Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The University of the Philippines Diliman campus. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178176217113120250203-up-diliman-oblation-MD-1-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The University of the Philippines Diliman campus.<em> Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Five Philippine universities maintained their presence in the latest QS World University Rankings for 2027, maintaining a foothold in a list of increasingly intense competition among higher education institutions worldwide.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/19/adamson-mapua-make-global-university-rankings-list-for-the-first-time-1250">Adamson, Mapua make global university rankings list for the first time</a></div><p>However, the 5 Philippine universities saw their ranking drop this year, along with almost 670 of the 1,500 entries. More than 330 institutions retained the same ranking, while just over 400 improved.</p><p>The University of the Philippines, the country’s highest-ranked institution, fell 40 places from 362nd to 402nd. </p><p>Ateneo de Manila University dropped 70 places from 511th to 581st, while De La Salle University fell from 654th to the 751-760 bracket. </p><p>The University of Santo Tomas also moved down from the 851-900 band to the 951-1,000 range, while Adamson University slipped from the 1,001-1,200 bracket to the 1,201-1,400 group.</p><p>The across-the-board decline comes as universities in other parts of the world continue to gain ground. </p><p>In mainland China, 72 percent of ranked institutions improved their standing this year, while more than half of universities in Australia and India also moved up in the rankings, according to QS.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GAINS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178176330672820221012-ateneo-admu-logo-MD-6663.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo De Manila University. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>Despite the year-on-year drop, the results highlighted areas where Philippine universities are making gains beyond overall rank.</p><p>Ateneo de Manila University climbed to 142nd globally for Employment Outcomes, placing it among the world’s stronger-performing institutions in preparing graduates for the workforce. </p><p>Ateneo and De La Salle University also improved in QS’ Sustainability indicator, while Adamson University posted gains in International Faculty.</p><p>The findings come as universities worldwide compete more aggressively for research funding, international students, faculty, and academic partnerships.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/5/up-ateneo-la-salle-improve-in-2025-qs-world-university-rankings-1010">UP, Ateneo, La Salle improve in 2025 QS world university rankings</a></div><p>According to QS, nearly 670 institutions recorded lower positions this year—proof of the increasingly crowded nature of the rankings.</p><p>“The country’s peers are advancing at a faster pace,” QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said. </p><p>“It is vital that institutions in the Philippines are supported with the right frameworks and government assistance to ensure that they keep up with the global advances seen elsewhere in the global higher education ecosystem.”</p><p>QS noted that the Philippines now has two universities within the world’s top 40 percent, up from none in 2017. This showed that while Philippine universities continue to face stiff competition in the global standings, the country’s higher education sector has steadily expanded its presence among the world’s leading institutions.</p><p>The QS World University Rankings 2027 assessed more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and territories using indicators that measure academic reputation, research impact, employability, internationalization, and sustainability.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wHy7W4peFs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Despite the year-on-year drop, the results highlighted areas where Philippine universities are making gains beyond overall rank.</p>

Despite the year-on-year drop, the results highlighted areas where Philippine universities are making gains beyond overall rank.

5 PH universities see drop in 2027 QS world university rankings

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5 PH universities see drop in 2027 QS world university rankings

Andriel Gabriel Yu Bongo,

ABS-CBN News Intern

Published June 18, 2026 02:17 PM PHT

Read More:

QS World University Rankings

university

higher education

University of the Philippines

Ateneo de Manila University

De La Salle University

University of Santo Tomas

Adamson University

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