National University (NU), a member of the SM Group, is expanding four of its existing campuses in Clark (Pampanga), Mall of Asia (Pasay), Fairview (Quezon City), and the main campus in Sampaloc, Manila, to accommodate more students and meet the growing demand for accessible, quality education. The expansion coincides with NU’s 125th founding anniversary, marking another step in its mission to bring affordable and career-ready learning closer to Filipino communities.
“Anchored on NU’s mission to democratize education, we are expanding where demand and opportunity meet,” said NU President Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita Jr. “Clark, in particular, has shown the fastest student growth in AY 2024–2025 because of its strategic location. These expansions will allow us to serve more students with programs in Engineering, Architecture, Tourism, Psychology, Accountancy, and other in-demand fields.”
Since 2008, NU has become a key part of the SM group’s broader effort to make education within reach of more Filipinos. By situating campuses within SM developments, NU creates safe, convenient, and connected environments that allow students to balance learning with daily life.
“Being within SM complexes gives our students immediate access to essential services like public transport, bookstores, and dining areas,” Dr. Ermita noted. “These shared spaces evolve into vibrant learning communities where education and everyday experiences intersect.”
Under the expansion plan, NU Clark will construct a new academic tower with classrooms and laboratories for additional program offerings. NU Mall of Asia will add two more floors to accommodate more classrooms and laboratories, while NU Fairview will build another academic tower to cater to its growing student population. Meanwhile, the NU Manila main campus will expand with 24 new classrooms, faculty rooms, a learning resource center, and an auditorium — providing more space for learning and collaboration.
NU currently serves more than 83,000 students across 14 campuses and aims to reach 100,000 students by 2027, with new campuses planned in Davao, Iloilo, and Urdaneta.
Through its scholarship program in partnership with SM Foundation, NU supports over 570 full scholars, with plans to double that number this year.
The university also remains committed to academic excellence as it also recently earned a QS 3 Stars overall rating, including 5 Stars in Employability, highlighting its strong academic and career outcomes.
NU continues to gain global recognition, appearing in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for several 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 (NU) is one of the Philippines’ leading private universities offering accessible, quality, and industry-aligned education. Guided by its mission of providing “Education That Works,” NU continues to grow its network of campuses nationwide as part of the SM Group, which believes in empowering future generations through education and opportunity.
