The path to becoming a successful doctor entails premier medical education. Thus, the medical school of your choice must have the reputation of producing graduates that can ace the boards and earn a license. 

Looking for the crème de la crème of all the medical schools in the country?

You’re in the right place! Get to know the best medical schools in the Philippines in this article.

Go back to the main article: How to Become a Doctor in the Philippines: An Ultimate Guide

Table of Contents

• Watch Video: How To Become a Doctor in the Philippines
• At a Glance: Best Medical Schools in the Philippines
• How Did We Select the Best Medical Schools in the Philippines?
  • 1. Performance Consistency 
  • 2. Passing Rate
  • 3. Institutional Reputation and Accreditation 
• Top 15 Best Medical Schools in the Philippines
  • 1. University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine
  • 2. University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
  • 3. University of the East – Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (UERMMC) College of Medicine
  • 4. Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM)
  • 5. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) College of Medicine
  • 6. Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU NRMF) Institute of Medicine
  • 7. Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH)
  • 8. Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine
  • 9. Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. (DMSFI)
  • 10. St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial (SLCM-WHQM)
  • 11. Angeles University Foundation (AUF) School of Medicine
  • 12. San Beda University (SBU) College of Medicine
  • 13. West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Medicine
  • 14. Silliman University Medical School (SUMS)
  • 15. Xavier University – Dr. Jose P. Rizal College of Medicine
• References

Watch Video: How To Become a Doctor in the Philippines

At a Glance: Best Medical Schools in the Philippines

How Did We Select the Best Medical Schools in the Philippines?

To ensure that our list of best medical schools is on point, we performed a meticulous selection process based on the following factors:

1. Performance Consistency

The medical schools on top of our list consistently produced many board passers. For this factor, we relied on the PRC’s official list of top performing medical schools in the Physician’s Licensure Examination from 2019 to 2022. 

Consistency is vital in assessing overall performance. It’s misleading to include a medical school that garnered a high passing rate for a certain year but failed to maintain the same level of performance for the succeeding years.

2. Passing Rate

This is our main quantitative indicator to assess a medical school’s performance. To identify the passing rate of a medical school for the period March 2019 to March 2022, we have aggregated its number of passers during the aforementioned period and divided the result by its aggregated number of takers during the same period, and then multiplied the result by 100:

We have also included the percentage of first-time takers who passed the exam for the period 2019 – 2022. It is computed in the same fashion as calculating the 2019-2022 passing rate. 

3. Institutional Reputation and Accreditation

Licensure exam performance is not the sole indicator of how good a medical school is. We’ve also considered their awards, recognitions, and certifications from reputable and authorized bodies.¹.

For instance, we have considered their accreditation status from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU). The PAASCU accreditation proves that the medical school has high public trust and meets national standards in terms of the medical profession.  

Top 15 Best Medical Schools in the Philippines

The list below shows the top 15 medical schools in the Philippines based on their board exam performances in recent years. We’ve also included rough estimates of their latest tuition fees which can be reduced if your family’s income belongs to the lower bracket and through the scholarships you’ll be able to secure.

Note that the schools are ranked from highest to lowest. The main indicator used was the overall passing rate. However,  the level of accreditation was considered as well.

For instance, CIM has a higher overall passing rate compared to UP Manila, UST, and UERMMC. However, CIM has a lower level of accreditation compared to UPM and UERMMC, so we’ve placed CIM below these schools. Meanwhile, UST and CIM are both PAASCU level III accredited, but UST was awarded as CHED Center of Excellence, so we’ve placed it higher than CIM.

In general, schools with higher overall passing rates are located at the top of the list, while those that have lower passing rates are located at the bottom. But they are not arranged “strictly” in a decreasing manner since the level of accreditation was also considered.

1. University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine

Established in 1905, UP Manila College of Medicine is known as one of the oldest medical schools in the Philippines. It predated the establishment of the UP System in 1908. 

UPM is also the first medical school in the Philippines to offer a shortened medical curriculum called the INTARMED (Integrated Arts Medicine Program). It is also recognized as a CHED Center of Excellence in Medicine and the only state-funded medical school with a Level IV PAASCU Accreditation. 

The well-known Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is the university’s teaching hospital. 

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 449 out of 465 (96.56%) 

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 443 out of 454 (97.58%)

Tuition Fee: All medical students don’t pay the tuition fees (only for miscellaneous fees)

Official Website: https://cm.upm.edu.ph/

2. University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

The medical school of the oldest catholic university in Asia is known for its consistently exemplary performance in board exams. Its Doctor of Medicine program has received the following recognition and accreditation:

• 2021 Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) world subject ranking (601-650 bracket)²
• CHED Center of Excellence 
• PAASCU Level III Accreditation

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022) : 1392 out of 1463 (95.15%) 

First-Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 1361 out of 1413 (96.32%)

Tuition Fee: ₱140,000 – ₱154,000 per year³ (All medical students do not pay tuition and only pay for miscellaneous fees)

Official Website: https://www.ust.edu.ph/

3. University of the East – Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (UERMMC) College of Medicine

Established in 1956, UERMMMC is best known as the only private institution in the country with the highest PAASCU accreditation (Level IV). In 2015, its College of Medicine and Nursing was recognized as a CHED Center of Excellence.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 1038 out of 1113 (93.26%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 982 out of 1041 (94.33%)

Tuition Fee: ₱170,000 per year

Official Website: https://uerm.edu.ph/

4. Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM)

CIM is one of the premier medical schools in the Visayas. As of this writing, it is one of the only two medical schools outside NCR that have been granted a level III PAASCU accreditation⁴.

CIM has an impressive record of obtaining an overall passing rate of 100% over eight years from 2007 to 2015. 

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 335 out of 336 (99.70%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 332 out of 333 (99.70%)

Tuition Fee: ₱70,000 – ₱80,000 per semester

Official Website: http://cim.edu.ph/

5. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) College of Medicine

PLM College of Medicine is a city government-funded medical school. Students who aspire to enroll in its Doctor of Medicine program have to pass the PLM Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Currently, PLM is the only public medical school with a level II PAASCU Accreditation⁵.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 358 out of 367 (97.55%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 352 out of 358 (98.32%)

Tuition Fee: 

• Full Paying: Approximately ₱70,000 – ₱81,000
• Full Scholar: Approximately ₱8,000 – ₱15,000 per semester
• Partial Scholar: Approximately ₱25,000 – ₱30,000 per semester

Official Website: https://plm.edu.ph/academics/colleges/medicine

6. Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU NRMF) Institute of Medicine

Since its establishment in 1952, FEU NRMF has earned a good reputation for producing a high percentage of passers each year. The school consistently ranked in the top 10 best-performing schools in the Physician’s Licensure Examination from 2019-2022⁶.

Currently, FEU NRMF has level II PAASCU Accreditation.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 1401 out of 1562 (89.69%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 1334 out of 1455 (91.68%)

Tuition Fee: ₱140,000 – ₱152,000 per semester

Official Website: https://www.feu-nrmf.ph/ 

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

ASMPH aspires to produce physician-leaders who excel not only in health but also in public health management. It is the first medical school in Southeast Asia to offer a five-year dual degree program that confers graduates with the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master in Business Administration (MBA) degrees⁷.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 466 out of 477 (97.69%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 455 out of 463 (98.27%) (List of Medical School, 2021)

Tuition Fee: ₱151,000 per semester 

Official Website: https://www.asmph.ateneo.edu

8. Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine

Based in Baguio City, the SLU School of Medicine is a level II PAASCU-accredited school adjacent to its partner hospital: Saint Louis University – Hospital of the Sacred Heart. 

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 371 out of 417 (88.97%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 341 out of 368 (92.66%)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: https://www.slu.edu.ph

9. Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. (DMSFI)

Founded in 1976, DMSFI aims to train future doctors who will serve rural areas and become health specialists in Mindanao. It is also one of the leading medical schools in Mindanao, with a level II PAASCU accreditation⁸.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 446 out of 510 (87.45%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 404 out of 440 (91.82%)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: http://www.dmsf.edu.ph/

10. St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial (SLCM-WHQM)

SLCM-WHQM prides itself on a 99.13% passing rate for its first-time takers since 2015.  As of this writing, the college has a level I PAASCU accreditation. 

St. Luke’s Medical Center is the school’s hospital base, the first Philippine hospital accredited by Joint Commission for International Accreditation (JCIA). 

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 272 out of 277 (98.19%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 269 out of 273 (98.53%)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: https://slmc-cm.edu.ph/

11. Angeles University Foundation (AUF) School of Medicine

Since its establishment in 1983, AUF School of Medicine has become a prominent medical education provider in Central Luzon, with its Doctor of Medicine program as the only Level III PAASCU-accredited in the region.⁹.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 159 out of 170 (93.53%) 

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 149 out of 154 (96.75%)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: www.auf.edu.ph

12. San Beda University (SBU) College of Medicine

Based in Mendiola, Manila, the SBU College of Medicine had impressive performances during November 2020 and October 2021 licensure exams when it ranked in the top 10 best-performing medical schools. Currently, it has a level I PAASCU accreditation. 

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 322 out of 383 (84.07%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 304 out of 333 (91.29%) (List of Medical School, 2021)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: https://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/

13. West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Medicine

The WVSU College of Medicine is the first medical school in Western Visayas and the second state-funded medical education provider in the Philippines. Its graduates are known for being medical practitioners providing community health services anywhere in the country. 

WVSU is granted PAASCU accreditation level II. 

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 257 out of 270 (95.19%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 246 out of 255 (96.47%)

Tuition fee: ₱30,000 – ₱40,000 per semester¹⁰.

Official Website: https://wvsu.edu.ph/

14. Silliman University Medical School (SUMS)

SU Medical School, which is based in Dumaguete City, is one of the premier medical schools in Central Visayas, known for its high passing rate throughout the years. Currently, SU Medical School has a Level II PAASCU accreditation.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 143 out of 153 (93.46%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 135 out of 142 (95.07%)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: https://su.edu.ph/

15. Xavier University – Dr. Jose P. Rizal College of Medicine

Named after one of our national heroes who happened to be a doctor, the medical school of Xavier University strives to continue Rizal’s legacy by training competent and compassionate health professionals.

As of this writing, this school has a Level III PAASCU accreditation.

Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 191 out of 208 (91.83%)

First Time Taker Passing Rate (March 2019 – March 2022): 184 out of 193 (95.34%)

Tuition fee: Available upon inquiry

Official Website: https://www.xu.edu.ph/school-of-medicine

Are you aiming to get accepted into one of the best medical schools discussed above? Get off on the right foot with your journey to becoming a doctor through the help of our Ultimate NMAT Reviewer with free practice tests and answer keys.

References

1. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from https://paascu.org.ph/index.php/frequently-asked-questions/
2. Magpali, C. (2021). UST Medicine lands in QS world subject rankings anew. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from https://varsitarian.net/news/20210306/ust-medicine-lands-in-qs-world-subject-rankings-2021
3. Tuition Fees. (2022). Retrieved 2 September 2022, from https://www.ust.edu.ph/tuition-fees/
4. About us. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from http://cim.edu.ph/about-us/
5. List of Medical Institutions Accredited by PAASCU. (2021). [Ebook] (pp. 1-2). Retrieved from https://paascu.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-List-of-Medical-Schools.pdf
6. History. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from https://www.feu-nrmf.ph/foundation/history
7. Program of Learning. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from https://www.asmph.ateneo.edu/academics/program-of-learning
8. DMSFI Profile. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from http://www.dmsf.edu.ph/about/
9. List of Medical Institutions Accredited by PAASCU. (2022). [Ebook] (pp. 1-2). Retrieved from https://paascu.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/List-of-Medical-Schools-As-of-June-2022.pdf
10. Lena, P. (2018). No more ‘opt-out’ for schools offering free medical tuition. Retrieved 2 September 2022, from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1053237