List of 100 best universities in Iran

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 21.9M citations received by 1.44M academic publications made by 310 universities from Iran, the popularity of 911 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Tehran

#45 in Asia

#347 in the World

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

2. Tehran University of Medical Sciences

#90 in Asia

#539 in the World

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

3. Sharif University of Technology

#164 in Asia

#803 in the World

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

4. Tarbiat Modares University

#174 in Asia

#833 in the World

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

5. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

#178 in Asia

#850 in the World

Enrollment: 10,355
Founded: 1960

6. Amirkabir University of Technology

#187 in Asia

#874 in the World

Enrollment: 12,468
Founded: 1958

7. Shahid Beheshti University

#219 in Asia

#968 in the World

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

8. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

#229 in Asia

#993 in the World

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

9. Islamic Azad University, Shirvan

#236 in Asia

#1008 in the World

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

10. Iran University of Science and Technology

#253 in Asia

#1049 in the World

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

11. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

#269 in Asia

#1096 in the World

Founded: 1947

12. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

#289 in Asia

#1147 in the World

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

13. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

#290 in Asia

#1148 in the World

Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1949

14. Isfahan University of Technology

#306 in Asia

#1198 in the World

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

15. Shiraz University

#307 in Asia

#1199 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1946

16. University of Tabriz

#390 in Asia

#1404 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1947

17. University of Isfahan

#403 in Asia

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

18. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

#443 in Asia

#1554 in the World

Founded: 1946

19. Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology

#457 in Asia

#1600 in the World

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

20. Allameh Tabataba'i University

#657 in Asia

#2147 in the World

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

21. University of Guilan

#667 in Asia

#2176 in the World

Enrollment: 17,000
Founded: 1974

22. Kharazmi University

#782 in Asia

#2473 in the World

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

23. Alzahra University

#817 in Asia

#2582 in the World

Enrollment: 9,962
Founded: 1964

24. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

#819 in Asia

#2591 in the World

Enrollment: 15,860
Founded: 1955

25. Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

#847 in Asia

#2662 in the World

Founded: 1986

26. Urmia University

#866 in Asia

#2722 in the World

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

27. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

#881 in Asia

#2772 in the World

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

28. Razi University

#898 in Asia

#2835 in the World

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

29. Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

#901 in Asia

#2838 in the World

Founded: 1956

30. Yazd University

#926 in Asia

#2900 in the World

Enrollment: 14,372
Founded: 1988

31. Imam Khomeini International University

#1004 in Asia

#3091 in the World

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

32. University of Applied Science and Technology

#1024 in Asia

#3155 in the World

Enrollment: 780,067
Founded: 1992

33. University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

#1063 in Asia

#3257 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1978

34. University of Mazandaran

#1090 in Asia

#3332 in the World

Founded: 1979

35. Shahed University

#1123 in Asia

#3407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1990

36. Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch

#1130 in Asia

#3420 in the World

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

37. Kerman Medical University

#1132 in Asia

#3422 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%

38. Islamic Azad University Isfahan, Khorasgan Branch

#1191 in Asia

#3563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1987

39. Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

#1216 in Asia

#3624 in the World

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

40. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

#1259 in Asia

#3722 in the World

Enrollment: 5,610
Founded: 1983

41. Islamic Azad University, South Tehran

#1262 in Asia

#3734 in the World

Enrollment: 120,000
Founded: 1982

42. Zanjan University

#1268 in Asia

#3748 in the World

Founded: 1975

43. University of Qom

#1276 in Asia

#3778 in the World

Founded: 1980

44. Semnan University

#1288 in Asia

#3814 in the World

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

45. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

#1296 in Asia

#3834 in the World

Enrollment: 9,273
Founded: 1988

46. Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

#1311 in Asia

#3869 in the World

Founded: 1982

47. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

#1313 in Asia

#3876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

48. Arak University

#1333 in Asia

#3918 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1971

49. University of Kashan

#1338 in Asia

#3932 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1974

50. Bu-Ali Sina University

#1341 in Asia

#3935 in the World

Founded: 1973

51. University of Birjand

#1346 in Asia

#3953 in the World

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

52. Imam Hossein University

#1357 in Asia

#3982 in the World

Founded: 1986

53. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

#1403 in Asia

#4094 in the World

Founded: 1965

54. Petroleum University of Technology

#1426 in Asia

#4152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

55. University of Sistan and Baluchestan

#1455 in Asia

#4211 in the World

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

56. Islamic Azad University, Tabriz

#1456 in Asia

#4213 in the World

Founded: 1982

57. Kashan University of Medical Sciences

#1459 in Asia

#4223 in the World

Enrollment: 3,039
Founded: 1986

58. Medical University of Ilam

#1481 in Asia

#4281 in the World

Founded: 1995

59. Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences

#1497 in Asia

#4314 in the World

Founded: 1991

60. Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University

#1574 in Asia

#4482 in the World

Founded: 1994

61. Shahrood University of Technology

#1584 in Asia

#4511 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1974

62. University of Kurdistan

#1591 in Asia

#4521 in the World

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

63. Gilan University of Medical Sciences

#1592 in Asia

#4522 in the World

Founded: 1985

64. Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch

#1603 in Asia

#4538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1984

65. Arak University of Medical Sciences

#1620 in Asia

#4582 in the World

Founded: 1986

66. Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

#1689 in Asia

#4749 in the World

Enrollment: 2,494
Founded: 1986

67. Islamic Azad University, Shiraz

#1717 in Asia

#4803 in the World

Founded: 1987

68. Lorestan University

#1744 in Asia

#4863 in the World

Enrollment: 8,955
Founded: 1977

69. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

#1749 in Asia

#4869 in the World

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

70. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

#1751 in Asia

#4874 in the World

Enrollment: 3,820
Founded: 1987

71. Bushehr University of Medical Sciences

#1761 in Asia

#4894 in the World

Founded: 1983

72. Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

#1764 in Asia

#4902 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1983

73. Babol University of Medical Sciences

#1774 in Asia

#4934 in the World

Founded: 1985

74. Islamic Azad University of Arak

#1788 in Asia

#4961 in the World

Founded: 1985

75. Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

#1816 in Asia

#5031 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1985

76. Birjand University of Medical Sciences

#1844 in Asia

#5113 in the World

Enrollment: 3,300
Founded: 1985

77. Qom University of Medical Sciences

#1871 in Asia

#5166 in the World

Founded: 2004

78. Urmia University of Medical Sciences

#1896 in Asia

#5215 in the World

Founded: 1986

79. Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

#1902 in Asia

#5234 in the World

Enrollment: 3,398
Founded: 1993

80. Al Mustafa International University

#1916 in Asia

#5262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1979

81. Shahrekord University

#1920 in Asia

#5270 in the World

Enrollment: 6,530
Founded: 1927

82. Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

#1921 in Asia

#5271 in the World

Enrollment: 2,600
Founded: 1946

83. Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

#1945 in Asia

#5331 in the World

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

84. Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical

#1963 in Asia

#5375 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1983

85. Persian Gulf University

#1997 in Asia

#5457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1991

86. Golestan University

#1999 in Asia

#5461 in the World

Founded: 2008

87. Sahand University of Technology

#2016 in Asia

#5502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1989

88. Islamic Azad University, Qazvin

#2099 in Asia

#5714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1992

89. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

#2119 in Asia

#5754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1986

90. University of Maragheh

#2136 in Asia

#5792 in the World

Founded: 1987

91. Shiraz University of Technology

#2150 in Asia

#5830 in the World

Founded: 2004

92. University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

#2173 in Asia

#5895 in the World

Enrollment: 1,800
Founded: 1952

93. Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

#2221 in Asia

#6000 in the World

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

94. Damghan University

#2224 in Asia

#6010 in the World

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

95. Islamic Azad University of Roudehen

#2231 in Asia

#6026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1983

96. Hakim Sabzevari University

#2249 in Asia

#6083 in the World

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

97. Malek-Ashtar University of Technology

#2252 in Asia

#6088 in the World

Founded: 1986

98. Islamic Azad University of Lahijan

#2255 in Asia

#6094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

99. Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

#2323 in Asia

#6220 in the World

Founded: 2007

100. Zabol University of Medical Sciences

#2335 in Asia

#6241 in the World

Enrollment: 1,655
Founded: 1964

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

Average cost of living for students in Iran is $374 + $42-302 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).