# 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 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, 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 (established 1595). In 1995, University of San Carlos celebrated its Quadricentennial (400th Anniversary).

## UST as Asia's Oldest University

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 (a Cebuano), 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

| Current name/ Latest name before extinction | Year founded | Name at time of foundation | Founding order | Location upon foundation/ Last location if extinct | Current status | Current/Last affiliations | Type |
| Colegio de Santa Potenciana | 1589 | Colegio de Santa Potenciana | Franciscan Order | Intramuros, Manila | Defunct | | Private |
| Universidad de San Ignacio | 1590 | Colegio de Manila | Society of Jesus | Intramuros, Manila | Defunct | Society of Jesus | Seminary, Pontifical, Royal, Private |
| Colegio de San Ildefonso | 1595 | Colegio de San Ildefonso | Society of Jesus | Cebu City | Defunct | Society of Jesus | Private |
| Colegio y Seminario de San José | 1601 | Colegio de San Jose | Society of Jesus | Intramuros, Manila | Active | Society of Jesus | Private |
| Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino (University of Santo Tomas, Manila) | 1611 | Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Santisimo Rosario | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Active | Dominican Order | Private, Pontifical, Royal |
| Colegio de San Juan de Letran | 1620 | Colegio de Niños Huerfanos de San Juan de Letran | Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero | Intramuros, Manila | Active | Dominican Order | Private |
| Colegio de Huérfanos de Santos Pedro y Pablo | 1620 | Colegio de Huérfanos de Santos Pedro y Pablo | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Defunct | | Private |
| Colegio de San Juan de Letran | 1620 | Colegio de San Juan de Letran | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Active | Dominican Order | Private |
| Real Colegio de Santa Isabel (Santa Isabel College, Manila) | 1632 | Real Colegio de Santa Isabel | | Intramuros, Manila | Active | Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul | Private |
| Universidad de San Felipe de Austria | 1640 | Universidad de San Felipe de Austria | Audiencia Real de Manila | Intramuros, Manila | Defunct | | Public |

## Oldest educational institutions in continuous operation

| Current name | Traces origin to | Year founded | Founding order | Location upon foundation | Type | Current affiliations |
| Colegio y Seminario de San José | Colegio de San Jose | 1601 | Society of Jesus | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Jesuit |
| Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino (University of Santo Tomás, Manila) | Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario | 1611 | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Private, Pontifical, Royal | Dominican Order |
| Colegio de San Juan de Letran | Colegio de San Juan de Letran | 1620 | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Dominican Order |
| Real Colegio de Santa Isabel (Santa Isabel College, Manila) | Real Colegio de Santa Isabel | 1632 | | Intramuros, Manila | Private, Royal | Daughters of Charity |
| San Carlos Seminary | Real y Conciliar Colegio de San Carlos | 1702 | Archdiocese of Manila | Intramuros, Manila | Seminary | Archdiocese of Manila |
| Santa Catalina College | Beaterio Colegio de Santa Catalina de Siena | 1706 | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Dominican Order |
| St. Mary's College | Colegio del Beaterio | 1725 | Religious of the Virgin Mary | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Religious of the Virgin Mary |
| Colegio de Santa Rosa | Beaterio y Casa de Enseñanza | 1750 | | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Daughters of Charity |
| Seminario Mayor de San Carlos | Real Seminario de San Carlos | 1783 | Archdiocese of Cebu | Cebu City | Seminary | Society of the Divine Word |
| Holy Rosary Minor Seminary | Casa de Clerigos | 1793 | Archdiocese of Caceres | Naga City | Seminary | Archdiocese of Caceres |
| Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan | Seminario de San Pablo | 1822 | Dominican Order | Vigan | Seminary | Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia |
| Ateneo de Manila University | Escuela Municipal de Manila | 1859 | Society of Jesus | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Jesuit |
| Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary | Seminario-Colegio de San Vicente Ferrer | 1869 | Archdiocese of Jaro | Jaro, Iloilo City | Seminary | Archdiocese of Jaro |

## Oldest educational institutions for girls

Still in operation  Defunct  Established as a School for Girls
| Current name | Year founded | Name at time of foundation | Founding order | Location upon foundation | Type | Current affiliations |
| Colegio de Santa Potenciana | 1589 | Colegio de Santa Potenciana | Franciscan Order | Intramuros, Manila | Private | |
| Santa Isabel College Manila | 1632 | Real Colegio de Santa Isabel | | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul |
| Santa Catalina College | 1706 | Beaterio Colegio de Santa Catalina de Siena | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Dominican Order |
| St. Mary's College | 1725 | Colegio del Beaterio | Religious of the Virgin Mary | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Religious of the Virgin Mary |
| Colegio de Santa Rosa | 1750 | Beaterio y Casa de Enseñanza | | Intramuros, Manila | Private | Daughters of Charity |
| Universidad de Sta. Isabel | 1867 | Colegio de Santa Isabel | Daughters of Charity | Naga City | Private | Daughters of Charity |
| Concordia College | 1868 | Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion de la Concordia | Daughters of Charity | Manila | Private | Daughters of Charity |
| Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion | 1880 | Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion | Hermanitas de la Madre de Dios | Cebu City | Private | Daughters of Charity |
| La Consolacion College Manila | 1902 | Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion | Order of Saint Augustine | Mendiola, Manila | Private, Roman Catholic, Coeducational | Order of Saint Augustine |
| Assumption College San Lorenzo | 1904 | Assumption Convent | Religious of the Assumption | Manila | Private | Religious of the Assumption |
| St. Scholastica's College Manila | 1906 | St. Scholastica's College Manila | Order of Saint Benedict | Manila | Private | Order of Saint Benedict |
| St. Paul University Manila | 1912 | St. Paul University Manila | Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres | Manila | Private | Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres |
| Centro Escolar University | 1907 | Centro Escolar de Señoritas | | Manila | Private, Non-Sectarian | |
| Notes ↑ Centro Escolar University was established as Centro Escolar de Señoritas by Doña Librada Avelino and Doña Carmen de Luna in 1907 to cater the young women of Manila. The university is still continuously operating, but now as a co-educational institution. ||||||||

## Oldest public educational institutions

Still in operation  Defunct
| Current name | Year founded | Name at time of foundation | Location upon foundation |
| Universidad de San Felipe de Austria | 1640 | Universidad de San Felipe de Austria | Intramuros, Manila |
| Philippine Merchant Marine Academy | 1820 | Escuela Nautica de Manila | Intramuros, Manila |
| Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University | 1861 | Escuela De Artes y Oficios De Bacolor | Pampanga |
| Baguio Central School | 1899 | | Baguio |
| Baluarte Elementary School | 1905 | | Molo, Iloilo City |

## Educational institutions with the oldest university charters

Still in operation  Defunct
| Name | Year of university charter | Charter granted by | Location upon foundation | Type |
| Universidad de San Ignacio | 1621 | Philip IV of Spain | Manila | Private |
| Universidad de San Felipe de Austria | 1640 | Real Audiencia de Manila | Intramuros, Manila | Public |
| University of Santo Tomas | 1645 | Pope Innocent X, Philip IV of Spain | Manila | Private |
| Universidad Literaria de Filipinas | 1898 | Philippine Revolutionary government | Intramuros, Manila | Public |
| University of the Philippines Manila | 1908 | American Civil government | Manila | Public |
| University of the Philippines Los Baños | 1909 | American Civil government | Los Baños, Laguna | Public |
| University of the Philippines Visayas | 1918 | American Civil government | Miagao, Iloilo | Public |
| Centro Escolar University | 1932 | Philippine Commonwealth government | Manila | Private |
| Far Eastern University | 1933 | Philippine Commonwealth government | Manila | Private |
| Silliman University | 1938 | Philippine Commonwealth government | Dumaguete | Private |
| Adamson University | 1941 | Philippine Commonwealth government | Manila | Private |
| University of the Philippines Diliman | 1949 | Philippine government | Quezon City | Public |
| University of San Agustin | 1953 | Philippine government | Iloilo City | Private |

## Oldest seminaries

Still in operation  Defunct
| Current name | Year founded | Name at time of foundation | Founding order | Location upon foundation | Current affiliations |
| Universidad de San Ignacio | 1590 | Colegio de Manila | Society of Jesus | Manila | |
| San José Seminary | 1601 | Colegio de San José | Society of Jesus | Intramuros, Manila | Jesuit |
| University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary | 1611 | Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Santisimo Rosario | Dominican Order | Intramuros, Manila | Dominican Order |
| San Carlos Seminary | 1702 | Real y Conciliar Colegio de San Carlos | Archdiocese of Manila | Intramuros, Manila | Archdiocese of Manila |
| Seminario Mayor de San Carlos | 1783 | Real Seminario de San Carlos | Archdiocese of Cebu | Cebu City | Society of the Divine Word |
| Holy Rosary Minor Seminary | 1793 | Casa de Clerigos | Archdiocese of Caceres | Naga City | Archdiocese of Caceres |
| Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan | 1822 | Seminario de San Pablo | Dominican Order | Vigan | Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia |
| Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary | 1869 | Seminario-Colegio de San Vicente Ferrer | Archdiocese of Jaro | Jaro, Iloilo City | Archdiocese of Jaro |

## Oldest law schools

Still in operation  Defunct
| Name | Year founded | Educational institution | Location upon foundation |
| University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law | 1734 | University of Santo Tomas | Intramuros, Manila |
| Universidad de San Ignacio Facultad de Derecho Civil | 1734 | Universidad de San Ignacio | Intramuros, Manila |
| Universidad Literaria de Filipinas Civil Law | 1898 | Universidad Literaria de Filipinas | Manila |
| Manila Law College | 1899 | Manila Law College | Manila |
| University of the Philippines College of Law | 1911 | University of the Philippines | Manila |
| University of Manila College of Law | 1913 | University of Manila | Manila |
| Philippine Law School | 1915 | Philippine Law School | Manila |
| University of Manila College of Law | 1918 | University of Manila | Manila |
| Far Eastern University Institute of Law | 1934 | Far Eastern University | Manila |
| Silliman University College of Law | 1935 | Silliman University | Dumaguete |
| Ateneo Law School | 1936 | Ateneo de Manila University | Quezon City |
| University of San Carlos School of Law and Governance | 1937 | University of San Carlos | Cebu City |
| Arellano University School of Law | 1938 | Arellano University | Pasay City |

## Oldest schools of medicine

| Name | Year founded | Educational institution | Location upon foundation |
| University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | 1871 | University of Santo Tomas | Intramuros, Manila |
| University of the Philippines College of Medicine | 1905 | University of the Philippines Manila | Manila |
| Southwestern University Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine, Inc. | 1946 | Southwestern University | Cebu |
| Manila Central University College of Medicine | 1947 | Manila Central University | Manila |
| FEU NRMF – Institute of Medicine | 1952 | Far Eastern University | Manila |
| UERMMMC College of Medicine | 1956 | University of the East | Manila |
| Cebu Institute of Medicine | 1957 | Cebu Institute of Medicine | Cebu |
| Lyceum Northwestern University Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation | 1974 | Lyceum-Northwestern University | Pangasinan |
| West Visayas State University College of Medicine | 1975 | West Visayas State University | Iloilo |
| Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation College of Medicine | 1975 | Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation | Pangasinan |

## Oldest normal schools

| Current name | Year founded | Name at time of foundation | Location upon foundation |
| Universidad de Sta. Isabel | 1875 | Escuela Normal de Maestras of Colegio de Sta. Isabel | Camarines Sur |
| Philippine Normal University | 1901 | Philippine Normal School | Manila |
| West Visayas State University | 1902 | Iloilo Normal School | Iloilo |

## Oldest schools of engineering

| Name | Year founded | Educational institution | Location upon foundation | Ref |
| University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Engineering | 1907 | University of Santo Tomas | Intramuros, Manila | |
| Mapúa University | 1925 | Mapúa University | Manila | |