Universidad de Ciencias Médicas

What Universidad de Ciencias Médicas does

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas (UCIMED) is a private specialized university headquartered in San José, Costa Rica, founded in 1975 and operating for over 50 years with 101-250 employees. The institution delivers undergraduate and graduate education in health sciences, offering bachelor's and licensure programs in Medicine and Surgery, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and three Bioengineering specializations (Electromedicina, Biotecnología, Biomédica), alongside graduate medical specialties (Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Psychiatry, Neonatology) and a Master's in Health Management. UCIMED also runs continuing-education courses for working healthcare professionals.

Core academic infrastructure includes a Clinical Simulation Center and Simulated Hospital described as the most advanced in the region, the LIBA research laboratory (cell culture, molecular biology, applied research) inaugurated in 2015, and the IICIMED research institute that has produced 80+ peer-reviewed publications. UCIMED is the first private Costa Rican university to hold COMAEM international accreditation (recognized by WFME) for Medicine, with 100% of undergraduate programs accredited by SINAES. The curriculum integrates Kaplan Medical USMLE preparation and Stanford-developed Clinical Mind AI in the Nutrition program.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and academic fees, supported by Flexicuotas semester installment plans and CONAPE government-backed loans. Direct-to-consumer admissions operate via the campus, website, WhatsApp, and a free online vocational test, with international student recruitment channeled through partnerships across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia. UCIMED is the only Costa Rican member of Galileo Global Education, the world's largest education group (65 universities, 14 countries, 300,000 students), and in 2025 formed a new academic alliance with Texas Tech University. The Rector is Dr. María del Carmen García.

Name

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas

Legal name

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas

Website

https://ucimed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UCIMED is a private health sciences university in San José, Costa Rica, founded 1975, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in medicine, pharmacy, nutrition, physiotherapy, microbiology, and bioengineering, plus a clinical simulation center and research institute. It serves Costa Rican and international students, is accredited by SINAES and COMAEM/WFME, and is part of Galileo Global Education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Health Sciences)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Medical Laboratory Science & Clinical Diagnostics (EDAHAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Simulation-Based Learning & Virtual Labs (EDAGAEAG), Virtual Labs, Remote Labs & Hands-On Practice Tools (EDAFABAH)

Keywords

• Health sciences education
• Medical university programs
• Pharmacy education
• Clinical simulation training
• Biomedical engineering degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate program tuition, including financing options through Flexicuotas (semester payment plans in 6 installments) and CONAPE (national education loan program)
2. Continuing Education Courses: Revenue from continuing education courses and professional development programs in health sciences topics

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

UCIMED is a private health sciences university that sells undergraduate and graduate degree programs in medical and health-related fields (Medicine and Surgery, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Electromedicine, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering), medical specialty programs, executive programs, and continuing education courses. All programs are delivered on its San José campus with hands-on training in a Clinical Simulation Center and Simulated Hospital, supported by tuition financing through Flexicuotas and CONAPE loans.

Product overview

Universidad de Ciencias Médicas (UCIMED) is a specialized private university offering undergraduate and graduate programs in health sciences and medical fields. The institution operates as a single unified university with multiple academic programs including 8 undergraduate degrees (Medicine and Surgery, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Imaging, Dentistry, and Biomedical Engineering), graduate programs (Master's in Health Management, Master's in Higher Education, and medical specialties in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Gynecology/Obstetrics), and continuing education. UCIMED provides supporting infrastructure including a Clinical Simulation Center, Physiology Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory, and the IICIMED research institute. Digital services include a virtual campus and digital library. Financial services include Flexicuotas flexible payment plans. The university maintains clinical partnerships with hospitals and laboratories for internships, and offers a Kaplan Medical USMLE preparation program in partnership with Kaplan Medical. UCIMED is part of the Galileo Global Education network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medicine and Surgery Program (Medicina y Cirugía) Undergraduate medical degree program (Licenciatura + Licenciatura) preparing students for clinical practice; integrates Kaplan Medical USMLE preparation and is delivered using the Clinical Simulation Center.
• Microbiology Program (Microbiología) Undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Clinical Chemistry (8 semesters Bachelor's + 2 semesters Licenciatura); offers advanced laboratories and a strong focus on clinical research.
• Pharmacy Program (Farmacia) Undergraduate Pharmacy degree (6 semesters Bachelor's + 2 semesters Licenciatura) with an innovative focus on research, biotechnology, and cutting-edge pharmacology.
• Nutrition Program (Nutrición) Undergraduate Nutrition degree (8 semesters Bachelor's + 2 semesters Licenciatura) with strong managerial focus in clinical, sports, and food nutrition; incorporates Clinical Mind AI for clinical decision practice.
• Physiotherapy Program (Fisioterapia) Undergraduate Physiotherapy degree (6 semesters Bachelor's + 2 semesters Licenciatura) uniquely featuring 2 years of supervised clinical practice.
• Electromedicine Engineering Program (Ingeniería en Electromedicina) Undergraduate Electromedicine Engineering degree (9 quarters Bachelor's + 3 quarters Licenciatura) with dual degree opportunity in Biomedical Engineering.
• Biotechnology Engineering Program (Ingeniería en Biotecnología) Undergraduate Biotechnology Engineering degree (9 quarters Bachelor's + 3 quarters Licenciatura) under the Faculty of Bioengineering.
• Biomedical Engineering Program (Ingeniería Biomédica) Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering degree (9 quarters Bachelor's + 3 quarters Licenciatura) with dual degree opportunity in Electromedicine Engineering.
• Master's in Health Management (Maestría en Gerencia de la Salud) Graduate master's degree program focused on health services management and leadership for medical and healthcare professionals.
• Specialty in Family and Community Medicine (Especialidad en Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria) Postgraduate medical specialty program for physicians pursuing advanced training in family and community medicine.
• Specialty in Gynecology and Obstetrics (Especialidad en Ginecología y Obstetricia) Postgraduate medical specialty program providing advanced training in gynecology and obstetrics.
• Specialty in Pediatrics (Especialidad en Pediatría) Postgraduate medical specialty program providing advanced training in pediatric medicine.
• Specialty in Psychiatry (Especialidad en Psiquiatría) Postgraduate medical specialty program providing advanced training in psychiatry.
• Subspecialty in Neonatology (Subespecialidad en Neonatología) Postgraduate medical subspecialty program providing advanced training in neonatology.
• Executive Program in Health Management & AI (Programa Ejecutivo de Especialización en Health Management & AI) Executive-level continuing education program combining health management with artificial intelligence applications for healthcare leaders.
• Continuing Education (Cursos Libres) Continuing education courses and professional development programs in health sciences topics for working professionals seeking specialized training and certifications.
• Kaplan Medical USMLE Preparation Program Kaplan Medical USMLE exam preparation integrated into the Medicine curriculum, preparing students for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS, and Step 3 and enabling pathway to medical residency in the USA.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% pass rate in IFOM exam for 113 Medicine students
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Galileo Global EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCIMED is the only Costa Rican university part of Galileo Global Education, the world's largest educational group. The network comprises 65 universities and educational institutions across 14 countries, with more than 110 campuses and 300,000 students globally. This partnership provides international support, global standards, and pathways for student and faculty mobility.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Universidad Latina de Costa Rica: Large private Costa Rican university offering medicine, pharmacy, and other health programs. Competes directly with UCIMED for private-pay domestic students and shares several faculty exchanges (e.g., Engineering in Electromedicina).
• Universidad Santa Paula: Costa Rican private university specializing in health sciences, including respiratory therapy and other clinical disciplines. Direct competitor for the same health sciences student pool in the San José metropolitan area.
• Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR): Costa Rica's flagship public university offering medicine, pharmacy, microbiology, nutrition, and other health sciences programs. It is the largest domestic competitor for health sciences students and faculty in the same San José market.
• Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH): Top-ranked private medical university in Peru with strong research output and international accreditation. Comparable to UCIMED as a Latin American private health sciences university competing for international medical students seeking US residency pathways.
• UNIBE (Universidad Iberoamericana): Private Costa Rican university with health sciences programs including Medicine and Pharmacy. Competes for the same private student segment in San José and has overlapping faculty alumni (e.g., former Pharmacy dean Dra. Lissette Rodríguez).

Broad incumbents

• Universidad de los Andes (Colombia): Top-tier Colombian private university with a medical school and extensive international exchange network. Comparable as a high-prestige Latin American private institution competing for international and domestic medical talent.
• Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey): Mexico's largest private university with a leading medical school and broad health sciences programs. Broader incumbent that competes for Latin American international students and sets regional benchmarks for private medical education quality.

Others

• Hospital Médica Sur / Observatorio Salud: Mexican health sciences education and clinical training ecosystem anchored by COMAEM-accredited medical programs and teaching hospitals relevant to UCIMED's clinical simulation and hospital partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UcimedCostaRica
• Facebookfacebook.com/UCIMED
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/universidad-de-ciencias-m%C3%A9dicas
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucimed

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 de Ciencias Médicas