ATENEO de Manila University and the University of the Philippines have emerged as the leading higher education institutions in the Philippines, according to the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings.

In the results released Thursday (24 Apr 2025), both Ateneo and UP ranked within the 501-600 category out of 853 universities from 35 countries and territories across Asia.

However, Ateneo experienced a slight drop this year, falling from the 401–500 bracket in 2024 to its current position.

On the other hand, UP maintained its ranking in the same range as the previous year.

De La Salle University also saw a decline in its ranking, slipping from the 501-600 category in 2024 to the 601+ bracket in 2025.

Joining DLSU in the lower category are Mapúa University, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, and the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Both Mapúa and UST had the same position in 2024.

In total, 15 other Philippine higher education institutions were listed as “reporter” universities, having submitted data but failing to meet the eligibility criteria for ranking.

Meanwhile, Mainland China continues to dominate the Asia rankings, with Tsinghua University retaining its top spot for the seventh consecutive year. Five of the top 10 universities in Asia are from China, with institutions from Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong also featuring prominently in the elite group.

The THE Asia University Rankings use a methodology similar to the global rankings but with recalibrated weightings to reflect the priorities of Asian institutions. The rankings are based on 18 performance indicators, grouped into five key areas: Teaching (learning environment), Research Environment (volume, income, and reputation), Research Quality (citation impact and research excellence), International Outlook (staff, students, and research), and Industry (income and patents).

The results highlight the continued evolution of higher education in Asia, with universities in the region increasingly making their mark on the global academic stage.