Top 20 Medical Schools In The Philippines

10 min read By eCompareMo on June 18, 2019

In this post, we are featuring a list of the 20 top medical schools in the Philippines.

The ranking is based on scores compiled by Local Pulse using the following criteria

• Yearly board examination performance
• Number of examinees
• Top-performing examinees
• Accreditation status, and
• Faculty-student ratio from the year 2014 to 2018

Choosing to become a doctor in the Philippines is not an easy career path. Aside from having the dedication and perseverance to study hard, a future doctor’s family also needs to have quite a hefty amount of savings in order to sustain their 10-year ride.

If you know someone who has always dreamt of becoming a doctor and are really serious about pursuing a career in medicine, here’s something that might help.

We’re hoping that this guide will help our country’s future doctors find the perfect school that will allow them to make their dreams a reality.

1. University of the East – Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERRMC)

A private medical school in Quezon City, UERRMC is recognized as one of the three Centers of Excellence in Medicine in the country.

With a passing rate of 87.92% in the recent March 2019 Physician Licensure Exam, one of their graduates Dale Ivan Aurigue Bruel bagged the 7th spot.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 97.72 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Center of Excellence in Medicine Estimated Tuition Fee: P133,000 (cash), P163,883 (by installment)

2. University of Santo Tomas (UST)

Having been founded back in 1871, the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery can proudly say that it is one of the oldest medical schools in the country.

One of their alumni ranked first in the March 2019 Physician board exam and the university itself earned a passing rate of 89.83%. The UST Faculty of Medicine has earned a Center of Excellence Award from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Overall Score (2014-2018): 97.26 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Center of Excellence in Medicine Estimated Tuition Fee: P125,000+ (1st to 3rd year) and P230,000+ (4th year)

3. The University of the Philippines – Manila

UP Manila’s College of Medicine earned a Centers of Excellence in Medicine and Nursing awards from CHED.

The college also offers the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) Program, a seven-year medical program for a Doctor of Medicine degree.

UP’s INTARMED program shortens the medical education course by two years. The students complete two years of pre-med and four years of regular medical studies then, on their last year, can immediately pursue their clinical internship.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 93.89 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Center of Excellence in Medicine Estimated Tuition Fee: P36,000+ (family income below 1M) – P51,000+ (family income above 1M)

4. Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM)

The medical school arm of Velez College, CIM is one of the leading medical institutions in the Visayas offering a four-year degree in Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).

In the September 2018 Physician Licensure Exam, the institution got a passing rate of 90.92% with one of their graduates bagging the 2nd place.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 86.75 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level II Estimated Tuition Fee: Around P76,000+

5. De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) РDasmari̱as

Founded in 1979, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute is a non-profit private higher education institution located in Dasmariñas City.

Officially accredited and/or recognized by the CHED, DLSMHSI also offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 84.42 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level III Estimated Tuition Fee: P130,000 to P260,000

(Read: Tuition Fee Guide: 2019 Cost Of College Education In The Philippines)

6. Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF)

The FEU-NRMF Institute of Medicine is a private medical school that offers a Doctor of Medicine program.

Over the last four years, their institute of Medicine continues to prove its academic excellence through the school’s board examination performances. In the recent Physician Licensure Exam held in March, the university had a passing rate of 97.96%.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 84.18 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level II Estimated Tuition Fee: Around P90,000 to P110,000

7. Saint Luke’s College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial (SLCM-WHQM)

SLCM-WHQM is a private medical school located in Quezon City offering a five-year Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program where students undergo four years of medical studies before a one-year internship.

SLCM-WHQM has a history of producing board passers and topnotchers. The most recent graduate to do go was Ralph Benedict Baranda Ma-alat who came in 8th during the March 2019 Physician Licensure Exam.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 83.10 Accreditation Level as of 2018: JCI Accredited Estimated Tuition Fee: Roughly P128,000 (cash), P146,144 (by installment)

8. Saint Louis University (SLU)

SLU is regarded as one of the Philippines’ most respected and leading educational institutions that has grown with the demands of the current and future environments for its students and faculty alike.

It has sustained itself since 1911 to become one of the top centers of academic excellence in the Philippines that meet international standards in tertiary education.

Today, SLU is the largest university in the North with more than 30,000 students from the elementary, high school and college levels. Its reputation for excellence attracts students and scholars not only from the Philippines but from other countries as well.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 79.93 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level II Estimated Tuition Fee: P40,000 to P60,000

9. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)

PLM College of Medicine is one of Metro Manila’s leading medical schools. The college is consistently one of the top performing schools during the Physician Licensure Exam. During the 2018 medical board exam alone, PLM College of Medicine had a high passing rate of 98.37%.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 79.77 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Candidate Estimated Tuition Fee:

PLM divides their med students into the following categories and the amount of tuition a student will pay depends on the category they fall under.

Category 1 – Full Scholar

• Holder of Manila voter’s ID and with a valid Manila address
• A graduate of a PUBLIC Manila university like UP Manila, PLM, etc.
• Students pay only misc. fee and med fund. Tuition fee is FREE.

Category 2 – Half Scholar

• Holder of Manila voter’s ID and with a valid Manila address
• Not a graduate of a public Manila university. This includes private Manila schools like DLSU and UST and private/public schools OUTSIDE Manila like UP Diliman and provincial schools
• Students pay only a part of the tuition fee (~P12,000), misc. fee and med fund.

Category 3 – Full Cost

• Not a holder of Manila voter’s ID, even if you have a valid Manila address
• Graduate of any school
• Students pay 100% of the tuition fee (~P58,000), misc. fee and med fund.

Category 4 – Summa Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude

• Graduate of any school, as long as they were Summa Cum Laude or Magna Cum Laude
• Students pay only the misc. fee and med fund. Tuition fee is FREE.

Category 5 – Cum Laude

• Graduate of any school, as long as they were Cum Laude
• Students pay only a part of the tuition fee (~P12,000), misc. fee and med fund.

At the end of the first year, you have to get a GWA of at least 2.5/4.00 (79-80) with no failures in order to maintain your category status. Otherwise, you will automatically be placed on CATEGORY 3 (full cost) for 2nd year. You can regain your original category status for the 3rd year if you get better grades at the end of 2nd year.

10. Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSFI)

DMSFI was established in July 1976 in response to the recognition of the lack of doctors serving rural communities and lack of specialist in urban centers of Mindanao. Its College of Medicine was thus the first such college to be set up in Mindanao and is dedicated to providing medical education and training of the highest order, leading to the provision of effective medical care in both rural and urban communities.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 79.77 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level I Estimated Tuition Fee: P56,000 to P60,000

11. Cebu Doctors’ University – College of Medicine (CDC-CM)

CDC-CM, in Mandaue City, Cebu is consistently one of the Philippine’s top performing schools based on the medical board results. In 2010, CDC-CM was granted Autonomous status the highest recognition that CHED grants private universities.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 73.85 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Not Accredited Estimated Tuition Fee: Around P75,000+

12. Ateneo de Manila University – School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH)

Ateneo De Manila University offers medical degrees through their medical school ASMPH.

ASMPH offers students a five-year course which will earn them a dual degree in Doctor of Medicine and Masters in Business Administration (MD-MBA). The college’s current dean is a former Health Secretary, Manuel M. Dayrit.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 73.77 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Not Accredited Estimated Tuition Fee: P117,000

13. West Visayas State University – La Paz (WVSU-CM)

WVSU-CM is a public medical school in Iloilo City. Over the last four years, WVSU-CM was one of the leading schools in the country when it comes to medical board results.

West Visayas University College of Medicine graduate Temie Paul Baguio Villarino ranked 9th in the March 2019 Physician Licensure Exam with a passing rate of 87.42%.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 72.65 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Not Accredited Estimated Tuition Fee: P21,000+ (1st to 3rd year) and P30,000+ (4th year).

14. Xavier University

The Xavier University – Dr. Jose P Rizal School of Medicine was named after the Philippines national hero. Aside from being a patriot, Rizal was a dedicated and skilled doctor.

Xavier hopes to produce graduated who, inspired by Rizal will embody the values of service that are part of the medical profession. They also aim to instill a great love for and commitment to life and country in their graduates.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 72.35 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level III Estimated Tuition Fee: Around P58,000+

15. San Beda University

The San Beda College with the power of autonomy granted by CHED for five years created a consortium with the Loyola Medical College Foundation, Inc. to establish the San Beda College of Medicine.

On March 9, 2002, the Board of Trustees of San Beda College approved the establishment of the fifth unit of San Beda, the San Beda College of Medicine.

SBU-CM offers a four-year course leading to the Degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 68.81 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Candidate Estimated Tuition Fee: P108,000

(Read: How To Save Up For Your Child’s College Education)

16. Ateneo De Zamboanga University

The Zamboanga Medical School Foundation (ZMSF) is committed to providing medical training which allows their students to meet the medical board examination and licensing requirements to practice as medical doctors in the Philippines.

After a careful evaluation, the ZMSF’s program was approved by the Technical Panel for Medical Education of the CHED in February of 1994. With that, the College of Medicine of the ZMSF was officially considered as one of the top medical institutions in the country.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 66.41 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level I Estimated Tuition Fee: P50,000 to P80,000

17. Angeles University Foundation (AUF)

The AUF School of Medicine envisions itself as a center for quality and relevant medical education as evidenced by its programs and services recognized locally and internationally. It is committed to produce quality and compassionate medical practitioners with a social conscience and dedication to the service of Filipinos.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 65.98 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level I Estimated Tuition Fee: P27,000 to P95,000

18. Siliman University

Siliman University aims to become a leading institution in the region in providing quality medical education. They are committed to producing competent physicians who are guided by principles in the provision of excellent health care.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 65.81 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Level I Estimated Tuition Fee: P60,000 to P80,000

19. Central Philippines University (CPU)

CPU-ColMed is one of the newest colleges and academic program of the Central Philippine University. The college offers undergraduate degrees in Respiratory Therapy and Lifestyle and Fitness Management, a program on which the college pioneered and the only one that offers in the Philippines.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 64.14 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Not Accredited Estimated Tuition Fee: Around P73,000 per year

20. Mindanao State University (MSU) – Marawi City

The MSU College of Medicine began with Republic Act. No. 1983 which created Mindanao State University.

The college was opened in 1984-1985 in order to produce competent medical practitioners who could meet the needs of MINSUPALA’s medically-depressed areas. The college also aims to provide opportunities for Muslim students and other members of the cultural communities of MINSUPALA to become Doctors of Medicine and serve their areas.

Overall Score (2014-2018): 57.00 Accreditation Level as of 2018: Not Accredited Estimated Tuition Fee: Roughly P15,000+ per semester