De La Salle University
Pamantasang De La Salle
Manila's Lasallian research university on Taft Avenue, running on three terms a year and entered through the DCAT.
- Students
- 26,747
- 23,574 undergraduates
- Tuition
- ₱222K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1911
- QS World Ranking
- 751-760
- 2027 edition
About DLSU
De La Salle University was founded in 1911 by the De La Salle Brothers as De La Salle College, later moved to its present site at 2401 Taft Avenue in Malate, Manila, became co-educational in 1973 and gained university status in 1975. It is a private, non-profit Catholic university and one of 16 institutions in the De La Salle Philippines network. Besides the 5.4-hectare main campus in Manila, it runs a Laguna campus in Biñan, a Rufino campus in Bonifacio Global City for law, and a presence in Makati.
DLSU has 23,574 undergraduates and 3,173 graduate students (Term 1, AY 2025-26), taught by 585 full-time and 847 part-time faculty. Teaching is organised in colleges of Education, Computer Studies, Liberal Arts, Science, Engineering and Business, plus the Carlos L. Tiu School of Economics, the Tañada-Diokno School of Law and the School of Innovation and Sustainability in Laguna. The university holds Level IV PAASCU accreditation, several CHED Centers of Excellence, and describes itself as the country's most productive private research university.
The academic year runs on three terms, starting in September, January and May, and most first-year students are admitted through the DLSU College Admission Test (DCAT). DLSU suits students who want a research-active private university in the middle of Manila, with strong business, engineering and computing programmes, double degrees that pair international studies with business, and a busy sports and organisation culture around the Green Archers.
Religio, Mores, Cultura
“Religion, Morals, Culture” — university motto
Why students choose DLSU
Three intakes a year: first-year students can start in Term 1 (September), Term 2 (January) or Term 3 (May), each with its own DCAT sitting.
Double-degree programmes from the College of Liberal Arts and the business and economics units award two full degrees, typically in about five years, for example AB International Studies (Japanese, Chinese, European or American Studies) with a BS in Accountancy or Marketing Management.
The Star Scholars Program covers 100% of tuition and fees and pays a PHP 18,000 monthly stipend to top DCAT examinees, and can lead on to a full scholarship for medicine, law or a master's degree.
New programmes announced in September 2026 include BS Information Security, AB Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence, and AB Legal Studies and Sustainable Development designed by the Tañada-Diokno School of Law.
Admissions
AY 2027-2028, Term 1 (classes start September 2027); Term 2 and Term 3 intakes also run in AY 2026-2027
Selectivity
DLSU does not publish an admission rate. Its most recent quick facts (AY 2021-2022) report 19,488 undergraduate applicants and 7,397 first-year undergraduates enrolled; the number of offers is not published. Admission and scholarship decisions draw on DCAT results and high school standing, and applicants rank three programme choices.
Typical entry requirements
| Philippine senior high school (Grade 12) | Grade 12 students graduating at the end of AY 2026-2027, or Grade 12 graduates (local or abroad) who have not taken any college course; take the DCAT |
|---|---|
| PEPT, ALS or NFEA&E | Passers are eligible to apply and take the DCAT |
| SAT, AP, IB or A Levels | Grade 12 students or graduates holding SAT, AP, IB Diploma/IB Certificate or A Level results that meet DLSU criteria are eligible; all results and certificates are evaluated |
| English language | No English test score is listed for first-year applicants. English is the medium of instruction; required Filipino-taught courses have English alternative classes for international students. |
Deadlines
- DCAT application, AY 2027-2028 Term 1 (September 2027 entry) Non-binding PassedSeptember 30, 2026
Application period July 15 to September 30, 2026 for on-campus, online and most provincial test sites (some provincial sites closed earlier). DCAT dates: Animo Lane October 11, 2026 (Manila); November 8, 2026 (Manila campus); December 6, 2026 (Laguna campus); online November 27, December 4 and December 11, 2026, each with a mock test two days before. Results date to be announced.
- First-year application, AY 2026-2027 Term 2 (January 2027 entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 22 daysOctober 28, 2026
Application October 1 to 28, 2026; DCAT November 4, 2026; results December 1, 2026; confirmation December 8 to 9, 2026. Term 2 starts January 7, 2027.
- First-year application, AY 2026-2027 Term 3 (May 2027 entry) Non-binding In ~5 monthsFebruary 28, 2027
Application February 1 to 28, 2027; DCAT March 3, 2027; results April 6, 2027; confirmation April 13 to 14, 2027. Term 3 starts May 3, 2027.
Dates are from DLSU's undergraduate admissions calendar and first-year application pages as of September 30, 2026. The main application window for September 2027 entry closes on September 30, 2026; if you miss it, the January and May 2027 intakes have their own application windows and DCAT dates. The admissions calendar lists the Manila DCAT as November 8 and 15 and the Laguna DCAT as December 4, while the application page lists November 8 (Manila) and December 6 (Laguna), so confirm your date on your test permit.
How to apply
Create an Archers Hub admissions account, fill in the online application form with three ranked programme choices, upload the required documents (PDF or JPEG), pay the application fee to generate your DCAT test permit, and sit the DCAT on your chosen date. Offer or rejection letters are sent to your registered email. Scholarship applications (such as the St. La Salle Financial Assistance Grant) open at the same time as admissions. International students later need a valid study visa, arranged through DLSU's International Center, before enrolment is confirmed.
What admissions looks for
- DCAT performance: top examinees are invited to further screening for the Star Scholars Program, and DCAT results feed into scholarship awards.
- High school standing, which DLSU uses alongside DCAT results in awarding financial assistance grants.
- A clear, ranked set of three programme choices, which guide the admissions decision and cannot be changed after submission.
- Accurate, complete documentation: applications with false information or fraudulent documents are invalidated.
Tips for applying to DLSU
- 1 Choose your three programmes carefully before you submit: DLSU does not allow any change to programme choices afterwards.
- 2 If you are applying from abroad, pick one of the online DCAT dates (November 27, December 4 or December 11, 2026) and attend the compulsory mock online test two days before.
- 3 Apply for the St. La Salle Financial Assistance Grant at the same time as admission: it opens with the first-year application and covers 20% to 100% of tuition and fees depending on family income.
- 4 If you miss the September 30 deadline, apply in October 2026 for the January 2027 intake (Term 2), which has its own DCAT on November 4.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in PHP
DLSU offers scholarships, tuition discounts, student assistantships and loans through its Admissions and Scholarships Office. The St. La Salle Financial Assistance Grant covers 20% to 100% of tuition and fees in six tiers by family income (with a monthly stipend in the lowest tier), the Star Scholars Program gives top DCAT examinees full tuition plus a PHP 18,000 monthly stipend, and the Vaugirard Scholarship Program offers 50 full scholarships a year to graduates of Philippine public and science high schools.
- 100% of tuition and fees for annual family income below PHP 1M; 80% down to 20% for incomes from PHP 1M to 1.8M
- St. La Salle Financial Assistance Grant
- 100% tuition and fees plus PHP 18,000 monthly stipend (from AY 2025-2026)
- Star Scholars and Vaugirard scholars
- 50 new slots a year for Philippine public and science high school graduates
- Vaugirard Scholarship Program
Academics
Academic calendar: Trimesters: Term 1 starts in September, Term 2 in January and Term 3 in May
BS Human Biology
Star Scholars in this programme can continue into medicine at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute on full scholarship.
Engineering (Gokongwei College of Engineering)
Three of the college's programmes are CHED Centers of Excellence and five hold PAASCU Level IV accreditation.
AB International Studies double degrees
Japanese, Chinese, European or American Studies paired with a business degree such as Accountancy, Marketing Management or Legal Management, awarding two full degrees in about five years.
BS Information Security
New in 2026, covering data, software, system, human and organisational security for roles such as penetration tester and digital forensics analyst.
AB Legal Studies and Sustainable Development
Designed by the Tañada-Diokno School of Law, with two years in Manila or Laguna and two years at the Rufino campus in Bonifacio Global City, as preparation for the JD.
BS Applied Corporate Management (Laguna Campus)
A German-inspired dual model with three full terms of management internship inside local and multinational firms.
Research
- DLSU runs 15 research centres and institutes, including the Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research (SHORE) Center, the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance and the Dr. Andrew L. Tan Data Science Institute.
- The Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies and the Enrique Razon Jr. Logistics Institute focus research on the Philippine economy and supply chains.
- DLSU students and faculty built SINAG, the first Philippine solar car.
Schools & faculties
- Brother Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education
- College of Computer Studies
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Science
- Gokongwei College of Engineering
- Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business
- Carlos L. Tiu School of Economics
- Tañada-Diokno School of Law
- School of Innovation and Sustainability (Laguna Campus)
Student life
Life centres on the Taft Avenue campus, where the neoclassical St. La Salle Hall sits beside the 14-storey Henry Sy Sr. Hall, home of the Learning Commons library, and the 20-storey Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall. DLSU does not guarantee university housing in Manila; its Housing Committee instead lists vetted private housing near campus. The Green Archers and Lady Archers compete in the UAAP, and student media include The LaSallian (since 1960). Lasallian formation is part of the curriculum, with required LASARE retreats for all students, and teaching remains in a blended learning mode.
- The Green Archers and Lady Archers compete in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
- The La Salle Dance Company - Street was the first champion of the UAAP Street Dance Competition.
- Student media include the English-language The LaSallian and the Filipino-language Ang Pahayagang Plaridel.
- International students have an International Center with visa services, a buddy programme and international-student organisations.
Housing. DLSU's Housing Committee publishes a list of private housing near the Manila campus rather than guaranteeing university housing; at Laguna, the Courtyard Hall dormitory next to campus is run by a private developer.
Location
The main campus is on Taft Avenue in Malate, in the south of the City of Manila, part of the dense University Belt and close to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. It is a busy, fully urban setting, with students living in condominiums and dormitories within walking distance. The Laguna campus is in Biñan, Laguna, next to the Laguna Technopark, and the law school is in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Nearest airport: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)
Notable alumni
- JW Jose W. DioknoSenator and human rights lawyer; BS Commerce from De La Salle College
- JR Jesse RobredoSecretary of the Interior and Local Government (2010-2012) and long-time mayor of Naga; degrees in industrial management engineering and mechanical engineering
- LL Leila de LimaFormer Secretary of Justice (2010-2015) and senator (2016-2022), House representative since 2025; AB History and Political Science (1980)
- GT Gilbert TeodoroSecretary of National Defense (2007-2009 and since 2023); commerce degree major in financial institutions (1984)
- BV Bernardo VillegasEconomist and founder of the University of Asia and the Pacific; commerce and humanities degrees, both summa cum laude
- JG John GokongweiFounder of JG Summit Holdings; MBA from DLSU (1977)
Frequently asked questions
When is the De La Salle University application deadline for 2027?
For September 2027 entry (AY 2027-2028, Term 1), the DCAT application period runs from July 15 to September 30, 2026. DLSU also admits first-year students in January 2027 (apply October 1 to 28, 2026) and May 2027 (apply February 1 to 28, 2027).
What is the DCAT?
The DLSU College Admission Test is DLSU's entrance exam for first-year applicants. For 2027-28 entry it is held on campus in Manila and Laguna, at provincial test centres and online, and top scorers are considered for the Star Scholars Program.
How much is tuition at De La Salle University?
For first-year students in AY 2026-2027, DLSU's average tuition and fees for Term 1 range from about PHP 74,000 (Education) to PHP 96,000 (Tañada-Diokno School of Law). With three terms a year, that is roughly PHP 222,000 to 288,000 a year, depending on your programme and load.
Do international students pay more at DLSU?
No. DLSU states that tuition is the same for international and Filipino students. International students do need a valid visa for study, processed with help from the International Center.
What is DLSU's acceptance rate?
DLSU does not publish an acceptance rate. Its latest quick facts (AY 2021-2022) show 19,488 undergraduate applicants and 7,397 first-year undergraduates enrolled.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- DLSU: Undergraduate Admissions (admissions calendar)
- DLSU: Undergraduate Admission for DCAT Application AY 2027-2028
- DLSU: Undergraduate Frosh Admissions for AY 2026-2027 Term 2
- DLSU announcement: AY 2027-2028 DCAT applications are now open (15 July 2026)
- DLSU: Projected tuition and fees for incoming first-year college students AY 2026-2027 (PDF)
- DLSU: International students FAQs
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