ACET Cutoff and Admission Rate Analysis
ACET Cutoff and Admission Rate Analysis
ACET admission rate hovers around 25% of applicants — about 6,000-7,500 admitted out of 25,000-30,000 applicants per cycle. Ateneo doesn't publish official cutoffs, but admission patterns are clear by programme cluster.
This post is the realistic admission read.
Overall admission rate
| Cycle | Approx. applicants | Approx. admitted | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26,000 | 6,200 | 24% |
| 2024 | 28,000 | 7,000 | 25% |
| 2025 | 27,500 | 6,800 | 25% |
How Ateneo evaluates applicants
Unlike UP (which weights UPCAT + GWA almost exclusively), Ateneo uses holistic review:
- ACET score (largest single factor, ~50% weight)
- High school grades (~25% weight)
- Application essay (~15% weight)
- Co-curricular and leadership signals (~10% weight)
A strong essay and leadership profile can offset a borderline ACET; a perfect ACET with thin file can be denied.
Programme-level competitiveness
| Programme cluster | Approx. admission rate | Realistic ACET target |
|---|---|---|
| BS Management Engineering | 8-12% | 90+ |
| BS Computer Science | 12-18% | 85+ |
| BS Health Sciences | 15-20% | 82+ |
| BS Communication Technology Mgmt (CTM) | 18-25% | 80+ |
| BS Legal Management | 18-25% | 80+ |
| AB programmes (Comm, Pol Sci, Econ) | 22-30% | 78+ |
| Most other AB and BS programmes | 25-35% | 75+ |
| BS Education (entry programmes) | 30-40% | 72+ |
Reading the cutoffs honestly
Several patterns matter:
- Programme cutoffs shift year to year based on applicant volume + quota
- Ateneo allows multiple programme choices — list strategically
- Strong file + borderline ACET often admits at less competitive programmes
- Weak file + strong ACET sometimes denied at competitive programmes
What target ACET to plan toward
Work backward from target programme:
- BS Management Engineering: target ACET 90+, strong file, leadership profile
- BS Computer Science: target ACET 85+
- AB Communication / Political Science: target ACET 78+, strong essay
- AB programmes generally: target ACET 75+
Strategic application
Ateneo allows up to 3 programme choices ranked by priority. Strategic listing:
- First choice: dream programme (matched to ACET target)
- Second choice: realistic backup with similar interest
- Third choice: safety programme
Don't list only stretch programmes. Ateneo typically admits to one of your listed choices, not to a non-listed alternative.
ACET vs other Manila CETs
| Test | Acceptance rate | Test fee |
|---|---|---|
| ACET | ~25% | ₱650 |
| UPCAT | ~11% | Free |
| DLSUCET | ~22% | ₱600 |
| USTET | ~30% | ₱600 |
ACET is more competitive than DLSUCET or USTET but less competitive than UPCAT for the system as a whole.
Where Super Tutor fits
Super Tutor's ACET track provides ACET prep that benchmarks mock scores against historical admission patterns at programme cluster level.
What to read next
The ACET 2026 pillar guide covers the full prep approach. The ACET essay guide covers the highly-weighted essay.
Start your ACET review
Super Tutor covers ACET with an AI review plan tuned to your weak areas.
Related reading
Entrance Exams
ACET 2026 Reviewer: Format, Loyola Cutoffs, 90-Day Plan
ACET is Ateneo's college entrance test — ~30K applicants for ~5,000 slots. Here's the 2026 exam format, Loyola Schools cutoff bands by programme, essay + interview tier, financial aid, and a free 90-day prep plan.
Entrance Exams
ACET Math Review: Topics for Ateneo Entrance
ACET Math is one of three sub-tests on the Ateneo entrance exam. Here's the topic-by-topic plan.
Entrance Exams
ACET English Review: Grammar, Vocabulary, Usage
ACET English tests grammar and vocabulary at solid SHS level. Daily reading habit + drills close most gaps.