Data privacy has become a critical concern in higher education as institutions increasingly rely on digital technologies to manage academic and administrative information. While technological safeguards and regulatory frameworks are essential, the effectiveness of data privacy programs also depends on the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (AKAP) of individuals who process and access personal information. This study assessed the data privacy awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practices of students, faculty members, and staff in selected Philippine state universities. A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive research design was employed involving 396 respondents selected through stratified random sampling from five state university campuses in Cavite, Philippines. Data were collected using a validated researcher-developed AKAP questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and weighted mean. The findings revealed that respondents demonstrated a high level of data privacy awareness (94–95%), indicating that they were fully aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Respondents also exhibited an excellent understanding of data privacy principles (90%) and consistently practiced appropriate data privacy measures (88–91%). However, attitudes toward data privacy, although generally positive (80–82%), were comparatively lower than the other dimensions, suggesting that awareness and knowledge do not always translate into consistently proactive privacy mindsets. Overall, the findings indicate that the participating state universities have cultivated a strong culture of data privacy through effective awareness initiatives and institutional policies. Nevertheless, continuous capacity-building programs, behavioral interventions, and periodic policy reinforcement are recommended to strengthen privacy attitudes and sustain responsible data handling practices among higher education stakeholders.Data privacy has become a critical concern in higher education as institutions increasingly rely on digital technologies to manage academic and administrative information. While technological safeguards and regulatory frameworks are essential, the effectiveness of data privacy programs also depends on the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (AKAP) of individuals who process and access personal information. This study assessed the data privacy awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practices of students, faculty members, and staff in selected Philippine state universities. A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive research design was employed involving 396 respondents selected through stratified random sampling from five state university campuses in Cavite, Philippines. Data were collected using a validated researcher-developed AKAP questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and weighted mean. The findings revealed that respondents demonstrated a high level of data privacy awareness (94–95%), indicating that they were fully aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Respondents also exhibited an excellent understanding of data privacy principles (90%) and consistently practiced appropriate data privacy measures (88–91%). However, attitudes toward data privacy, although generally positive (80–82%), were comparatively lower than the other dimensions, suggesting that awareness and knowledge do not always translate into consistently proactive privacy mindsets. Overall, the findings indicate that the participating state universities have cultivated a strong culture of data privacy through effective awareness initiatives and institutional policies. Nevertheless, continuous capacity-building programs, behavioral interventions, and periodic policy reinforcement are recommended to strengthen privacy attitudes and sustain responsible data handling practices among higher education stakeholders.