iPeople

What iPeople does

iPeople, Inc. (PSE:IPO) is a publicly-listed Philippine education holding company controlled jointly by the House of Investments/Yuchengco Group (~49.99%) and Ayala Corporation (~36.30%). Headquartered in Makati and tracing its incorporation to 1989 (rebranded to iPeople in 1997), the company operates seven wholly-owned educational institutions serving roughly 60,000 students across Metro Manila, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region and Mindanao. Its portfolio spans Mapúa University (flagship, founded 1925, the first ABET-accredited Philippine institution), Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao, Malayan High School of Science, National Teachers College, University of Nueva Caceres, and APEC Schools (a stand-alone private high school chain). The platform covers K-12 through graduate programs with emphasis on engineering, architecture, IT, business, health sciences and teacher education.

The core business model is tuition-driven and recurring, supplemented by ancillary fees. Pricing is not publicly disclosed at the SKU level, but the recent GCash/Fuse Financing partnership (Study Now, Pay Later, July 2025) extends installment-based tuition access across Mapúa University, MCM, MCL, NTC and the digital-first Mapúa Malayan Digital College. Underlying technology consists of campus-based delivery augmented by the Coursera AI-powered platform for 45,000 students, proprietary academic programs (most notably the Philippines' first BS AI Engineering degree launched June 2025), and digital-first learning through MMDC. FY2025 disclosed results show PHP 6.22 billion in revenue, PHP 966.04 million in net income, and PHP 24.20 billion in total assets, reflecting profitable scale. Strategic positioning rests on internationally-recognized accreditations (ABET, ISO 21001:2018, PACUCOA, CHED Centers of Excellence and Autonomous Status), international rankings (QS 4-star, THE Impact Rankings), and an emerging ecosystem of partnerships with Arizona State University, Coursera, GCash and PetroEnergy that competitors would struggle to replicate in the Philippine market.

Name

iPeople

Legal name

iPeople, Inc.

Website

https://ipeople.com.ph

Company type

Public

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

iPeople, Inc. is a Philippine publicly-listed education holding company that operates seven schools, including flagship Mapúa University, serving roughly 60,000 students from K-12 through graduate programs across Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol and Mindanao.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Private university operations
• K-12 private schooling
• STEM education programs
• Education investment holding

Headquarters

HQ city

Makati

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees paid by students across all operating schools including Mapúa University, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Malayan High School of Science, National Teachers College, University of Nueva Caceres, and APEC Schools.
2. Installment Payment Processing: Study Now Pay Later program through GCash/Fuse Financing allows families to pay tuition in installments up to 15 months, enabling broader student access while maintaining revenue collection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

iPeople, Inc. is a publicly-listed Philippine education holding company that owns and operates a portfolio of seven educational institutions spanning basic education through graduate programs. Its flagship brand is Mapúa University, a premier engineering and technology institution founded in 1925, supplemented by Malayan Colleges Laguna, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Malayan High School of Science, National Teachers College, University of Nueva Caceres, and APEC Schools. The group serves approximately 60,000 students across Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and Mindanao through tuition-based educational services.

Product overview

iPeople, Inc. is a holding company that operates a portfolio of educational institutions across the Philippines. The core offerings include Mapúa University as the flagship brand (premier engineering and technology institution), supplemented by four subsidiary schools: Malayan Colleges Laguna, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Malayan High School of Science, National Teachers College, and University of Nueva Caceres. APEC Schools operates under NTC following a merger. The portfolio spans basic education through graduate programs, with recent additions including an AI Engineering degree (first in the Philippines), a School of Medicine, and digital education through Mapúa Malayan Digital College. Educational delivery is enhanced through Coursera AI-powered platform serving 45,000 students, and tuition payment integration with GCash/Fuse Financing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mapúa University Premier engineering and technological institution in the Philippines and the flagship brand of iPeople. Offers programs in Engineering and Sciences, Architecture and Design, Information Technology, Business and Management, Communication and Media Studies, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Education for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) Higher education institution located in Cabuyao, Laguna, extending the Mapúa brand to Southern Luzon. Offers baccalaureate and master's programs in engineering, architecture, aviation, allied health sciences, accountancy, business, IT, maritime education, multimedia arts, and tourism management.
• Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Mapúa MCM) Higher education institution located in Davao City offering Mapúa education in the Mindanao region. Offers programs in engineering, architecture, arts and sciences, information science, business, health sciences, and senior high school academic and technical-vocational tracks.
• Malayan High School of Science Science- and math-oriented high school located in Pandacan, Manila, offering rigorous academic programs for students preparing for university-level STEM studies. Envisioned as a Center of Excellence in secondary education with focus on science and technology.
• National Teachers College (NTC) Philippines' first Higher Education Institution dedicated to teacher education, incorporated in 1928. Provides teacher education, basic education, graduate programs, accountancy, business administration, hospitality management, tourism management, IT, library science, psychology, and criminology. Also operates APEC Schools and Smartclass homeschooling program.
• University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) First university in Southern Luzon, located in Naga City, Camarines Sur. Offers complete basic education, programs in arts and sciences, business administration, computer studies, teacher education, engineering, nursing and allied health sciences, criminal justice education, and law.
• APEC Schools Largest chain of private stand-alone high schools in the Philippines operating under National Teachers College. Offers innovative learning at accessible prices across nine campuses in NCR, Rizal, Cavite, and Batangas, and also offers Smartclass homeschooling program.
• Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering Program First undergraduate Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering degree in the Philippines, offered by Mapúa University. Four-year, two-term program comprising 205 credit units covering coding, mathematics, AI model development, ethical AI design, system integration, generative AI, AI governance, and responsible innovation.
• Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) Digital-first college offering flexible online education for full-time students and working professionals. Enables installment-based tuition payments through GCash GGives integration.
• Mapúa University School of Medicine Medical school offering cutting-edge medical education as part of the Arizona State University collaboration, enhancing Mapúa's health sciences and medicine programs for Filipino students.
• Smartclass Homeschooling Program Homeschooling program offered by National Teachers College providing engaging, practical, and affordable home-based education through a comprehensive K-12 homeschooling approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• First university in Philippines with ABET accreditation for engineering programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Leading Edge International Aviation Academy Inc. (LEIAAI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2026Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna formalized partnership with LEIAAI for aviation education programs.
• Passage to ASEAN (P2A) SecretariatminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026Mapúa MCL signed MOU with P2A Secretariat for ASEAN Artificial Intelligence (AI) Council collaboration.
• Universitas Esa UnggulminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Mapúa MCL collaborated with Universitas Esa Unggul for academic partnership and student exchange.
• GCash / Fuse Financing Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2025Partnership with GCash and its lending arm Fuse Financing Inc. to offer Study Now Pay Later tuition payment program. Allows students/parents to pay tuition in installments up to 15 months with no down payment or processing fees.
• CourseracoreTechnology or Integration · 6 March 2025Expanded partnership to deliver AI-powered, future-ready education to 45,000 students across iPeople schools. Partnership leverages Coursera's AI-powered platform to enhance digital learning capabilities.
• PetroEnergy CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2024PetroEnergy unit and Mapúa activated solar rooftop project for renewable energy at campus facilities.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Groundbreaking partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), America's most innovative university, launched in 2022. Collaboration enhances Mapúa's business, health sciences, nursing, and medicine offerings, providing Filipino students access to ASU's expertise and resources.
• Ayala Corporation / AC Education, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2019On May 2, 2019, iPeople completed its merger with AC Education, Inc., a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation. IPO became the surviving entity with HI and affiliates holding 51.3% ownership and Ayala holding 33.5%. The merger brought together 7 educational institutions and nearly 60,000 students.
• AY Foundation, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development foundation with advocacy for health, education, disaster relief and rehabilitation, and values formation. Provides educational assistance to financially needy Filipino youth.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GEMS Education: Large private K-12 and higher education operator headquartered in the UAE with international campuses. Comparable as a multi-brand education group with conglomerate-style capital base and international premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• De La Salle University: Premier private Catholic university in the Philippines with multiple campuses. Competes head-to-head with Mapúa for top STEM and business students and provides a benchmark for tuition, rankings, and accreditations.
• University of Santo Tomas: Oldest existing university in Asia, large private Catholic institution in Manila. Comparable on heritage, scale, and breadth of programs offered in the same geography.
• Far Eastern University: Long-established private university in Manila with a broad program portfolio. Comparable as a multi-discipline private university in the same Metro Manila market and similar tuition band.
• Laureate Education, Inc. Global for-profit higher education platform operating multiple institutions across Latin America, Europe and Asia. Comparable as a publicly listed multi-country education holding company and benchmark for portfolio operating model.
• Ateneo de Manila University: Top-tier private Jesuit university in the Philippines, a benchmark for premium private higher education. Comparable to Mapúa as a brand leader competing for the same high-ability student pool.

Direct peers

• AMA Education System: Philippine for-profit education group with a network of colleges and online programs. Comparable in scale, multi-school structure, and focus on affordable, market-oriented degrees including IT and engineering.
• STI Education Systems Holdings, Inc. Philippine-listed (PSE:STI) for-profit higher education group operating multiple campuses across the country. Closest listed comparable to iPeople given shared Philippine geography, multi-school model, and capital-markets profile.
• Centro Escolar University: PSE-listed (CEU) private university in the Philippines offering K-12, college, and graduate programs. Directly comparable as a publicly traded Philippine private education provider competing for the same student segments.

Regional players

• San Beda University: Private Catholic university in Metro Manila with a strong law and business school reputation. Comparable as a competing private institution in the same Philippine geography and similar tuition segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipeople-yuchengco-ayala-education-partnership

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about iPeople