List of 100 best universities in France

Top 100 universities in France ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 27.1M citations received by 951K academic publications made by 224 universities from France, the popularity of 4,822 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Normal Superior School

#51 in Europe
#167 in the World
Acceptance Rate
10%
Enrollment
2,400
Founded
1794

4. Pierre and Marie Curie University

#145 in Europe
#369 in the World
Acceptance Rate
20%
Enrollment
35,037
Founded
1150

9. Polytechnic School

#187 in Europe
#462 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Enrollment
2,316
Founded
1794

10. Paris Diderot University

#189 in Europe
#471 in the World
Acceptance Rate
20%
Enrollment
25,889
Founded
1970

11. Paris Descartes University

#191 in Europe
#482 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Enrollment
32,302
Founded
2019

15. University of Lorraine

#236 in Europe
#601 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Enrollment
60,404
Founded
2012

16. University of Nantes

#251 in Europe
#627 in the World
Acceptance Rate
70%
Enrollment
37,252
Founded
1460

19. University of Poitiers

#291 in Europe
#744 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
25,078
Founded
1431

20. University of Caen Normandy

#303 in Europe
#772 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
27,465
Founded
1432

23. Central School of Lyon

#346 in Europe
#911 in the World
Acceptance Rate
15%
Enrollment
1,468
Founded
1857

28. University of Orleans

#379 in Europe
#1023 in the World
Acceptance Rate
83%
Enrollment
16,629
Founded
1962

29. University of Angers

#382 in Europe
#1035 in the World
Acceptance Rate
27%
Enrollment
25,687
Founded
1971

30. Paris Dauphine University

#392 in Europe
#1076 in the World
Acceptance Rate
93%
Enrollment
8,681
Founded
1968

32. University of Picardie Jules Verne

#407 in Europe
#1108 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
27,490
Founded
1970

33. Paris Institute of Political Studies

#411 in Europe
#1138 in the World
Acceptance Rate
10%
Enrollment
14,000
Founded
1872

38. HEC School of Management

#437 in Europe
#1229 in the World
Acceptance Rate
8%
Enrollment
4,500
Founded
1881

41. CentraleSupelec

#454 in Europe
#1290 in the World
Acceptance Rate
15%
Enrollment
4,300
Founded
1894

52. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

#532 in Europe
#1547 in the World
Acceptance Rate
75%
Enrollment
8,730
Founded
1970

55. Cergy-Pontoise University

#548 in Europe
#1624 in the World
Acceptance Rate
31%
Enrollment
15,052
Founded
1991

59. ESCP Europe

#584 in Europe
#1763 in the World
Acceptance Rate
17%
Enrollment
6,000
Founded
1819

61. EMLYON Business School

#601 in Europe
#1834 in the World
Acceptance Rate
40%
Enrollment
9,000
Founded
1872

64. Central School of Nantes

#623 in Europe
#1927 in the World
Acceptance Rate
16%
Enrollment
2,000
Founded
1919

68. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

#643 in Europe
#1992 in the World
Acceptance Rate
20%
Enrollment
16,221
Founded
1970

70. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

#653 in Europe
#2019 in the World
Acceptance Rate
20%
Enrollment
16,161
Founded
1971

72. University of Southern Brittany

#660 in Europe
#2059 in the World
Enrollment
9,477
Male:Female
53:47
Founded
1995

74. Artois University

#666 in Europe
#2101 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
11,091
Founded
1992

76. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

#683 in Europe
#2168 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
21,997
Founded
1970

78. University of Technology of Troyes

#685 in Europe
#2171 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
2,696
Male:Female
77:23
Founded
1994

85. Kedge Business School

#706 in Europe
#2236 in the World
Acceptance Rate
32%
Enrollment
14,800
Founded
2013

87. University of Le Havre

#732 in Europe
#2344 in the World
Acceptance Rate
17%
Enrollment
7,591
Founded
1984

94. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

#769 in Europe
#2559 in the World
Acceptance Rate
11%
Enrollment
2,534
Founded
1963

96. University of Paris 8

#793 in Europe
#2687 in the World
Acceptance Rate
63%
Enrollment
22,023
Founded
1968

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

Average cost of living for students in France is $708 + $104-744 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).