Notably, Central Philippine University has been ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) as one of the best and top Asian and global universities for its 2021 World University Rankings, the first university to do so from the Western Visayas region. At the ranking bracket of 601+, CPU landed on the 8th place among the 14 Philippine universities in the list of rankings, and is the 3rd Visayan university to do so after University of San Carlos and Silliman University, the sister school of the university. The recognition exemplifies CPU's global presence in the academic center stage in the fields of research, academics, local and foreign student diversity, linkages and designations. QS is one of the considered big three and prestigious world university ranking agencies along with Times Higher Education (THE) and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).