Big Four (universities)

Top four universities in the Philippines

ADMU

DLSU

UPD

UST

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Map of the Big Four universities in Metro Manila

The Big Four refers to the top four universities in the Philippines: the University of the Philippines System (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo), De La Salle University (DLSU), and the University of Santo Tomas (UST), all located in Metro Manila — although UP is scattered across eight constituent universities, located in different parts of the Philippines.

The four universities are regarded as the most prestigious in the country, with admission being highly selective.[1][2][3] Additionally, the four universities are the largest members of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, have long-established school rivalries, and are perennial champions in the league.

Many influential figures in the Philippines, such as politicians, artists, engineers, and journalists, have studied at these universities.[4] Graduates of the Big Four are seen as more employable, with many companies preferring or prioritizing graduates from the four universities.[5][6]

## Overview

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The Big Four universities are seen as the most prestigious in the country. All four universities rank in the QS World University Rankings, the QS Asia University Rankings, and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Nationally, all four schools rank at the top of national lists, and their graduates frequently top board exams in the country.[7][8][9] The four universities also have the greatest number of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development awarded by the Commission on Higher Education.[10]

All four universities, with the exception of the nonsectarian public UP, are private research universities affiliated with the Catholic Church, with UST also having the distinction of being pontifical.

## List

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Institution  | Type  | Locations  | Founded  | Rankings  | Colors

|
|
|
|
|

QS World 2024[11] | QS Asia 2023[12] | THE World 2024[13]
Ateneo de Manila University | Private, Catholic (Jesuit)  | Loyola Heights, Quezon City[note 1] | 1859  | 563  | 134  | 1001–1200  |

De La Salle University | Private, Catholic (Lasallian)  | Malate, Manila[note 2] | 1911  | 681–690  | 171  | 1501+  |

University of the Philippines System | Public, National |

UP Diliman: Diliman, Quezon City [note 3]
UP Manila: Ermita, Manila
UP Los Baños: Los Baños, Laguna
UP Baguio: Baguio City, Benguet
UP Visayas: Miagao and Iloilo City, Iloilo
UP Mindanao: Davao City, Davao Del Sur
UP Cebu: Cebu City, Cebu
UP Open University: Los Baños, Laguna

| 1908  | 404  | 87  | 1201–1501  |

University of Santo Tomas | Private, Catholic (Dominican)  | Sampaloc, Manila  | 1611  | 801–850  | 175  | 1501+  |

## Joint events

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In 2024, the Ateneo Glee Club, the DLSU Chorale, the UP Singing Ambassadors, and the UST Singers performed together at the Saliw Lasalyano choral festival at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium of DLSU Manila. The four chorale groups performed compositions that included classic Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and gospel songs.[14]

## See also

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* Battle of Katipunan, rivalry between Ateneo and UP
* Ateneo–La Salle rivalry
* La Salle–UST rivalry
* UP–UST rivalry
* Oxbridge, referring to the United Kingdom's oldest universities, Oxford and Cambridge
* Golden triangle, informal grouping of universities in London and southeast England
* Ivy League, formal grouping of elite older private universities in the United States
* Big Three, informal term grouping Harvard, Yale, and Princeton
* TU9, alliance of nine leading Technical universities in Germany
* Group of Eight, a group of Australia's top research universities
* National Institutes of Technology, 31 leading public engineering universities in India
* SKY, informal term grouping the three most prestigious universities in South Korea
* Imperial Universities, grouping of elite older universities in Japan
* Double First-Class Construction, funding schemes for universities in China

## Notes

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1. ^ The university has satellite campuses in Makati and Pasig.
2. ^ The university has satellite campuses located in Makati, Taguig, Laguna, and Batangas.
3. ^ UP Diliman has a satellite campus in Taguig and operates extension programs in Pampanga.

## References

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1. ^ Baclig, Cristina Eloisa (2021-06-10). "PH's 'Big 4' in world university ranking: 2 fall, 2 stay in place". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
2. ^ "What do you think of La Salle?". The LaSallian. 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
3. ^ Antonio, Rafael L. (2015-06-29). "Big 4 admission tests to continue". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
4. ^ Moya, Jove. "Famous Graduates of the Top Universities in The Philippines: Jose Rizal, Juan Luna, and More". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
5. ^ Chi, Cristina. "Employer preference for grads of 'Big 4' schools outdated — career educator". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
6. ^ Corrales, Nestor (2014-04-09). "Jobstreet: More employers prefer graduates from top universities". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
7. ^ "UP Diliman leads top-performing schools for June 2022 Architect Licensure Exam". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
8. ^ "UST grad tops May 2022 CPA board exam". ABS-CBN News. June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
9. ^ Sarao, Zacarian (2022-05-24). "585 of 1,032 pass the ChemEng board exam, says PRC". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
10. ^ "Best schools in PH based on CHED COEs and CODs | Edukasyon.ph". www.edukasyon.ph. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
11. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2024: Top global universities". Top Universities. 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
12. ^ "QS Asia University Rankings 2023". Top Universities. 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
13. ^ "World University Rankings". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
14. ^ "UST Singers share stage with other 'Big 4' ensembles in chorale festival". The Varsitarian. March 18, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-22.