Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México
A small, rigorous Mexico City institute that has trained a long line of Mexico's finance ministers and central bankers.
- Tuition
- MX$331.1K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1946
- QS World Ranking
- 751-760
- 2027 edition
- Campus
- Urban
About ITAM
ITAM was founded on 29 March 1946 as the Instituto Tecnológico de México by a group of bankers, industrialists and merchants led by Raúl Baillères, with the aim of making higher education the engine of Mexico's industrial and economic change. Economics was its first school, followed by business administration and accounting; it gained autonomy in 1963 and has used its current name since 1969. It is private, secular and non-profit.
ITAM is small and concentrated: undergraduates study on the Río Hondo campus in the south of Mexico City, and graduate programs are based at Santa Teresa. Its 16 undergraduate degrees run through six academic divisions (Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Exact Sciences, and General and International Studies) and 14 departments, and include Economics, Actuarial Science, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Law, International Relations and several engineering degrees. Courses are serialised, so first-semester students take a set sequence of subjects.
The Department of Economics is the institution's best-known asset: several Mexican finance ministers and central bank governors studied there. Admission is by the College Board's PAA exam (or SAT abroad) with a minimum 7.0 high school average, and about one in three students receives financial support. It suits students who want a demanding, quantitative education in Spanish and a strong alumni network in Mexican finance and government.
Por un México más libre, más justo y más próspero
“For a freer, fairer and more prosperous Mexico” — university motto
Why students choose ITAM
In QS 2027 ITAM was 1st in Mexico and 30th worldwide for Employment Outcomes, and QS data show 95.5% of graduates employed 7 to 11 months after graduating.
Alumni include central bankers Agustín Carstens and finance ministers Pedro Aspe and Luis Videgaray, all ITAM economics graduates.
The Beca Baillères covers 100% of tuition for ten semesters for one admitted student per program in each intake, chosen on exam score, grades and financial need.
One in three students receives financial aid, and ITAM's scholarships carry no work obligation or repayment after graduation.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (August 2027); the fall-entry admission call normally runs January to July
Selectivity
ITAM does not publish an acceptance rate. Applicants need at least a 7.0 (out of 10) high school average and a minimum score on the College Board's PAA admission exam; scholarship candidates need 9.0.
Typical entry requirements
| Mexican bachillerato / preparatoria | In the final year or completed, with a minimum overall average of 7.0, plus a passing ePAA score |
|---|---|
| Foreign high school diploma | Minimum 7.0-equivalent average plus SAT results (converted to the PAA scale) sent with the application |
Deadlines
- Current call, August-December 2026 (for spring 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 monthsDecember 7, 2026 (last ePAA session)
Sessions on 22 August, 5 and 21 September, 3 and 24 October, 7 and 9 November and 7 December 2026 (no financial aid for the 7 December session); documents for the SAT-abroad, other-institution and Prepa Sinergia routes by 10 December 2026. This call ends in December, so it feeds the January (spring) intake rather than August 2027.
- Admission call for fall (August) 2027 entry Non-bindingNot yet published (expected January to July 2027)
ITAM's fall-entry call runs from January to July. The last archived one (Convocatoria Enero - Julio 2024) had ePAA sessions from 20 January to 1 June and a 24 July deadline for SAT-abroad, other-institution and Prepa Sinergia files; check the Fechas Importantes page for the 2027 dates.
ITAM runs two admission calls a year: August-December (ending in December, ahead of the January intake) and January-July (ahead of the August intake). The call now open (August-December 2026, exams 22 August to 7 December 2026) is therefore for spring 2027 entry; the dates for August 2027 entry will appear on ITAM's Fechas Importantes page in early 2027. In 2024 the fall-entry call ran from mid-January, with the last exam on 1 June and a 24 July document deadline for SAT-abroad applicants.
How to apply
Create an account on ITAM's admissions portal, fill in and sign the application summary, privacy notice and consent form, and upload your birth certificate, high school certificate or a recent transcript showing your average, photo ID, CURP (Mexican applicants) and a photo. Then register for an online ePAA session; documents must be in by 12:30 on the Monday before your exam date (another ITAM page says the Tuesday before, so do not leave it late). The exam fee (MXN 940) applies if your average is below 8.5 or you have taken the ITAM exam before.
What admissions looks for
- A passing score on the College Board PAA (or SAT abroad), which measures the basic skills needed for university study.
- A high school average of at least 7.0, and 9.0 or higher for scholarship consideration.
- For the Beca Baillères: the top admission-exam score, the best high school average and the greatest demonstrated financial need.
- A complete, correctly signed application file submitted before the exam registration cut-off.
Tips for applying to ITAM
- 1 Prepare specifically for the PAA: it is the core of ITAM's admission decision, and applicants abroad can substitute the SAT.
- 2 If your average is 8.5 or higher, your first ITAM admission exam is free.
- 3 Apply for financial aid at the same time as admission: scholarships cover 10% to 90% of tuition (100% for the Beca Baillères) and do not need to be repaid.
- 4 If you are aiming for August 2027, watch for the January-July 2027 call and book an early exam date: files close at 12:30 on the Monday before each session, with no exceptions.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in MXN
About one in three ITAM students receives financial aid, as scholarships, repayable loans or a mix. The Beca Baillères covers 100% of tuition for ten semesters for one new student per program each intake, and the Beca ITAM al Compromiso Académico covers 10% to 90% of tuition for up to six semesters for students with a 9.0 average and demonstrated need. Aided students with financial need can also get maintenance scholarships (from MXN 2,500 a month) and housing scholarships (up to MXN 3,500 a month).
- One in three
- Students receiving financial support
- 100% of tuition for 10 semesters (one per program per intake)
- Beca Baillères
- MXN 4,400; one-time enrolment fee MXN 22,050
- Cost per credit (fall 2026)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (spring and fall intakes)
Economics (Licenciatura en Economía)
ITAM's founding program (1946), whose graduates include Agustín Carstens, Pedro Aspe and Luis Videgaray.
Applied Mathematics
A 301-credit program in the Exact Sciences division, offered since 1974.
Actuarial Science (Actuaría)
Taught by a dedicated Department of Actuarial Science and Insurance.
Political Science and International Relations
Graduates include Gabriela Cuevas, later President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Artificial Intelligence Engineering and Data Science
Newer quantitative degrees alongside Computer Science and Engineering and Mechatronics and Intelligent Robotics Engineering.
Research
- Interdisciplinary centres include the Centro de Análisis e Investigación Económica (CAIE), the Centro de Estudios de Competitividad and the Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad, Inteligencia y Gobernanza.
- The Centro ITAM de Energía y Recursos Naturales and the EPIC Lab work on energy and innovation.
- QS 2027 placed ITAM 1st in Mexico for the International Faculty indicator.
Schools & faculties
- División Académica de Ciencias Sociales (Economics, Law, Political Science)
- División Académica de Negocios
- División Académica de Ingeniería
- División Académica de Ciencias de la Computación
- División Académica de Ciencias Exactas
- División Académica de Estudios Generales y Estudios Internacionales
According to QS data reported by ITAM, 95.5% of ITAM graduates are employed 7 to 11 months after graduating; ITAM ranked 1st in Mexico and 30th worldwide on QS 2027's Employment Outcomes indicator.
Student life
ITAM is a compact, commuter-style institute: undergraduates are on the Río Hondo campus in southern Mexico City, around spaces such as the Plaza Roja; courses follow a fixed, serialised sequence set by each program. Student associations and representations, ITAM Música, a health program, free transport lines and a job board support campus life. ITAM runs recruitment events around Mexico for out-of-town students and offers housing scholarships to aided students who move to the city.
- Río Hondo campus for undergraduates; Santa Teresa campus for graduate programs.
- Student associations and representations, and the ITAM Música program.
- Free transport lines to campus.
- Exchange and summer-abroad programs through ITAM's international office.
Housing. ITAM does not describe on-campus residences; students from outside Mexico City find their own housing, and aided students with need can apply for housing and maintenance scholarships.
Location
ITAM's undergraduate campus is at Río Hondo 1 in Progreso Tizapán, Álvaro Obregón, a residential area near San Ángel in the south of Mexico City. The graduate campus is further south on Camino a Santa Teresa. Mexico City is a huge, high-altitude capital with a dense concentration of government, finance and business, which is where most ITAM graduates start their careers.
Nearest airport: Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Notable alumni
- AC Agustín CarstensGeneral Manager of the Bank for International Settlements (2017-2025) and former Governor of the Bank of Mexico; bachelor's in economics
- PA Pedro AspeMexico's Secretary of Finance (1988-1994); bachelor's in economics
- LV Luis Videgaray CasoSecretary of Finance and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico; bachelor's in economics
- FC Felipe CalderónPresident of Mexico (2006-2012); master's degree in economics from ITAM
- MA María Asunción AramburuzabalaBusinesswoman and chair of Tresalia Capital; accounting graduate
- GC Gabriela Cuevas BarronPresident of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2017-2020); political science graduate
Frequently asked questions
How much does ITAM cost per year?
From fall 2026 ITAM charges MXN 4,400 per credit, which works out at roughly MXN 331,000 to 370,000 a year depending on the program, plus a one-time enrolment fee of MXN 22,050.
What exam do I need to get into ITAM?
The College Board's ePAA (online Prueba de Aptitud Académica), taken online through ITAM. Applicants abroad can submit SAT scores instead, which ITAM converts to the PAA scale.
What grades do I need for ITAM?
A minimum high school average of 7.0 out of 10 to apply, plus a passing exam score. Most scholarships need an average of 9.0.
Does ITAM offer scholarships?
Yes. About one in three students gets aid; the Beca ITAM al Compromiso Académico covers 10% to 90% of tuition, and the Beca Baillères covers all tuition for ten semesters for one student per program per intake.
When are ITAM's admission exams?
For August 2027 entry, the January-July 2027 call has not been published yet; in 2024 that call had exam sessions from January to early June. The call now open (22 August to 7 December 2026) is for spring 2027 entry. Documents must be uploaded by 12:30 on the Monday before your chosen session.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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