The advancements of technology have allowed digital transformation to reach all productive sectors, including the education sector and its members. This transformation is linked to emerging technologies, the digitalization of processes and resources, and the demand for users to upgrade to the latest technological updates. This research aims to analyze digital transformation and media literacy publications that impact higher education. Its purpose is to identify the types of research and topics they address and explore the scope of digital transformation in higher education institutions. The systematic mapping method was used to analyze 298 articles published in two databases, Scopus and Web of Science (WoS). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select the articles that could be included in this research. The results show that the largest proportion of articles were found in Scopus, and used both qualitative and quantitative empirical research methods, followed by theoretical-conceptual methods and, to a lesser extent, mixed methods. Likewise, the publications originated in five continents, and the "Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy" had the largest number of publications, with 14. Forty-two percent of the studies were classified in the strategy category, with the most mentioned topic being digital pedagogies. This research provides a perspective on digital transformation studies in higher education institutions and their internalization approaches. This research may be of value to trainers, students, decision-makers, and researchers interested in transformation, educommunication, and educational innovation.