A total of 18,350 examinees passed the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2026, representing 12.44% of the 147,437 test takers nationwide. This marks a slight increase in the number of qualifiers compared to last year, though the passing rate dipped from 13% in 2025.

The UPCAT 2026 was administered in August 2025 across 117 testing centers nationwide, reflecting UP’s continued effort to expand access to its premier admission exam. Successful applicants received their admission notices on April 22, 2026, and must confirm their slots by May 16, 2026.

UP reported that 57.1% of passers came from public schools, continuing a trend of increased representation from the public education system. This is up from 55% last year, underscoring UP’s commitment to inclusivity.

The results also highlighted broader geographic diversity, with more qualifiers from underserved regions such as the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The establishment of a testing center in Marawi City contributed to this expansion.

Among the passers were 439 students from indigenous communities, equivalent to 2.4% of the total, marking a 16% increase from last year. This reflects UP’s ongoing efforts to reach marginalized groups.

Socioeconomic data showed that 21.45% of qualifiers came from households earning P200,000 or less annually, while 2,323 passers—or 12.7%—are first-generation college students. These figures highlight UP’s role in providing opportunities for low-income and first-generation learners.

UP Diliman continued to receive the largest share of qualifiers, accounting for 32.4% of the total. Other campuses such as UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, and UP Mindanao also welcomed significant numbers of incoming students.

Applicants can check their results through the official UPCAT 2026 portal at upcat2026results.up.edu.ph, using their application credentials. To manage traffic, UP advised examinees to log in according to allotted surname-based time slots.

For those who did not qualify, UP emphasized that alternative pathways remain available, including transfer admissions, talent-based entry, varsity athlete programs, and enrollment through the UP Open University.

The release of the UPCAT 2026 results underscores UP’s balancing act between maintaining rigorous academic standards and expanding access to diverse, underserved communities across the Philippines.

Image from UP Visayas