USTET Cutoff and Admission Rate by College
USTET Cutoff and Admission Rate by College
USTET admission rate hovers around 30% overall — about 9,000 admitted out of 25,000-30,000 applicants per cycle. Programme-level competition varies widely.
This post is the realistic admission read.
Overall admission rate
| Cycle | Approx. applicants | Approx. admitted | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26,000 | 8,500 | 33% |
| 2024 | 28,000 | 9,200 | 33% |
| 2025 | 27,000 | 8,800 | 33% |
Programme-level competitiveness
| Programme cluster | Approx. admission rate | Realistic USTET target |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Med (Bio, Psych, Med Tech track) | 12-18% | 88+ |
| Pharmacy | 15-22% | 85+ |
| Med Tech, Nursing | 18-25% | 82+ |
| OT, PT, SLP, Rad Tech | 22-30% | 75-78+ |
| Accountancy | 20-28% | 80+ |
| Architecture | 25-32% | 78+ |
| Engineering programmes | 25-35% | 76+ |
| Liberal Arts (Comm, Pol Sci, Psych Lib) | 30-40% | 72+ |
| Music, Fine Arts (audition + interview) | varies | 70+ |
Reading the cutoffs honestly
- Cutoffs shift year to year by 2-5 composite points
- Programme-level quotas are firm
- UST allows 3 programme choices ranked by priority
- Cross-programme transfer at UST is paperwork-heavy — choose carefully
What target USTET to plan toward
Work backward from programme:
- Pre-Med: 88+ composite, with Science (especially Biology) at 88+
- Pharmacy: 85+ composite
- Nursing/Med Tech: 82+ composite
- Standard programmes: 75+ composite
Strategic application
UST allows 3 programme choices. Strategic listing:
- First: dream programme matched to USTET target
- Second: realistic backup with similar interest
- Third: safety programme
Don't list only stretch programmes.
USTET vs other Manila CETs
| Test | Acceptance rate | Test fee |
|---|---|---|
| USTET | ~30% | ₱600 |
| ACET | ~25% | ₱650 |
| DLSUCET | ~22% | ₱600 |
| UPCAT | ~11% | Free |
USTET is the broadest acceptance rate among the Big Four Manila CETs.
Where Super Tutor fits
Super Tutor's USTET track benchmarks mock scores against historical admission patterns.
What to read next
The USTET 2026 pillar guide covers the prep. The USTET health sciences pathway guide covers the most competitive programmes.
Start your USTET review
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