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This essay explores the relationship between José Ingenieros’ positivist thought and the University Reform initiated in Córdoba in 1918. In order to do so, the first part analyses some of Ingenieros’ most important texts and compares them with ideas contained in the Manifiesto liminar, a famous document that synthesises the ideals of the young reformers. The common thread is the notion of mediocrity, one of the axes of Ingenieros’ metaphysics and a cornerstone of the Manifiesto. Next, in the second part, the Mexican University Reform of the early XXth century is presented, especially the antipositivist views of José Vasconcelos who was its intellectual leader. Finally, the last part presents a brief exploration of the intellectual continuities and discontinuities between both authors.