Ateneo, UP, La Salle, and UST in THE Asia Rankings 2026
The Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Rankings is a list of universities in Asia released annually by the London-based Times Higher Education, presenting the overall rankings of universities that excel in education, research, and global impact.
THE uses 18 performance indicators, which are grouped into five areas:
- Teaching (the learning environment);
- Research environment (volume, income, and reputation);
- Research quality (citation impact, research strength, research excellence, and research influence);
- International outlook (staff, students, and research);
- Industry (income and patents).
With this, the ranking serves as an excellent and trusted guide for parents, students, and employers in identifying which universities in the Philippines rank highly, offer quality facilities, have excellent professors, and provide students with an advantage in the job market.
This year, it is great news that among the 929 universities evaluated across 36 countries, the “Big 4” universities of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and University of Santo Tomas are included in the list.
The Big 4 Are Still Leading the Way in Asia
The Philippines’ “Big 4” universities, University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and University of Santo Tomas, secured spots in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026.
ADMU emerged as the highest-ranked Philippine university, placing in the 501–600 bracket. DLSU, UST, and UP followed, all landing in the 601–800 bracket.
Other Philippine universities recognized in the rankings include Mapúa University, which also placed in the 601–800 bracket, and Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), which ranked in the 801+ bracket, presenting notable academic excellence in Mindanao.
What This Means for Incoming College Students
The latest Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2026 highlights that Philippine universities continue to gain recognition on the international stage despite growing competition across Asia.
Incoming college students should note that these rankings can serve as a guide in choosing universities that demonstrate strong academic performance, research output, and global reputation. University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and University of Santo Tomas continue to prove that Filipino students can receive globally competitive education locally.
Moreover, as mentioned by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, the rankings prove that Philippine higher education institutions are steadily gaining their place in the global academic community. They also highlight the growing commitment of universities to quality, transparency, and international engagement.
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Sources:
https://ched.gov.ph/press-releases/643