List of 100 best universities in France

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 100 universities in France ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 65.1M citations received by 2.84M academic publications made by 224 universities from France, the popularity of 5,493 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#61 in Europe

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

#96 in Europe

#261 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

#139 in Europe

#354 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

4. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

#142 in Europe

#361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,536
Founded: 1794

5. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#144 in Europe

#364 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

6. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

#147 in Europe

#371 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

7. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

#157 in Europe

#386 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

8. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

#159 in Europe

#391 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#167 in Europe

#405 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

#173 in Europe

#420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 60,404
Founded: 2012

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

#187 in Europe

#458 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

#195 in Europe

#489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,316
Founded: 1794

13. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#203 in Europe

#514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,523
Founded: 1970

14. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#219 in Europe

#553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 11,196
Founded: 1872

15. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

#230 in Europe

#580 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#241 in Europe

#598 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 37,252
Founded: 1460

17. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#244 in Europe

#601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,690
Founded: 2019

18. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

#250 in Europe

#622 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

19. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#259 in Europe

#643 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

20. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

#267 in Europe

#657 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

21. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

#290 in Europe

#727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,465
Founded: 1432

22. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

#295 in Europe

#744 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

23. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

#301 in Europe

#753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,820
Founded: 1431

24. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

#325 in Europe

#827 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

25. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

#327 in Europe

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

26. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

#330 in Europe

#838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,690
Founded: 1854

27. Paris-Est Creteil Val-de-Marne University

Ile-de-France | Creteil

#338 in Europe

#863 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

28. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

#345 in Europe

#890 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

29. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

#346 in Europe

#893 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

30. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

#352 in Europe

#910 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

31. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

#358 in Europe

#928 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 2,920
Founded: 1857

32. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#365 in Europe

#946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 7,646
Founded: 1900

33. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

#371 in Europe

#959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 25,687
Founded: 1971

34. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#373 in Europe

#963 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

35. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

#377 in Europe

#977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 22,023
Founded: 1968

36. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

#380 in Europe

#982 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

37. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

#382 in Europe

#988 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

38. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

#397 in Europe

#1033 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

39. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

#402 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

40. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

#412 in Europe

#1075 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1783

41. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

#414 in Europe

#1087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,900
Founded: 1970

42. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#418 in Europe

#1106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,067
Founded: 1957

43. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

#433 in Europe

#1161 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

44. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

#435 in Europe

#1171 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

45. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

#439 in Europe

#1180 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

46. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

#443 in Europe

#1204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 15,232
Founded: 1971

47. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

#483 in Europe

#1325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

48. Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

#484 in Europe

#1330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,300
Founded: 2007

49. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

#490 in Europe

#1346 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

50. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

#499 in Europe

#1377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

51. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

#500 in Europe

#1393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 4,300
Founded: 1894

52. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

#507 in Europe

#1407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,629
Founded: 1970

53. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

#518 in Europe

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1780

54. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#526 in Europe

#1472 in the World

Founded: 1907

55. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

#528 in Europe

#1486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,367
Founded: 1972

56. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

#532 in Europe

#1501 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

57. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

#544 in Europe

#1542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 21,997
Founded: 1970

58. School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry of the City of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

#550 in Europe

#1553 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

59. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

#564 in Europe

#1596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 8,238
Founded: 1970

60. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

#570 in Europe

#1620 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

61. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

#576 in Europe

#1642 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

62. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#578 in Europe

#1654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 19,018
Founded: 1970

63. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

#579 in Europe

#1662 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

64. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

#585 in Europe

#1690 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

65. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#591 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 3,077
Founded: 1963

66. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#600 in Europe

#1739 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

67. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#603 in Europe

#1759 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

68. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#613 in Europe

#1788 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

69. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

#649 in Europe

#1917 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

70. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

#652 in Europe

#1927 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,051
Founded: 1992

71. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

#666 in Europe

#1986 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

72. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#676 in Europe

#2039 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 2,287
Founded: 1919

73. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

#683 in Europe

#2070 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

74. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#686 in Europe

#2077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 20,784
Founded: 1991

75. Eurecom

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Biot Sophia-Antipolis

#689 in Europe

#2084 in the World

Founded: 1991

76. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

#694 in Europe

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

77. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

#696 in Europe

#2110 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

78. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

#700 in Europe

#2116 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

79. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

#703 in Europe

#2131 in the World

Enrollment: 9,477
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1995

80. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

#704 in Europe

#2133 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

81. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

#706 in Europe

#2140 in the World

Founded: 1906

82. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

#709 in Europe

#2153 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

83. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#716 in Europe

#2171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

84. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

#717 in Europe

#2173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1819

85. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#723 in Europe

#2202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

86. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

#750 in Europe

#2349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,700
Founded: 2007

87. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

#755 in Europe

#2371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 7,591
Founded: 1984

88. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

#757 in Europe

#2389 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

89. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#759 in Europe

#2400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

90. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

#767 in Europe

#2418 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

91. Paris 13 University

Ile-de-France | Villetaneuse

#770 in Europe

#2438 in the World

Enrollment: 22,710
Founded: 1970

92. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

#777 in Europe

#2479 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

93. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

#781 in Europe

#2490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,196
Male:Female: 77:23
Founded: 1994

94. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

#782 in Europe

#2493 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

95. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

#784 in Europe

#2499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,003
Founded: 1985

96. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#794 in Europe

#2559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

97. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#797 in Europe

#2567 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

98. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#800 in Europe

#2585 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

99. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

#819 in Europe

#2666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

100. Sorbonne University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#827 in Europe

#2691 in the World

Enrollment: 56,821
Founded: 2018

The best cities to study in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Marseille, and Bordeaux.

Average cost of living for students in France is $785 + $116-831 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).