Higher education in the Philippines

Organization	Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)
Focus	Managing higher education in the Philippines
Partner	Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Purpose	Improve education and skills training

Higher education in the Philippines helps students learn and grow through different degree programs, often called "courses." These programs are offered by colleges and universities, also known as higher education institutions (HEIs). These schools are watched over by the Commission on Higher Education, called CHED, to make sure they follow the right rules.

In the school year 2019–2020, over three million students were enrolled in higher education. This number has grown a lot since 2010–2011. This shows how important education is for young people in the Philippines.

Classification

In the Philippines, schools that offer higher education are called higher education institutions (HEIs). They can be called colleges or universities. They can be public or private, and some are run by religious groups while others are not.

As of 2020, there were 1,975 of these schools in the country. Out of these, 246 were public schools and 1,729 were private.

To be called a university, a school needs to offer at least eight different courses. This includes six basic courses and at least two advanced courses. Public universities often have fewer requirements than private ones.

Public universities are funded by the government. Private universities can be run by religious groups or by companies. Some well-known private universities include Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and University of the Philippines System.

Accreditation

Accreditation helps make sure schools and their programs offer good quality education. It is checked by other schools and experts to see if they meet certain standards.

Private schools in the Philippines can choose to get accredited by groups such as the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities and the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities Accrediting Association Inc. These groups work together under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines.

Public schools have their own groups that check their quality, like the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines. These groups also work together to make sure schools are doing well.

Autonomy and deregulation

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has rules to decide which schools can run themselves more freely. Trusted schools can ask for special permission.

Autonomous status

Schools with autonomous status can start new classes and charge higher fees without needing approval from CHED, as long as they follow CHED’s rules. These schools do not need CHED to check their work often, but they must still share information with CHED.

Besides some public universities like the University of the Philippines System, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mindanao State University System and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and special private schools like the Asian Institute of Management, 77 private schools have this special status as of September 2024. CHED updates its list of these schools regularly.

Deregulated status

Schools with deregulated status have many of the same freedoms as autonomous schools but still need approval from CHED to start new classes or open new campuses.

CHED updates its list of deregulated schools often. As of September 2024, 15 schools have this status.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) that have been granted autonomous status
Region	HEI
I – Ilocos Region	Panpacific University Saint Louis College La Union
II – Cagayan Valley	St. Paul University Philippines Saint Mary's University
Cordillera Administrative Region	Saint Louis University University of Baguio University of the Cordilleras
III – Central Luzon	Angeles University Foundation Baliuag University Centro Escolar University (Malolos Campus) First City Providential College Holy Angel University La Consolacion University Philippines Wesleyan University Philippines
IV-A – Calabarzon	Adventist University of the Philippines Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Calamba) Lyceum of the Philippines University – Laguna Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna Our Lady of Fatima University - Antipolo Campus Saint Michael's College of Laguna St. Dominic College of Asia University of Batangas University of Perpetual Help System Laguna
V – Bicol Region	Ateneo de Naga University
VI – Western Visayas	Central Philippine University John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation – Bacolod John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Arevalo) John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Molo) STI West Negros University University of St. La Salle
VII – Central Visayas	Cebu Institute of Technology - University Silliman University University of San Carlos University of San Jose–Recoletos University of the Visayas - Main
X – Northern Mindanao	Capitol University Misamis University Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
XI – Davao Region	Ateneo de Davao University Cor Jesu College University of Mindanao University of Mindanao (Tagum College) University of Mindanao (Digos College) University of the Immaculate Conception
XII – Soccsksargen	Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Notre Dame of Marbel University
National Capital Region	Adamson University Asia Pacific College Ateneo de Manila University Centro Escolar University Makati Centro Escolar University - Manila De La Salle University De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde Emilio Aguinaldo College - Manila Far Eastern University Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Far Eastern University Institute of Technology José Rizal University Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila Central University Mapúa University Miriam College National University Our Lady of Fatima University - Quezon City Our Lady of Fatima University - Valenzuela Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute (SAIDI) Southville International School and Colleges St. Paul University Manila Technological Institute of the Philippines Manila Technological Institute of the Philippines Quezon City Trinity University of Asia University of Asia and the Pacific University of Perpetual Help System DALTA - Las Piñas University of Santo Tomas University of the East
Note: Satellite campuses of non-system universities or colleges are indicated with parentheses.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) that have been granted deregulated status
Region	HEI
I – Ilocos Region	Lyceum-Northwestern University Northwestern University
IV-A – Calabarzon	De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute Emilio Aguinaldo College - Cavite University of Perpetual Help System DALTA – Calamba Campus
VI – Western Visayas	Filamer Christian University University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos University of San Agustin
VII – Central Visayas	St. Paul University Dumaguete
IX – Zamboanga Peninsula	Ateneo de Zamboanga University
X – Northern Mindanao	Liceo de Cagayan University
National Capital Region	Colegio de San Juan de Letran The Philippine Women's University San Beda University University of the East Caloocan
Note: Satellite campuses of non-system universities or colleges are indicated with parentheses.

Rankings and league tables

There are no official ways to rank schools in the Philippines. Some people look at how well schools do in tests called board exams. These tests are run by groups like the Commission on Higher Education and the Professional Regulation Commission.

A few Philippine schools appear in world university lists. These include the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, the University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas. These schools have been noted in different international rankings.

In the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds' Asia University Rankings, 16 schools from the Philippines were listed. Some of the top ones include the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and University of Santo Tomas.

Some people think these rankings don’t tell the whole story about how well students are learning at these schools.

QS World University Rankings of the top Philippine universities by year
University	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005
University of the Philippines (system)	336	404	412	399	396	356	384	367	374	401-410	367	380	380	348	332	314	262	276	398	299	372
Ateneo de Manila University	516	563	651–700	601-650	601-650	601-650	651-700	551-600	501-550	501-550	461-470	501-550	501-550	451-500	360	307	234	254	451	484	520
De La Salle University	641–650	681–690	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	701-750	701+	701+	651-700	601-650	601-650	601+	551-600	451-500	401-500	401-500	519	392	526
University of Santo Tomas	851-900	801–850	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	801-1000	701+	701+	701+	701+	701+	601+	601+	551-600	501-600	401-500	535	500	531

Classification

Accreditation

Autonomy and deregulation

Autonomous status

Deregulated status

Rankings and league tables

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