Top Criminology Schools in the Philippines 2026 (Ranked by CLE Performance)
Criminology is one of the biggest board exams in the country — the February 2026 CLE alone drew 45,936 examinees — which makes the school-performance data unusually meaningful: the top schools here are outperforming against enormous, nationwide competition.
Methodology: we use only the PRC's official top-performing school announcements (for the CLE, the toughest category: 200 or more examinees passed with at least an 80% passing rate) across recent cycles, and we weight consistency across cycles above any single result.
The Recent Cycles at a Glance
| CLE Cycle | National Passing Rate | Top-Performing School (200+ category) |
|---|
|-----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------|
| February 2026 (record) | 66.00% (30,320/45,936) | Per PRC's March 2026 release — page updated each cycle |
| August 2025 | 51.45% (13,074/25,410) | Araullo University — 92.80% (348 of 375); UM–Davao 2nd at 88.94% |
| February 2025 | 60.50% (22,245/36,768) | University of Iloilo — 96.44% (271 of 281); University of the Cordilleras 2nd at 91.50% |
| July 2024 | 49.34% (11,121/22,539) | University of Mindanao – Davao City — 90.87% (189 of 208); University of Iloilo 2nd at 90.76% |
The Consistency Leaders
- University of Iloilo — top school February 2025 (a remarkable 96.44%) and second place July 2024. The most consistent double-digit outperformer in the data
- University of Mindanao – Davao City — top school July 2024, second August 2025; Mindanao's criminology powerhouse
- Araullo University (Nueva Ecija) — top school August 2025, and an astonishing topnotcher factory: Araullo students took the #1 national spot in both August 2025 (Sajor, 92.40%) and July 2024 (Bautista, 92.10%)
- Holy Angel University and University of the Cordilleras — repeat top-list and topnotcher presences (Amio of HAU was the February 2025 #1)
What stands out: criminology excellence is regionally distributed — Iloilo, Davao, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Baguio — so a strong program is likely within reach of wherever you live, without relocating to Manila.
How to Read This Honestly
The 200-examinee category rewards big programs that stay excellent at scale — passing 348 of 375 examinees (Araullo, August 2025) is a systemic achievement. But remember: national passing rates in criminology historically hover near 50%, meaning school choice matters more in this profession than in most — the gap between a top school's 92% and the national average is enormous. And whichever school you attend, the six board subjects are the same; the license is won in your review habits. (Free CLE reviewer covering all six subjects)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best criminology school in the Philippines?
By recent official CLE data: University of Iloilo, University of Mindanao–Davao, and Araullo University are the standout performers at scale, with Holy Angel and University of the Cordilleras close behind.
Which school produces the most CLE topnotchers?
Araullo University is the recent standout — its students took the national #1 spot in two of the last four cycles.
Is the CLE hard?
National passing rates have ranged from 49% to the record 66% (February 2026) — roughly one in two examinees fails, which is exactly why school quality and review discipline both matter.
What comes after passing the CLE?
Registration, then careers from the PNP (no NAPOLCOM exam needed under RA 11131) to corrections and private security: After Passing the CLE guide.
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