This is a complete list of Philippine presidents by college education that consists of the 17 heads of state in the history of the Philippines.
Almost all presidents (except Emilio Aguinaldo, Joseph Estrada, and Bongbong Marcos) completed a college degree program. College and postgraduate education have prepared presidents in their future roles as heads of state, architects of foreign policy, commanders-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and managers of the entire government bureaucracy.
By law, under the Constitution of the Philippines, any Filipino citizen aged forty and above who can read and write and can meet residency requirements is eligible to run as president. However, in practice, popularity, political machinery, and financial resources are the key elements leading to a successful presidential candidate.
List by degree This section lists presidents according to schools from which they earned degrees. Schools that presidents attended but did not earn degrees from are not included.
Did not graduate from college Emilio Aguinaldo (A cholera epidemic forced the Colegio de San Juan de Letran where Aguinaldo attended the equivalent of high school to close in 1880. Aguinaldo never returned to any form of schooling following this closure.) Joseph Estrada (Estrada attended Mapúa Institute of Technology before transferring to Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines, where he later dropped out. (republished by Google Books)) Bongbong Marcos (Marcos attended the Center for Research and Communication, where he took a special diploma course in economics, but did not finish. He also attended St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford, studying philosophy, politics and economics (PPE). However, despite his claims that he graduated with a bachelor of arts in PPE, he did not obtain such a degree. Marcos had passed philosophy, but failed economics, and failed politics twice, thus making him ineligible for a degree. Instead, he received a special diploma in social studies, which was awarded mainly to non-graduates and is currently no longer offered by the university.)
LL.B. The J.D. was first conferred in the Philippines in lieu of the LL.B. by the Ateneo Law School in 1990, with the model program later adopted by most schools now offering the J.D.University of the Philippines College of Law. News . April 24, 2008.The Weekly Sillimanian Vol. LXXXII No.4: SU Law adopts Juris Doctor Program. By: Princess Dianne Kris S. Decierdo. Published July 15, 2009. Archived copies can be viewed and verified at the Sillimaniana Section of the Silliman University Main Library. However, no president as of yet has graduated with the J.D., as all have earned the LL.B. prior to 1990. School Location President(s) Philippine Law School Pasay, Metro Manila Carlos P. Garcia San Beda College of Law Manila, Metro Manila Rodrigo Duterte University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Manila, Metro Manila Manuel L. Quezon Sergio Osmeña Diosdado Macapagal University of the Philippines College of Law Quezon City, Metro Manila José P. Laurel Manuel Roxas Elpidio Quirino Ferdinand Marcos
Master's School Location President(s) Ateneo de Manila University Makati, Metro Manila Fidel Ramos Quezon City, Metro Manila Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Escuela de Derecho de Manila Manila, Metro Manila José P. Laurel National Defense College of the Philippines Quezon City, Metro Manila Fidel Ramos University of Illinois Urbana, United States Fidel Ramos University of Santo Tomas Manila, Metro Manila Diosdado Macapagal
Ph.D. School Location President(s) University of Santo Tomas Manila, Metro Manila José P. Laurel Diosdado Macapagal University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City, Metro Manila Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Yale University New Haven, United States José P. Laurel
Undergraduate Some presidents attended more than one institution, though only those from which they earned undergraduate degrees are included here. Two presidents never earned undergraduate degrees: Emilio Aguinaldo never attended college, while Joseph Estrada dropped out from both colleges that he attended. One, Bongbong Marcos, did not finish his special diploma course at the Center for Research and Communication and received only a special diploma in social studies from the University of Oxford as he failed two components of his program of study, making him ineligible to receive an undergraduate degree. Marcos still falsely claims that he obtained a degree from Oxford despite Oxford confirming in 2015 and 2021 that Marcos did not finish his degree.
Three presidents attended foreign colleges at the undergraduate level: Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, and Bongbong Marcos. One president attended a United States service academy: Fidel Ramos graduated from the United States Military Academy as part of his professional education as a career soldier.
School Location President(s) Assumption College San Lorenzo Makati, Metro Manila Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Ateneo de Manila University Quezon City, Metro Manila Benigno Aquino III Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila, Metro Manila Manuel L. Quezon Sergio Osmeña College of Mount Saint Vincent New York City, United States Corazon Aquino José Rizal College Mandaluyong, Metro Manila Ramon Magsaysay Lyceum of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila Rodrigo Duterte National University Pasay, Metro Manila Carlos P. Garcia United States Military Academy West Point, United States Fidel Ramos University of Santo Tomas Manila, Metro Manila Diosdado Macapagal University of the Philippines Quezon City, Metro Manila José P. Laurel Manuel Roxas Elpidio Quirino Ferdinand Marcos
List by specialization Business school
School Location President(s) Ateneo Graduate School of Business Makati, Metro Manila Fidel Ramos (MBA) Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, United States Bongbong Marcos (withdrew)
Law school
School Location President(s) Escuela de Derecho de Manila Manila, Metro Manila José P. Laurel (LL.M) Far Eastern University Institute of Law Manila, Metro Manila Corazon Aquino (withdrew) Philippine Law School Pasay, Metro Manila Carlos P. Garcia (LL.B) Diosdado Macapagal (transferred to University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law) San Beda College of Law Manila, Metro Manila Rodrigo Duterte (LL.B) Silliman University College of Law Dumaguete, Negros Oriental Carlos P. Garcia (transferred to Philippine Law School) University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Manila, Metro Manila Manuel L. Quezon (LL.B) Sergio Osmeña (LL.B) Diosdado Macapagal (LL.B, LL.M, DCL) University of the Philippines College of Law Quezon City, Metro Manila José P. Laurel (LL.B) Manuel Roxas (LL.B) Elpidio Quirino (LL.B) Ferdinand Marcos (LL.B) Yale Law School New Haven, United States José P. Laurel (DCL)
List by presidents
PresidentHigh school or equivalent Undergraduate schoolGraduate school Emilio Aguinaldo Colegio de San Juan de Letran (did not finish) none none Manuel L. Quezon Colegio de San Juan de Letran Colegio de San Juan de Letran (AB) University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (LL.B) José P. Laurel Manila High School University of the Philippines College of Law (LL.B) Escuela de Derecho de Manila (LL.M) Yale Law School (DCL) University of Santo Tomas (PhD) Sergio Osmeña Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos Colegio de San Juan de Letran (AB) University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (LL.B) Manuel Roxas Manila High School University of the Philippines College of Law (LL.B) Elpidio Quirino Manila High School University of the Philippines College of Law (LL.B) Ramon Magsaysay Zambales Academy University of the Philippines (transferred) José Rizal College (AB) none Carlos P. Garcia Cebu Provincial High School Silliman University College of Law (transferred) Philippine Law School (LL.B) Diosdado Macapagal Pampanga High School Philippine Law School (transferred) University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (LL.B) University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (LL.M, DCL) University of Santo Tomas (PhD) Ferdinand Marcos University of the Philippines University of the Philippines College of Law (LL.B) Corazon Aquino Assumption Convent (transferred) Ravenhill Academy (transferred) Notre Dame Convent School College of Mount Saint Vincent (AB) Far Eastern University Institute of Law (withdrew) Fidel Ramos University of the Philippines (transferred) Mapúa Institute of Technology (transferred) Centro Escolar de Señoritas United States Military Academy (AB)University of Illinois (M.Eng) National Defense College of the Philippines (MNSA) Ateneo Graduate School of Business (MBA) Joseph Estrada Ateneo de Manila University (did not finish) Mapúa Institute of Technology (transferred) Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines (withdrew) none Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Assumption Convent Georgetown University (transferred) Assumption College San Lorenzo (AB) Ateneo de Manila University (MA) University of the Philippines Diliman (PhD) Benigno Aquino III Ateneo de Manila University Ateneo de Manila University (AB) none Rodrigo Duterte Ateneo de Davao University (did not finish) Holy Cross Academy of Digos Lyceum of the Philippines (AB) San Beda College of Law (LL.B) Bongbong Marcos Worth School Center for Research and Communication (did not finish) University of Oxford (special diploma) Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (withdrew)
Other academic associations Faculty member President(s) School Position Years José P. LaurelUniversity of the Philippines College of Law Professor of Law N/A Philippine Law School Professor of LawN/A University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Professor of Law N/A University of Manila Professor of Law N/A Far Eastern University Institute of Law Professor of Law N/A Central University Professor of Law N/A Adamson University College of Law Professor of Law N/A Manuel Roxas Philippine Law School Professor of Law 1916 Elpidio Quirino Adamson University College of Law Dean 1941–1946 Carlos P. Garcia Bohol Provincial High School Teacher 1923 Diosdado Macapagal University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law Professor of Law 1941–1957 San Beda College of Law Professor of Law 1948 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Assumption College San Lorenzo Professor of Economics1977–1987 Ateneo de Manila University Assistant Professor1977–1987 University of the Philippines Diliman Senior Lecturer1977–1987
School rector or president President(s) School Position Years José P. Laurel Lyceum of the Philippines Founder/President 1952–1959
School trustee or governor President(s) School Position Years José P. Laurel Lyceum of the Philippines Chairman, Board of Trustees 1952–1959 National Teachers College Chancellor 1928–1952
Notes
See also Education in the Philippines List of prime ministers of Australia by education List of prime ministers of New Zealand by education List of prime ministers of Canada by academic degrees List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by education List of presidents of the United States by education
References