UP remains country's top university, but Philippine schools slip in QS World Rankings 2027
At A Glance
- The University of the Philippines (UP) remained the country's top-performing institution, ranking 402nd in 2027, down from 362nd in 2026.
- Other top-performing Philippine schools were the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, and Adamson University.
Five universities from the Philippines have been included in the QS World University Rankings 2027, but all recorded declines in their positions amid intensifying global competition in higher education, according to results released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds on Thursday, June 18.
The latest edition of the rankings placed the Philippine institutions between the 401–1400 band out of more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and territories.
The University of the Philippines (UP) remained the country’s top-performing institution, ranking 402nd in 2027, down from 362nd in 2026.
It was followed by Ateneo de Manila University at 581st place, slipping from 511th last year.
De La Salle University dropped to the 751–760 band from 654th, while the University of Santo Tomas moved down to the 951–1000 bracket from 851–900.
Adamson University recorded the biggest slide, falling to the 1201–1400 band from 1001–1200 in the previous cycle.
QS noted that globally, more than 670 institutions also dropped in rank this year, highlighting increased competition among universities for research output, international partnerships, and graduate employability.
QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter acknowledged that the Philippines continues to recognize the role of higher education in long-term development goals.
“However, this year’s results suggests that global peers are advancing at a faster pace, be that in research intensity, sustaining international partnerships or ensuring the best graduate outcomes,” he said.
“The global higher education system is undergoing unprecedented changes, with more universities appealing to international students and scholars while fluctuating research funding availability and changes in the workplace are driving alterations in the international research and tertiary education landscape,” he added.
Sowter said Philippine higher education institutions need appropriate policy frameworks and government support to help them keep pace with advances being made across the global higher education sector.
The QS World University Rankings 2027 assessed more than 1,500 universities worldwide using indicators including research impact, academic reputation, employer reputation, and graduate outcomes.