CESSA Universidad

What CESSA Universidad does

CESSA Universidad (legal entity: Centro de Estudios Superiores de San Ángel, S.C.) is a private Mexican higher education institution founded on September 6, 1976, in Mexico City's San Ángel neighborhood. It specializes exclusively in gastronomy, hospitality, food business management, and nutrition — making it the longest-standing dedicated hospitality and culinary university in Mexico. The institution operates two physical campuses (Campus San Ángel, the original 1976 site, and Campus Estado de México, opened in 2005 in Atizapán de Zaragoza) and, since 2023, a Virtual Campus offering fully online and asynchronous programs.

The academic portfolio spans four tiers: 8 undergraduate degrees (licenciaturas) covering gastronomy, restaurant administration, hotel administration, hospitality business management, international gastronomy, public relations and event management, and nutrition and food sciences; 4 graduate programs (1 master's and 3 specializations) in institutional food services, large-scale food business, meetings industry, and wellness gastronomy; 8 professional diplomas (diplomados) covering restaurant, hotel, and event management, professional kitchens, and Mexican regional baking; and 50+ short courses (cursos) targeting working professionals. Tuition is not publicly disclosed; prospective students are routed to WhatsApp-based academic advisors and on-campus recruitment events. Short courses are individually priced (e.g., MX$4,650 IVA included for the Quality in Restaurant Service course).

The go-to-market model is sales-led through direct enrollment at physical campuses and the virtual platform, supplemented by WhatsApp-based inside-sales advisors, social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), a blog covering gastronomy and hospitality topics, and on-campus events such as Hospitality Day and chef masterclasses. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and program fees, with a 50-year track record of 10,000+ alumni placed in the global hospitality industry, supported by a network of 400+ corporate partnerships (including Four Seasons, Sofitel, Hyatt, Belmond, Rosewood, St. Regis, and Meliá Hotels International) and 7+ international academic mobility agreements (Le Cordon Bleu Paris, GLION, Les Roches, ALMA, CETT Barcelona, Sorbonne Paris Nord, Ritz Escoffier Paris, and Sommet Education). Operational infrastructure includes two training restaurants — SCOLA and CREHA — where students operate real restaurant service as part of the curriculum. The current rector, Maestro Alonso Antonio Guerrero Arteaga, has led the institution since July 2020; the institution holds SEP recognition as an Institution of Academic Excellence and 7-year FIMPES accreditation renewed in 2023.

Name

CESSA Universidad

Legal name

Centro de Estudios Superiores de San Ángel, S.C.

Website

https://cessa.edu.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CESSA Universidad is a 50-year-old private Mexican higher education institution specializing exclusively in gastronomy, hospitality, food business management, and nutrition, operating two physical campuses in Mexico plus a Virtual Campus and offering 50+ academic programs from short courses to graduate degrees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education — Culinary and Hospitality

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Culinary Arts & Cooking (Baking, Pastry, Global Cuisines) (EDAAAGAG)

Keywords

• Culinary arts education
• Hospitality management programs
• Gastronomy university degrees
• Hotel administration studies
• Food service training

Headquarters

HQ city

Ciudad de México (Álvaro Obregón)

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and academic program fees: CESSA generates revenue primarily from tuition charged for undergraduate (licenciatura), graduate (posgrado), diploma (diplomado), and short course (curso) programs across its physical campuses and virtual campus.
2. Professional development course fees: Short online courses and diploma programs are sold individually at stated price points (e.g., $4,650 MXN IVA included for the Quality in Restaurant Service course).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CESSA Universidad is a Mexican private higher education institution that delivers specialized undergraduate degree programs, diplomas, and continuing-education courses in gastronomy, culinary arts, and hospitality management. Its academic offering is built around professional practice-oriented training for students seeking careers in restaurants, food service operations, and hotel administration. Programs are delivered through on-campus instruction at dedicated culinary and hospitality facilities, supplemented by an online learning environment.

Product overview

CESSA Universidad is a specialized higher education institution focused on gastronomy and hospitality industries. The institution operates as a portfolio of academic programs organized in four tiers: 8 undergraduate degrees (Licenciaturas), 4 graduate programs including 1 Master's and 3 Specializations (Posgrados), 8 professional diplomas (Diplomados), and 12+ short courses (Cursos), plus a Virtual Campus platform and 2 training restaurants (SCOLA and CREHA). The academic offerings cover hospitality management, gastronomy, food science, nutrition, hotel administration, public relations, event management, and food service operations. Programs integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application through real kitchen environments, school restaurants, and professional internships. Programs are delivered in-person at two physical campuses (San Ángel and Estado de México) and through the CESSA Virtual platform for online delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ graduates placed in leadership roles across the global hospitality industry over 50 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Meliá Hotels InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Renewed global collaboration agreement announced in April 2026. Meliá Hotels International is a major international hotel chain providing internship and employment opportunities for CESSA students globally.
• Le Cordon Bleu de ParísflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Historic alliance signed in 1991 — the first of its kind in Mexico. For the first time in Mexico, chefs from Le Cordon Bleu de París taught courses at CESSA facilities, establishing the institution as the benchmark for culinary education in the country.
• Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and cultural exchange agreement signed in 1996. Collaboration focused on hospitality education standards and student exchange.
• École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2006 to explore certification of CESSA's hospitality programs by EHL, one of the world's leading hospitality management schools.
• Université de Paris 13 (Paris 13 University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement signed in 2012 enabling double degree opportunities through the Licence Professionnelle program, allowing CESSA students to earn credentials from both institutions.
• Université de NantescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mobility partnership for student exchanges and academic collaboration in gastronomy and hospitality education.
• GLION Institute of Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mobility partnership allowing CESSA students to study at GLION's campuses in Switzerland, expanding global hospitality education perspective.
• Les Roches Global Hospitality EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exchange and academic collaboration agreement with Les Roches, a leading Swiss hospitality management school. Students can study abroad from the 5th semester onward.
• CETT Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange partnership with CETT Barcelona, part of the University of Barcelona, for hospitality and tourism management student mobility.
• Université Sorbonne Paris NordflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewed partnership in 2024 for academic exchange and collaboration. Sorbonne Paris Nord partnership offers CESSA students access to French academic excellence in hospitality and gastronomy.
• Ritz Escoffier ParisflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance established in 2024 with Ritz Escoffier Paris, bringing French haute cuisine techniques and prestige to CESSA's culinary programs.
• ALMA Scuola di Cucina ItalianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership signed in 2008 with ALMA, the renowned Italian culinary school, to offer specialization in gastronomy with an Italian focus.
• Lycée François Rabelais DugnycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and student exchange agreement with the French secondary school established in 2011 for cooperative academic and student exchange.
• Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural and academic exchange agreement with WelTec (New Zealand) signed in 2006, broadening international perspectives for CESSA students.
• Emirates Academy of Hospitality ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership established in 2023 with the Emirates Academy, part of the Jumeirah Group, expanding CESSA's hospitality network to the Middle East.
• Sommet EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2024 with Sommet Education, a global leader in hospitality education, to strengthen academic standards and international mobility.
• 400+ Enterprise Partners (including Four Seasons, Sofitel, Hyatt, Belmond, Rosewood, St. Regis, Andaz, Hotel Xcaret)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMore than 400 corporate partnerships with leading international hotel and restaurant chains enabling student internships, professional placements, and industry exposure. Partners include Sofitel, Four Seasons, Andaz, Hyatt, Rosewood, St. Regis, Belmond, Grupo Maximus, and Culinaria.
• Fundación TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fundación Together focused on labor inclusion, where CESSA students organized a charity gala dinner to support the foundation's mission.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Les Roches Global Hospitality Education: Swiss-based hospitality management school with campuses in Switzerland, Spain, and China offering bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality. CESSA has an active exchange partnership, and Les Roches is comparable as a higher-education specialist in hospitality and culinary management.
• Culinary Institute of America (CIA): Premier US culinary higher education institution offering degrees, certificates, and continuing education in culinary arts, baking, and hospitality. Closely aligned with CESSA in offering undergraduate-to-executive culinary pathways and operating its own restaurant teaching facilities.
• Le Cordon Bleu: Global leader in culinary and hospitality education with degree, diploma, and short-course programs across 30+ international campuses. Directly comparable as a specialty culinary school serving both aspiring professionals and amateurs; CESSA has had an alliance with Le Cordon Bleu Paris since 1991.
• Basque Culinary Center: Spanish higher-education institution focused on gastronomy with undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs integrated with a research center. Comparable to CESSA as a specialty university combining culinary degree programs with industry-oriented research and applied practice.
• ALMA - La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana: Renowned Italian culinary school offering professional diplomas and specialization courses with international student mobility. CESSA has had a partnership with ALMA since 2008, and ALMA is directly comparable as a specialty culinary school with strong industry placements.
• École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL): Top-ranked Swiss hospitality management university offering bachelor's, master's, and executive education across multiple international campuses. CESSA signed a partnership with EHL in 2006 to explore program certification, making EHL a direct comparable for hospitality-management higher education.
• Johnson & Wales University: US career-focused university historically known for its College of Culinary Arts and hospitality programs. Comparable to CESSA in offering degree programs centered on culinary arts, baking, and hospitality management with strong employer placement pipelines.
• Instituto Culinario de México (ICUM): Mexican culinary school offering professional diplomas and short courses in culinary arts and baking. Closest geographic direct competitor to CESSA within Mexico for culinary professional credentials and amateur classes.

Broad incumbents

• Tecnológico de Monterrey: Largest Mexican private university with hospitality and culinary-related programs across multiple campuses. Much broader institution than CESSA, but competes for top-tier Mexican students considering hospitality as a career path.
• Universidad Anáhuac: Major Mexican private university with multiple schools including hospitality and gastronomy programs. Broader incumbent offering diverse disciplines at scale; CESSA competes for the same Mexican high-school graduate audience but with deeper specialization in culinary/hospitality verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cessamx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cessa-universidad
• Instagraminstagram.com/cessamx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 CESSA Universidad