35 PH universities make it to 2026 QS Asia Rankings

Thirty-five Philippine universities have been included in the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings, marking the country’s strongest showing yet in the annual regional list.

The University of the Philippines (UP) remained the top Philippine university despite sliding 18 places to 104th. Ateneo de Manila University followed, improving slightly to 141st, while De La Salle University dropped to 178th. 

Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) stayed as the country’s fourth-ranked institution, though it fell three places to 184th among 1,530 participating universities.

Adamson University ranked fifth among Philippine schools, falling from the 411–420 band to 464th this year. The University of San Carlos followed at 507th (from 481–490). 

Mapua University was ranked seventh at 544, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines landed eighth at 671st (from 541–560), while Silliman University placed ninth at 694th (from 601–620) and Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology completed the top ten at 731–740 (from 701–750).

The following universities were also included in this year’s rankings:

• Far Eastern University (681–700 → 761–770)
• Ateneo de Davao University (701–750 → 851–900)
• Saint Louis University (751–800 → 951–1000)
• Xavier University (801–850 → 951–1000)
• Central Luzon State University (851–900 → 1001–1100)
• Central Mindanao University (851–900 → 1001–1100)
• Lyceum of the Philippines University (801–850 → 1001–1100)
• Mindanao State University (801–850 → 1001–1100)
• Cebu Technological University (851–900 → 1101–1200)
• Visayas State University (new, 1101–1200)
• Angeles University Foundation (901+ → 1201–1300)
• Central Philippine University (851–900 → 1201–1300)
• National University (new, 1201–1300)
• University of Southeastern Philippines (901+ → 1201–1300)
• West Visayas State University (901+ → 1201–1300)
• Technological University of the Philippines (new, 1301–1400)
• University of Mindanao (new, 1301–1400)
• Batangas State University – The National Engineering University (new, 1401–1500)
• Caraga State University (new, 1401–1500)
• Mariano Marcos State University (new, 1401–1500)
• University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (901+ → 1401–1500)
• Bulacan State University (new, 1501+)
• Ifugao State University (new, 1501+)
• University of Southern Mindanao (901+ → 1501+)
• Western Mindanao State University (new, 1501+)

Leading the 2026 QS Asia rankings is the University of Hong Kong, followed by Peking University in China. Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore shared the third spot.

QS evaluated universities based on 11 key indicators, including academic reputation (30%), employer reputation (20%), faculty-student ratio (10%), international research network (10%), citations per paper (10%), papers per faculty (5%), and staff with PhD (5%). The remaining metrics, each worth 2.5%, measured the proportion of international faculty and students, as well as inbound and outbound exchange programs.

Established in 2009, the QS Asia University Rankings provides an annual assessment tailored to regional priorities, highlighting research impact, international collaboration, and academic excellence among Asia’s higher education institutions. —VAL, GMA Integrated News