Saint Mary’s University (SMU) secured 21st place among private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines and 85th among private universities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the AppliedEdu University Rankings 2027, reaffirming its commitment to quality education and institutional excellence. The results were officially released on October 21, 2026, through the AppliedEdu website.

 Formerly known as AppliedHE, AppliedEdu evaluates higher education institutions based on institution-submitted data and publicly available information across key areas, including teaching and learning, employability, research, community engagement, internationalization, and institutional reputation.

Now in its fourth edition, the AppliedEdu Public and Private University Rankings: ASEAN featured 155 private universities from six ASEAN member states: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 SMU’s achievement reflects its continuing efforts to strengthen academic quality, enhance student learning and employability, advance research and community engagement, and expand its international presence. The recognition underscores the University’s commitment to providing responsive, relevant, and quality education while pursuing continuous improvement and greater competitiveness in the regional higher education landscape.

SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth,
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Written by: IDQAO