Bicol University (BU) emerged as the top-performing institution in the January 2026 Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA), posting a dominant 98.63% passing rate.

The national passing rate stands at 82.09%, as per the official results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Tuesday, January 27. 

All but one among the 73 aspiring architects from Bicol U passed the exams, headlined by two topnotchers: fifth-ranked Christus Leo Del Rosario, and eighth-ranked Shannyn Ansus. The BUeño top performers scored 87.90 and 87.60, respectively.

Eight out of the 10 top-performing schools in the January 2026 LEA are based in the regions.

3rd - Holy Angel University (Angeles, Pampanga) - 60/62 (96.77%)

4th - Cebu Institute of Technology-University - 78/83 (93.98%)

5th - Batangas State University-Alangilan - 55/59 (93.22%)

6th - La Consolacion College-Bacolod - 59/65 (90.77%)

8th - Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology-Cabanatuan - 49/56 (87.50%)

9th - Saint Louis University (Baguio) - 76/87 (87.36%)

10th - University of Saint Louis-Tuguegarao - 49/57 (85.96%)

University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University-Manila (FEU) are the only Metro Manila schools in the top ten list. UST placed second with a 97.33% passing rate (73/75), while FEU-Manila ranked seventh behind a 87.65% passing percentage (71/81).