Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), previously known as Instituto Tecnológico de México (ITM), was founded on March 29th, 1946, by the Asociación Mexicana de Cultura (Mexican Cultural Association) — a distinguished group of bankers, industrialists and businessmen which, led by Raúl Baillères, worked to make higher education the driving force behind industrial and economic change in Mexico.

Since its foundation, the Institute sought to form professionals capable of generating and promoting a new development model for Mexico in technical, administrative and economic spheres. The School of Economics, the pioneering program of our Institute, was the principal force behind this goal. In 1947, the High School and School of Business Administration were founded.

For the first four years, the Institute was located on La Palma 518 but in February 1950, the Schools of Economics and Business Administration, as well as the High School, were transferred to a building located at 65 Serapio Rendón Street, Colonia San Rafael.

ITM worked to consolidate its image in academic circles throughout the 1950s. Enrollment, which in the beginning numbered 52 students, grew to 500 students by 1951, in part due to the launch of the Public and Private Accounting program. In 1954, the decision was made to close the High School since it entailed high costs for the Institute.

By the end of the fifties (1958), the Institute moved to facilities custom built for it at Marina Nacional 350, on the corner of Lago Zirahuén Street, Colonia Anáhuac.

During this decade, two significant events that defined the Institute's educational and university framework took place. The first was the publication of the decree in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (Federal Official Gazette) on January 19, 1963, with which Mexican President López Mateos, through the Minister of Public Education, Jaime Torres Bodet, granted ITM its "Autonomy" and the ranking of Escuela Libre Universitaria [Independent University School].

The second consisted of launching the Comprehensive Development Plan (1969–1977) on October 6, 1969. This plan included the implementation of substantial academic, administrative and organizational modifications to ITAM, among which the following stand out:

* The division of programs into departments for the purpose of increasing academic excellence.

* Modifications to the three programs in order to create common courses.

* The physical unification of the three schools (Economics, Accounting and Administration) at a single campus (Marina Nacional).

In 1969, the Institute proudly began to use its present name: Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

In the seventies, ITAM underwent accelerated growth which translated into the creation of several new academic programs (Applied Mathematics, 1974; Social Sciences, 1975, and Masters in Business Administration, 1974). On March 29, 1978, the Institute moved again to its current campus on Río Hondo Street 1, Colonia Tizapán San Ángel.

Since then, various modifications have been carried out to update ITAM's infrastructure and services, as well as to increase the variety of academic programs ITAM offers:

* Law (1980)

* Actuarial Science (1982)

* Computer Science (1983)

* Political Science (1991) which replaced Social Sciences

* International Relations (1992)

* Telematics Engineering (1993)

* Industrial Engineering (1997) and joint programs: Business Administration and Public Accounting and Financial Strategy, Economics and Political Science.

An important event in ITAM's recent history has been the inauguration of the Centro de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado [Center for Research and Graduate Programs], at Av. Santa Teresa 939, Colonia Héroes de Padierna, on April 16, 1991. This center is dedicated to research and graduate studies, and continuing education and executive programs.

ITAM's main purpose is to contribute to it's students' comprehensive education and to the development of a more prosperous, just, and free society. It also aims to become a community in its fullest sense, an institution of academic freedom, with quality research and educational excellency.

In ITAM's perspective, human beings are seen as freely committed to social progress and naturally oriented to the search for truth and righteousness. Consequently, education must seek the improvement of human beings by strengthening their values, developing their moral consciousness, and stimulating their capacity for service. At the same time, ITAM recognizes its obligation to its community's development, and its obligation to Mexican values and traditions.