Manila has fallen out of the top 100 in the latest QS Best Student Cities Rankings, placing 102nd in the 2027 edition released by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
The Philippine capital dropped 14 places from its 88th ranking in the 2026 edition.
In the latest rankings, Manila earned an overall score of 60.1. It posted its strongest performance in affordability, scoring 83, followed by employer activity with 64.4. However, the city received a low score of 27.9 in the university rankings indicator.
The QS Best Student Cities Rankings assess 150 cities worldwide based on factors considered important to students, including the quality of local universities, student diversity, desirability, employer activity, and affordability.
Seoul retained its position as the world’s best student city in the 2027 rankings, followed by Tokyo and London, highlighting the continued appeal of East Asian cities as global education hubs.
