Postgraduate trends in Mexico in the digital age

Abstract

This study analyzed the enrollment behavior at the postgraduate level in Mexico, identifying trends by educational modality and type of funding. A quantitative approach was employed, with a descriptive design and scope, as well as group difference analysis. Comparisons were made of the growth in face-to-face and distance postgraduate enrollment in public and private universities over the past seven years. The results showed that distance postgraduate enrollment increased from 120,445 students in the 2018–2019 academic year to 236,753 students in the 2024–2025 academic year, representing an increase of 96.57%. In contrast, face-to-face postgraduate enrollment experienced only a minimal increase, from 240,822 to 241,629 students, equivalent to 0.34%. Regarding the growth of private postgraduate education, this was mainly due to the expansion of distance enrollment, which rose from 28% in the 2018–2019 academic year to 44% in the 2024–2025 academic year. Conversely, the decline in public postgraduate education was attributable to a decrease in face-to-face enrollment, which fell from 33% to 28%. In conclusion, public universities in Mexico must reinvent themselves by designing dynamic, flexible, and innovative educational models that facilitate the development of distance education programs