Universidad 'Juan Pablo II'

What Universidad 'Juan Pablo II' does

Universidad Juan Pablo II is a private Catholic university founded in 1996 in Curridabat, San José, Costa Rica, authorized by CONESUP under Ley No. 6693 de Universidades Privadas to confer recognized higher education degrees. It serves adult learners, working professionals, and Catholic education seekers through a multi-tiered academic portfolio spanning technical programs (4-12 months), bachelor's degrees (10 cuatrimestres), accelerated licentiate degrees, master's programs (including Risk Management & Insurance and Social Doctrine of the Church), and over 25 international specializations covering AI applications, theology, education, insurance, and sustainability.

The institution operates a platform-plus-modules architecture: core academic degree programs form the foundation, augmented by add-on modules for international certifications (Certiprof, TEP Institute, Cisco, EDUSOFT/ETS), coaching and personal development, academic excellence programs, and service-vocation initiatives. Core technology infrastructure includes the Cloud Campus Pro platform for enrollment and student management, the English Discoveries platform for language learning, Cisco NetAcad for networking labs, and Zoom for virtual synchronous delivery. A sub-brand, the Centro de Ecología Humana, supports research and reflection on human development.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly tuition subscriptions across degree programs, with additional one-time administrative fees. The go-to-market model is sales-led via admissions advisors and WhatsApp, supplemented by Catholic network referrals, international partner institutions (EOBS, IICH, Humane Ecuador, Universidad Católica San Pablo), and corporate discount programs. Multiple delivery modalities — virtual synchronous, hybrid, and flex — extend reach beyond the single Curridabat campus, with some specializations available regionally and abroad. The university does not disclose revenue, has no external investors, and operates as a non-profit private institution under Church orientations.

Name

Universidad 'Juan Pablo II'

Legal name

Universidad Juan Pablo II

Website

https://ujpii.ac.cr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Universidad Juan Pablo II is a CONESUP-approved private Catholic university in Costa Rica offering bachelor's, master's, technical, and international certification programs to adult learners and working professionals, with integrated coaching, AI specializations, and partnerships with Cisco, Certiprof, and EOBS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHALAB

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Distance & Online Universities

SECONDARYEDAIABAD

Dual/Joint Degree Programs (International)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Private university programs
• Professional certifications
• Graduate degree programs
• Technical vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Curridabat

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

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Revenue from bachelor's degrees (10 cuatrimestres), associate degrees, and university certifications with standardized tuition rates per cuatrimestre, payable monthly.
2. Technical Programs: Fees from technical programs ranging from 7-11 courses with monthly or per-course billing, including certifications like Cisco, Scrum Master, and Business Model Canvas.
3. Specializations and International Certifications: Revenue from specialization programs (4-10 months) and international certification preparation courses including Certiprof and TEP Institute certifications. Programs range from 4-10 monthly courses with associated certification exam fees.
4. Postgraduate Programs: Revenue from master's programs including Maestría Profesional en Administración de Riesgos y Seguros (20 months) and Maestría en Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (20 months) with per-cuatrimestre tuition.
5. Student Services and Administrative Fees: Fees for enrollment processing, graduation ceremonies, and administrative services including certificate issuance and transcript processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Universidad 'Juan Pablo II' is a private Catholic higher education institution that delivers technical programs, bachelor's degrees, professional undergraduate degrees (licenciaturas), graduate degrees (maestrías/posgrados), international specializations, professional update courses, and international certifications. Programs are offered through on-campus, blended, and 100% virtual modalities under CONESUP recognition. The university integrates coaching and personal accompaniment into its academic offerings and aligns program content with international certification standards.

Product overview

Universidad Juan Pablo II is a Catholic private university in Costa Rica offering a comprehensive educational portfolio across multiple modalities. The institution operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture with core academic degree programs (Technical Programs, Bachelor's Degrees, Professional Degrees, Master's Degrees) as the foundation, supplemented by International Specializations, Professional Update Programs, and International Certifications. A distinctive differentiator is the integrated coaching and personal development system woven throughout all programs, alongside value propositions of Academic Excellence, Personal Development, Leadership Skills Coaching, and Service Vocation. The university leverages technology partnerships including Cisco NetAcad, Microsoft 365, English Discoveries (ETS), and Softland ERP, and offers numerous AI-focused programs including Generative AI, AI applied to agrifood, logistics, marketing, data analytics, and project management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centro de Ecología Humana: Research and reflection center focused on the person and integral development, studying how the natural and human environment influences human development.

Products and services

• Programas Técnicos (Technical Programs) Short-cycle technical programs providing job-ready vocational skills for students seeking quicker entry into the workforce. Designed for prospective technical-level professionals and adult learners in Costa Rica and the surrounding region.
• Bachilleratos (Bachelor's Degrees) Undergraduate bachelor's degree programs offered across on-campus and virtual modalities. Targeted at students who have completed secondary education and seek a first university degree.
• Licenciaturas (Professional Undergraduate Degrees) Professional licenciatura degree programs delivered fully online to extend access beyond campus-based students. Targeted at working adults and remote learners across Latin America.
• Posgrados / Maestrías (Graduate Programs and Master's Degrees) Master's-level graduate programs for professionals seeking advanced specialization and academic credentials beyond the undergraduate level.
• Especializaciones Internacionales (International Specializations) Specialization programs developed with international partner institutions, providing cross-border credentialing and exposure to foreign curricula for practicing professionals.
• Actualización Profesional (Professional Update Courses) Continuing-education courses designed to update practicing professionals on current knowledge and practices within their fields.
• Certificaciones Internacionales (International Certifications) Standalone international certification programs that equip learners with industry-recognized credentials from global certifying bodies. Targeted at professionals and students seeking externally validated qualifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of coaching recipients report increased self-confidence (per ICF research cited on site)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability9 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CISCO Networking AcademycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019The university has been part of Cisco Networking Academy for over 5 years, offering CCNA Routing & Switching certifications and IT Essentials programs. Courses are taught by Cisco-certified instructors with fully equipped network laboratories. Graduates have gone on to work at major technology companies.
• EDUSOFT / ETS (English Discoveries)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for English language learning through English Discoveries platform developed by EDUSOFT, subsidiary of ETS (Educational Testing Service), creator of TOEFL and TOEIC exams. Platform provides learning metrics, interactive resources, and certification preparation aligned with Common European Framework.
• EOBS (European Open Business School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with Spain-based business school for programs including Strategic Customer Management (GEC) and leadership development. EOBS provides faculty and curriculum for executive education programs.
• Humane Escuela de Negocios (Ecuador)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian business school partner for international certification programs including Data Business Analytics in collaboration with Construyendo Talento Costa Rica.
• IICH (Instituto Internacional de Capital Humano)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Human Capital Institute based in Spain that collaborates on executive education programs and professional certifications in customer experience and strategic management.
• Pontificio Instituto para el Matrimonio y la Familia (Universidad Anáhuac, México)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-titulation partnership for the International Family Specialization Program (PEF), providing international academic recognition from the Pontifical Institute for Marriage and Family.
• Emergencias MédicasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance with prehospital emergency medical services company for the APA (Advanced First Aid Training) program, providing supervised clinical practices in advanced life support ambulances and emergency dispatch centers.
• CertiprofcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational certification partner providing professional certifications including Scrum Master, Business Model Canvas, Agile HR, Design Thinking, Lean Six Sigma, and OKR Master. University is authorized Certiprof partner and provides exam vouchers to students.
• TEP InstitutecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational certification institute for AI-related specializations including AI Applied to Logistics, AI Applied to Project Management, AI Applied to Marketing and Sales, and Generative AI certification.
• Universidad Católica San Pablo (Perú)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for psychology program with exchange opportunities and academic recognition. Also associated with international faculty and training programs.
• Universidad Saint Thomas (Houston, USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnership for psychology program enabling international academic recognition and potential exchange opportunities.
• International Paramedic Registry (IPR)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertification partner for prehospital care program, providing IPR Basic certification upon successful completion of the APA training program.
• ICB Consulting (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish consulting firm and ICB international network member, part of the university's international academic network for business education and professional development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universidad Cenfotec: Costa Rican higher education institution focused on technology, software engineering, and digital business programs; competes for technology-oriented professional students that UJP II targets through its Cisco and AI specializations.
• Universidad Fidélitas: Costa Rican private university offering engineering, business, health, and social sciences programs; competes for working adults and the same CONESUP-regulated degree-seeking population in the San José metro area.
• Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT): Costa Rican private university offering undergraduate and graduate programs across business, technology, and health, competing for the same adult learner and working professional segment in San José.
• Universidad Católica San Pablo (Perú): Peruvian Catholic private university and UJP II international partner; operates a similar Catholic identity–driven higher education model with comparable program mix in business and psychology, supporting UJP II exchange pathways.
• Universidad Católica de Costa Rica (CATOLICA): Direct Costa Rican private Catholic university operating under a similar faith-based higher education model with multi-program offerings, comparable accreditation pathways, and overlapping student persona of values-based learners in Central America.

Broad incumbents

• INCAE Business School: Top-ranked Central American graduate business school with campuses in Costa Rica and Nicaragua; competes for the same high-end professional and executive education segment that UJP II targets through its MBA-adjacent master's programs.
• Euroinnova Formación: Large Spanish online education provider listed on UJP II's website as a partner destination ('Especializaciones Euroinnova'); competes in the Latin American online specialization market with a much broader catalog and marketing scale.
• Universidad Anáhuac (México): Major Mexican Catholic private university network and UJP II's co-titulation partner for the Pontificio Instituto programs; comparable in Catholic higher education positioning, with much broader scale across multiple campuses.

Emerging players

• EOBS – European Open Business School: Spain-based online business school and UJP II partner for executive education programs; comparable in international specializations (GEC, leadership), with which UJP II competes and partners for executive-level online learners.

Regional players

• Universidad para la Paz (UPEACE): UN-mandated Costa Rican graduate institution offering master's and specializations; shares a Central American academic network context and competes for internationally oriented postgraduate students, particularly in social doctrine and human development adjacent to UJP II's programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ujpii.cr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ujpii

Compliance18 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 'Juan Pablo II'