4 PH universities climb in 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings; UP still top PH university

Several Philippine universities posted improved performances in the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings: Sustainability, which assessed nearly 2,000 higher education institutions worldwide based on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact.

The University of the Philippines (UP) remained the country’s top-ranked institution, placing in the 371 bracket globally with an overall score of 74.2.

Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) followed in the 455 bracket, scoring 70.6, improving from its previous rank of 503.

De La Salle University (DLSU) placed in the 538 bracket with an overall score of 67.4.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) also showed significant progress, rising to the 834 bracket with a 57.5 overall score – up from its 1,041–1,060 position in last year’s rankings.

Other Philippine universities that made the list include Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (1151–1200), Mapúa University (1251–1300), University of San Carlos (1401–1500), and Cebu Technological University (1501+).

The QS Sustainability Rankings evaluate universities’ real-world impact across key areas: climate action and environmental stewardship, social inclusion and community engagement, and the quality of institutional governance.

The indicators track how effectively schools align with global sustainability and development goals.

Global top 10

The 2026 global list was topped by Lund University in Sweden, followed by University of Toronto in Canada and University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom.

The global top 10 universities are:

1. Lund University (Sweden)
2. University of Toronto (Canada)
3. University College London (United Kingdom)
4. University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom)
5. University of British Columbia (Canada)
6. London School of Economics and Political Science (United Kingdom)
7. Imperial College London (United Kingdom)
8. University of New South Wales (Australia)
9. McGill University (Canada)
10. University of Manchester (United Kingdom)

— JMA, GMA Integrated News