List of 100 best universities in Iran

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 14.9M citations received by 1.26M academic publications made by 310 universities from Iran, the popularity of 867 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Tehran

#45 in Asia

#346 in the World

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

2. Tehran University of Medical Sciences

#93 in Asia

#555 in the World

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

3. Sharif University of Technology

#154 in Asia

#778 in the World

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

4. Tarbiat Modares University

#171 in Asia

#829 in the World

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

5. Amirkabir University of Technology

#177 in Asia

#843 in the World

Enrollment: 12,468
Founded: 1958

6. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

#188 in Asia

#885 in the World

Enrollment: 10,355
Founded: 1960

7. Islamic Azad University, Shirvan

#213 in Asia

#954 in the World

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

8. Shahid Beheshti University

#220 in Asia

#968 in the World

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

9. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

#225 in Asia

#982 in the World

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

10. Iran University of Science and Technology

#245 in Asia

#1025 in the World

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

11. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

#282 in Asia

#1127 in the World

Founded: 1947

12. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

#292 in Asia

#1157 in the World

Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1949

13. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

#300 in Asia

#1170 in the World

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

14. Shiraz University

#304 in Asia

#1179 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1946

15. Isfahan University of Technology

#305 in Asia

#1182 in the World

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

16. University of Tabriz

#383 in Asia

#1387 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1947

17. University of Isfahan

#399 in Asia

#1422 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

18. Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology

#436 in Asia

#1550 in the World

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

19. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

#450 in Asia

#1580 in the World

Founded: 1946

20. University of Guilan

#641 in Asia

#2132 in the World

Enrollment: 17,000
Founded: 1974

21. Allameh Tabataba'i University

#657 in Asia

#2192 in the World

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

22. Kharazmi University

#771 in Asia

#2470 in the World

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

23. Alzahra University

#795 in Asia

#2532 in the World

Enrollment: 9,962
Founded: 1964

24. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

#801 in Asia

#2553 in the World

Enrollment: 15,860
Founded: 1955

25. Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

#843 in Asia

#2681 in the World

Founded: 1986

26. Urmia University

#845 in Asia

#2692 in the World

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

27. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

#856 in Asia

#2715 in the World

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

28. Razi University

#867 in Asia

#2751 in the World

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

29. Yazd University

#899 in Asia

#2842 in the World

Enrollment: 14,372
Founded: 1988

30. Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

#904 in Asia

#2850 in the World

Founded: 1956

31. Imam Khomeini International University

#978 in Asia

#3037 in the World

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

32. University of Applied Science and Technology

#1012 in Asia

#3131 in the World

Enrollment: 780,067
Founded: 1992

33. University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

#1053 in Asia

#3232 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1978

34. University of Mazandaran

#1064 in Asia

#3281 in the World

Founded: 1979

35. Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch

#1110 in Asia

#3381 in the World

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

36. Kerman Medical University

#1113 in Asia

#3386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%

37. Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

#1178 in Asia

#3533 in the World

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

38. Shahed University

#1179 in Asia

#3535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1990

39. Islamic Azad University Isfahan, Khorasgan Branch

#1201 in Asia

#3590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1987

40. Islamic Azad University, South Tehran

#1233 in Asia

#3669 in the World

Enrollment: 120,000
Founded: 1982

41. Zanjan University

#1236 in Asia

#3676 in the World

Founded: 1975

42. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

#1263 in Asia

#3734 in the World

Enrollment: 5,610
Founded: 1983

43. Semnan University

#1267 in Asia

#3746 in the World

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

44. University of Qom

#1272 in Asia

#3757 in the World

Founded: 1980

45. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

#1294 in Asia

#3811 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

46. Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

#1296 in Asia

#3817 in the World

Founded: 1982

47. University of Kashan

#1297 in Asia

#3819 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1974

48. Bu-Ali Sina University

#1300 in Asia

#3836 in the World

Founded: 1973

49. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

#1306 in Asia

#3853 in the World

Enrollment: 9,273
Founded: 1988

50. University of Birjand

#1334 in Asia

#3917 in the World

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

51. Imam Hossein University

#1345 in Asia

#3939 in the World

Founded: 1986

52. Arak University

#1364 in Asia

#3990 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1971

53. Petroleum University of Technology

#1388 in Asia

#4048 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

54. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

#1400 in Asia

#4079 in the World

Founded: 1965

55. University of Sistan and Baluchestan

#1416 in Asia

#4133 in the World

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

56. Islamic Azad University, Tabriz

#1437 in Asia

#4177 in the World

Founded: 1982

57. Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences

#1438 in Asia

#4179 in the World

Founded: 1991

58. Kashan University of Medical Sciences

#1441 in Asia

#4187 in the World

Enrollment: 3,039
Founded: 1986

59. Medical University of Ilam

#1493 in Asia

#4301 in the World

Founded: 1995

60. Shahrood University of Technology

#1549 in Asia

#4425 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1974

61. Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University

#1558 in Asia

#4438 in the World

Founded: 1994

62. University of Kurdistan

#1565 in Asia

#4459 in the World

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

63. Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch

#1575 in Asia

#4496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1984

64. Islamic Azad University, Qazvin

#1583 in Asia

#4516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1992

65. Gilan University of Medical Sciences

#1588 in Asia

#4522 in the World

Founded: 1985

66. Arak University of Medical Sciences

#1628 in Asia

#4607 in the World

Founded: 1986

67. Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

#1695 in Asia

#4764 in the World

Enrollment: 2,494
Founded: 1986

68. Islamic Azad University, Shiraz

#1698 in Asia

#4772 in the World

Founded: 1987

69. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

#1704 in Asia

#4788 in the World

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

70. Lorestan University

#1714 in Asia

#4814 in the World

Enrollment: 8,955
Founded: 1977

71. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

#1720 in Asia

#4834 in the World

Enrollment: 3,820
Founded: 1987

72. Babol University of Medical Sciences

#1730 in Asia

#4858 in the World

Founded: 1985

73. Bushehr University of Medical Sciences

#1731 in Asia

#4860 in the World

Founded: 1983

74. Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

#1743 in Asia

#4887 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1983

75. Islamic Azad University of Arak

#1744 in Asia

#4891 in the World

Founded: 1985

76. Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

#1760 in Asia

#4926 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1985

77. Urmia University of Medical Sciences

#1797 in Asia

#5001 in the World

Founded: 1986

78. Birjand University of Medical Sciences

#1832 in Asia

#5087 in the World

Enrollment: 3,300
Founded: 1985

79. Shahrekord University

#1870 in Asia

#5167 in the World

Enrollment: 6,530
Founded: 1927

80. Qom University of Medical Sciences

#1875 in Asia

#5174 in the World

Founded: 2004

81. Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

#1881 in Asia

#5192 in the World

Enrollment: 3,398
Founded: 1993

82. Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

#1891 in Asia

#5215 in the World

Enrollment: 2,600
Founded: 1946

83. Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

#1929 in Asia

#5294 in the World

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

84. Sahand University of Technology

#1952 in Asia

#5363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1989

85. Persian Gulf University

#1957 in Asia

#5369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1991

86. Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical

#1964 in Asia

#5383 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1983

87. Golestan University

#1974 in Asia

#5405 in the World

Founded: 2008

88. Al Mustafa International University

#1998 in Asia

#5462 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1979

89. University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

#2082 in Asia

#5688 in the World

Enrollment: 1,800
Founded: 1952

90. Shiraz University of Technology

#2091 in Asia

#5715 in the World

Founded: 2004

91. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

#2092 in Asia

#5716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1986

92. University of Maragheh

#2096 in Asia

#5723 in the World

Founded: 1987

93. Damghan University

#2183 in Asia

#5917 in the World

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

94. Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

#2187 in Asia

#5930 in the World

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

95. Malek-Ashtar University of Technology

#2204 in Asia

#5969 in the World

Founded: 1986

96. Hakim Sabzevari University

#2220 in Asia

#6007 in the World

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

97. Islamic Azad University of Lahijan

#2226 in Asia

#6017 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

98. Islamic Azad University of Roudehen

#2228 in Asia

#6022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1983

99. Zabol University of Medical Sciences

#2310 in Asia

#6196 in the World

Enrollment: 1,655
Founded: 1964

100. Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

#2314 in Asia

#6203 in the World

Founded: 2007

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

Average cost of living for students in Iran is $348 + $39-282 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).