The Philippines has a broad public higher education sector, and several state universities maintain admissions pathways for international students. These institutions offer programs across many academic fields, but tuition, fees, admission requirements, and program availability vary by university. Prospective students should confirm the latest information directly with each institution.
Public universities may provide a comparatively affordable route to higher education, but international students should not assume that they qualify for free tuition. Under the Philippines’ Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, free higher education at state universities and colleges is limited to eligible Filipino citizens. Let’s take a look at the top public universities in the Philippines!
Top Public Universities in the Philippines
Studying at a public university can provide access to a wide range of degree programs, research opportunities, and government-supported educational resources. Here are seven public universities that international applicants may consider in the Philippines.
| INSTITUTION NAME | SELECTED ACADEMIC FIELDS |
|---|
| University of the Philippines – Diliman | Law, Sciences, Humanities, and Liberal Arts |
| Polytechnic University of the Philippines | Journalism, Filipinology, and Business Administration |
| Mindanao State University | Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, and Engineering |
| Batangas State University | Information Technology, Computer Science, and Engineering |
| Tarlac State University | Law, Engineering, Education, Accountancy, and Criminology |
| Visayas State University | Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Sciences, and Engineering |
| Western Mindanao State University | Physical Education, Engineering, Public Administration, and Law |
1. University of the Philippines – Diliman
The University of the Philippines – Diliman is the main campus of the University of the Philippines System. Established in 1908, UP is the country’s national university. The university system currently comprises eight constituent universities operating across 17 campuses.
UP Diliman’s academic units cover the arts and humanities, management and economics, science and technology, social sciences, and law. English is generally used as a medium of instruction, while the university’s language policy also supports the development and use of Filipino.
2. Polytechnic University of the Philippines
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines is a government-funded higher education institution. According to the university’s official profile, PUP has more than 20 campuses serving more than 106,500 students, making it the country’s largest university by student population.
In the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, PUP was ranked 671st in Asia and 116th in Southeast Asia. Its academic offerings include bachelor’s programs in journalism, Filipinology, business administration, communication, computer science, information technology, education, engineering, and numerous other fields.
3. Mindanao State University
- Selected Academic Fields: Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, and Engineering
Located in Marawi City, Mindanao State University was founded on September 1, 1961. Its original campus subsequently developed into the Mindanao State University System, which now operates campuses in several parts of Mindanao and Sulu.
MSU Main offers bachelor’s programs in computer science, information technology, and information systems, as well as a range of engineering programs and technical courses. Its admissions manual includes rules for foreign and exchange students, who must meet the university’s requirements and applicable Philippine regulations governing the entry and stay of international students.
4. Batangas State University
- Admissions
- Selected Academic Fields: Information Technology, Computer Science, and Engineering
Batangas State University was designated the Philippines’ National Engineering University through Republic Act No. 11694. According to the university, it is the first and, to date, the only state university in the Philippines with engineering and computing programs accredited by the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology through both its Engineering Accreditation Commission and Computing Accreditation Commission.
BatStateU was ranked 239th worldwide in the 2025 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, an improvement from its position in earlier editions of the sustainability ranking.
5. Tarlac State University
- Admissions
- Selected Academic Fields: Law, Engineering, Education, Accountancy, and Criminology
Tarlac State University is a public higher education institution with a student population of more than 25,000. It operates three campuses in Tarlac City—the Main, San Isidro, and Lucinda campuses—as well as extension campuses in Capas, Concepcion, and La Paz.
The university offers programs in law, engineering, education, accountancy, criminology, computer studies, public administration, and other fields. In April 2026, four TSU programs received Level IV or Level III re-accredited status from the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines.
6. Visayas State University
Visayas State University was established on June 2, 1924, as the Baybay Agricultural School. After several institutional changes, it became Visayas State University in 2007. The university continues to place particular emphasis on agriculture and allied fields while also maintaining faculties in computing, humanities and social sciences, education, engineering, forestry and environmental sciences, nursing, and other disciplines.
VSU’s International Affairs Office reports that foreign nationals attend the university to study and conduct research. The institution has also hosted visiting professors and researchers and maintains partnerships with universities abroad.
7. Western Mindanao State University
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Selected Academic Fields: Physical Education, Engineering, Public Administration, and Law
Western Mindanao State University was founded on July 18, 1904. The university now maintains colleges covering fields such as law, agriculture, liberal arts, computing, forestry and environmental studies, criminal justice, engineering, medicine, public administration, sports science and physical education, and teacher education.
In 2024, WMSU reported that all 51 undergraduate programs at its main campus and all 41 programs offered through its External Studies Units had obtained Certificates of Program Compliance from the Commission on Higher Education.
Admissions processes, tuition charges, and available programs can change between academic years. Prospective international students should confirm all information through official university sources before submitting an application or making financial arrangements.
We hope you benefited from this overview of public universities in the country. Check out the Philippines Study Page and browse the Available Courses for International Students!
