80 Best Art & Design schools in Italy

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Italy ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 4.08M citations received by 211K academic papers made by 80 universities in Italy 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. University of Bologna

Emilia-Romagna | Bologna

For Art & Design

#37 in Europe

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 96,945
Founded: 1088

2. Sapienza University of Rome

For Art & Design

#42 in Europe

#128 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

3. Polytechnic University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#55 in Europe

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 48,645
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1863

4. University of Padua

For Art & Design

#57 in Europe

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 1222

5. University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#66 in Europe

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 65,234
Founded: 1924

6. University of Florence

Tuscany | Florence

For Art & Design

#87 in Europe

#239 in the World

Founded: 1321

7. University of Pisa

For Art & Design

#94 in Europe

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 47,736
Founded: 1343

8. University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Art & Design

#114 in Europe

#296 in the World

Founded: 1404

9. Federico II University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#119 in Europe

#302 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1224

10. Polytechnic University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Art & Design

#130 in Europe

#333 in the World

Founded: 1859

11. University of Trento

Trentino-South Tyrol | Trento

For Art & Design

#154 in Europe

#387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 16,239
Founded: 1962

12. University of Genoa

Liguria | Genoa

For Art & Design

#159 in Europe

#398 in the World

Enrollment: 36,728
Founded: 1481

13. University of Rome Tor Vergata

For Art & Design

#206 in Europe

#500 in the World

Founded: 1982

14. University of Bari

For Art & Design

#207 in Europe

#502 in the World

Founded: 1924

15. University of Salerno

Campania | Salerno

For Art & Design

#212 in Europe

#517 in the World

Enrollment: 33,332
Founded: 1944

16. University of Milano-Bicocca

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#231 in Europe

#562 in the World

Enrollment: 33,741
Founded: 1998

17. University of Verona

Veneto | Verona

For Art & Design

#232 in Europe

#563 in the World

Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1959

18. University of Parma

Emilia-Romagna | Parma

For Art & Design

#233 in Europe

#565 in the World

Founded: 1117

19. University of Pavia

Lombardy | Pavia

For Art & Design

#242 in Europe

#582 in the World

Enrollment: 23,849
Founded: 1361

20. University of Catania

Sicily | Catania

For Art & Design

#248 in Europe

#594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 44,338
Founded: 1434

21. University of Palermo

Sicily | Palermo

For Art & Design

#251 in Europe

#602 in the World

Founded: 1806

22. University of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Art & Design

#256 in Europe

#615 in the World

Enrollment: 26,732
Founded: 1308

23. University of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For Art & Design

#261 in Europe

#622 in the World

Founded: 1240

24. Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Art & Design

#268 in Europe

#645 in the World

Founded: 1868

25. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#270 in Europe

#650 in the World

Founded: 1921

26. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Emilia-Romagna | Modena

For Art & Design

#271 in Europe

#653 in the World

Founded: 1175

27. Roma Tre University

For Art & Design

#277 in Europe

#666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1992

28. University of Cagliari

Sardinia | Cagliari

For Art & Design

#281 in Europe

#672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 26,069
Founded: 1620

29. University of Udine

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Udine

For Art & Design

#288 in Europe

#690 in the World

Founded: 1978

30. Bocconi University

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#292 in Europe

#704 in the World

Founded: 1902

31. University of Calabria

Calabria | Cosenza

For Art & Design

#300 in Europe

#723 in the World

Founded: 1972

32. Polytechnical University of Marche

Marche | Ancona

For Art & Design

#310 in Europe

#753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1969

33. University of Aquila

Abruzzo | L'Aquila

For Art & Design

#315 in Europe

#773 in the World

Founded: 1596

34. University of Trieste

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Art & Design

#320 in Europe

#784 in the World

Founded: 1877

35. University of Messina

Sicily | Messina

For Art & Design

#328 in Europe

#798 in the World

Enrollment: 24,780
Founded: 1548

36. Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

For Art & Design

#349 in Europe

#858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1987

37. University of Ferrara

Emilia-Romagna | Ferrara

For Art & Design

#356 in Europe

#899 in the World

Enrollment: 22,800
Founded: 1391

38. University of Salento

For Art & Design

#380 in Europe

#963 in the World

Enrollment: 19,401
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1966

39. University of Brescia

Lombardy | Brescia

For Art & Design

#387 in Europe

#980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 16,800
Founded: 1982

40. Normal School of Pisa

For Art & Design

#408 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Founded: 1810

41. Polytechnic University of Bari

For Art & Design

#416 in Europe

#1069 in the World

Founded: 1990

42. International School for Advanced Studies

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Art & Design

#417 in Europe

#1071 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1978

43. University of Sassari

Sardinia | Sassari

For Art & Design

#440 in Europe

#1133 in the World

Founded: 1558

44. University of Bergamo

Lombardy | Bergamo

For Art & Design

#451 in Europe

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1968

45. Free University of Bozen

Trentino-South Tyrol | Bolzano

For Art & Design

#452 in Europe

#1169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 4,216
Founded: 1997

46. G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti

Abruzzo | Chieti

For Art & Design

#457 in Europe

#1184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 24,716
Founded: 1965

47. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

Campania | Caserta

For Art & Design

#472 in Europe

#1220 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1991

48. Carlo Bo University of Urbino

Marche | Urbino

For Art & Design

#489 in Europe

#1280 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1506

49. University of Eastern Piedmont

Piedmont | Vercelli

For Art & Design

#517 in Europe

#1377 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1998

50. Parthenope University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#523 in Europe

#1399 in the World

Founded: 1895

51. Basilicata University

Basilicata | Potenza

For Art & Design

#530 in Europe

#1423 in the World

Enrollment: 6,631
Founded: 1982

52. Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria

Calabria | Reggio Calabria

For Art & Design

#533 in Europe

#1433 in the World

Enrollment: 8,950
Founded: 1982

53. University of Insubria

Lombardy | Varese

For Art & Design

#547 in Europe

#1501 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1998

54. University of Cassino and Southern Lazio

Lazio | Cassino

For Art & Design

#568 in Europe

#1586 in the World

Founded: 1979

55. University of Tuscia

Lazio | Viterbo

For Art & Design

#569 in Europe

#1591 in the World

Founded: 1979

56. University of Sannio

Campania | Benevento

For Art & Design

#577 in Europe

#1621 in the World

Founded: 1998

57. University of Foggia

Apulia | Foggia

For Art & Design

#580 in Europe

#1632 in the World

Founded: 1999

58. University of Macerata

Marche | Macerata

For Art & Design

#581 in Europe

#1640 in the World

Enrollment: 9,646
Founded: 1290

59. IUAV University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Art & Design

#612 in Europe

#1773 in the World

Founded: 1926

60. LUISS University

For Art & Design

#617 in Europe

#1797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 9,080
Founded: 1974

61. University of Camerino

Marche | Camerino

For Art & Design

#619 in Europe

#1806 in the World

Founded: 1727

62. University of Molise

Molise | Campobasso

For Art & Design

#637 in Europe

#1877 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1982

63. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#686 in Europe

#2099 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1996

64. University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#699 in Europe

#2185 in the World

Founded: 1732

65. IULM University

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#713 in Europe

#2272 in the World

Enrollment: 5,741
Founded: 1968

66. Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome

For Art & Design

#731 in Europe

#2346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

67. University of Teramo

Abruzzo | Teramo

For Art & Design

#785 in Europe

#2685 in the World

Enrollment: 5,057
Founded: 1993

68. University of Catanzaro

Calabria | Catanzaro

For Art & Design

#806 in Europe

#2793 in the World

Founded: 1998

69. Kore University of Enna

For Art & Design

#847 in Europe

#3010 in the World

Founded: 2005

70. Maria Santissima Assunta Free University

For Art & Design

#920 in Europe

#3419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1939

71. Foro Italico University of Rome

For Art & Design

#1021 in Europe

#3919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 2,377
Founded: 1998

72. Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#1025 in Europe

#3928 in the World

Founded: 2004

73. Pontifical Gregorian University

For Art & Design

#1059 in Europe

#4109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 2,754
Founded: 1551

74. Carlo Cattaneo University

Lombardy | Castellanza

For Art & Design

#1071 in Europe

#4163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1991

75. University of Gastronomic Sciences

For Art & Design

#1165 in Europe

#4661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 273
Founded: 2004

76. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Art & Design

#1191 in Europe

#4813 in the World

Founded: 1925

77. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

For Art & Design

#1196 in Europe

#4841 in the World

Founded: 1984

78. Pontifical University Antonianum

For Art & Design

#1223 in Europe

#4994 in the World

Enrollment: 1,873
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1933

79. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For Art & Design

#1243 in Europe

#5120 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1917

80. Salesian Pontifical University

For Art & Design

#1282 in Europe

#5351 in the World

Enrollment: 1,738
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1940

The best cities to study Art & Design in Italy based on the number of universities and their ranks are Bologna, Rome, Milan, and Padua.