Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has reaffirmed its status as the top university in the Philippines, as revealed in the recently published Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings for 2025. The esteemed institution continues to rank within the 1,001-1,200 range, solidifying its role in the academic arena.
More Than Just a Ranking
While ADMU celebrates this achievement, the university emphasizes that rankings are not merely accolades. Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, the university president, stated, "The Times Higher Education World University Rankings offer global recognition of Ateneo de Manila as a leading institution in the Philippines." He noted that these rankings should be viewed as tools for ongoing improvement rather than absolute indicators of the university's mission and values.
Other Universities in the Philippines
Following Ateneo, the University of the Philippines ranks in the 1,201-1,500 range. De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Mapúa University, and the newcomer Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology share the third position in the 1,501+ category. Additionally, 15 other Philippine institutions received "reporter" status, indicating they submitted data but did not qualify for a specific ranking.
Decoding the Ranking Methodology
The Times Higher Education rankings rely on an extensive evaluation that utilizes 18 performance indicators across five key domains: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement. This thorough methodology draws from 157 million citations and 18 million research publications, complemented by feedback from over 93,000 scholars worldwide.
To qualify for the rankings, universities must offer undergraduate programs and have at least 1,000 relevant publications. This year's criteria have been streamlined, allowing for fewer total publications. The University of Oxford continues to hold the title of the world’s leading university, followed closely by prestigious institutions like MIT and Harvard.
