THE UNIVERSITY placed in the 601-800 global bracket and remained among the third-highest ranked Philippine schools in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.
Released June 18 (Manila time), the 2025 edition marked the fifth straight year UST landed in the 601-800 band of the rankings, which assess schools’ performance based on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UST improved its overall rating to 65.6-70.2 from 64.5-69.8 last year.
It posted its best scores in SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals), where it received a 63.3-69.9 mark; SDG 5 (gender equality), where it had a 63.2-67.8 rating; and SDG 4 (quality education), recording a 61.9-64.7 score.
UST was the top Philippine university in terms of progress toward SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), becoming the lone school from the country to land in the 301-400 global band after climbing from its previous 401-600 bracket placement.
Here is how the University performed in the other SDGs:
- SDG 1 (no poverty) – 45.8-52.9 (401-600 band)
- SDG 2 (zero hunger) – 23.6-37.1 (601-800 band)
- SDG 3 (good health and well-being) – 57.2-63.3 (401-600 band)
- SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) – 41.7-51.3 (401-600 band)
- SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) – 26.9-37.7 (801-1,000 band)
- SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) – 54.8-62.0 (401-600 band)
- SDG 9 (industry innovation and infrastructure) – 32.4-47.5 (601-800 band)
- SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) – 34.4-43.5 (601-800 band)
- SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) – 32.8-47.4 (601-800 band)
- SDG 13 (climate action) – 29.7-39.3 (601-800 band)
- SDG 14 (life below water) – 48.1-57.0 (201-300 band)
- SDG 15 (life on land) – 35.6-48.4 (401-600 band)
- SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) – 41.7-50.3 (601-800 band)
A total of 121 Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) entered the 2025 THE Impact Rankings, more than double the 56 institutions included in the 2024 edition.
This marked the highest number of ranked institutions from a country in Southeast Asia and the third highest globally, behind only India (147) and Pakistan (126).
Ateneo de Manila University remained the top school in the Philippines after climbing to the 101-200 global bracket from the 201-300 cluster last year.
Batangas State University, Isabela State University, and the University of the Philippines figured in a tie for the No. 2 spot in the Philippines after landing in the 401-600 bracket worldwide.
Caraga State University’s Ampayon campus, Ifugao State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Leyte Normal University, and Saint Louis University joined UST in the 601-800 bracket, the third highest ranking for a Philippine HEI.
Ranking fourth in the Philippines are the following schools that landed in the 801-1000 bracket globally: Benguet State University (still at 801-1000), Bukidnon State University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (up from 1001-1500), Central Luzon State University (still at 801-1000), De La Salle University (down from 401-600), Kalinga State University, Mapúa University (still at 801-1000), Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (up from 1001-1500), Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (still at 801-1000), and Southern Luzon State University.
Globally, Australia’s Western Sydney University topped the 2,526 universities across 130 countries included in the rankings, followed by the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom at No. 2.
THE Impact Rankings assess HEIs using four core pillars: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.
A university is included in the THE Impact Ranking if it provides data on SDG 17 (partnership for the goals) and at least three other SDGs.
An institution’s overall score is then calculated based on its performance in SDG 17, which carries a 22% weight, and its three highest-scoring SDGs, each weighted at 26%.
