Philippines Breaks Record: 56 Universities in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Philippine universities in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE IR) significantly increased, nearly doubling in number from last year, and showcasing the sector’s contribution towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A total of 56 Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were ranked in this year’s THE IR, an increase of 93% from the 29 in the 2023 edition.

All 29 Philippine HEIs from 2023 THE IR are still on the 2024 list.

Leading the Philippines since its entry in the 2021 THE IR, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) maintains its spot in the 201-300 bracket.

Ifugao State University (IFSU) debuted strong this year at the second spot, sharing the 401-600 bracket with De La Salle University (DLSU), and the University of the Philippines (UP) which maintained their ranks from last year.

In the top 16 Philippine universities are the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the 601-800 bracket along with Batangas State University, Mariano Marcos State University, and Saint Louis University.

Mapua University moved down from its debut ranking last year in the 601+ bracket to the 801-1000 bracket this year, joined by Benguet State University, Central Luzon State University, Isabela State University, Leyte Normal University, Tarlac Agricultural University, and two new entries: Mountain Province State Polytechnic College and Samar State University.

Here is the list of the globally-ranked Philippine universities in the 2024 THE IR released on June 12, with their respective ranking:

1. Ateneo de Manila University (201-300)
2. Ifugao State University (401-600, New Entry)
3. De La Salle University (401-600)
4. University of the Philippines (401-600)
5. University of Santo Tomas (601-800)
6. Batangas State University (601-800)
7. Mariano Marcos State University (601-800)
8. Saint Louis University (601-800)
9. Mapua University (801-1000)
10. Benguet State University (801-1000)
11. Central Luzon State University (801-1000)
12. Isabela State University (801-1000)
13. Leyte Normal University (801-1000)
14. Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (801-1000, New Entry)
15. Samar State University (801-1000, New Entry)
16. Tarlac Agricultural University (801-1000)
17. Cebu Technological University (1001-1500)
18. Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (1001-1500)
19. Cordillera Career Development College (1001-1500, New Entry)
20. San Beda University (1001-1500)
21. Philippine Normal University (1001-1500)
22. Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (1001-1500)
23. St. Paul University Philippines (1001-1500)
24. University of Northern Philippines (1001-1500, New Entry)
25. University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (1001-1500)
26. University of the Cordilleras (1001-1500, New Entry)
27. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (1001-1500)
28. Visayas State University (1001-1500)
29. Biliran Province State University (1501+, New Entry)
30. Bulacan State University (1501+)
31. Cagayan State University (1501+, New Entry)
32. Cavite State University (1501+, New Entry)
33. Central Philippine University (1501+)
34. Central Philippines State University (1501+)
35. Catanduanes State University (1501+, New Entry)
36. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (1501+, New Entry)
37. Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (1501+, New Entry)
38. Iloilo Science and Technology University (1501+, New Entry)
39. Lyceum-Northwestern University (1501+)
40. Lyceum of the Philippines University (1501+, New Entry)
41. Mabalacat City College (1501+, New Entry)
42. Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna (1501+, New Entry)
43. Panpacific University (1501+, New Entry)
44. Pangasinan State University (1501+, New Entry)
45. Polytechnic University of the Philippines (1501+, New Entry)
46. Quezon City University (1501+, New Entry)
47. Southern Leyte State University (1501+)
48. University of Baguio (1001-1500, New Entry)
49. University of Eastern Philippines (1501+)
50. University of Immaculate Conception (1501+, New Entry)
51. University of Mindanao (1501+, New Entry)
52. University of San Carlos (1501+)
53. University of Southern Mindanao (1501+, New Entry)
54. Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (1501+, New Entry)
55. WCC Aeronautical and Technological College (1501+, New Entry)
56. Western Philippine University (1501+, New Entry)

Philippine HEIs in THE IR 2019-2022 that are still on this year’s list:

‌One out of 1 Philippine HEI from 2019 THE IR with its bracket is still on the 2024 list:

1. De La Salle University (301+)

Three out of four Philippine HEIs from 2020 THE IR with their brackets are still on the 2024 list:

1. University of Santo Tomas (301-400)
2. De La Salle University (601+)
3. Mapua University (601+)

Five out of five Philippine HEIs from 2021 THE IR with their brackets are still on the 2024 list:

1. Ateneo de Manila (201-300)
2. De La Salle University (401-600)
3. University of Santo Tomas (601-800)
4. Tarlac Agricultural University (601-800)
5. Mapua University (801-1000)

13 out of 15 Philippine HEIs from 2022 THE IR with their brackets are still on the 2024 list:

1. Ateneo de Manila University (101-200)
2. De La Salle University (401-600)
3. Mariano Marcos State University (401-600)
4. Central Luzon State University (601-800)
5. Mapúa University (601-800)
6. University of Santo Tomas (601-800)
7. Tarlac Agricultural University (601-800)
8. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (801-1000)
9. Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (801-1000)
10. San Beda University (801-1000)
11. Visayas State University (801-1000)
12. Cebu Technological University (1001+)
13. St Paul University Philippines (1001+)

Evaluation Process

The 2024 THE IR evaluated 2,152 universities from 125 countries/regions, ranking them based on their real-world impact as measured by the United Nations SDGs: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth.

Moreover, it integrates scores across multiple SDGs to reflect overall performance and impact, with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) weighted 22% of the total and the top three scores from other SDGs at 26% each.

“This means that different universities are scored based on a different set of SDGs, depending on their focus. The score for the overall ranking is an average of the last two years’ total scores,” THE stated on its website.

Importance of University Impact Rankings

The Philippines ranked among the top 10 countries with the most participating HEIs.

CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said in its press release that the continuous growth in the number of globally ranked universities in THE IR underscores the commitment of Philippine HEIs to achieving the United Nations’ SDGs and making a positive societal impact.

“This collective effort reflects the growing understanding that universities have a vital role to play in addressing global challenges,” De Vera said.

“We are witnessing a paradigm shift where universities are actively integrating social development goals into their core mission,” he added.

THE is among the three CHED-recognized ranking systems for HEI internationalization, alongside Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).

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