100 Best Art & Design schools in France

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 2.9M citations received by 158K 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

#31 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

#83 in Europe

#231 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#148 in Europe

#372 in the World

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

4. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Art & Design

#153 in Europe

#387 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art & Design

#157 in Europe

#395 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

6. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Art & Design

#177 in Europe

#429 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

7. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Art & Design

#181 in Europe

#440 in the World

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

8. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Art & Design

#185 in Europe

#451 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#190 in Europe

#466 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

10. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#195 in Europe

#476 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

11. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#196 in Europe

#478 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

12. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#216 in Europe

#526 in the World

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

13. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Art & Design

#218 in Europe

#532 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

14. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Art & Design

#225 in Europe

#547 in the World

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

15. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#244 in Europe

#584 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

#251 in Europe

#598 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

17. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Art & Design

#257 in Europe

#611 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

18. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#258 in Europe

#616 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

19. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Art & Design

#271 in Europe

#649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,316
Founded: 1794

20. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Art & Design

#283 in Europe

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

21. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Art & Design

#299 in Europe

#719 in the World

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

22. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Art & Design

#318 in Europe

#780 in the World

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

23. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Art & Design

#333 in Europe

#808 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

24. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#339 in Europe

#830 in the World

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

25. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#341 in Europe

#833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 37,252
Founded: 1460

26. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Art & Design

#350 in Europe

#876 in the World

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

27. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#354 in Europe

#883 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

28. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#360 in Europe

#903 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

29. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#390 in Europe

#988 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Art & Design

#393 in Europe

#1002 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

31. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Art & Design

#398 in Europe

#1012 in the World

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

32. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art & Design

#416 in Europe

#1074 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

#425 in Europe

#1094 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

34. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#430 in Europe

#1107 in the World

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

35. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Art & Design

#432 in Europe

#1115 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

36. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Art & Design

#437 in Europe

#1130 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

37. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#443 in Europe

#1150 in the World

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

38. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Art & Design

#460 in Europe

#1183 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

39. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#463 in Europe

#1195 in the World

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

40. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#492 in Europe

#1292 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

41. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#496 in Europe

#1299 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

42. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#500 in Europe

#1304 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

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

#512 in Europe

#1357 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

45. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#532 in Europe

#1439 in the World

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

46. Eurecom

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

For Art & Design

#534 in Europe

#1443 in the World

Founded: 1991

47. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Art & Design

#536 in Europe

#1459 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

48. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Art & Design

#546 in Europe

#1504 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

49. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Art & Design

#549 in Europe

#1520 in the World

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

50. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#551 in Europe

#1523 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

51. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Art & Design

#558 in Europe

#1546 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

52. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Art & Design

#566 in Europe

#1573 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

53. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#572 in Europe

#1597 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

54. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Art & Design

#585 in Europe

#1669 in the World

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

55. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Art & Design

#600 in Europe

#1733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

56. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Art & Design

#603 in Europe

#1741 in the World

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

57. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#605 in Europe

#1752 in the World

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

58. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Art & Design

#612 in Europe

#1785 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

59. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Art & Design

#613 in Europe

#1790 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#618 in Europe

#1804 in the World

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

61. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Art & Design

#620 in Europe

#1807 in the World

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

62. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Art & Design

#625 in Europe

#1822 in the World

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

63. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Art & Design

#639 in Europe

#1876 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

64. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Art & Design

#646 in Europe

#1942 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

65. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Art & Design

#656 in Europe

#1993 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

66. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#668 in Europe

#2047 in the World

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

67. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art & Design

#669 in Europe

#2048 in the World

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

68. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Art & Design

#671 in Europe

#2057 in the World

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

69. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Art & Design

#679 in Europe

#2089 in the World

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

70. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Art & Design

#680 in Europe

#2091 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

71. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#681 in Europe

#2094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

72. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Art & Design

#682 in Europe

#2100 in the World

Founded: 1907

73. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Art & Design

#685 in Europe

#2106 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

74. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Art & Design

#696 in Europe

#2189 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

75. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#713 in Europe

#2277 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

76. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Art & Design

#718 in Europe

#2307 in the World

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

77. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#719 in Europe

#2308 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

78. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#720 in Europe

#2309 in the World

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

79. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#721 in Europe

#2315 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

80. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Art & Design

#723 in Europe

#2323 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

81. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#733 in Europe

#2395 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

82. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art & Design

#742 in Europe

#2426 in the World

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

83. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Art & Design

#746 in Europe

#2444 in the World

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

84. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#760 in Europe

#2534 in the World

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

85. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#761 in Europe

#2539 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

86. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Art & Design

#764 in Europe

#2556 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

87. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#767 in Europe

#2584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

88. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Art & Design

#768 in Europe

#2585 in the World

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

89. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Art & Design

#772 in Europe

#2616 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

90. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Art & Design

#774 in Europe

#2621 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

#786 in Europe

#2686 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

92. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#809 in Europe

#2809 in the World

Founded: 1892

93. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#815 in Europe

#2837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

94. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#826 in Europe

#2896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

95. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#835 in Europe

#2956 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

96. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#839 in Europe

#2986 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

97. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#841 in Europe

#2999 in the World

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

98. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Art & Design

#846 in Europe

#3026 in the World

Founded: 1906

99. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Art & Design

#852 in Europe

#3048 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

100. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#888 in Europe

#3259 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.