MANILA — Two Philippine universities — Adamson University and Mapúa University — have made their debut in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, a global listing of the top 1,500 higher education institutions worldwide.

Adamson was ranked in the 1,001–1,200 bracket, while Mapúa landed in the 1,401+ tier, among the 112 new entrants in this year’s list.

“This recognition is not so much a badge of honor as a humble validation of the hard work and collective effort of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” said Adamson University President Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario in a statement. “To be included in the QS World Rankings leads us to be more resolved to make Adamson contribute more to global education.”

Mapúa University also celebrated the achievement, calling it “a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to global excellence in education.”

6 Philippine Universities in the Rankings

Alongside Adamson and Mapúa, four other Philippine universities retained spots in the 2026 rankings:

• University of the Philippines (UP): Rank 362, down from 336 last year
• Ateneo de Manila University: Rank 511, up from 516
• De La Salle University: Rank 654
• University of Santo Tomas (UST): Placed in the 851–900 bracket

Asia on the Rise

QS Magazine noted a continued upward trend for Asian universities, not only in research indicators but also in attracting international students.

“Previously, this upward movement in the region has been driven in large part by the research indicators,” QS stated, “however Asian universities are increasingly challenging Western institutions in the international student market.”

Top 10 in the 2026 Rankings

The list remained dominated by Western institutions, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) holding the top spot. The top 10 are:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Imperial College London
3. Stanford University
4. University of Oxford
5. Harvard University
6. University of Cambridge
7. ETH Zurich
8. National University of Singapore (NUS)
9. University College London (UCL)
10. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

QS also pointed out that recent policy shifts in the U.S., U.K., and Canada have disrupted international student flows, affecting university recruitment.