MMSU is now a QS-ranked university—one of only 35 PH universities included in QS University Rankings Asia
Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) earned a spot in the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings: Asia, securing a position in the 1401–1500 band. The university joins only 34 other Philippine institutions in the prestigious list based on the official result released in the QS website today, November 4.
The annual QS World University Rankings, conducted by the London-based global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluates institutions across Asia based on multiple performance indicators. For the 2026 edition, the ranking methodology was anchored on five performance lenses, each with specific indicators that measure institutional quality and impact.
The Research and Discovery lens carries the heaviest weight at 45%, assessing academic reputation and citations per faculty. The Employability and Outcomes category, which accounts for 20%, considers employer reputation and graduate employment outcomes. Meanwhile, the Global Engagement lens, weighing 25%, evaluates international faculty and student representation, inbound and outbound exchange programs, and international research networks.
MMSU, classified by QS as a large, public higher education institution with a comprehensive focus, achieved an overall score of 5.8. The university’s academic reputation contributed the most to this score at 54.4%, followed by the faculty-to-student ratio which is 26.3%.
The university’s QS application formally started in 2019 during the term of former MMSU President, now CHED Chair Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, whose administration pushed for and invested in internationalization and international rankings. In 2020, MMSU became the first state university in the Philippines to receive a three QS Stars rating, later earning the four QS Stars rating in 2024.
MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. expressed pride and gratitude for the university’s inclusion in the prestigious ranking, recognizing the collective efforts of our stakeholders.
“This ranking really reflects the hard work of our community and boosts our bid to become a premier university in Southeast Asia. It inspires us to keep raising the bar when it comes to the quality of education and the service we provide,” said Dr. Manzano.
Meanwhile, Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo stressed that the achievement proves the university’s long-standing commitment to quality and excellence. He also said that the international rankings MMSU achieves serve as benchmarks for continuous improvement and sustained action toward better service to stakeholders.
“This milestone testifies to the culture of excellence that defines MMSU. It also affirms our strategic direction toward strengthening our global presence and academic competitiveness,” he remarked.
The 2026 QS World University Rankings: Asia featured 1,526 published institutions from 25 locations. This year also saw 550 new Asian entrants, with 10 coming from the Philippines, showing the growing visibility of the country’s universities in the region. (𝘔𝘔𝘝)
Nov, 05, 2025 08:56:am
Written By:
STRATCOM
