MMSU ranks 8th among top nursing schools nationwide
Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) ranked eighth among the country’s top-performing nursing schools in the August 2026 Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination (PNLE), as the university honored 132 new registered nurses during a testimonial program on 26 October.
The MMSU College of Health Sciences (CHS) reported an institutional passing rate of 98.51 percent, surpassing the national average of 76.74 percent.
The university met the criteria for top-performing schools, which require at least 100 examinees and a minimum institutional passing rate of 85 percent.
The testimonial program, dubbed “eaRNed & Prevailed,” recognized the achievement of the new nurses and the university’s performance in the national licensure examination.
CHS Dean Dr. Cheryll Didi Nellie Obra congratulated the passers, noting that the university’s Department of Nursing has maintained its standing among nursing schools in the country while continuing to uphold standards in healthcare education in Northern Luzon.
Representing MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano Jr., Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo also congratulated the new nurses as they entered the healthcare profession.
Domingo challenged the graduates to take on leadership roles and advocate for patients in various healthcare institutions, emphasizing their responsibility to help address gaps in healthcare delivery.
“You have the power and the responsibility to close the gaps in healthcare, to be champions of health equity, and to eradicate the stigma that surrounds so many conditions, and to save lives,” Domingo said.
Speaking on behalf of his fellow passers, Lucky Garcia, R.N., recalled the challenges they faced throughout their nursing education, review preparations and licensure examination.
Garcia attributed their success to their perseverance and the support they received from people who stood by them throughout their journey.
“We continued, not always because we were strong, but because we found strength in the people who stood beside us. And not always because we knew exactly where the journey would lead us, but because we believed that the sacrifices we were making would eventually mean something,” Garcia said.
The university’s eighth-place national ranking and the achievement of its 132 new registered nurses highlight MMSU’s performance in nursing education and its role in preparing healthcare professionals for service in the country.