List of 100 best universities in France

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 49.6M citations received by 2.33M academic publications made by 224 universities from France, the popularity of 5,127 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#60 in Europe

#181 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

#92 in Europe

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

#138 in Europe

#353 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

4. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#140 in Europe

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

5. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

#141 in Europe

#358 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

6. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

#147 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

7. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

#150 in Europe

#373 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

8. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#174 in Europe

#426 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

9. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

#187 in Europe

#453 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

10. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

#189 in Europe

#462 in the World

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

11. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

#192 in Europe

#478 in the World

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

12. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

#196 in Europe

#495 in the World

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

13. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#203 in Europe

#512 in the World

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

14. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

#227 in Europe

#576 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

15. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#234 in Europe

#588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,704
Founded: 2019

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#240 in Europe

#597 in the World

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

17. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

#255 in Europe

#631 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

18. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#257 in Europe

#634 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

19. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#258 in Europe

#639 in the World

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

20. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

#284 in Europe

#715 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

21. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

#290 in Europe

#724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 25,078
Founded: 1431

22. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

#297 in Europe

#742 in the World

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

23. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

#300 in Europe

#749 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

24. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

#318 in Europe

#804 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

25. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

#319 in Europe

#805 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

26. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

#330 in Europe

#838 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

27. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

#343 in Europe

#880 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

#350 in Europe

#905 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

29. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#353 in Europe

#911 in the World

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

30. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

#360 in Europe

#930 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

31. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

#368 in Europe

#955 in the World

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

32. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

#371 in Europe

#965 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

33. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#375 in Europe

#973 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

34. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

#378 in Europe

#978 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

35. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

#379 in Europe

#992 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

36. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

#386 in Europe

#1011 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

37. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

#394 in Europe

#1033 in the World

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

38. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

#397 in Europe

#1038 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

39. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#398 in Europe

#1040 in the World

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

40. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

#408 in Europe

#1065 in the World

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

41. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

#427 in Europe

#1131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,490
Founded: 1970

42. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

#428 in Europe

#1137 in the World

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

43. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

#429 in Europe

#1141 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

44. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

#434 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

#443 in Europe

#1195 in the World

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

46. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

#456 in Europe

#1234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

47. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

#475 in Europe

#1291 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

48. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

#480 in Europe

#1303 in the World

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

49. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

#483 in Europe

#1310 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

50. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

#498 in Europe

#1365 in the World

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

51. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

#499 in Europe

#1366 in the World

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

52. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

#502 in Europe

#1373 in the World

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

53. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

#511 in Europe

#1414 in the World

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

54. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

#516 in Europe

#1430 in the World

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

55. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#525 in Europe

#1459 in the World

Founded: 1907

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

#528 in Europe

#1472 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

57. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

#542 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

58. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

#548 in Europe

#1535 in the World

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

59. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

#568 in Europe

#1627 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

60. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#573 in Europe

#1641 in the World

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

61. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

#574 in Europe

#1646 in the World

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

62. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

#576 in Europe

#1655 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

63. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#582 in Europe

#1685 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

64. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

#583 in Europe

#1690 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

65. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

#593 in Europe

#1720 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

66. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#597 in Europe

#1736 in the World

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

67. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#601 in Europe

#1758 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

68. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

#632 in Europe

#1860 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

69. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

#641 in Europe

#1894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,091
Founded: 1992

70. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#649 in Europe

#1907 in the World

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

71. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#659 in Europe

#1927 in the World

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

72. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

#663 in Europe

#1942 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

73. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#671 in Europe

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

74. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

#677 in Europe

#2010 in the World

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

75. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

#680 in Europe

#2020 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

76. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

#681 in Europe

#2022 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

77. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

#684 in Europe

#2029 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

78. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

#687 in Europe

#2045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

79. Eurecom

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

#690 in Europe

#2054 in the World

Founded: 1991

80. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#691 in Europe

#2055 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

81. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

#698 in Europe

#2074 in the World

Enrollment: 2,455
Founded: 1999

82. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

#709 in Europe

#2116 in the World

Founded: 1906

83. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#715 in Europe

#2155 in the World

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

84. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

#727 in Europe

#2212 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

85. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

#735 in Europe

#2252 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

86. Paris 13 University

Ile-de-France | Villetaneuse

#737 in Europe

#2258 in the World

Enrollment: 22,710
Founded: 1970

87. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

#741 in Europe

#2266 in the World

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

88. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

#744 in Europe

#2270 in the World

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

89. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

#748 in Europe

#2299 in the World

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

90. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

#751 in Europe

#2319 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

91. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

#752 in Europe

#2320 in the World

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

92. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

#757 in Europe

#2352 in the World

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

93. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

#762 in Europe

#2372 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

94. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#769 in Europe

#2426 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

95. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

#770 in Europe

#2433 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

96. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

#783 in Europe

#2506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

97. Sorbonne University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#789 in Europe

#2527 in the World

Enrollment: 58,132
Founded: 2018

98. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#793 in Europe

#2550 in the World

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

99. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#807 in Europe

#2599 in the World

Founded: 1828

100. Graduate School of Chemistry, Physics and Electronics, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

#814 in Europe

#2629 in the World

Founded: 1994

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 $751 + $111-791 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).