List of the oldest schools in the Philippines


This is a list of educational institutions in the Philippines arranged according to the dates of their foundation. It comprises the list of the oldest schools in the Philippines sorted in various categories, and gives an overview of the development of education and higher learning in the Philippines. To be included in this list, an institution must satisfy a traditional definition of a formal educational institution at the time of its founding.
The oldest universities, colleges, vocational schools and the first modern public education system in Asia were created during the Spanish colonial period. The earliest schools were founded by Spanish Catholic missionaries. By the time Spain was replaced by the United States as the colonial power, Filipinos were among the most educated subjects in all of Asia.

Dispute over the oldest school

The title of the oldest in the Philippines have been topic for debate between two educational institutions: the University of Santo Tomas and the University of San Carlos.
The University of Santo Tomas, established in 1611 as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, is generally recognized as the oldest university in the Philippines. In 1935 the Commonwealth government of the Philippines through the Historical Research and Markers Committee declared that UST was "oldest university under the American flag." In the 1990s, the Intramuros Administration installed a marker on the original site of the University of Santo Tomas with the recognition that the university is the "oldest university in Asia." In 2011 Pope Benedict XVI recognized UST as "the oldest institution of Catholic higher education in the Far East," while in 2012 the National Historical Commission of the Philippines published an online article recognizing UST as "Asia’s Oldest University.
However, the University of San Carlos has opposed this recognition and claims that it is older than the University of Santo Tomas by 16 years by tracing its roots to the Colegio de San Ildefonso. In 1995, the University of San Carlos celebrated its Quadricentennial.
Numerous scholars and official government bodies have reviewed the case. In 2010, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a bronze marker declaring USC's foundation late in the 18th Century, effectively disproving any direct connection with the Colegio de San Ildefonso. According to Dr. Victor Torres of the De La Salle University, the University of San Carlos' claim dates back to 1948 only when USC was declared a University. Fidel Villarroel from the University of Santo Tomas argued that USC only took over the facility of the former Colegio de San Ildefonso and that there is no 'visible' and 'clear' link between San Carlos and San Ildefonso. Aloysius Cartagenas, in a paper published by Philippiniana Sacra, stated that the correct foundation year of USC is 1867, and not 1595, while in 2012 the National Historical Commission of the Philippines cemented its previous position when it published an online article recognizing UST as "Asia’s Oldest University.

Oldest educational institutions

Oldest educational institutions in continuous operation

Oldest educational institutions for girls

Oldest public educational institutions

Current nameYear
founded		Name at time of foundationLocation upon foundation
Universidad de San Felipe de Austria1640Universidad de San Felipe de AustriaIntramuros, Manila
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy1820Escuela Nautica de ManilaZambales
Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University1861Escuela De Artes y Oficios De BacolorPampanga

Educational institutions with the oldest university charters

NameYear of university charterCharter granted byLocation upon foundationType
Universidad de San Ignacio1621Philip IV of SpainManilaPrivate
Universidad de San Felipe de Austria1640Real Audiencia de ManilaIntramuros, ManilaPublic
University of Santo Tomas1645Pope Innocent X, Philip IV of SpainManilaPrivate
Universidad Literaria de Filipinas1898Philippine Revolutionary governmentIntramuros, ManilaPublic
University of the Philippines Manila1908American Civil governmentManilaPublic
University of the Philippines Los Baños1909American Civil governmentLos Baños, LagunaPublic
University of the Philippines Visayas1918American Civil governmentMiagao, IloiloPublic
Centro Escolar University1932Philippine Commonwealth governmentManilaPrivate
Silliman University1938Philippine Commonwealth governmentDumaguetePrivate
Adamson University1941Philippine Commonwealth governmentManilaPrivate
University of the Philippines Diliman1949Philippine governmentQuezon CityPublic

Oldest seminaries

Current nameYear
founded		Name at time of foundationFounding
order		Location upon foundationCurrent
affiliations		s
Universidad de San Ignacio1590Colegio de ManilaSociety of JesusManila
San José Seminary1601Colegio de San JoséSociety of JesusIntramuros, ManilaJesuit
University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary1611Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Santisimo RosarioDominican OrderIntramuros, ManilaDominican Order
San Carlos Seminary1702Real y Conciliar Colegio de San CarlosArchdiocese of ManilaIntramuros, ManilaArchdiocese of Manila
Seminario Mayor de San Carlos1783Real Seminario de San CarlosArchdiocese of CebuCebu CitySociety of the Divine Word
Holy Rosary Minor Seminary1793Casa de ClerigosArchdiocese of CaceresNaga CityArchdiocese of Caceres
Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan1822Seminario de San PabloDominican OrderViganArchdiocese of Nueva Segovia

Oldest law schools

NameYear
founded		Educational institutionLocation upon foundation
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law1734University of Santo TomasIntramuros, Manila
Universidad de San Ignacio Facultad de Derecho Civil1734Universidad de San IgnacioIntramuros, Manila
Universidad Literaria de Filipinas Civil Law1898Universidad Literaria de FilipinasManila
Manila Law College1899Manila Law CollegeManila
University of the Philippines College of Law1911University of the PhilippinesQuezon City
University of Manila College of Law1913University of ManilaManila
Philippine Law School1915Philippine Law SchoolManila
University of Manila College of Law1918University of ManilaManila
Far Eastern University Institute of Law1934Far Eastern UniversityManila
Silliman University College of Law1935Silliman UniversityDumaguete
Ateneo Law School1936Ateneo de Manila UniversityQuezon City
University of San Carlos School of Law and Governance1937University of San CarlosCebu City

Oldest schools of medicine

Oldest normal schools

Current nameYear
founded		Name at time of foundationLocation upon foundation
Universidad de Sta. Isabel1875Escuela Normal de Maestras of Colegio de Sta. IsabelCamarines Sur
Philippine Normal University1901Philippine Normal SchoolManila
West Visayas State University1902Iloilo Normal SchoolIloilo

Oldest schools of engineering

NameYear
founded		Educational institutionLocation upon foundation
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering1907University of Santo TomasIntramuros, Manila
Mapúa University1925Mapúa UniversityManila