.com/universidadces

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universidad CES