List of 100 best universities in Iran

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 100 universities in Iran ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 24.2M citations received by 1.48M academic publications made by 310 universities from Iran, the popularity of 951 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Tehran

#42 in Asia

#367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 52,588
Founded: 1934

2. Tehran University of Medical Sciences

#85 in Asia

#558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 14,440
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1934

3. Sharif University of Technology

#148 in Asia

#824 in the World

Enrollment: 8,935
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1965

4. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

#165 in Asia

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 10,355
Founded: 1960

5. Tarbiat Modares University

#180 in Asia

#910 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 9,270
Founded: 1982

6. Shahid Beheshti University

#212 in Asia

#994 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 11,500
Founded: 1959

7. Amirkabir University of Technology

#215 in Asia

#1001 in the World

Enrollment: 12,468
Founded: 1958

8. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

#236 in Asia

#1054 in the World

Founded: 1947

9. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

#243 in Asia

#1079 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 24,186
Founded: 1949

10. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

#249 in Asia

#1098 in the World

Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1949

11. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

#255 in Asia

#1111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 9,905
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1946

12. Iran University of Science and Technology

#265 in Asia

#1143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1929

13. Isfahan University of Technology

#328 in Asia

#1333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 10,064
Male:Female: 56:44
Founded: 1977

14. University of Isfahan

#381 in Asia

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

15. Shiraz University

#403 in Asia

#1574 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1946

16. University of Tabriz

#405 in Asia

#1587 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1947

17. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

#414 in Asia

#1603 in the World

Founded: 1946

18. Islamic Azad University, Shirvan

#493 in Asia

#1845 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Enrollment: 1,702,231
Founded: 1984

19. Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology

#555 in Asia

#2033 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1928

20. Allameh Tabataba'i University

#638 in Asia

#2275 in the World

Enrollment: 13,637
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1984

21. University of Guilan

#671 in Asia

#2361 in the World

Enrollment: 17,000
Founded: 1974

22. Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

#756 in Asia

#2582 in the World

Founded: 1986

23. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

#765 in Asia

#2605 in the World

Enrollment: 15,860
Founded: 1955

24. Kharazmi University

#803 in Asia

#2734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,500
Founded: 1919

25. Urmia University

#842 in Asia

#2822 in the World

Enrollment: 13,831
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1965

26. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

#867 in Asia

#2901 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1972

27. Alzahra University

#891 in Asia

#2948 in the World

Enrollment: 9,962
Founded: 1964

28. Razi University

#949 in Asia

#3101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,347
Founded: 1972

29. Yazd University

#1039 in Asia

#3321 in the World

Enrollment: 14,372
Founded: 1988

30. Imam Khomeini International University

#1040 in Asia

#3326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 9,547
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1983

31. Kerman Medical University

#1046 in Asia

#3348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%

32. University of Mazandaran

#1048 in Asia

#3350 in the World

Founded: 1979

33. Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

#1064 in Asia

#3396 in the World

Founded: 1956

34. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

#1065 in Asia

#3399 in the World

Founded: 1965

35. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

#1142 in Asia

#3580 in the World

Enrollment: 9,273
Founded: 1988

36. University of Kurdistan

#1171 in Asia

#3660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1991

37. University of Applied Science and Technology

#1176 in Asia

#3670 in the World

Enrollment: 780,067
Founded: 1992

38. Shahed University

#1179 in Asia

#3675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1990

39. Zanjan University

#1184 in Asia

#3685 in the World

Founded: 1975

40. University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

#1263 in Asia

#3866 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1978

41. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

#1277 in Asia

#3904 in the World

Enrollment: 5,610
Founded: 1983

42. Semnan University

#1291 in Asia

#3936 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1988

43. Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch

#1301 in Asia

#3961 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 100,000
Founded: 1982

44. University of Qom

#1302 in Asia

#3965 in the World

Founded: 1980

45. Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

#1319 in Asia

#3995 in the World

Enrollment: 5,744
Male:Female: 67:33
Founded: 1970

46. University of Birjand

#1326 in Asia

#4010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1975

47. University of Kashan

#1376 in Asia

#4124 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1974

48. Arak University

#1418 in Asia

#4224 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1971

49. Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences

#1444 in Asia

#4275 in the World

Founded: 1991

50. Islamic Azad University Isfahan, Khorasgan Branch

#1447 in Asia

#4278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1987

51. Bu-Ali Sina University

#1454 in Asia

#4289 in the World

Founded: 1973

52. Arak University of Medical Sciences

#1455 in Asia

#4293 in the World

Founded: 1986

53. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

#1461 in Asia

#4308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

54. Imam Hossein University

#1470 in Asia

#4325 in the World

Founded: 1986

55. Islamic Azad University, South Tehran

#1472 in Asia

#4335 in the World

Enrollment: 120,000
Founded: 1982

56. Shahrood University of Technology

#1492 in Asia

#4399 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1974

57. Lorestan University

#1540 in Asia

#4507 in the World

Enrollment: 8,955
Founded: 1977

58. Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

#1549 in Asia

#4523 in the World

Enrollment: 2,494
Founded: 1986

59. Gilan University of Medical Sciences

#1567 in Asia

#4551 in the World

Founded: 1985

60. University of Sistan and Baluchestan

#1604 in Asia

#4644 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1974

61. Islamic Azad University, Tabriz

#1635 in Asia

#4706 in the World

Founded: 1982

62. Kashan University of Medical Sciences

#1680 in Asia

#4792 in the World

Enrollment: 3,039
Founded: 1986

63. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

#1683 in Asia

#4797 in the World

Enrollment: 3,820
Founded: 1987

64. Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

#1720 in Asia

#4899 in the World

Founded: 1982

65. Persian Gulf University

#1730 in Asia

#4929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1991

66. Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University

#1736 in Asia

#4953 in the World

Founded: 1994

67. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

#1751 in Asia

#4982 in the World

Enrollment: 4,290
Male:Female: 49:51
Founded: 1957

68. Petroleum University of Technology

#1759 in Asia

#4994 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

69. Shahrekord University

#1777 in Asia

#5044 in the World

Enrollment: 6,530
Founded: 1927

70. Babol University of Medical Sciences

#1814 in Asia

#5121 in the World

Founded: 1985

71. Urmia University of Medical Sciences

#1859 in Asia

#5202 in the World

Founded: 1986

72. Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

#1864 in Asia

#5211 in the World

Enrollment: 2,600
Founded: 1946

73. Bushehr University of Medical Sciences

#1870 in Asia

#5230 in the World

Founded: 1983

74. Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

#1879 in Asia

#5250 in the World

Enrollment: 3,398
Founded: 1993

75. Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch

#1884 in Asia

#5264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1984

76. Qom University of Medical Sciences

#1893 in Asia

#5281 in the World

Founded: 2004

77. Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

#1931 in Asia

#5355 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1983

78. Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

#1970 in Asia

#5440 in the World

Enrollment: 2,929
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1989

79. Medical University of Ilam

#1979 in Asia

#5457 in the World

Founded: 1995

80. Birjand University of Medical Sciences

#1991 in Asia

#5481 in the World

Enrollment: 3,300
Founded: 1985

81. Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

#1997 in Asia

#5492 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1985

82. Islamic Azad University, Shiraz

#2010 in Asia

#5526 in the World

Founded: 1987

83. Al Mustafa International University

#2025 in Asia

#5564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1979

84. Islamic Azad University of Arak

#2042 in Asia

#5603 in the World

Founded: 1985

85. Sahand University of Technology

#2049 in Asia

#5625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1989

86. Golestan University

#2062 in Asia

#5647 in the World

Founded: 2008

87. Damghan University

#2121 in Asia

#5758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 4,373
Founded: 1989

88. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

#2143 in Asia

#5813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1986

89. Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

#2156 in Asia

#5841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1974

90. Hakim Sabzevari University

#2198 in Asia

#5920 in the World

Enrollment: 8,589
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1986

91. Shiraz University of Technology

#2221 in Asia

#5970 in the World

Founded: 2004

92. University of Maragheh

#2259 in Asia

#6060 in the World

Founded: 1987

93. Malek-Ashtar University of Technology

#2268 in Asia

#6082 in the World

Founded: 1986

94. Islamic Azad University, Qazvin

#2302 in Asia

#6158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1992

95. Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

#2309 in Asia

#6177 in the World

Founded: 2007

96. Islamic Azad University of Roudehen

#2324 in Asia

#6208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1983

97. Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical

#2363 in Asia

#6279 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1983

98. Zabol University of Medical Sciences

#2387 in Asia

#6330 in the World

Enrollment: 1,655
Founded: 1964

99. Graduate University of Advanced Technology

#2391 in Asia

#6342 in the World

Founded: 1990

100. Islamic Azad University of Lahijan

#2431 in Asia

#6441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

The best cities to study in Iran based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tehran, Tabriz, Mashhad, and Shiraz.

Average cost of living for students in Iran is $329 + $35-247 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).