80 Best Art & Design schools in Italy

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 2.73M citations received by 184K 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

#31 in Europe

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 79,999
Founded: 1088

2. Sapienza University of Rome

For Art & Design

#45 in Europe

#132 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

3. Polytechnic University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#49 in Europe

#149 in the World

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

4. University of Padua

For Art & Design

#55 in Europe

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 62,876
Founded: 1222

5. University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#67 in Europe

#201 in the World

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

6. University of Florence

Tuscany | Florence

For Art & Design

#89 in Europe

#239 in the World

Founded: 1321

7. University of Pisa

For Art & Design

#92 in Europe

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 49,108
Founded: 1343

8. Polytechnic University of Bari

For Art & Design

#105 in Europe

#276 in the World

Founded: 1990

9. Federico II University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#113 in Europe

#292 in the World

Enrollment: 73,553
Founded: 1224

10. University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Art & Design

#116 in Europe

#295 in the World

Founded: 1404

11. Polytechnic University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Art & Design

#131 in Europe

#325 in the World

Founded: 1859

12. University of Genoa

Liguria | Genoa

For Art & Design

#150 in Europe

#375 in the World

Enrollment: 36,728
Founded: 1481

13. University of Trento

Trentino-South Tyrol | Trento

For Art & Design

#152 in Europe

#378 in the World

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

14. University of Rome Tor Vergata

For Art & Design

#193 in Europe

#471 in the World

Founded: 1982

15. University of Bari

For Art & Design

#199 in Europe

#483 in the World

Founded: 1924

16. University of Salerno

Campania | Salerno

For Art & Design

#207 in Europe

#506 in the World

Enrollment: 33,332
Founded: 1944

17. University of Parma

Emilia-Romagna | Parma

For Art & Design

#215 in Europe

#533 in the World

Founded: 1117

18. University of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Art & Design

#229 in Europe

#561 in the World

Enrollment: 26,732
Founded: 1308

19. University of Verona

Veneto | Verona

For Art & Design

#230 in Europe

#562 in the World

Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1959

20. University of Pavia

Lombardy | Pavia

For Art & Design

#231 in Europe

#566 in the World

Enrollment: 23,849
Founded: 1361

21. University of Catania

Sicily | Catania

For Art & Design

#235 in Europe

#575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1434

22. University of Palermo

Sicily | Palermo

For Art & Design

#237 in Europe

#579 in the World

Founded: 1806

23. University of Milano-Bicocca

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#243 in Europe

#593 in the World

Enrollment: 33,741
Founded: 1998

24. University of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For Art & Design

#250 in Europe

#612 in the World

Founded: 1240

25. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Emilia-Romagna | Modena

For Art & Design

#256 in Europe

#628 in the World

Founded: 1175

26. Roma Tre University

For Art & Design

#263 in Europe

#639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1992

27. University of Cagliari

Sardinia | Cagliari

For Art & Design

#266 in Europe

#646 in the World

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

28. University of Udine

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Udine

For Art & Design

#270 in Europe

#650 in the World

Founded: 1978

29. Bocconi University

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#277 in Europe

#660 in the World

Founded: 1902

30. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#278 in Europe

#662 in the World

Founded: 1921

31. Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Art & Design

#285 in Europe

#685 in the World

Founded: 1868

32. University of Calabria

Calabria | Cosenza

For Art & Design

#293 in Europe

#698 in the World

Founded: 1972

33. University of Aquila

Abruzzo | L'Aquila

For Art & Design

#303 in Europe

#722 in the World

Founded: 1596

34. University of Trieste

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Art & Design

#304 in Europe

#725 in the World

Founded: 1877

35. Polytechnical University of Marche

Marche | Ancona

For Art & Design

#306 in Europe

#727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1969

36. University of Messina

Sicily | Messina

For Art & Design

#330 in Europe

#793 in the World

Enrollment: 24,780
Founded: 1548

37. Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

For Art & Design

#350 in Europe

#868 in the World

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

38. University of Ferrara

Emilia-Romagna | Ferrara

For Art & Design

#356 in Europe

#883 in the World

Enrollment: 22,800
Founded: 1391

39. University of Brescia

Lombardy | Brescia

For Art & Design

#368 in Europe

#922 in the World

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

40. University of Salento

For Art & Design

#376 in Europe

#937 in the World

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

41. International School for Advanced Studies

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Art & Design

#398 in Europe

#995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1978

42. Normal School of Pisa

For Art & Design

#411 in Europe

#1034 in the World

Founded: 1810

43. University of Sassari

Sardinia | Sassari

For Art & Design

#435 in Europe

#1101 in the World

Founded: 1558

44. University of Bergamo

Lombardy | Bergamo

For Art & Design

#463 in Europe

#1180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1968

45. Free University of Bozen

Trentino-South Tyrol | Bolzano

For Art & Design

#464 in Europe

#1184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 3,886
Founded: 1997

46. Carlo Bo University of Urbino

Marche | Urbino

For Art & Design

#469 in Europe

#1189 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1506

47. G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti

Abruzzo | Chieti

For Art & Design

#473 in Europe

#1200 in the World

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

48. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

Campania | Caserta

For Art & Design

#486 in Europe

#1245 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1991

49. Basilicata University

Basilicata | Potenza

For Art & Design

#503 in Europe

#1304 in the World

Enrollment: 6,631
Founded: 1982

50. Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria

Calabria | Reggio Calabria

For Art & Design

#509 in Europe

#1330 in the World

Enrollment: 8,950
Founded: 1982

51. University of Eastern Piedmont

Piedmont | Vercelli

For Art & Design

#511 in Europe

#1341 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1998

52. Parthenope University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#532 in Europe

#1441 in the World

Founded: 1895

53. University of Cassino and Southern Lazio

Lazio | Cassino

For Art & Design

#533 in Europe

#1442 in the World

Founded: 1979

54. University of Insubria

Lombardy | Varese

For Art & Design

#535 in Europe

#1445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1998

55. University of Sannio

Campania | Benevento

For Art & Design

#542 in Europe

#1466 in the World

Founded: 1998

56. University of Tuscia

Lazio | Viterbo

For Art & Design

#565 in Europe

#1563 in the World

Founded: 1979

57. University of Foggia

Apulia | Foggia

For Art & Design

#579 in Europe

#1617 in the World

Founded: 1999

58. University of Camerino

Marche | Camerino

For Art & Design

#588 in Europe

#1657 in the World

Founded: 1727

59. IUAV University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Art & Design

#601 in Europe

#1718 in the World

Founded: 1926

60. University of Macerata

Marche | Macerata

For Art & Design

#604 in Europe

#1748 in the World

Enrollment: 10,526
Founded: 1290

61. LUISS University

For Art & Design

#618 in Europe

#1791 in the World

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

62. University of Molise

Molise | Campobasso

For Art & Design

#623 in Europe

#1828 in the World

Founded: 1982

63. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#693 in Europe

#2162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1996

64. University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#698 in Europe

#2180 in the World

Founded: 1732

65. Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome

For Art & Design

#716 in Europe

#2259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

66. IULM University

Lombardy | Milan

For Art & Design

#720 in Europe

#2297 in the World

Enrollment: 5,741
Founded: 1968

67. University of Teramo

Abruzzo | Teramo

For Art & Design

#773 in Europe

#2617 in the World

Enrollment: 5,057
Founded: 1993

68. University of Catanzaro

Calabria | Catanzaro

For Art & Design

#810 in Europe

#2841 in the World

Founded: 1998

69. Kore University of Enna

For Art & Design

#848 in Europe

#3090 in the World

Founded: 2005

70. Maria Santissima Assunta Free University

For Art & Design

#921 in Europe

#3447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1939

71. Pontifical Gregorian University

For Art & Design

#990 in Europe

#3800 in the World

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

72. Carlo Cattaneo University

Lombardy | Castellanza

For Art & Design

#1026 in Europe

#3972 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1991

73. Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Art & Design

#1027 in Europe

#3977 in the World

Founded: 2004

74. Foro Italico University of Rome

For Art & Design

#1041 in Europe

#4032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1998

75. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Art & Design

#1104 in Europe

#4357 in the World

Founded: 1925

76. University of Gastronomic Sciences

For Art & Design

#1145 in Europe

#4647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2004

77. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

For Art & Design

#1180 in Europe

#4834 in the World

Founded: 1984

78. Salesian Pontifical University

For Art & Design

#1244 in Europe

#5163 in the World

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

79. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For Art & Design

#1253 in Europe

#5208 in the World

Enrollment: 1,719
Founded: 1917

80. Pontifical University Antonianum

For Art & Design

#1256 in Europe

#5221 in the World

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

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