Sinaloa University Pays Off $8.3M in Loans, Financial Restructuring Underway

The government of Sinaloa state has made payments totaling 150 million pesos toward loans taken out in late 2025 to meet obligations of the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS), Governor Rubén Rocha Moya announced Friday.

Rocha Moya stated the payments are being made according to a pre-established schedule. “They have already been paying, well, at least 150 million pesos have been paid due to the fact that they are scheduled and therefore they are complying, they are complying,” he said, according to a report from local news outlet Sinaloa Hoy.

The governor emphasized ongoing collaboration between his administration and UAS regarding the university’s financial management. He acknowledged UAS efforts to improve its financial situation and avoid past resource management errors. “We are working and they are working internally there, they are making adjustments, but they are making their efforts in that regard,” Rocha Moya said.

Rocha Moya also reiterated the limitations of state government resources, noting that funds are not always available to fully support UAS. “And our talks with them are precisely, well, the resource with us is not indefinite and sometimes we don’t have [funds],” he stated.

The UAS, facing financial challenges, has implemented a restructuring plan that includes personnel reductions. Rector Jesús Madueña Molina announced more than 200 positions have been cut, primarily in administrative areas, as part of a broader financial reengineering effort to strengthen the university’s economic viability. The plan was implemented January 1, 2026, with the goal of optimizing resources and ensuring continued academic operations, according to Sinaloa Hoy.

In a separate development on March 19, 2026, the newly constructed Facultad de Medicina (School of Medicine) in Guasave was officially named “Dr. Rubén Rocha Moya” in honor of the current governor and former rector of the university, according to Luz Noticias. Rocha Moya expressed surprise and gratitude at the recognition during the building’s inauguration ceremony.

The governor’s acknowledgement of the UAS financial restructuring comes after a period of reported financial strain for the institution. According to a report from Los Noticieristas, the naming of the new medical school after Rocha Moya was met with a positive reaction from the governor, who stated he was “very excited” by the honor.