List of 100 best universities in France

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 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

Ile-de-France | Paris

#51 in Europe

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,400
Founded: 1794

2. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

#136 in Europe

#356 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

3. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#139 in Europe

#361 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

4. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#145 in Europe

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,037
Founded: 1150

5. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

#154 in Europe

#390 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

6. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

#159 in Europe

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

7. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

#185 in Europe

#459 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

8. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

#186 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 55,000
Founded: 1339

9. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

#187 in Europe

#462 in the World

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

10. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#189 in Europe

#471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,889
Founded: 1970

11. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#191 in Europe

#482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 32,302
Founded: 2019

12. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

#193 in Europe

#493 in the World

Enrollment: 50,822
Founded: 1621

13. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#210 in Europe

#541 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

14. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

#235 in Europe

#600 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

15. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

#236 in Europe

#601 in the World

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

16. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#251 in Europe

#627 in the World

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

17. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#262 in Europe

#657 in the World

Enrollment: 2,469
Founded: 1987

18. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

#280 in Europe

#707 in the World

Enrollment: 34,169
Founded: 1722

19. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

#291 in Europe

#744 in the World

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

20. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

#303 in Europe

#772 in the World

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

21. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

#307 in Europe

#778 in the World

Enrollment: 31,388
Founded: 1960

22. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

#328 in Europe

#851 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

23. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

#346 in Europe

#911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,468
Founded: 1857

24. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

#351 in Europe

#936 in the World

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

25. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

#354 in Europe

#944 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

26. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

#358 in Europe

#953 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

27. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

#364 in Europe

#973 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

28. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

#379 in Europe

#1023 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

29. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

#382 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 25,687
Founded: 1971

30. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#392 in Europe

#1076 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 8,681
Founded: 1968

31. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

#406 in Europe

#1107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1854

32. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

#407 in Europe

#1108 in the World

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

33. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

#411 in Europe

#1138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1872

34. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#413 in Europe

#1147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 5,383
Founded: 1957

35. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

#416 in Europe

#1156 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

36. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

#419 in Europe

#1163 in the World

Enrollment: 22,971
Founded: 1548

37. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

#422 in Europe

#1169 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

38. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

#437 in Europe

#1229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 4,500
Founded: 1881

39. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

#441 in Europe

#1250 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

40. Sorbonne University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#444 in Europe

#1256 in the World

Enrollment: 55,600
Founded: 2018

41. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

#454 in Europe

#1290 in the World

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

42. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#464 in Europe

#1320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1900

43. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

#475 in Europe

#1349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 13,400
Founded: 1970

44. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

#481 in Europe

#1361 in the World

Enrollment: 13,820
Founded: 1991

45. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#492 in Europe

#1394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1907

46. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

#495 in Europe

#1402 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1747

47. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

#499 in Europe

#1420 in the World

Founded: 1947

48. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

#504 in Europe

#1438 in the World

Enrollment: 1,700
Founded: 1912

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

#507 in Europe

#1442 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,300
Founded: 2007

50. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

#509 in Europe

#1446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1780

51. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

#511 in Europe

#1448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,400
Founded: 1972

52. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

#532 in Europe

#1547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 8,730
Founded: 1970

53. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

#540 in Europe

#1589 in the World

Enrollment: 17,553
Founded: 1970

54. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

#541 in Europe

#1592 in the World

Enrollment: 10,555
Founded: 1975

55. Cergy-Pontoise University

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

#548 in Europe

#1624 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 15,052
Founded: 1991

56. Eurecom

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

#571 in Europe

#1719 in the World

Founded: 1991

57. University of Reunion

Reunion | Saint-Denis

#579 in Europe

#1741 in the World

Enrollment: 19,200
Founded: 1960

58. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

#582 in Europe

#1753 in the World

Enrollment: 31,001
Founded: 1964

59. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

#584 in Europe

#1763 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

#587 in Europe

#1767 in the World

Enrollment: 32,779
Founded: 1970

61. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#601 in Europe

#1834 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

62. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

#607 in Europe

#1867 in the World

Enrollment: 6,864
Founded: 1984

63. University of Rennes 1

Brittany | Rennes

#615 in Europe

#1901 in the World

Enrollment: 28,187
Founded: 1970

64. Central School of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

#623 in Europe

#1927 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1919

65. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

#626 in Europe

#1933 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1906

66. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

#631 in Europe

#1957 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

67. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

#640 in Europe

#1989 in the World

Enrollment: 8,691
Founded: 1993

68. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

#643 in Europe

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 16,221
Founded: 1970

69. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

#645 in Europe

#1998 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1991

70. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

#653 in Europe

#2019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 16,161
Founded: 1971

71. Paris 13 University

Ile-de-France | Villetaneuse

#656 in Europe

#2042 in the World

Enrollment: 22,710
Founded: 1970

72. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

#660 in Europe

#2059 in the World

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

73. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

#665 in Europe

#2094 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

74. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

#666 in Europe

#2101 in the World

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

75. University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Belfort

#676 in Europe

#2124 in the World

Enrollment: 3,059
Founded: 1999

76. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

#683 in Europe

#2168 in the World

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

77. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

#684 in Europe

#2170 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

78. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

#685 in Europe

#2171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 2,696
Male:Female: 77:23
Founded: 1994

79. University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee

Ile-de-France | Marne-la-Vallee

#690 in Europe

#2183 in the World

Enrollment: 12,335
Founded: 1991

80. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

#692 in Europe

#2189 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

#693 in Europe

#2190 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

82. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

#695 in Europe

#2194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

83. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

#698 in Europe

#2209 in the World

Enrollment: 43,700
Founded: 1971

84. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

#699 in Europe

#2212 in the World

Founded: 1945

85. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

#706 in Europe

#2236 in the World

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

86. National School of Civil Aviation

Occitanie | Toulouse

#714 in Europe

#2258 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 1949

87. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

#732 in Europe

#2344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 7,591
Founded: 1984

88. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

#734 in Europe

#2356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

89. National School of Library and Information Science

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

#736 in Europe

#2364 in the World

Enrollment: 193
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1963

90. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#744 in Europe

#2417 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

91. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

#750 in Europe

#2445 in the World

Founded: 1892

92. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

#751 in Europe

#2450 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

93. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

#761 in Europe

#2522 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

94. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

#769 in Europe

#2559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,534
Founded: 1963

95. National School of Statistics and Economic Administration

Ile-de-France | Malakoff

#789 in Europe

#2668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1942

96. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

#793 in Europe

#2687 in the World

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

97. University of Maine - France

Pays de la Loire | Le Mans

#806 in Europe

#2732 in the World

Enrollment: 10,948
Founded: 1977

98. Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space

Occitanie | Toulouse

#812 in Europe

#2755 in the World

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

99. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

#817 in Europe

#2777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

100. National Graduate School of Engineering - Saint Etienne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

#818 in Europe

#2779 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,160
Founded: 1816

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).