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   August 22, 2024

A Complete List of Top Universities in Metro Manila

By: Melecio Martin G. Arranz IV

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If there’s one thing that most—if not all—people treasure, it’s high-quality education. Fortunately, Metro Manila has numerous universities known for academic excellence and cutting-edge research. However, with many compelling options, picking the perfect one for your child can be confusing. 

This guide can help introduce you to the top universities in Metro Manila so you can navigate the exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—academic landscape. Find out what these institutions offer and, at the same time, why investing in a condo can be a smart move for your child’s lodging needs.

Also Read: 8 Neighborhood Essentials That Should Be Near Your Home

List of Top Universities in Metro Manila 

Choosing a university is a momentous decision. Here are some options you can consider for your child’s future.

1. University of the Philippines, Diliman

Many aspire to be an iskolar ng bayan for a good reason. The University of the Philippines Diliman is one of the leading universities in the country and Southeast Asia. Since its opening in 1908, it has consistently offered academic excellence and shown national significance.

UP Diliman is known for its strong engineering, science, law, and art programs, making it one of the country’s top institutions for research and innovation. It has produced many influential people we know, such as former Vice President Leni Robredo, journalist Jessica Soho, and screenwriter Ricky Lee.

2. Ateneo de Manila University

Founded in 1859 by Spanish Jesuits, Ateneo de Manila University is one of the oldest Jesuit institutions in the Philippines. It excels in humanities, social and political sciences, business, and law.

Ateneo also prioritizes students’ well-being and fosters a vibrant college life through various organizations. Whether you’re an aspiring restaurant entrepreneur or a statistics genius, there’s a group for every interest.

3. De La Salle University

Since its establishment in 1911, DLSU has been renowned for its business, engineering, and computer science programs. Its courses are designed to be future-proof and focused on problem-solving, research, and skills for the digital age.

Moreover, it has 14 Centers of Excellence awards from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the most among Philippine private higher educational institutions.

4. University of Santo Tomas

Your child who wants to enter the medical field can study at UST, the oldest university in Asia. It’s particularly well-known for its health science programs, with national hero Jose Rizal as one of its esteemed alums. However, UST is also popular for its architecture, liberal arts, and humanities programs.

Apart from its academic offerings, UST has the distinction of housing the oldest museum in the country and the iconic Main Building—a national cultural treasure. It’s also where Pope Paul VI, St. John Paul II, and Pope Francis celebrated masses during their visits to the Philippines.

5. Far Eastern University

Established in 1928, FEU is recognized for its business, education, accountancy, and medical technology programs. In fact, some of its prominent alums include business tycoons Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, and Alfonso Yuchengco.

Moreover, CHED recognizes FEU as one of the centers of excellence in education. The university is also one of the pioneers of adaptive online learning in the Philippines, which was crucial at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Adamson University

Adamson University has always been an engineering school since its establishment in 1932. It initially offered industrial engineering classes and later expanded its programs as it admitted more students.

Today, CHED recognizes the university’s chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and industrial engineering and teacher education courses as centers of development.

7. University of the East

Established in 1946, UE quickly became one of the largest universities in the Philippines. It’s known for its business administration, information technology, accountancy, and dentistry programs.

UE is one of the top schools for hiring skilled workers in wholesale trading. Employers value UE graduates’ education and practical skills, making them highly sought after.

8. National University

NU was founded in 1900 as the Philippines’ first co-educational and non-sectarian institution. It initially offered business courses and later expanded to architecture, accountancy, education, computer science, and engineering.

NU’s main campus is in Sampaloc, Manila, but it also has campuses in Pasay and Mendiola.

It boasts notable alums such as the late presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Carlos P. Garcia, who excelled in civil engineering and law, respectively. Elisa Ochoa, the first woman elected to Congress, also graduated from NU.

9. Polytechnic University of the Philippines

For affordable but high-quality education, look no further than PUP. It offers business, engineering, communication, and IT programs. In fact, its journalism program produced esteemed journalists Ted Failon, Jaime FlorCruz, and Irene Fernando.

Moreover, employers prefer hiring PUP graduates because they excel as team players in the workplace. The university’s curriculum is popular for preparing students to integrate seamlessly into professional teams across industries.

10. Mapúa University

Mapúa is the leading institution for engineering and technological education in the Philippines. Its engineering, architecture, and IT programs strongly focus on innovation. 

Additionally, Mapúa has virtual classrooms and programs for continuous learning during unexpected class suspensions like calamities or threats. It also offers fully online graduate and undergraduate programs, including nine master’s degree options in engineering and IT. 

11. Lyceum of the Philippines University

If your child wants a tourism and hospitality management degree, you can enroll them in LPU. Established in 1952, this university is the first in the Philippines to receive international accreditation for its hotel and restaurant management and tourism programs.

It also offers business and communication programs, producing prominent alums such as the late novelist Laulhati Bautista and multi-awarded actress Perla Bautista.

12. University of Asia and the Pacific

UA&P started as the Center for Research and Communication (CRC) in the 1960s, initially focused on research. It eventually offered industrial economics classes and expanded to arts and sciences, business management, and communication upon reaching full university status.

Today, UA&P is renowned for economics and management courses, particularly its industrial economics and entrepreneurial management programs.

13. Philippine Women’s University

PWU is one of the first universities for women in Asia. It was founded in 1919 by a group of women, including esteemed writer and educator Paz Márquez-Benítez, who became its first president.

The university initially admitted 190 female students, preparing them for leadership and service at a time when women’s rights were gaining prominence. PWU began admitting male students in the 1970s and has since expanded with multiple campuses, career development centers, and continuing education centers nationwide.

Today, it’s known for its nursing and education programs. It produced the late National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa-Goquingco and entertainment personalities Boy Abunda and Ruffa Gutierrez.

14. University of the Philippines, Manila

UP Manila is the health sciences center of the UP System. It offers 19 undergraduate, 33 master’s, 8 doctoral programs, and several diploma and certificate programs. These courses include arts, culture, social, and physical sciences, providing students with a liberal and humanistic education.

The university’s campus includes the Philippine General Hospital, the country’s biggest modern government tertiary hospital. It provides medicine students with extensive clinical training opportunities that hone their hard and soft skills.

15. University of Makati

UMak started as the Makati Polytechnic Community College (MPCC) in 1972 to provide education for Makati’s underprivileged residents. Renamed Makati College in 1987 and then Pamantasan ng Makati (PnM) in 1991, it expanded to offer four-year and graduate degrees in education, business, and public administration.

Today, UMak is recognized for its strong performance in board and bar exams and athletic competitions and its commitment to excellence through ISO certification and CHED recognition.

16. Philippine Normal University

There’s no better place to get an education degree than PNU. Since its establishment in 1901, it consistently excels in education and training programs, producing highly qualified teachers and leaders.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) recognizes the university as one of the top-performing schools in the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT). It’s also one of the 56 Philippine universities and colleges that made it to the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.

17. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

PLM is the only chartered and autonomous university in the Philippines that the government funds. It boasts high success rates in licensure exams, particularly in programs such as law and medicine.

Some of its notable alums include martial law martyr Liliosa Hilao, screenwriter Roy Iglesias, and former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

18. Arellano University

If your child wants to take up law, they can make Arellano University one of their options. It was founded in 1938 as Arellano Law College and named after the first Filipino chief justice, Cayetano Arellano.

Now a university system with seven campuses, Arellano is known for its law, education, commerce, foreign service, art and science, and nursing programs. In fact, its international nursing program recently partnered with the West Virginia University School of Nursing to enhance education and job opportunities.

19. San Beda University

Another law school option is San Beda University, the alma mater of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Florenz Regalado. However, it’s also a good university for business, accountancy, and nursing.

San Beda also proactively enhances its learning systems through partnerships with the American International University in Bangladesh and the College of New Caledonia in Canada.

20. Trinity University of Asia

Established in 1963, TUA originated from a partnership between the Episcopal Church in the Philippines and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. It’s presently renowned for its broadcasting, communication, biology, psychology, and education programs.

Some of its alums include GMA broadcast journalist Raffy Tima and actress Erich Gonzales.

Shape Your Child’s Future Wisely

Choosing a university is a life-changing decision for your child. With so many Metro Manila colleges and universities, this guide hopefully sheds light on the top contenders.

After narrowing down your choices, consider the benefits of a strategically located condo. Living near the university fosters independence and safety, saving time and money on commutes. This setup allows your children to focus more on academics and campus life. 

Federal Land’s Quantum Residences, a pre-selling condo in Pasay City, offers prime living spaces just a stone’s throw away from universities such as DLSU, Mapua, and LPU. 

Explore Federal Land’s website, one of the leading real estate developers in the Philippines, to know more.

  About the Author

Melecio Martin G. Arranz IV

Digital Marketing Head

Martin is an experienced marketer with over 16 years of experience across various industries including real estate, banking and finance, technology, and advertising.

Martin has a broad range of expertise in having handled campaigns, brand launches, activations both in the traditional and digital space. Currently serving as the Digital Marketing Head at Federal Land, Martin leads a team focused on managing digital sales and platforms for the residential, estates and commercial business units.

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