Ateneo, UP enter 2026 QS rankings by subject

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines have entered the global top 100 of the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, marking a historic milestone for Philippine higher education.

Ateneo climbed to the 51 to 100 bracket for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies, while UP debuted in the same band for Library and Information Management – an improvement from last year, when no Philippine university reached the top tier.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said the gains contributed to the Philippines posting a 19-percent net improvement rate and making the country the fifth highest in Asia among higher education systems with at least 10 ranked offerings.

UP also placed 101-150 in Archaeology; 101-200 in Anthropology; 151-175 in Hospitality and Leisure Management and 151-200 in English Language and Literature and Agriculture and Forestry.

Ateneo likewise ranked 101-200 in Anthropology.

Meanwhile, De La Salle University placed 101-150 in Philosophy, while University of Santo Tomas entered the 701+ bracket in Medicine.

Of the 47 academic programs assessed across six institutions, 14 improved their rankings while 19 remained stable, reflecting continued progress despite intensified global competition.

CHED noted that UP led all Philippine institutions with 26 ranked entries and emerged as the country’s most improved university, posting gains in Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Management and Life Sciences and Medicine.

New entrants Adamson University and Lyceum of the Philippines University both broke into the global top 200 for Hospitality and Leisure Management.

The QS’s annual subject rankings assess more than 21,000 academic programs worldwide across 55 disciplines and five broad faculty areas, using indicators such as academic and employer reputation, research impact and international collaboration.

“As Philippine universities aim to deepen access, internationalization and collaboration, these results show growing subject-level competitiveness on the world stage,” QS senior vice president Ben Sowter said.

CHED celebrated these results as a reflection of the country’s continued pursuit of academic excellence and international engagement.

“The achievement of record-high ranks in subjects ranging from Philosophy and History to Library Management underscores the Philippines’ success in establishing globally-recognized academic benchmarks that resonate on the world stage,” it said.