List of 100 best universities in Africa

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 100 universities in Africa ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 38.3M citations received by 2.74M academic publications made by 1,104 universities from Africa, the popularity of 4,177 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

#1 in South Africa

#239 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

#2 in South Africa

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

#3 in South Africa

#422 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

#4 in South Africa

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. Cairo University

#1 in Egypt

#519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 207,853
Founded: 1908

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

#5 in South Africa

#610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

#1 in Uganda

#798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1922

8. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

#1 in Kenya

#805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1970

9. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

#6 in South Africa

#808 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

10. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

#7 in South Africa

#875 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

11. University of Ghana

#1 in Ghana

#932 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 67,914
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1948

12. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

#8 in South Africa

#952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

13. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

#1006 in the World

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

14. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

#2 in Egypt

#1057 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 197,278
Founded: 1942

15. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

#9 in South Africa

#1070 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

16. Ain Shams University

#3 in Egypt

#1132 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

17. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

#10 in South Africa

#1137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

18. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

#11 in South Africa

#1153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

19. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

#1162 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

#2 in Ghana

#1302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 85,000
Founded: 1951

21. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

#4 in Egypt

#1310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 6,857
Founded: 1919

22. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

#5 in Egypt

#1359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

23. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

#1383 in the World

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

24. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

#1447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

25. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

#1520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

26. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

#1614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1970

27. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

#1632 in the World

Founded: 1918

28. Obafemi Awolowo University

#1658 in the World

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

29. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

#1667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

30. Al-Azhar University

#6 in Egypt

#1693 in the World

Founded: 1961

31. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

#12 in South Africa

#1787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

32. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

#1999 in the World

33. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

#1 in Mozambique

#2060 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

34. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

#1 in Zambia

#2119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

35. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

#2130 in the World

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

36. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

#2 in Kenya

#2135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

37. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

#2149 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. Assiut University

#7 in Egypt

#2206 in the World

Founded: 1957

39. Covenant University

#2248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

40. Helwan University

#8 in Egypt

#2250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

41. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

#13 in South Africa

#2266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

42. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

#14 in South Africa

#2301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

43. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

#15 in South Africa

#2337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

44. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

#2346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 20,399
Founded: 1955

45. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

#3 in Ghana

#2505 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

46. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

#2516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

47. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

#1 in Sudan

#2530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 41,030
Founded: 1956

48. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

#2565 in the World

49. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

#9 in Egypt

#2571 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

50. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

#3 in Kenya

#2613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

51. Future University in Egypt

Egypt | New Cairo

#10 in Egypt

#2619 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 9,085
Founded: 2006

52. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

#1 in the DR Congo

#2624 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

#2634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

54. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

#11 in Egypt

#2680 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

55. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

#2690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

56. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

#2698 in the World

57. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

#2746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

58. University of Sfax

#2802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

59. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

#16 in South Africa

#2814 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

60. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

#2821 in the World

Enrollment: 98,720
Male:Female: 54:46

61. Tanta University

#12 in Egypt

#2857 in the World

Founded: 1972

62. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

#10 in Nigeria

#2929 in the World

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

63. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

#2946 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

64. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

#17 in South Africa

#3013 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

65. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

#11 in Nigeria

#3099 in the World

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

66. Strathmore University

Kenya | Nairobi

#4 in Kenya

#3100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 2002

67. University of Abomey-Calavi

Benin | Abomey-Calavi

#1 in Benin

#3106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1970

68. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

#12 in Nigeria

#3111 in the World

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

69. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

#13 in Egypt

#3133 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

70. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

#3144 in the World

71. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

#3168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

72. Mount Kenya University

#5 in Kenya

#3203 in the World

Founded: 2008

73. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

#14 in Egypt

#3214 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

74. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

#13 in Nigeria

#3225 in the World

Founded: 2009

75. Sudan University of Science and Technology

Sudan | Khartoum

#2 in Sudan

#3235 in the World

Founded: 1990

76. Lagos State University

#14 in Nigeria

#3240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

77. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

#1 in Mauritius

#3247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

78. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

#6 in Kenya

#3260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

79. Egerton University

#7 in Kenya

#3278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

80. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

#15 in Nigeria

#3341 in the World

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

81. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

#3369 in the World

82. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

#3371 in the World

83. University of Yaounde I

Cameroon | Yaounde

#3437 in the World

Founded: 1962

84. University of Lubumbashi

DR Congo | Lubumbashi

#2 in the DR Congo

#3454 in the World

Founded: 1955

85. Bayero University Kano

#16 in Nigeria

#3464 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

86. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

#3470 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

#3504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

88. University of Jos

#17 in Nigeria

#3507 in the World

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

89. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

#3509 in the World

90. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

#18 in South Africa

#3567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

91. Minia University

#15 in Egypt

#3575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

92. University of Malawi

#1 in Malawi

#3606 in the World

Founded: 1964

93. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

#3609 in the World

94. University of Uyo

#18 in Nigeria

#3644 in the World

Founded: 1991

95. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

#3667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

96. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

#2 in Uganda

#3669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

97. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

#4 in Ghana

#3697 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

98. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

#3717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 57,852
Founded: 2001

99. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast Flag

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

#1 in Ivory Coast

#3719 in the World

Founded: 1964

100. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

#16 in Egypt

#3730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 9,228
Founded: 2005