10 Best Universities in Philippines 2025

Philippines is one of the best, and among most populated country in Asia. Generally, the country boasts of over 2,000 colleges and universities. Under this post, Iuschools will provide a well detailed list of the best universities in Philippines for undergraduate programs.

Over the years, the literacy level of citizens has risen from within 96.8% to 97.1%, which means that more Philippines citizens are now more interested in education unlike before. The tertiary level education system in the Philippines, is in line with that of the American academic model. Undergraduate programs in Philippines education system normally take four years to complete, although some courses takes lesser or higher years to complete.

It is important to bring to your notice that tertiary institutions in Philippines are most privately owned. However, in this blog post, we have made a list of the 10 top universities in Republika ng Pilipinas (Philippines) including both public and private owned universities.

What to Consider before Studying in Philippines

As a student, whether a Filipino student or an international student, there are factors you need to consider before commencing your higher institution education in Philippines, and they include the following:

For both Filipinos and Non Filipino Students:

Tuition Fees: As a Filipino student, one of the biggest factors you have to consider before enrolling in a university in Philippines is the tuition fees of the university. You may have a dream university to enroll in, but as a result of you don’t have the required funds to enroll in such school, it is highly advisable that you should choose a university that will align with the funds you have.
Credibility of Courses offered by the University: Again, another factor you should consider before enrolling in a school is the credibility of the school. This means that some universities may not be fully accredited by the Commission on Higher Education to offer the course of your choice. Thus, before choosing a school, ascertain whether the university is fully accredited to offer your dream course program or not.
Cost of Living: Before choosing a university for your learning experience, check for how much the cost of living around the school area of your choice. This is to say that you should check to know if you can afford the costs of living in the city or town where the said university is located. You should also check for the cost of accommodation, be it in the university dormitory or off-camp accommodation. Another worthy of mention is the transportation costs in the country. Transportation costs in Philippines is more cheaper when compared to other countries. But the costs of transportation might differ a bit in one city to another. This means that you should also consider the cost of transportation in the city or town where your university of interest is located. Another form of cost of living to considered by applicants is food cost. Get to know the costs of meals in the area your university is located because cost of a meal varies city to city.
Location of the University: This is also another common factor to consider before enrolling in a university. The location of the university really matters and should be put into point of consideration. In as much as some students would love to study in a urban area, some other students may wish to study in a rural area than urban area.
Financial Aid: It is not a news that some universities tends to offer students financial aid in form of scholarships. So, if you are not much financially capable, you can opt to enroll in a university that offers good scholarship programs for their students.
The last but the least factor to consider is the university’s reputation. A university’s reputation is so important to consider in the sense that some universities may tend to have more good records and success than others. Some universities have bad records of producing nuisances in the society, while some have good records in churning out prominent figures in the society. Thus, you will have to choose wisely.

For International Students Specifically:

The above written factors should be considered by international students intending to study in Philippines (non Filipino Students). In addition to those factors, international students should also note these following things:

Student Visa: You can not just travel to Philippines and start studying. Instead, you must have a student visa that will enable you to do that. The prerequisite of getting this visa (9F), requires an acceptance letter from a recognized educational institution in Philippines, proof of financial capability, and a valid passport, then submitting the necessary documents to the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.
Adaptation to Life in Philippines: Irrespective of the fact that you are not Filipino, it is still highly necessary for you to start planning on how to adapt to life in Philippines. In abinitio, Filipinos are known for being animated, welcoming, hospitable, amiable, and family-oriented people, so adapting to life in the country won’t pose much difficulty for international students. As an international student, after knowing the university of your admission, you should try everything possible to get familiar with the city the university is located in. Also, another thing to take cognisant of as an international student is how the Philipines weather operates. In Philipines, there are two main seasons, which are; the dry season which starts around November to April, then the rainy season that starts around June to October. Also, you should note that English is one of the major language in the country, so do not be afraid to speak it anywhere you find yourself in Philippines.
Top Programs to consider Pursing: As an international intending to study in Philippines, there are some advisable programs to pursue, and they includes; Medical and Allied Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Computer Science.
Working with Study Visa: It can been quite tiring to work while studying in Philippines as a result of probably because of workloads from school. Although usually, a student visa does not allow full-time employment because to be simultaneously working and studying during your study program in Philippines, can actually be a tedious thing to achieve.

List of the Top Universities in Philippines (Overview,Tuition Fees, and Requirements for Admissions)

Frequently asked questions such as what universities in Philippines are the best for study are answered by a comprehensive list of the Best Universities in Philippines, with their school fees and requirements for admission:

1. University of the Philippines Diliman

The university is the country’s national university, which is open to every qualified applicant irrespective of his or her age, religion, sex and origin. The higher institution is comprised of about 275 academic programs, of which 70 are undergraduate programs, 105 are master’s, professional master’s, Juris Doctor, BA-MA Honors, and then the remaining 48 programs are under the doctoral levels. The University of the Philippines Diliman is regarded as the best constituent university in Philipines, because of it’s outstanding metrics in degree-granting academic units, number of students, stand-out faculty and library resources in the university unlike some other universities. Note, the University of the Philippines Diliman falls under University of the Philippines (UP) system.

Year Founded: 1949
How much is University of the Philippines Diliman School Fee: Ranges from PHP300/unit – PHP15,000/unit
School Location: M339+HC2, Roxas Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Contact: +63 2 8981 8500
Faculties: College of Social Work and Community Development, College of Engineering, College of Home Economics, College of Arts and Letters, and College of Fine Arts.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into University of the Philippines Diliman: For Filipinos, the requirements needed is that the applicant must have had a good high school average of final grades. Secondly, the applicant must pass the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT). For International students, the applicant must have initially completed high school that is tantamount to the Philippines high school education system. The international student, must also submit standardized test score which includes SAT, and must score atleast 1,200 points to stand a chance of admission into UP.

2. Ateneo de Manila University

The university has two major campuses which are; the Loyola School, located in Quezon City, and the Professional School, located in the Rockwell and Salcedo Campuses in Makati City. Ateneo de Manila University, is a Christian and disciplined university, built with the motto; Lux in Domino. The university provides Scholarships and financial aid packages to their students annually, which helps students that are financially handicapped to afford and foster their tertiary education in the school.

Year Founded: 1859
How much is Ateneo de Manila University School Fee: It ranges from 189,000 pesos–195,000 pesos depending on your course program.
School Location: Katipunan Ave, Quezon City, 1108 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Contact: +63 2 8426 6001
Faculties: School of Humanities, John Gokongwei School of Management, School of Social Sciences, Graduate School of Business, Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design, School of Law, Graduate School of Business, School of Government, and School of Medicine and Public Health.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into Ateneo de Manila University: The applications for admission into Anteneo de Manila University are made online here, where you will have to complete or fill-in with the required details needed. For Filipinos students, the applicant must partake and pass the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET) or SAT examination. Or the applicant will have to submit his or her Grade 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) Predicted Grade. For International students, you have to apply here. The non-filipino student must pass his or her SAT or ACT exams. Again, the international student, must also provide high school transcripts equivalent to the Philippines high school. The same student, must also provide proof of English Langyage proficiency gotten via IELTS or TOEFL examinations.

3. De La Salle University

The private Catholic higher institution was founded by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, which is situated in Manila. The private university, is one of the best Catholic universities in Philippines. The school is focused on offering their students hands-on learning and practical experiences, which will help prepare and fortify them for challenging tasks awaiting them in the future. The university also provide First-year students scholarship for their new students to grab.

Year Founded: 1911
How much is De La Salle University School Fee: Approximately 2,172,573 pesos per year
School Location: 2401 Taft Ave, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Contact: +63 2 8524 4611
Faculties/Colleges: College of Tourism and Hospitality Management, College of Business Administration and Accountancy, College of Liberal Arts and Communication, College of Criminal Justice Education, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, and College of Education.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into De La Salle University: Note, that De la Salle University,is no longer conducting standardized test as criteria for admission, rather, all admission applications are applied online here. The admission requirements for Filipino students is that they must provide; a transcript of high school grades, a personal statement or essay, an undisputed academic letter of recommendation from a teacher, school administrator or counselor. Then, for International students, the applicant must provide the following proofs: proof of English proficiency, proof of academic letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or school administrator, proof of high school transcripts and records, proof by personal essay or statement. Note, the only international students (non-filipino students) exempted from the English Language proficiency proof, are first-year students who have completed three or more years in a U.S. High School or English language-based curriculum (IB and A-Levels).

4. University of Santo Tomas

Santo Tomas university is one of the oldest university in Philippines, being ranked among the top 2,000 universities in the world. Today, it is one of the top rated private universities found in Philippines. The school without doubt, offers scholarship supports to their students which helps students to lessen the school financial burden on them. The private university is extremely rooted in Catholic faith, thus making the higher a well-disciplined university to enroll in your child.

Year Founded: 1611
How much is University of University of Santo Tomas School Fee: It ranges from 53,310 Pesos – 106,620 Pesos per year.
School Location: España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Contact: +63 2 3406 1611
Faculties/Colleges: Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Arts and Letters, Faculty of Civil Law, Faculty of Canon Law, Faculty of Philosophy, and Faculty of Sacred Theology, College of Education, College of Fine Arts and Design, College of Information and Computing Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Architecture, College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Science, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into University of Santo Tomas: For Filipino students to gain admission into the university, the applicant must take the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test (USTET) and pass it. The applicant must also endeavour to submit his or her high school transcripts directly from the high school. For International students, you will have to submit the following informations; a high school certificate, proof of financial stability or support, proof of English language proficiency via test results from IELTS or TOEFL exam result, transcripts from high school attended, a copy of the entire passport pages with a validity of at least one and a half years, then submission of application form, and payment receipt for registration.

5. University of San Carlos

The university of San Carlos is a Catholic university that was founded by the society of the Divine Word Missionary. The university also offers educational programs from creche education to tertiary education. The university, deservedly made our list of the top tertiary institutions in Philippines because, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED), thinks highly of the higher institution by granting it an Autonomous Status. The university currently offers 62 undergraduate and 88 graduate, and post-graduate programs to their students.

Year Founded: 1935
How much is University of San Carlos School Fee: It ranges from ₱19,500–₱35,000 per year.
School Location: P. del Rosario St., Cebu City, 6000, Philippines.
Contact: +63 32 401 2300
Faculties/Department: University of San Carlos has a total of 27 departments which iincludes: Accountancy Anthropology, Sociology and History, Architecture, Biology, Business Administration, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Communications, Linguistics, and Literature, Computer Engineering, Computer, Information Sciences and Mathematics, Economics, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Fine Arts, General Education and Mission, Hospitality Management, Industrial Engineering, Law, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, and Teacher Education.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into University of San Carlos: The criteria for gaining an admission for Filipino students, is that the applicant will have to provide transcripts of records for grades 11 and 12, certificate of high school of graduation. For International students, the applicant will have to provide proof of English language proficiency, transcripts directly from high school of graduation, certificate of high school of graduation.

6. University of the Philippines Los Baños

The university is a public research university that boasts of an advanced innovation, knowledge generation, and public service to pursue the goals of social transformation and sustainable development in the country and beyond Asia. The university provides their students a conducive environment, where students can garner more knowledge and experiences which will help them flourish, and be able to face challenges that may come their way in their future endeavours.

Year Founded: 1909
How much is The University of the Philippines Los Baños School Fee: It ranges from ₱40,000–₱50,000 per annum.
School Location: Pedro R. Sandoval Ave, Los Baños, 4031 Laguna, Philippines.
Contact:+63 49 536 2928
Faculties/Colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Economics and Management, the College of Public Affairs, College of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, College of Human Ecology, School of Environmental Science and Management, and Graduate School.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into The University of the Philippines Los Baños: For indigenes, you will initially have to partake in the UPCAT exams and pass it. The applicant must provide examination certificates, such as the SAT, GCE, or IB. The applicant must show proof of good final grades from high school. Then finally, the applicant should fill in the undergraduate application form, and pay the application fee required. For international students, all applicants must fill-in their undergraduate application form, submit transcripts through high school of graduation, proof of English Language proficiency obtained from good IELTS or TOEFL results, proof of financial stability through bank statements, submission of original birth certificate or a valid passport. Then, the applicant can proceed to pay for a non-refundable application fee.

7. Mindanao State University

The university is a state university, that is situated in the beautiful city of Marawi, Philippines. It is very safe to say that the university is the second biggest university following the university of the Philippines system. The university comprises of 11 campuses, and they includes: MSU-Maigo School of Arts and Trade (MSU-MSAT), Maigo, Lanao del Norte; MSU-Lanao del Norte Agricultural College (MSU-LNAC), Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; and MSU-Lanao National College of Arts and Trade (MSU-LNCAT), Marawi City. Since the establishment of the state university, the university has been fulfilling all required task saddled on the school by the law and the Congress of the Philippines. Thus, that is why it makes our list of top universities in Philippines.

Year Founded: 1961
How much is Mindanao State University School Fee: The tuition fees and other mandated fees is approximately 926,390 pesos
School Location: MSU Main Campus, Marawi City, 9700 Lanao del Sur, Philippines.
Contact:+63 2 8524 8222
Faculties/Colleges: College of Agriculture (COA), College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), College of Education (CED), College of Engineering (COE), College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS), College of Forestry and Environmental Studies (CFES), College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM), College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS), College of Law (COL) consist of two extensions in Iligan and General Santos, College of Medicine (COM) — in Iligan, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM), College of Public Affairs (CPA), College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH), College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (CSPEAR), King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies (KFCIAAS), and Graduate Studies (GS).
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into Mindanao State University: The requirements for admission for fresh undergraduate Filipino students is that the applicant must provide the following: MSU-SASE/CET or CBP Report of Rating, Senior High School Report Card/Form138A (Original), Certificate of Good Moral Character from Senior High School Principal (Original), Birth Certificate (PSA-SECPA original/authenticated), Medical Certificate from the University Medical Services and Hospital Division/Infirmary, 2 pieces of 2”x2” photo with nametag, 1 long brown envelope with plastic transparent envelope. Then for International students, the applicants must provide proof of English proficiency, obtained from either TOEFL or IELTS tests. The applicant must score a minimum 71 in IBT test, or score 525 in Paper-based test. Note, that you are deemed an international student if you have not already completed more than 24 credit hours of university level coursework.

8. University of the Philippines Manila

The university is a public research university situated in Manila. The university being one of the eight constituent universities of the University of the Philippines (UP) System, offers science students more insight on health sciences, health professions education, arts, and sciences. The public university, provides all kinds of community, public, and volunteer health services, and provide medical and technical assistance to government and private sectors most especially. The University of the Philippines Manila priority is to keep on providing their students with the best education, health services, arts and humanities, and extensive research on the challenges facing the society.

Year Founded: 1905
How much is University of the Philippines Manila School Fee: Ranges from ₱40,000–₱50,000 per year
School Location: Zone 72, 670 Padre Faura St, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Contact: +63 2 8524 0534
Faculties/Colleges: College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, College of Allied Medical Professions, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, and National Teacher Training Center for Health Professions.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into University of the Philippines Manila: To gain an admission into UPM as an indigene, you have to do the following needful: passing of the school’s UPCAT exams, submissions of high school diploma or PEPT, and proof that the applicant underwent health examinations. Subsequently for international students, they must provide these documents; transcript from high school of graduation, a valid passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Philippines, a completed and submitted official visa application form, then a DFA Form 11 with a life-size chest x-ray and laboratory reports. In addition, the international applicant must submit proof English proficiency.

9. Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The university, which is the Philippines first polytechnic university, is a non-sectarian, non-profit, and one of the best polytechnic universities in Philippines. The university is being mandated to complete some tasks, which it has completed. The polytechnic university is more about applied research, which it promotes more and offers advanced studies on the course for it’s students. The school also offer open university system, professional and technical programs in education and the social sciences related to the fields of commerce, business administration and other polytechnic courses. Note, the polytechnic university has most populated students in Philippines, with over 97,000 students, and the school operates year-round with two semesters and a summer.

Year Founded: 1904
How much is Polytechnic University of the Philippines School Fee: Ranges from 335 pesos to 3,200 Pesos
School Location: A. Mabini Campus, Anonas Street, Sta. Mesa Manila, Philippines 1016.
Contact:+632 5335 1787
Faculties/Colleges: College of Sciences, College of Accountancy and Finance (CAF), College of Education, College of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, College of Business Administration, College of Arts and Letters, College of Computer and Information Sciences, College of Communication, College of Law, College of Engineering, College of Human Kinetics, College of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Social Sciences and Development, and College of Tourism, Hospitality and Transportation Management.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into Polytechnic University of the Philippines: To be admitted into Polytechnic University of Philippines, the Filipino applicant must partake and pass the PUP College Entrance Exam, submit high school diploma, partake in the health examination, submit a high school card, Form 137-A, and birth certificate, submit Medical Clearance from PUP Medical Clinic, submit certification of good moral character signed by High school principal or a guidance counselor from high school of graduation. Then lastly, paying up for the non-refundable admission fee (₱200). For international students, they must submit the following proofs and documents; an already completed or filled-in application form, a valid passport, a certificate of good moral certificate by high school of graduation, partaking and passing the PUP Admission exam for International Students, transcripts sent by high school of graduation, and proof of English proficiency obtained from TOEFL or IELTS examination results.

10. Mapua University

Mapua University, is in fact, a reserch-oriented private university. The private university offers world class education, advanced and immersive facilities, and experiential teachings in business, health sciences, nursing, through their collaboration with Arizona State University, which is a top university in the USA as regards to innovations. The private institution, without no doubts, stands out as one of the best universities in Philippines and in the world when it comes to premier engineering and technological studies. The school offers senior high school, undergraduate, graduate, and fully online programs all simultaneously. Mapua University is committed to keep on providing conducive learning environment, where students are nurtured to be able to compete on the global scale in the future time.

Year Founded: 1925
How much is Mapua University School Fee: It ranges from 130,000 pesos to 195,000 pesos per year.
School Location: 658 Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines.
Contact: +632 8247-5000
Faculties: Not ascertained. You can call the school with the contact already provided above to know more.
Criteria/Requirements for Admission into Mapua University: To get admission in Mapua University as an indigene, the applicant must do the following things; application on the school portal, payment of MPASS fee and partaking in the exam, submission of original birth certificate, transcripts records of high school of graduation, submission of original certificate of good moral character, payment of admission fee (300 pesos), then finally, choose your program according to your MPASS test result. For international students, the applicant must submit; Alien Certificate of Registration, Identification Certificate, Birth Certificate, photocopy of valid passport, good conducted certificate from high school (must be in English), authenticated scholastic records (must be in English), Special Study Permit/ Student Visa, Course description (in English), and 1.5 x 1.5 ID Picture with white background, payment of admission fee (2,500 pesos).

Remember, that the school fees of each university varies by the course program you are undergoing. Some course program school fees are more costly than other course programs.

Which Universities are the Best for Study for in Philippines for International Students?

As a foreign student (international student) who is not a Philippines, but wishes to indulge in a study program in Philippines, Iuschools have specifically researched thoroughly, and have come out with list of universities that can suit you properly as a foreign student in Philippines. Factors such as; cost of tuition, school environment friendly, scholarship support services, and popularity of English language has been put into consideration before making this list. These schools are as follows:

Adamson University (Located in Manila)
University of Philippines Manila (Located in Manila)
Mapua University (Located in Manila)
University of the Philippines Diliman (Located in Manila)
De La Salle University (Located in Manila)

Requirements of getting A Philippines Student Visa 9F (For International Students)

Getting Philippines student visa is not that difficult, provided you have satisfied every requirements required of you. First and foremost, to qualify for applying for 9F (Philippines student visa), you must be up to 18 years, and shall provide these following documents and proofs:

Submission of completed or filled-in application visa form to the embassy.
Proof of financial stability for funding academics abroad through last 6 months transactions or Bank statements.
Submission of medicaal certificate to prove fitness.
Submission of acceptance letter from a university in Philippines.
Submission of a valid passport.

Bear in mind that, there may be an additional requirements depending on your country of origin. But those listed above, are the main requirements for Philippines student’s visa.

Conclusion

Indeed, Philippines is a very beautiful country where you can find some of the world top ranked universities. The country, have a very friendly, welcoming and hospitable environment for foreigners irrespective of their beliefs, skin color, sex, religion and many other personal choices. Thus, when intending to acquire undergraduate or graduate programs in Philippines, whether as a Filipino student, or an international student, with the informations provided on this article, could guide the applicant in making right choices of universities in Philippines to enroll in yourself or your child.