Today, the JBLFMU, as an institution for higher learning that has gained recognition as having pioneered in undertakings for the development of maritime education and training, propelled by a strong, dynamic and proactive leadership, has become a premier maritime institution in the country. Its innovativeness in many ways distinguishes it from the rest of the maritime institutions. It has made remarkable strides as an educational institution particularly in the maritime field through the years, most of which were achieved during the last four decades. Having pioneered maritime education in the Visayas and Mindanao, it has constantly led the way by consistently providing competent seafarers since 1948, becoming a major supplier of Filipino marine officers, with a contribution of about 12% annually. The highlights may be seen in 2001 when JBLFMU supplied 12.47% of the deck and 12.35% of the engine officers of the Philippines, and in 2005 with 12% of the new entrants to the profession.

In the process of producing qualified and competent manpower for the seafaring world, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University  has achieved the following recognitions:

• The first maritime institution to be accredited by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACU-COA).    (March 1986)
• The first and the only maritime educational institution in the Philippines that has a Maritime High School. (1990)
• The first maritime school in the Philippines that have formulated and adopted the Enriched CHED Curriculum incorporating the IMO Model Courses (June 1995)
• The first maritime educational institution granted Level III accredited and re-accredited status, the distinction which it holds up to this day. (October 1995)
• It is the first maritime educational institution in the Philippines to attain an international accreditation, the DNV Certification for its Quality Assurance System--- the first in the Philippines, second in Asia and third in the world to have such a distinction. (November 1997)
• It belongs to the first cluster of 11 maritime educational institutions that have complied with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements, for the inclusion of the Philippines in the “White List”. Of the 11 schools, JBLCF was counted 3 times for its 3 campuses. (1998)
• The first maritime educational institution granted an Autonomous Status. (October 2001)
• The first maritime institution whose graduate program was subjected to the PACUCOA preliminary visit for Level 1 accreditation. (2004)
• The first maritime institution to be a recipient of the Philippine Quality Award (PQA). (2005)
• The first maritime university in the Philippines. (2007)
• The first maritime school with a second re-accredited status for level III by Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). (2007)
• The first maritime school granted level IV accreditation by PACUCOA. (November 2008)
• The first institution to be granted PACUCOA  Institutional Accredited Status in Region VI. ( December 2011 ) 
• FIRST AND ONLY MARITIME UNIVERSITY IN THE PHILIPPINES and a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU)
• The only maritime institution with Level IV Accredited Status by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA)
• Maritime higher education Institution accredited by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) with a recognized Merchant Marine Deck and Engine Officer Programs for School Year 2015-2016
• Maritime higher education institution recognized by MARINA as eligible to offer the ratings deck and engine programs that have expressed their interest to offer the Enhanced Support Level Program (ESLP-DECK) as of February 23, 2015
• TESDA accredited assessment center for deck and engine ratings
• JBLFMU consistently garners top ranks in the Maritime School Assessment Program (MSAP) for both deck and engine and the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines

As focal point of the Global Onboard Training Center (GOBTC), it has revolutionized the maritime education landscape by establishing the Center for Review, Competency and Assessment (CRCA) Office that oversees quality education of maritime knowledge and skills.

Other Accomplishments

The JBLFMU Training Center is accredited by the Panama Maritime Authority and recognized by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), Maritime Training Council (MTC), Dept. of Trade (DOT), and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). It has produced two students in the roster of Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) in 1989 and 2002. It was endorsed by manning and shipping companies and by highly knowledgeable personages in the industry for the competence of its graduates. It was authorized by CHED as a provider of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) for Engine and Deck, and the only one in the country.

It was declared by assessors from CHED to have established the best system for equivalency evaluation. It was nominated by CHED as having one of the best HEI Research Programs for 2006. Its responsiveness to community concerns is demonstrated in the assistance it gives to the economic growth of the province through eco-tourism by way of its extension service to the barangays of Nueva Valencia. Its dynamic research undertakings attest to this responsiveness, addressing such concerns as the barangay needs (by JBLFMU Arevalo), mangrove rehabilitation (by JBLFMU Bacolod), coral reefs (by JBLFMU Molo) and inland fisheries, particularly bulgan and tilapia (by JBLFMU) Its strong community outreach programs include literacy, coastal cleanup, blood donations and MT solar and oil spill cleanup. Its greatest achievement by far is its having been granted university status, making it the first maritime university in the country.
 
The University. As a university, the JBLFMU, more than ever, stands committed to sustaining its strong and dynamic culture of research with a pool of academic and non-academic researchers constantly demonstrating high-level research capabilities aided by the latest in technology in their conduct of research significant to academe, business and industry, the entire country and the world community.

All JBLFMU research endeavors are supportive of the University’s quality policy “to comply with national and international standards and strive to exceed stakeholders’ expectation.” With the three academic units in place, i.e., Arevalo, Molo and Bacolod, the JBLFMU continues not only to sustain its programs but to nurture and develop all aspects of the school’s facets and concerns , particularly the academics, students, faculty, facilities, focusing on its goal toward attaining and maintaining international standards, through internal and external monitoring, assessment and interventions, and linkages.