List of 23 best universities in Switzerland

Ranking by academic field

We ranked 23 best universities in Switzerland based on their reputation, research performance, and alumni impact. We processed 24.4M citations received by 535K publications made by 23 universities in Switzerland, measured the popularity of 1,671 recognized alumni, and utilized the largest available links database (to compare non-academic prominence).

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

#1 in Switzerland

#8 in Europe

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 23,420

University of Zurich

#2 in Switzerland

#15 in Europe

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 25,732

Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

#3 in Switzerland

#31 in Europe

#120 in the World

Enrollment: 11,449

University of Geneva

#4 in Switzerland

#54 in Europe

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 17,744

University of Bern

#5 in Switzerland

#56 in Europe

#171 in the World

Enrollment: 18,576

University of Basel

#6 in Switzerland

#90 in Europe

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 12,811

University of Lausanne

#7 in Switzerland

#100 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 16,919

University of Fribourg

#8 in Switzerland

#222 in Europe

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 10,366

University of St. Gallen

#9 in Switzerland

#250 in Europe

#626 in the World

Enrollment: 7,666

University of Italian-speaking Switzerland

#10 in Switzerland

#409 in Europe

#1132 in the World

Enrollment: 3,017

University of Neuchatel

#11 in Switzerland

#446 in Europe

#1258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 4,282

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

#12 in Switzerland

#540 in Europe

#1584 in the World

Enrollment: 692

University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland

#13 in Switzerland

#606 in Europe

#1838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 12,646

Bern University of Applied Sciences

#14 in Switzerland

#628 in Europe

#1942 in the World

Enrollment: 6,970

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences

#15 in Switzerland

#643 in Europe

#1983 in the World

Enrollment: 7,066

University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland

#16 in Switzerland

#675 in Europe

#2101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 21,038

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Italian Switzerland

#17 in Switzerland

#725 in Europe

#2311 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500

University of Lucerne

#18 in Switzerland

#782 in Europe

#2601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 2,944

University of Applied Sciences Zurich

#19 in Switzerland

#1015 in Europe

#3735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 12,500

Webster University Geneva

#20 in Switzerland

#1364 in Europe

#5498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 750
Founded: 1915

Les Roches-Gruyere University of Applied Sciences

#21 in Switzerland

#1542 in Europe

#6440 in the World

Founded: 2008

University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland

#22 in Switzerland

#1627 in Europe

#6856 in the World

Enrollment: 5,982

Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences

#23 in Switzerland

#1985 in Europe

#8418 in the World

Enrollment: 3,519

The best cities to study in Switzerland based on the number of universities and their ranks are Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva, and Bern.

Average cost of living for students in Switzerland is $1129 + $184-1313 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).