Following the release of the 2025 Bar Examination results, four top-performing law schools based in Davao, Iloilo, Surigao del Sur, and La Union emerged with perfect passing rates to impressively top their respective categories.
100% PASSING RATE
The Ateneo de Davao University (AdDu) College of Law’s perfect run saw all their 82 takers overcome the 2025 Bar Exams, ranking first overall among law schools with 51 to 100 examinees. Of AdDu College of Law’s 82 aspirants, 80 were first-time takers.
The Iloilo City-based West Visayas State University (WVSU) congratulated all of its 12 new ‘Taga-WEST’ lawyers– of which 11 were first-time takers– who conquered the bar exams, putting WVSU-College of Law on top among law schools with 11 to 50 examinees.
“On behalf of the entire West Visayas State University, Congratulations new Taga-WEST Lawyers… Your hard work, perseverance, and excellence have brought honor to the University and inspiration to future generations,” wrote WVSU President Bebong Villaruz through a congratulatory post on Facebook.
Northeastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU), formerly known as Surigao del Sur State University, replicated another seamless bar exam performance by posting a 100% passing rate for the second consecutive year. With five passers in as many takers, NEMSU College of Law ranked first among schools with 1 to 10 examinees, a distinction it shares with the Polytechnic College of La Union (PCLU).
“NEMSU College of Law proudly announces that for two consecutive years, in the 2024 and 2025 Bar Examinations, it has maintained a 100% passing rate. This remarkable achievement is the result of the collective efforts of the NEMSU Administration, the College of Law faculty members and staff, the various law student organizations, and the entire NEMSU community,” said the NEMSU College of Law through a Facebook post.
In terms of the highest passing percentages for first-time candidates, Bulacan State University (BulSU) and Palawan State University School of Law also join WVSU as province-based schools under the 11-50 examinees category with a 100% passing rate.
TOP-PERFORMING LAW SCHOOLS
Only one non-Metro Manila law school cracked the Top 5 among institutions with more than 100 examinees, that being the Leyte-based Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation (DVOREF) with an overall passing rate of 64.88%.
DVOREF College of Law’s placement in the said category puts it alongside powerhouse NCR-based law schools such as the Ateneo de Manila University (1st, 96.52%), University of the Philippines (2nd, 94.63%), University of Santo Tomas - Manila (3rd, 87.16%), and Far Eastern University (5th, 59.22%).
Meanwhile, Saint Louis University (SLU), a private university in Baguio, placed fourth among law schools with 51 to 100 examinees after registering an 83.33% passing rate.
Full rankings based on the Supreme Court's official release of results can be seen below.
The schools with the five highest passing percentages in their respective categories are:
For more than 100 examinees:
1. |
Ateneo de Manila University |
96.52% |
2. |
University of the Philippines |
94.63% |
3. |
University of Santo Tomas-Manila |
87.16% |
4. |
Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation |
64.88% |
5. |
Far Eastern University |
59.22% |
For law schools with 51 to 100 examinees:
1. |
Ateneo de Davao University |
100% |
2. |
Polytechnic University of the Philippines |
89.89% |
3. |
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila |
83.56% |
4. |
Saint Louis University |
83.33% |
5. |
De La Salle University – Manila |
82.89% |
For law schools with 11 to 50 examinees:
1. |
West Visayas State University |
100% |
2. |
San Beda University |
97.78% |
3. |
University of Makati |
95.65% |
4. |
Notre Dame of Marbel University |
91.67% |
5. |
University of Southeastern Philippines |
89.29% |
For law schools with 1 to 10 examinees:
1. |
North Eastern Mindanao State University Polytechnic College of La Union |
100% |
2. |
Saint Columban College |
75% |
3. |
Fernandez College of Arts and Technology |
66.67% |
4. |
Tomas Claudio College Abra Valley Colleges St. Ferdinand College |
50% |
5. |
Harvardian Colleges |
30% |
The schools with the five highest passing percentages for first-time candidates in their respective categories are:
For more than 100 examinees:
1. |
Ateneo de Manila University |
98.11% |
2. |
University of the Philippines |
96.83% |
3. |
University of Santo Tomas-Manila |
96.30% |
4. |
Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation |
80.19% |
5. |
San Beda College – Alabang |
69.91% |
For law schools with 51 to 100 examinees:
1. |
Ateneo de Davao University |
100% |
2. |
De La Salle University – Manila |
94.34% |
3. |
Polytechnical University of the Philippines |
94.20% |
4. |
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila |
85% |
5. |
University of San Jose – Recoletos |
68.48% |
For law schools with 11 to 50 examinees:
1. |
University of Makati Bulacan State University San Beda University Palawan State University School of Law West Visayas State University |
100%
|
2. |
Saint Louis University |
97.14% |
3. |
Father Saturnino Urios University |
93.33% |
4. |
Western Leyte College of Ormoc City, Inc. |
92.86% |
5. |
Jose Maria College |
92.59% |
For law schools with 1 to 10 examinees:
1. |
Notre Dame of Marbel University St. Thomas More School of Law and Business North Eastern Mindanao State University Ateneo de Naga University |
100% |
2. |
Leyte Colleges |
77.78% |
3. |
Saint Columban College |
75% |
4. |
The College of Maasin |
71.43% |
5. |
Tomas Claudio College |
60% |
