National University marks its 125th year with major expansions across four key campuses in Clark, Mall of Asia, Fairview, and its main hub in Sampaloc, Manila—an ambitious move designed to welcome more students and bring quality, affordable education closer to families across the country.
National University (NU), a proud member of the SM Group, is widening its footprint as it expands four of its existing campuses to meet growing demand for accessible and industry-aligned education. The expansions reflect NU’s steady rise as one of the country’s most dynamic private universities, committed to creating opportunities for Filipino learners wherever they are.
“Everything we do is anchored on our mission to democratize education,” NU President Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita Jr. said. “We are strengthening our presence where demand and opportunity meet. Clark, in particular, recorded the fastest enrollment growth in AY 2024–2025 because of its strategic location. These expansions will enable us to offer more programs in Engineering, Architecture, Tourism, Accountancy, Psychology, and other fast-growing fields.”
Since joining the SM Group in 2008, NU has played a key role in making education more reachable for Filipino families. By situating campuses within SM developments, NU creates safe, modern, and highly connected environments where students can easily transition between academic life and daily needs.
“Being within SM complexes gives our students instant access to public transport, dining options, bookstores, and essential services,” Dr. Ermita added. “These shared spaces naturally evolve into vibrant communities where learning thrives beyond the classroom.”
Under the expansion blueprint, NU Clark will build a new academic tower equipped with fresh classrooms and laboratories for expanded programs. NU Mall of Asia will add two more floors to support its rising student population. NU Fairview will construct an additional academic tower, while the Sampaloc campus will add 24 classrooms, faculty rooms, a learning resource center, and an auditorium—bringing more room for collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning.
Today, NU serves more than 83,000 students across 14 campuses nationwide and aims to grow that number to 100,000 by 2027. Plans are already underway for new campuses in Davao, Iloilo, and Urdaneta.
Through its long-running partnership with SM Foundation, NU currently supports over 570 full scholars—and is set to double that number within the year as part of its commitment to uplift more students through education.
NU’s academic strength also continues to gain recognition globally. The university recently earned a QS 3 Stars overall rating, including 5 Stars in Employability, reflecting its strong industry linkages and career-ready programs. It likewise appeared in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for its contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).
Founded in 1900, National University remains one of the Philippines’ most respected private learning institutions—built on the belief that education should be within reach, transformative, and rooted in real-world opportunities. As NU continues to expand its nationwide network, it stays true to its promise of providing Education That Works for every Filipino learner.