Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education

Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM), also known as Tecnológico de Monterrey or just Tec, is a private research university based in Monterrey, Mexico, which has grown to include 35 campuses throughout the country.

The history of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) can be traced back to the early 1940s, when a group of local businessmen led by Eugenio Garza Sada began to discuss the need for a new educational institution in Monterrey, Mexico. At the time, the city was experiencing rapid industrial growth, and there was a shortage of highly skilled workers.

In 1943, Garza Sada and his colleagues founded the Civil Association of Higher Education and Research (Enseñanza e Investigación Superior, A.C.), a non-profit organization dedicated to the establishment of a new university. The following year, the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) opened its doors to its first students.

From the outset, ITESM was committed to providing high-quality education in engineering, business, and other technical fields. The university also emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation. In 1950, ITESM became the first foreign university to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), a prestigious regional accreditation agency in the United States.

Over the next few decades, ITESM experienced rapid growth. The university opened new campuses throughout Mexico, and expanded its academic offerings to include a wider range of disciplines. ITESM also established a number of research centers and institutes, and its faculty began to make significant contributions to a variety of fields.

In the 1980s and 1990s, ITESM continued to grow and develop. The university launched a number of new programs, including a graduate school of business, a medical school, and a law school. ITESM also expanded its international reach, establishing partnerships with universities and businesses around the world.

Today ITESM is one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, conducting cutting-edge research, and playing a major role in the development of Mexico.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education is positioned as the #185 top university in the world, which makes it the #2 top university in Mexico. The university's global rank decreased by 1 point from last year.