The prelude to educational lag and school dropout in Mexico is school failure; conceptualized as the reflection of the student's potential in a parameter of insufficiency in relation to the minimum requirements established by an educational institution, making it impossible to continue, causing the perception of failure. The objective was to identify the causes of academic failure, from the perspective of the university student. The methodology presented a study with a quantitative-descriptive approach, with non-probabilistic sampling where 126 of a total population of 182 university students participated. A failure rate of 23.36% was determined, with generic competences being the learning units with the highest failure rate, the two main causes, from the student's perception, are related to the student himself, 49.5% and to the teacher, 26.6%. In conclusion, the detection of areas of opportunity and analysis must be addressed by establishing strategies that help reduce the failure rates and school failure