Universidad Politécnica Salesiana

What Universidad Politécnica Salesiana does

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) is a private Ecuadorian institution of higher education founded on August 5, 1994, through the Ecuadorian Law of Creation, operating under the educational mission of the Salesian Congregation of Don Bosco, which arrived in Ecuador in 1888. The university serves approximately 13,000+ students through three physical campuses in Cuenca (headquarters), Quito, and Guayaquil — Ecuador's three largest cities — plus a Cayambe extension and a fully online modality managed by UNADEDVI (Unidad Académica de Educación a Distancia y Virtual). The academic portfolio comprises 45 undergraduate degree programs, 34 master's programs, 2 doctoral programs (Computational Sciences and Education), and 5 higher technology programs (Tecnologías Superiores), delivered across presencial, hybrid, and online modalities.

The university's core technology infrastructure consists of standard educational platforms including the AVAC virtual learning system, a DSpace digital repository for academic publications, the Quipux document management and electronic signature system, a CAS single sign-on authentication platform, and an online enrollment portal (inscripcion.ups.edu.ec). UPS publishes six scientific journals indexed in Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports 2026 and operates the Editorial Abya Yala publishing house. Supporting services include welfare programs, pastoral care, student groups (Grupos ASU, FEUPS), continuing education, a language institute, and alumni services.

The business model is fundamentally tuition-driven, generating revenue through semester-based differentiated tuition (Pensión Diferenciada) structured via socioeconomic quintile assessment, with installment payment plans for national students and single-payment structures for international students. Secondary revenue streams include scientific publication sales and ancillary services. The university is privately owned by the Salesian Congregation, operates as a non-profit institution without external investors or public shareholders, and is governed by a Rector and Vice-Rectors across the three campuses. UPS ranks 2nd-3rd place in Ecuador in Times Higher Education rankings and holds a global bronze medal in the THE Online Learning Rankings 2024.

Name

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana

Legal name

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana

Website

https://ups.edu.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana is a private Ecuadorian university founded in 1994, serving ~13,000+ students across three campuses (Cuenca, Quito, Guayaquil) and online modalities through the Salesian educational tradition, offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and technology programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University degree programs
• Distance learning
• Catholic higher education
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cuenca

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees (Pensión Diferenciada): Semester-based tuition payments from students, structured in quintiles based on socioeconomic assessment to provide differentiated pricing. Includes matricula (registration fees) and colegiatura (tuition) with options for single payment or installment plans.
2. Scientific Publications and Editorial: Revenue from Editorial Abya Yala publishing house, scientific journals, and academic publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana is a private Ecuadorian university that delivers undergraduate (grado), graduate (maestrías), and doctoral (doctorados) degree programs across three physical campuses in Cuenca, Quito, and Guayaquil, as well as distance and online education via its UNADEDVI virtual modality. It also runs continuing education (educación continua) offerings to support professional development for graduates and working professionals.

Product overview

Universidad Politécnica Salesiana is a private Ecuadorian university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio through a platform-plus-modality structure. The core offerings include 45 undergraduate degree programs (Oferta de Grado), 34 Master's programs (Oferta de Maestrías), 2 doctoral programs (Oferta de Doctorados), and 5 technology programs (Tecnologías Superiores). Programs are delivered across three modalities: presencial (in-person at campuses in Cuenca, Quito, and Guayaquil), hybrid (blending online and in-person instruction), and fully online. Supporting the academic mission, the university operates administrative systems including an enrollment system (Sistema de Inscripciones), document management platform (Quipux), single sign-on authentication (CAS), and digital infrastructure including DSpace repository and Editorial Abya Yala publishing house.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs (Oferta de Grado) Undergraduate degree programs (Oferta de Grado) for prospective students who have completed secondary education in Ecuador, taught across the Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil campuses.
• Master's Degree Programs (Oferta de Maestrías) Master's degree (Oferta de Maestrías) programs for working professionals and recent graduates seeking advanced academic credentials, available across the three campuses and via distance learning.
• Doctoral Programs (Oferta de Doctorados) Doctoral programs (Oferta de Doctorados) for researchers, academics, and senior professionals pursuing the highest academic credential offered by the university.
• Distance and Online Education (Educación a Distancia / UNADEDVI) Online and distance-learning (Educación a Distancia) modality delivered through UNADEDVI (Universidad Abierta y a Distancia de la UPS), allowing learners throughout Ecuador to enroll in degree programs virtually.
• Continuing Education (Educación Continua) Continuing-education (Educación Continua) courses, certificates, and short programs aimed at professionals and graduates pursuing ongoing training and skill development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 scientific journals indexed in Journal Citation Reports 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Academic cooperation agreement for student and faculty exchange, joint research initiatives, and international collaboration between Ecuadorian and Mexican higher education institutions. Part of UPS's internationalization strategy.
• MerckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative specialized workshop in applied microbiology conducted jointly with Merck and Labomersa at the Guayaquil campus, demonstrating industry-academia partnerships.
• LabomersaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in specialized microbiology workshop with Merck at UPS Guayaquil, supporting practical training and industry connections.
• IUS (InstitutoFilename Edit inf.com)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partnership displayed on university website, indicating membership or collaboration within the IUS (Institutional) network.
• UniversiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partnership indicating membership in Universia network of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking universities.
• UNESCO CátedrascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO Chairs program integrating international academic standards and promoting research collaboration across designated thematic areas.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG): Catholic private university based in Guayaquil with a similar religious educational mission and multi-faculty structure. UCSG competes directly with UPS's Guayaquil campus for the same metropolitan student base.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE): Quito-headquartered private Catholic university with similar religious affiliation and a comparable multi-campus footprint. PUCE competes for the same Ecuadorian student pool with overlapping programs in engineering, education, and social sciences.
• Universidad del Pacífico (Ecuador): Smaller Ecuadorian private university offering business and engineering programs. While smaller in scale, it overlaps with UPS's undergraduate and graduate portfolio in similar disciplines.
• Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL): Ecuadorian private university with a comparable distance-learning modality (Universidad a Distancia) and similar differentiated pricing approach. UTPL is one of UPS's closest direct competitors in the Ecuadorian private higher-education market, particularly for online and hybrid programs.
• Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ): Top-ranked private Ecuadorian university with strong international orientation and polytechnic-style programs. USFQ competes directly with UPS for high-achieving students and faculty, particularly in Quito.
• Universidad de las Américas (UDLA): Private Ecuadorian university with campuses in Quito and other cities offering undergraduate and graduate programs across engineering, health, and business disciplines. UDLA is a direct competitor for the same Ecuadorian student demographic.
• Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL): Public polytechnic university in Guayaquil focused on engineering and sciences. ESPOL competes with UPS for polytechnic-oriented students in Guayaquil and serves as a benchmark for STEM program quality in Ecuador.

Regional players

• Universidad Estatal Amazónica: Public Ecuadorian university offering programs in environmental sciences, engineering, and related fields. Comparable in offering structure though operating in a different Ecuadorian region than UPS's core campuses.
• Universidad Técnica de Ambato: Public university in central Ecuador offering technical and polytechnic programs. Operates in a similar educational category and competes for students in central Ecuador, though outside UPS's three primary city markets.

Broad incumbents

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC Chile): Large, highly-ranked Latin American Catholic research university with a comprehensive academic portfolio. PUC Chile provides a benchmark for the long-term trajectory a Salesian/Catholic Ecuadorian institution could pursue through research investment and internationalization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/upsalesiana
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@upsalesianaec
• Facebookfacebook.com/UPSalesianaEc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/universidad-politecnica-salesiana
• Instagraminstagram.com/upsalesianaec
• TikToktiktok.com/@upsalesianaec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Politécnica Salesiana