Salesian Pontifical University

What Salesian Pontifical University does

The Salesian Pontifical University (Università Pontificia Salesiana / Pontificio Ateneo Salesiano) is a Catholic pontifical university in Rome, Italy, operating under Italian concordat law and governed by the Salesians of Don Bosco. It delivers ecclesiastical and academic higher education through five faculties: Theology, Philosophy, Education Sciences, Classical and Christian Letters, and Social Communication Sciences, awarding Baccalaureato, Licenza, and Dottorato degrees. Core infrastructure includes the Don Bosco Library (over 600,000 bibliographic units and approximately 6,000 periodical titles), the LAS Publishing House (Editrice LAS) producing journals such as Salesianum and Orientamenti pedagogici, the Istituto Storico Salesiano research institute, and digital platforms GECO, CITAVI, and SAS for student services and academic resource management. New academic programs in Third Sector management and ethics were launched in 2025-2026 to address Italian Third Sector regulatory reform.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees (Tasse Accademiche, amounts undisclosed), supplemented by donations processed through Banca Popolare di Sondrio via the Associazione Pro Universitate Don Bosco ETS, and increasingly through professional continuing-education programming accredited by Italian commercialisti and notai councils. The go-to-market relies on direct enrollment through the Segreteria Generale, international student exchange via the UPS nel Mondo program, and institutional partnerships — notably with the Agenzia delle Entrate for the 2026 Third Sector national roadshow and Ritsumeikan University for digital collection work. Customer segments are primarily ecclesiastical (theology, philosophy, education, social communication students) and a growing professional cohort (Third Sector managers, commercialisti, notai).

Name

Salesian Pontifical University

Legal name

Università Pontificia Salesiana (Pontificio Ateneo Salesiano)

Website

https://unisal.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Salesian Pontifical University is a Catholic pontifical university in Rome offering ecclesiastical and academic degrees across five faculties — Theology, Philosophy, Education Sciences, Classical Letters, and Social Communication — serving students, religious professionals, and a growing Third Sector professional-education cohort.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Pontifical University)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Theological Universities & Pontifical Universities (EDAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Theological studies
• Philosophical studies
• Education sciences
• Social communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Roma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Salesian Pontifical University is a pontifical university in Rome that delivers degree-bearing higher education (Baccalaureato, Licenza, Dottorato) and continuing education across five faculties: Theology, Philosophy, Education Sciences, Classical and Christian Letters, and Social Communication Sciences. It also operates specialized research centers, the Don Bosco Library, the LAS Publishing House, and digital academic platforms (SAS, GECO, CITAVI), and offers new programs in Third Sector management and ethics.

Product overview

The Salesian Pontifical University (Università Pontificia Salesiana) is a Catholic university with its main campus in Rome, operating as a Pontifical Athenaeum. The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of academic products organized across five faculties: Theology, Philosophy, Education Sciences, Classical and Christian Letters, and Social Communication. These faculties deliver undergraduate (Baccalaureato), graduate (Licenza), and doctoral programs. The university also maintains specialized research centers including Salesian AI (artificial intelligence), the Don Bosco Study Center, the International Youth Observatory, and the Salesian Historical Institute. Supporting infrastructure includes the Don Bosco Library (with over 600,000 bibliographic units), the LAS Publishing House, and the SAS student management system. The university recently launched new Third Sector academic programs addressing the reform of Italy's Third Sector and operates an AI Policy for responsible AI use in academic activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Editrice LAS: The university's publishing house, producing academic books, ebooks, and the journal Orientamenti pedagogici.
• Istituto Storico Salesiano
• Biblioteca Don Bosco
• Osservatorio della Gioventù
• Centro Studi Don Bosco
• Salesian AI
• Salesian Online
• Associazione Pro Universitate Don Bosco ETS

Products and services

• Faculty of Theology (Facoltà di Teologia) Academic faculty offering undergraduate (Baccalaureato), graduate (Licenza), and doctoral programs in theology, pastoral studies, youth spirituality, vocational formation, and Salesian studies, for seminarians, religious, and lay ecclesial ministers.
• Faculty of Philosophy (Facoltà di Filosofia) Academic faculty providing Baccalaureato, Licenza, and Dottorato programs in philosophy, including a specialized Baccalaureato in Management and Law of Third Sector Organizations and Social Economy and a Licenza in Ethics, Economics and Law of the Third Sector.
• Faculty of Education Sciences (Facoltà di Scienze dell'Educazione) Academic faculty offering programs in Psychology, Social Pedagogy, Catechetics, Pedagogy for School and Professional Training, Religious Education, Vocational Pedagogy, and Pedagogy and Communication, with doctoral studies, for educators, catechists, and youth workers.
• Faculty of Classical and Christian Letters (Facoltà di Lettere Cristiane e Classiche) Academic faculty offering Licenza programs, doctoral studies, and summer courses in classical and Christian literature, including Latin and Greek, for students of Christian and classical humanities.
• Faculty of Social Communication Sciences (Facoltà di Scienze della Comunicazione sociale) Academic faculty offering programs in Social Communication with Digital Media and Culture, including a Pastoral Communication specialization track and doctoral studies, for communicators and pastoral communication professionals.
• Third Sector Academic Programs Academic programs delivered through the Faculty of Philosophy offering a Baccalaureato in Management and Law of Third Sector Organizations and Social Economy and a Licenza in Ethics, Economics and Law of the Third Sector, with specializations in Social Organizations and Human Development Studies, and Cooperation for Development.
• Don Bosco Library (Biblioteca Don Bosco) Specialized library service holding over 600,000 bibliographic units and approximately 6,000 periodical titles in theological, philosophical, pedagogical, psychological, communicative, Salesian, and social-economic fields, serving students, faculty, researchers, and scholars.
• Editrice LAS Publishing House Publishing house producing academic books, ebooks, and journals including Salesianum and Orientamenti pedagogici, for the academic and Salesian community.
• Salesian AI Research Center Research center dedicated to artificial intelligence studies and applications within the Salesian educational context, with an academic AI Policy adopted by the Academic Senate.
• International Youth Observatory (Osservatorio Internazionale della Gioventù) Research center dedicated to the study of youth, including youth-related social, educational, and formative topics.
• Don Bosco Study Center (Centro Studi Don Bosco) Research center focused on studies related to Saint John Bosco and the Salesian heritage.
• Salesian Online Platform Online platform offering Salesian educational resources and programs to students and the broader Salesian community.
• SAS Student Management System (Sistema di Assistenza Studenti) Online student management system providing access to academic calendars, course schedules, course programs, and notices for enrolled students.
• GECO Academic Resource Platform Academic resource platform for students and faculty of the university.
• Associazione Pro Universitate Don Bosco ETS Scholarship Program Scholarship and financial aid program providing grants and subsidies to students facing economic and social difficulties, while funding research projects in psychological, pedagogical, theological, philosophical, communication, and Third Sector fields.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agenzia delle EntratecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Revenue agency partnership for the Roadshow Nazionale sul Nuovo Fisco del Terzo Settore. This national tour analyzes the fiscal reform of the Third Sector following Circolare 1/E 2026, with events in multiple Italian cities (Assisi, Bari, Firenze, Milano, Napoli). The university serves as academic partner providing expertise in Third Sector economics and management.
• Fondazione Terzjus ETScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Third Sector foundation serving as organizational partner for the roadshow on Third Sector fiscal reform. Collaborates with the university and Agenzia delle Entrate in managing the national event series.
• Il Sole 24 OREminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Italian business newspaper serving as media partner for the Third Sector fiscal reform roadshow, providing communication support and visibility.
• Consiglio Nazionale dei Dottori CommercialistiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational council of commercial experts providing support for the Third Sector fiscal reform roadshow, with ongoing accreditation for professional training credits.
• Consiglio Nazionale dei NotaiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational council of notaries that has granted professional training credits (CFP) for roadshow participants, supporting professional education in Third Sector matters.
• Forum Nazionale del Terzo SettoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational forum representing Third Sector organizations providing patronage for the fiscal reform roadshow.
• ConfcooperativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConfederation of cooperatives providing patronage for Third Sector fiscal reform educational initiatives.
• LegacoopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague of cooperatives providing patronage for Third Sector fiscal reform roadshow events.
• CSVnetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer service centers network providing patronage for Third Sector fiscal reform educational events.
• FedercasseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederation of rural banks providing support for Third Sector fiscal reform roadshow events.
• Ritsumeikan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university collaboration for digitalization of the Fondo Marega collection, a precious set of documents relating to the history, culture, and religiosity of Japan held in the Don Bosco Library.
• Banca Popolare di SondriominorOthersBanking partner for the Associazione Pro Universitate Don Bosco ETS, managing donations to support student scholarships and research projects.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA): Rome-based Italian Catholic university with strong programs in communication, education, and Third Sector management — directly overlapping with UPS's Social Communication and new Third Sector academic tracks.
• LUMSA University: Italian Catholic university in Rome offering law, economics, and humanities — comparable Italian Catholic higher-education competitor for Third Sector and ethics-program students.

Direct peers

• Pontifical Gregorian University: Jesuit pontifical university in Rome offering theology, philosophy, canon law, and social sciences — the leading reference pontifical university with which UPS competes for international ecclesiastical students and faculty.
• Pontifical Lateran University: Vatican-based pontifical university offering theology, philosophy, canon law, and civil law; competes directly with UPS for the pool of ecclesiastical degree candidates and clerical formation.
• Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum): Dominican pontifical university in Rome offering theology, philosophy, and social sciences — a directly comparable pontifical institution with overlapping faculty and student profiles.
• Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm: Benedictine pontifical athenaeum in Rome offering theology, philosophy, and liturgical studies — comparable size, ecclesiastical focus, and Salesian-adjacent religious-order model.
• Pontifical University of the Holy Cross: Opus Dei pontifical university in Rome focused on theology, canon law, philosophy, and social communication — a near-twin peer in size, Roman location, and pontifical/ecclesiastical positioning.
• Pontifical Faculty of Educational Science Auxilium: Salesian sister-institution in Rome dedicated to educational sciences and psychology — direct overlap with UPS's Faculty of Education Sciences and Salesian pedagogical tradition.
• Pontifical University Antonianum: Franciscan pontifical university in Rome covering theology, philosophy, canon law, and social sciences — directly comparable in mission, religious-order sponsorship, and pontifical scope.

Broad incumbents

• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore: Italy's largest Catholic university, founded by the Salesians' Fr. Agostino Gemelli, offering a much broader portfolio across law, economics, medicine, and humanities — the dominant Catholic-academic incumbent with deep overlap on Third Sector expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Universit%C3%A0PontificiaSalesiana
• Xx.com/Uni_Salesiana
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnivSalesiana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universit-pontificia-salesiana

Compliance2 records

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 Salesian Pontifical University