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

#189 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

#98 in Europe

#267 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

#140 in Europe

#358 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

4. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

#142 in Europe

#362 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

5. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

#143 in Europe

#364 in the World

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

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#146 in Europe

#368 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

#147 in Europe

#369 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

8. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

#150 in Europe

#376 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

9. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#170 in Europe

#413 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

#175 in Europe

#425 in the World

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

11. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

#187 in Europe

#461 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

12. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#195 in Europe

#482 in the World

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

13. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

#197 in Europe

#493 in the World

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

14. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#223 in Europe

#563 in the World

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

15. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

#233 in Europe

#592 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#243 in Europe

#608 in the World

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

17. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#246 in Europe

#611 in the World

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

18. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#247 in Europe

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

19. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

#252 in Europe

#629 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

20. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

#267 in Europe

#664 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

21. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

#288 in Europe

#718 in the World

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

22. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

#292 in Europe

#730 in the World

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

23. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

#297 in Europe

#749 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

24. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

#308 in Europe

#789 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

25. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

#313 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

#323 in Europe

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

27. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

#332 in Europe

#857 in the World

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

28. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

#337 in Europe

#865 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

29. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

#346 in Europe

#900 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

30. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

#347 in Europe

#903 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

31. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

#361 in Europe

#939 in the World

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

32. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

#363 in Europe

#947 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

33. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#367 in Europe

#955 in the World

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

34. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

#373 in Europe

#970 in the World

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

35. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#375 in Europe

#973 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

36. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

#380 in Europe

#990 in the World

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

37. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

#385 in Europe

#1005 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

38. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

#400 in Europe

#1052 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

39. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

#404 in Europe

#1066 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

40. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

#412 in Europe

#1095 in the World

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

41. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

#415 in Europe

#1105 in the World

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

42. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

#419 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

43. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#423 in Europe

#1126 in the World

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

44. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

#425 in Europe

#1132 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

45. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

#443 in Europe

#1200 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

46. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

#447 in Europe

#1222 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

#468 in Europe

#1277 in the World

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

48. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

#484 in Europe

#1334 in the World

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

49. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

#492 in Europe

#1362 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

50. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

#499 in Europe

#1396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

51. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

#500 in Europe

#1404 in the World

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

52. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

#506 in Europe

#1418 in the World

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

53. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

#520 in Europe

#1458 in the World

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

54. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#530 in Europe

#1489 in the World

Founded: 1907

55. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

#535 in Europe

#1506 in the World

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

56. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

#541 in Europe

#1521 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

57. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

#554 in Europe

#1565 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

#557 in Europe

#1576 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

59. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

#569 in Europe

#1622 in the World

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

60. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

#574 in Europe

#1644 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

61. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

#580 in Europe

#1666 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

62. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

#584 in Europe

#1680 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

63. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

#594 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

64. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#602 in Europe

#1750 in the World

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

65. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#610 in Europe

#1770 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

66. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#614 in Europe

#1793 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

67. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#620 in Europe

#1821 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

68. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#621 in Europe

#1827 in the World

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

69. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

#637 in Europe

#1885 in the World

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

70. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

#655 in Europe

#1962 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

71. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#670 in Europe

#2010 in the World

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

72. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#677 in Europe

#2052 in the World

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

73. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

#686 in Europe

#2075 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

74. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

#690 in Europe

#2088 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

75. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

#693 in Europe

#2105 in the World

Founded: 1906

76. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

#700 in Europe

#2124 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

77. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

#703 in Europe

#2130 in the World

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

78. Eurecom

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

#705 in Europe

#2135 in the World

Founded: 1991

79. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

#711 in Europe

#2158 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

80. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

#716 in Europe

#2179 in the World

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

81. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

#717 in Europe

#2180 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

82. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

#720 in Europe

#2194 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

83. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#724 in Europe

#2206 in the World

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

84. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#726 in Europe

#2236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

85. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

#734 in Europe

#2276 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

86. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

#745 in Europe

#2336 in the World

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

87. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

#757 in Europe

#2392 in the World

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

88. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

#768 in Europe

#2445 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

89. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#770 in Europe

#2457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

90. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

#772 in Europe

#2465 in the World

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

91. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

#778 in Europe

#2480 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

92. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#787 in Europe

#2529 in the World

Founded: 1892

93. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#788 in Europe

#2534 in the World

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

94. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#791 in Europe

#2543 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

95. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

#793 in Europe

#2550 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

96. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

#794 in Europe

#2553 in the World

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

97. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#796 in Europe

#2560 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

98. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

#809 in Europe

#2609 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

99. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#836 in Europe

#2768 in the World

Founded: 1828

100. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

#839 in Europe

#2790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

The best cities to study in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Marseille, and Saint Martin d'Heres.

Average cost of living for students in France is $837 + $126-903 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).