The Big Four refers to the top four universities in the Philippines: the University of the Philippines System (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), 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]
The Big Four universities are seen as the most prestigious in the country. All four universities rank in the QS World University Rankings and the QS Asia University Rankings, as well as Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
Nationally, all four schools rank at the top of national lists, and its 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]
Three out of the four universities are private research universities affiliated with the Catholic Church, with UST also having the distinction of being pontifical. One university, UP, is a nonsectarian public university.
| 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 | 1859 | 563 | 134 | 1001–1200 | ||
| De La Salle University | Private, Catholic (Lasallian) | Malate, Manila | 1911 | 681–690 | 171 | 1501+ | ||
| University of the Philippines System | Public, National | UP Diliman: Diliman, Quezon City 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+ | ||
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 and gospel songs.[14]