Universidad Católica Boliviana Sede La Paz

What Universidad Católica Boliviana Sede La Paz does

Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo" Sede La Paz is a private Catholic nonprofit university located in La Paz, Bolivia, operating as the oldest campus of the national Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo" system. Founded in 1966, it delivers higher education through six faculties (Economics and Financial Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities, Law and Political Sciences, Architecture and Design, and Health) offering 30 undergraduate programs, alongside postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees, a pre-university preparatory program (Curso Preuniversitario), and a language center (Centro de Idiomas). The institution maintains a 200+ university international exchange network and operates auxiliary student services including vocational guidance (SOV), comprehensive student services (USEI), a legal clinic, scholarship programs, and pastoral, cultural, and sporting activities.

The university's underlying technology stack includes a Learning Management System (LMS UCB), a student information system (SIAAN), an online tuition payment platform (UCBPagosWeb), and a virtual reality campus tour offering (UCBxVR). Research centers (CINAES for water/energy/sustainability, CIDIMEC for mechatronics innovation, IICC for behavioral sciences, and Cibescom for communication studies) support applied research, with notable outputs including an automated bag valve mask ventilator developed during COVID-19 and student placements at international conferences such as IEEE ICRA. Distribution occurs primarily through the La Paz main campus (Av. 14 de Septiembre) and an El Alto satellite extension, complemented by digital enrollment and recruitment channels.

Revenue is generated principally through recurring semester-based tuition fees across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, supplemented by one-time fees for pre-university and language courses. The university operates under a formal tariff system (Tarifario Oficial) and offers socioeconomic, institutional, disability, and religious scholarships. Recruitment is event-driven and sales-led, leveraging campus tours, virtual career fairs, entrance exams (Prueba de Aptitud Académica), and transfer programs (Traspaso y Extranjeros). The institution is a nonprofit legally governed under Catholic ecclesiastical authority, with no public trading or private equity ownership disclosed.

Name

Universidad Católica Boliviana Sede La Paz

Legal name

Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo"

Website

https://lpz.ucb.edu.bo

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo" Sede La Paz is a private Catholic nonprofit university in La Paz, Bolivia, founded in 1966, offering 30 undergraduate programs across six faculties plus postgraduate, pre-university, and language courses to individual students. It operates the LMS, SIAAn, UCBPagosWeb, and UCBxVR platforms and a 200+ international university exchange network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• University tuition
• Language education

Headquarters

HQ city

La Paz

HQ country

Bolivia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Semester-based tuition fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students. The university operates a tariff system (Tarifario Oficial) with varying costs per credit or program. Payment is facilitated through the UCBPagosWeb online system.
2. Pre-university Programs: Revenue generated from pre-university preparatory courses (Curso Preuniversitario) for students seeking admission to undergraduate programs, including specialized tracks for medicine and general studies.
3. Postgraduate Programs: Graduate and continuing education programs including diplomas, master's degrees, and specialized certifications generate additional revenue streams.
4. Language Center Services: Centro de Idiomas offers language courses and certifications for students and the general public, generating revenue through course enrollment fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Universidad Católica Boliviana Sede La Paz is a private Catholic university delivering undergraduate degree programs (30+ majors), graduate (postgraduate) programs, a pre-university preparatory offering, and a language center. Services are delivered through on-campus instruction at the La Paz campus and sister campuses (El Alto, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Tarija), supported by an LMS and the SIAAn student/administrative system.

Product overview

Universidad Católica Boliviana "San Pablo" Sede La Paz is a Catholic private university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio. The institution provides undergraduate programs across six faculties (Economics and Financial Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities, Law and Political Sciences, Architecture and Design, and Health) with 30 career options. Graduate programs (postgrados) include master's degrees, doctorates, and specializations. The university operates a pre-university preparation program, language center, and various student support services including career guidance, vocational orientation, and international exchange opportunities. Administrative infrastructure includes SIAAN (academic management system), LMS (learning management system), and online payment platform. Research centers focus on areas including water, energy, sustainability (CINAES), mechatronics innovation (CIDIMEC), and communication studies (Cibescom).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate degree programs (30+ majors) Multi-year undergraduate academic programs (30+ majors) delivered on campus at the La Paz campus and other UCB campuses, leading to a bachelor's-level degree awarded by the Universidad Católica Boliviana. Targeted at recent Bolivian high-school graduates seeking a private Catholic university degree.
• Graduate (postgraduate) programs Postgraduate specializations, master's, and doctoral-level programs offered by the La Paz campus of UCB. Targeted at working professionals and bachelor's-degree holders seeking advanced academic credentials.
• Pre-university preparatory course A preparatory course designed to ready prospective students for university entrance and undergraduate study at UCB. Targeted at Bolivian high-school graduates preparing to enter undergraduate programs.
• Language center (foreign-language courses) Foreign-language courses delivered through UCB's dedicated language center at the La Paz campus. Targeted at students, professionals, and members of the public seeking foreign-language proficiency for academic, professional, or personal goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six consecutive years of students winning first place in the Thesis category at the Encounter of Economists of Bolivia
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAF - Banco de Desarrollo de América LatinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Memorandum of Understanding signed for joint research and development projects in border zones of Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Focus areas include water resources, renewable energy, and physical and digital connectivity. Part of the 'Artisans of Unity' program involving three Catholic universities.
• Agencia Boliviana Espacial (ABE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2020Cooperation agreement for implementing a diploma program in Satellite Communications and Aerospace Technology. The university is represented by Rector Regional Flavio Escóbar Llanos, with ABE represented by Director General Peter Mauricio Larrea Parra.
• Tribunal de Justicia de la Comunidad AndinaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Cooperation agreement promoted by the Law career of Santa Cruz regional. Enables joint research in jurisprudence and regional integration, exchange of knowledge between Magistrates and professors, student internships, and academic publications.
• Huawei Technologies (Seed For The Future)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Global initiative of Huawei Technologies providing technology talent development in Bolivia. Students from UCB (Gustavo Jheison Maidana Ticona and Noel Alejandro Avila Campos) were among 15 scholarship recipients, receiving training in 5G, cloud computing, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Artisans of Unity' program under CAF cooperation, focusing on joint research in water resources, renewable energy, and connectivity in border zones.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica del PerúcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Artisans of Unity' program under CAF cooperation, focusing on joint research in water resources, renewable energy, and connectivity in border zones.
• VLIR UOS (Belgian Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation program supporting research in water, energy, and sustainability through the CINAES center. Includes doctoral researchers and thesis supervision in environmental engineering and related fields.
• EducominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with NGO for the regional study 'Well-being of Childhood: Their Views and Voices' conducted in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador, through the Institute of Research in Behavioral Sciences (IICC).
• EntelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for virtual connectivity enabling online education during COVID-19 pandemic.
• TigominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for virtual connectivity enabling online education during COVID-19 pandemic.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Largest public university in Latin America with extensive online distance education (SUAyED). A broader incumbent against which UCB competes for international students and online learners across the region, particularly given UNAM's massive free enrollment.
• Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES) - Colombia: Top-tier Colombian research university frequently used as a benchmark for Catholic and private higher education in the Andean region. Comparable as a high-quality private/regional peer for graduate-program aspiration and exchange-program positioning.

Regional players

• Universidad Privada del Valle (UNIVALLE): Major private university in Bolivia with multiple campuses (La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz). Directly comparable private competitor within Bolivia, offering similar undergraduate breadth and competing for the same student pool.
• Universidad Católica de Colombia: Catholic university in Colombia with similar mission and structure. Operates in a different national market but serves as a comparable reference for Andean Catholic higher-education positioning and exchange-partnership opportunities.
• Universidad Católica San Pablo (UCSP): Catholic university in Arequipa, Peru with similar focus on engineering, business, and social sciences. Comparable in religious identity, private nonprofit structure, and program mix, though operating in a different national market.

Direct peers

• Universidad Franz Tamayo (UNIFRANZ): Private Bolivian university with a strong focus on business, engineering, and health sciences and a growing emphasis on online/hybrid learning. Competes with UCB for undergraduate and continuing-education students across Bolivia, with particular overlap in La Paz.
• Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB): Leading private Bolivian university based in Cochabamba with national reach. Direct competitor to UCB in the private higher-education segment, offering similar undergraduate and graduate programs with comparable tuition positioning.
• Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA): Bolivia's largest public university, also headquartered in La Paz. Competes directly with UCB for undergraduate students in La Paz across similar faculties (economics, engineering, law, social sciences), but operates on a public, tuition-subsidized model.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP): Peru's leading Catholic university and partner of UCB under CAF cooperation. Highly comparable in mission, scope, and graduate-program emphasis; serves as a natural reference point for cross-border Catholic higher-education competition.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC Chile): Premier Catholic research university in Chile and a partner of UCB in the 'Artisans of Unity' program. Comparable in Catholic identity and academic portfolio, and directly relevant as a peer institution for benchmarking program quality and international positioning.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UCBLaPaz
• Facebookfacebook.com/UCB.BOLIVIA
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucb.lapaz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucb-lapaz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 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 Católica Boliviana Sede La Paz