STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. (STI Holdings), one of the largest private education networks in the Philippines, has been named to Forbes Asia’s “Best Under A Billion” list for 2026.
The group operates STI Education Services Group (STI ESG), STI West Negros University (STI WNU), iACADEMY, and the Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA).
The annual Forbes Asia list recognizes 200 top-performing publicly listed small and midsized companies across the Asia-Pacific region with annual revenue of less than $1 billion that have demonstrated consistent growth in both revenue and earnings.
According to Forbes Asia, STI Holdings posted $97 million in sales, $38 million in net income, and a market value of $193 million, making it one of only seven Philippine companies included in this year’s list.
STI Holdings chairman Eusebio H. Tanco welcomed the recognition while reaffirming the group’s commitment to academic excellence and accessible, industry-driven education.
“We are honored to be recognized by Forbes Asia alongside distinguished Philippine and Asia-Pacific enterprises,” Tanco said. “ As we celebrate this achievement, our focus continues to be on offering excellent and internationally accepted educational standards by expanding educational opportunities, enhancing our digital and physical learning infrastructure, and equipping our Filipino youth with future-ready skills.”
Atty. Monico Jacob, STI Holdings president and chief executive officer, noted “the milestone is a testament to the trust of our students and parents, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the solid execution of our long-term strategic vision.”
STI Holdings’ inclusion in the 2026 roster reflects the company’s sustained financial performance and strategic expansion.
Supported by steady tertiary enrollment, the company posted ₱4.20 billion in gross revenues for the first nine months of School Year 2025–2026, up 2% from a year earlier. Net income after tax reached ₱1.63 billion, while total enrollment grew to 132,941 students.
Its performance was further strengthened by achievements across its subsidiaries. iACADEMY was named the top-performing school in the 2025 Real Estate Appraisers Licensure Examination after posting a 90% passing rate. It was also recognized as the “Most Innovative School” by Global Brands Magazine.
Meanwhile, STI WNU ranked third nationwide in its category in the February 2026 Criminology Licensure Examination, recording a 95.35% passing rate.
The group also continued investing in specialized academic technologies and campus modernization. These include Adobe Creative Cloud licenses, computer-aided design and cybersecurity platforms, solar panel installations, and upgraded enrollment systems.
The Forbes Asia recognition underscores STI Holdings’ ability to combine strong operational performance with accessible, high-quality education. Backed by steady revenue growth and continued investments across its schools, the company said it remains committed to expanding educational opportunities and strengthening its position in the Philippine education sector.
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