100 Best Art & Design schools in France

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 2.14M citations received by 126K academic papers made by 125 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

#111 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Art & Design

#81 in Europe

#226 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art & Design

#145 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

4. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Art & Design

#156 in Europe

#391 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

5. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#164 in Europe

#407 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

6. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Art & Design

#165 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

7. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Art & Design

#178 in Europe

#437 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

8. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#202 in Europe

#487 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#242 in Europe

#589 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

10. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#245 in Europe

#599 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

11. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#257 in Europe

#631 in the World

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

12. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#258 in Europe

#632 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

13. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Art & Design

#262 in Europe

#638 in the World

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

14. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Art & Design

#273 in Europe

#655 in the World

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

15. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Art & Design

#275 in Europe

#657 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

16. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Art & Design

#282 in Europe

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

17. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Art & Design

#298 in Europe

#710 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,490
Founded: 1970

18. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#312 in Europe

#742 in the World

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

19. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Art & Design

#328 in Europe

#785 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

20. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#334 in Europe

#806 in the World

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

21. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#336 in Europe

#813 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

22. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Art & Design

#337 in Europe

#815 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

23. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Art & Design

#342 in Europe

#838 in the World

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

24. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art & Design

#365 in Europe

#916 in the World

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

25. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Art & Design

#369 in Europe

#926 in the World

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

26. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#375 in Europe

#936 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

27. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Art & Design

#379 in Europe

#944 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

28. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#392 in Europe

#977 in the World

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

29. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Art & Design

#395 in Europe

#987 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

30. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#399 in Europe

#996 in the World

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

31. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Art & Design

#401 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 25,078
Founded: 1431

32. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#402 in Europe

#1006 in the World

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

33. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#408 in Europe

#1026 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

34. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#409 in Europe

#1031 in the World

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

35. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#426 in Europe

#1075 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

36. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#433 in Europe

#1093 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

37. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Art & Design

#449 in Europe

#1153 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

38. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Art & Design

#461 in Europe

#1176 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Art & Design

#472 in Europe

#1198 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

40. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#476 in Europe

#1215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,704
Founded: 2019

41. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Art & Design

#484 in Europe

#1240 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

42. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Art & Design

#490 in Europe

#1270 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

43. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Art & Design

#496 in Europe

#1283 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

44. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Art & Design

#504 in Europe

#1306 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

45. Eurecom

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

For Art & Design

#505 in Europe

#1307 in the World

Founded: 1991

46. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#515 in Europe

#1355 in the World

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

47. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Art & Design

#519 in Europe

#1368 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

48. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Art & Design

#547 in Europe

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

49. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Art & Design

#549 in Europe

#1491 in the World

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

50. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Art & Design

#556 in Europe

#1512 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#557 in Europe

#1523 in the World

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

52. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Art & Design

#558 in Europe

#1524 in the World

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

53. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#561 in Europe

#1543 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

54. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Art & Design

#567 in Europe

#1573 in the World

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

55. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#571 in Europe

#1580 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

56. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Art & Design

#576 in Europe

#1604 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

57. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Art & Design

#578 in Europe

#1610 in the World

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

58. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#590 in Europe

#1669 in the World

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

59. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Art & Design

#593 in Europe

#1698 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

60. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Art & Design

#600 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

61. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#602 in Europe

#1719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

62. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Art & Design

#605 in Europe

#1751 in the World

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

63. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Art & Design

#615 in Europe

#1782 in the World

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

64. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Art & Design

#616 in Europe

#1785 in the World

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

65. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Art & Design

#620 in Europe

#1802 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

66. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Art & Design

#644 in Europe

#1899 in the World

Founded: 1907

67. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#647 in Europe

#1911 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

68. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Art & Design

#648 in Europe

#1932 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

69. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Art & Design

#649 in Europe

#1939 in the World

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

70. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Art & Design

#650 in Europe

#1941 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

71. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Art & Design

#652 in Europe

#1948 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

72. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Art & Design

#659 in Europe

#1981 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#663 in Europe

#1990 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

74. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#666 in Europe

#2032 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

75. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Art & Design

#667 in Europe

#2033 in the World

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

76. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Art & Design

#672 in Europe

#2080 in the World

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

77. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Art & Design

#680 in Europe

#2102 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

78. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Art & Design

#694 in Europe

#2166 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

79. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Art & Design

#696 in Europe

#2170 in the World

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

80. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#700 in Europe

#2191 in the World

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

81. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Art & Design

#704 in Europe

#2199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,091
Founded: 1992

82. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#707 in Europe

#2214 in the World

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

83. Central School of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#710 in Europe

#2230 in the World

Enrollment: 2,272
Founded: 1872

84. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#724 in Europe

#2324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

85. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Art & Design

#728 in Europe

#2337 in the World

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

86. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

For Art & Design

#740 in Europe

#2407 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

87. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Art & Design

#747 in Europe

#2448 in the World

Enrollment: 427
Founded: 1957

88. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Art & Design

#754 in Europe

#2501 in the World

Founded: 1906

89. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Art & Design

#765 in Europe

#2563 in the World

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

90. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#767 in Europe

#2577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

91. National Engineering School of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Futuroscope

For Art & Design

#771 in Europe

#2601 in the World

Enrollment: 768
Founded: 1948

92. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#772 in Europe

#2606 in the World

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

93. National Graduate School of Chemistry, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Art & Design

#774 in Europe

#2619 in the World

Enrollment: 565
Founded: 1896

94. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Art & Design

#777 in Europe

#2654 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

95. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#798 in Europe

#2760 in the World

Founded: 1892

96. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Art & Design

#807 in Europe

#2817 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

97. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Art & Design

#814 in Europe

#2893 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

98. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Art & Design

#824 in Europe

#2945 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

99. National Graduate School of Engineering, Caen

Normandy | Caen

For Art & Design

#843 in Europe

#3067 in the World

Enrollment: 818
Founded: 1976

100. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Art & Design

#871 in Europe

#3209 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

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