58 Best universities for Earth science / Geoscience / Geophysics in Nigeria

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Nigeria ranked based on their research performance in Earth science and Geophysics. A graph of 157K citations received by 15.6K academic papers made by 58 universities in Nigeria 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.

1. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Earth science and Geophysics

#17 in Africa

#799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

2. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Earth science and Geophysics

#25 in Africa

#914 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

3. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Earth science and Geophysics

#28 in Africa

#1019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 23,100
Founded: 1981

4. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Earth science and Geophysics

#30 in Africa

#1059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

5. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Earth science and Geophysics

#34 in Africa

#1102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

6. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Earth science and Geophysics

#41 in Africa

#1224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

7. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Earth science and Geophysics

#42 in Africa

#1229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

8. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Earth science and Geophysics

#43 in Africa

#1246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

9. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Earth science and Geophysics

#46 in Africa

#1267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

10. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Earth science and Geophysics

#58 in Africa

#1525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

11. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Earth science and Geophysics

#64 in Africa

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

12. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Earth science and Geophysics

#72 in Africa

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

13. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Earth science and Geophysics

#89 in Africa

#1938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,181
Founded: 1982

14. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Earth science and Geophysics

#91 in Africa

#1974 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

15. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Earth science and Geophysics

#94 in Africa

#2001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

16. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Earth science and Geophysics

#97 in Africa

#2032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

17. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Earth science and Geophysics

#102 in Africa

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

18. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Earth science and Geophysics

#105 in Africa

#2125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1990

19. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Earth science and Geophysics

#107 in Africa

#2140 in the World

Founded: 1988

20. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Earth science and Geophysics

#108 in Africa

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

21. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Earth science and Geophysics

#113 in Africa

#2214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

22. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Earth science and Geophysics

#117 in Africa

#2269 in the World

Founded: 1991

23. University of Jos

Nigeria | Jos

For Earth science and Geophysics

#121 in Africa

#2313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

24. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Earth science and Geophysics

#124 in Africa

#2351 in the World

Founded: 1992

25. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Earth science and Geophysics

#126 in Africa

#2395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

26. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Earth science and Geophysics

#127 in Africa

#2401 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

27. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Earth science and Geophysics

#128 in Africa

#2405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

28. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

Nigeria | Uli

For Earth science and Geophysics

#134 in Africa

#2468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

29. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Earth science and Geophysics

#138 in Africa

#2495 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

30. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Earth science and Geophysics

#139 in Africa

#2500 in the World

Founded: 2000

31. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Earth science and Geophysics

#140 in Africa

#2503 in the World

Founded: 2007

32. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Earth science and Geophysics

#152 in Africa

#2698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

33. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Earth science and Geophysics

#153 in Africa

#2728 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

34. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

Nigeria | Yola

For Earth science and Geophysics

#160 in Africa

#2858 in the World

Founded: 1988

35. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Earth science and Geophysics

#161 in Africa

#2865 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

36. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Earth science and Geophysics

#165 in Africa

#2892 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

37. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Earth science and Geophysics

#170 in Africa

#3041 in the World

Founded: 2002

38. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Earth science and Geophysics

#174 in Africa

#3088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

39. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Earth science and Geophysics

#175 in Africa

#3105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

40. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Earth science and Geophysics

#178 in Africa

#3119 in the World

Founded: 1975

41. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Earth science and Geophysics

#179 in Africa

#3127 in the World

Founded: 1988

42. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Earth science and Geophysics

#186 in Africa

#3298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

43. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Earth science and Geophysics

#189 in Africa

#3362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

44. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Earth science and Geophysics

#190 in Africa

#3364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

45. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Earth science and Geophysics

#194 in Africa

#3451 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

46. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Earth science and Geophysics

#197 in Africa

#3491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

47. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Earth science and Geophysics

#198 in Africa

#3499 in the World

Founded: 2008

48. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Earth science and Geophysics

#204 in Africa

#3600 in the World

Founded: 1980

49. Bowen University

Nigeria | Iwo

For Earth science and Geophysics

#207 in Africa

#3658 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

50. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Earth science and Geophysics

#209 in Africa

#3670 in the World

Founded: 1981

51. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Earth science and Geophysics

#210 in Africa

#3678 in the World

Founded: 2009

52. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Earth science and Geophysics

#213 in Africa

#3720 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

53. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Earth science and Geophysics

#216 in Africa

#3762 in the World

Founded: 2007

54. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Earth science and Geophysics

#218 in Africa

#3773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

55. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Earth science and Geophysics

#221 in Africa

#3788 in the World

Founded: 2004

56. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Earth science and Geophysics

#223 in Africa

#3836 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

57. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Earth science and Geophysics

#224 in Africa

#3839 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. Bells University of Technology

Nigeria | Ota

For Earth science and Geophysics

#225 in Africa

#3843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

The best cities to study Earth science and Geophysics in Nigeria based on the number of universities and their ranks are Nsukka, Ibadan, Akure, and Ife.