100 Best Art & Design schools in France

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 3.12M citations received by 163K academic papers made by 127 universities in France was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#32 in Europe

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Art & Design

#84 in Europe

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Art & Design

#146 in Europe

#374 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

4. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#149 in Europe

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,536
Founded: 1794

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art & Design

#160 in Europe

#399 in the World

Enrollment: 46,845
Founded: 1441

6. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Art & Design

#174 in Europe

#424 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

7. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Art & Design

#177 in Europe

#430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 60,404
Founded: 2012

8. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Art & Design

#188 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#189 in Europe

#463 in the World

Enrollment: 69,000
Founded: 2018

10. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#195 in Europe

#475 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

11. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#196 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

12. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#215 in Europe

#522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 11,196
Founded: 1872

13. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Art & Design

#220 in Europe

#533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,900
Founded: 1970

14. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Art & Design

#223 in Europe

#538 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

15. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#247 in Europe

#593 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 15,232
Founded: 1971

16. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#249 in Europe

#597 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

17. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#257 in Europe

#617 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

18. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Art & Design

#258 in Europe

#618 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

19. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Art & Design

#276 in Europe

#663 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

20. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Art & Design

#278 in Europe

#668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,790
Founded: 1794

21. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Art & Design

#299 in Europe

#722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 22,023
Founded: 1968

22. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Art & Design

#311 in Europe

#761 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,690
Founded: 1854

23. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Art & Design

#318 in Europe

#781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,465
Founded: 1432

24. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Art & Design

#322 in Europe

#787 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

25. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#341 in Europe

#828 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1460

26. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#346 in Europe

#849 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,523
Founded: 1970

27. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#352 in Europe

#871 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

28. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#361 in Europe

#912 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

29. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#391 in Europe

#998 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

30. Paris-Est Creteil Val-de-Marne University

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Art & Design

#394 in Europe

#1006 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

31. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Art & Design

#397 in Europe

#1014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,820
Founded: 1431

32. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art & Design

#420 in Europe

#1076 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 7,646
Founded: 1900

33. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Art & Design

#427 in Europe

#1095 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

34. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Art & Design

#431 in Europe

#1109 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

35. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#436 in Europe

#1123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1783

36. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Art & Design

#446 in Europe

#1152 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

37. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#447 in Europe

#1155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,690
Founded: 2019

38. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Art & Design

#462 in Europe

#1191 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

39. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#466 in Europe

#1199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,067
Founded: 1957

40. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#491 in Europe

#1289 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

41. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#501 in Europe

#1320 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

42. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#507 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

43. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Art & Design

#510 in Europe

#1352 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

44. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Art & Design

#511 in Europe

#1358 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

45. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#528 in Europe

#1419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1780

46. Eurecom

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Biot Sophia-Antipolis

For Art & Design

#537 in Europe

#1472 in the World

Founded: 1991

47. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Art & Design

#541 in Europe

#1485 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

48. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#543 in Europe

#1491 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

49. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Art & Design

#544 in Europe

#1492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 25,687
Founded: 1971

50. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Art & Design

#554 in Europe

#1525 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

51. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Art & Design

#561 in Europe

#1563 in the World

Enrollment: 14,498
Founded: 1979

52. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#563 in Europe

#1566 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

53. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Art & Design

#567 in Europe

#1582 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

54. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Art & Design

#590 in Europe

#1679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,629
Founded: 1970

55. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Art & Design

#591 in Europe

#1690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,367
Founded: 1972

56. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#596 in Europe

#1711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 21,997
Founded: 1970

57. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Art & Design

#601 in Europe

#1735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

58. Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#610 in Europe

#1766 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,300
Founded: 2007

59. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Art & Design

#616 in Europe

#1792 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

60. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Art & Design

#620 in Europe

#1812 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 8,238
Founded: 1970

61. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Art & Design

#622 in Europe

#1815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,051
Founded: 1992

62. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Art & Design

#633 in Europe

#1866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 4,300
Founded: 1894

63. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Art & Design

#640 in Europe

#1894 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

64. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Art & Design

#654 in Europe

#1979 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

65. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art & Design

#661 in Europe

#2004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

66. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Art & Design

#662 in Europe

#2008 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

67. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Art & Design

#673 in Europe

#2043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

68. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#674 in Europe

#2044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 2,287
Founded: 1919

69. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#680 in Europe

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

70. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Art & Design

#684 in Europe

#2093 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

71. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Art & Design

#687 in Europe

#2113 in the World

Enrollment: 9,477
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1995

72. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Art & Design

#689 in Europe

#2120 in the World

Founded: 1907

73. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Art & Design

#692 in Europe

#2134 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

74. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#697 in Europe

#2175 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

75. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Art & Design

#710 in Europe

#2240 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

76. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Art & Design

#720 in Europe

#2314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 2,920
Founded: 1857

77. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art & Design

#721 in Europe

#2315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

78. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Art & Design

#722 in Europe

#2318 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

79. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#723 in Europe

#2321 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

80. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#724 in Europe

#2323 in the World

Enrollment: 1,854
Founded: 1966

81. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#728 in Europe

#2337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 3,077
Founded: 1963

82. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#743 in Europe

#2421 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

83. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Art & Design

#752 in Europe

#2484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,196
Male:Female: 77:23
Founded: 1994

84. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#760 in Europe

#2530 in the World

Enrollment: 39,424
Founded: 1875

85. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Art & Design

#762 in Europe

#2552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 7,591
Founded: 1984

86. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#765 in Europe

#2569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 19,018
Founded: 1970

87. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Art & Design

#770 in Europe

#2594 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

88. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#772 in Europe

#2606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

89. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Art & Design

#777 in Europe

#2634 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

90. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Art & Design

#784 in Europe

#2677 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,003
Founded: 1985

91. School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry of the City of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#790 in Europe

#2697 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

92. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#804 in Europe

#2783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

93. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#805 in Europe

#2789 in the World

Founded: 1892

94. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#827 in Europe

#2894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

95. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Art & Design

#841 in Europe

#2980 in the World

Founded: 1906

96. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#844 in Europe

#2995 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

97. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#846 in Europe

#3009 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1819

98. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#852 in Europe

#3042 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

99. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Art & Design

#858 in Europe

#3076 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

100. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#885 in Europe

#3232 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

The best cities to study Art & Design in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Saint Martin d'Heres, and Bordeaux.