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

#44 in Asia

#351 in the World

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

2. Tehran University of Medical Sciences

#92 in Asia

#546 in the World

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

3. Sharif University of Technology

#168 in Asia

#813 in the World

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

4. Tarbiat Modares University

#181 in Asia

#851 in the World

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

5. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

#185 in Asia

#867 in the World

Enrollment: 10,355
Founded: 1960

6. Amirkabir University of Technology

#196 in Asia

#889 in the World

Enrollment: 12,468
Founded: 1958

7. Shahid Beheshti University

#220 in Asia

#980 in the World

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

8. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

#233 in Asia

#1009 in the World

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

9. Islamic Azad University, Shirvan

#242 in Asia

#1027 in the World

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

10. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

#251 in Asia

#1057 in the World

Founded: 1947

11. Iran University of Science and Technology

#256 in Asia

#1065 in the World

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

12. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

#272 in Asia

#1104 in the World

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

13. Shiraz University

#294 in Asia

#1165 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1946

14. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

#297 in Asia

#1169 in the World

Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1949

15. Isfahan University of Technology

#316 in Asia

#1216 in the World

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

16. University of Tabriz

#373 in Asia

#1359 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1947

17. University of Isfahan

#414 in Asia

#1451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

18. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

#428 in Asia

#1502 in the World

Founded: 1946

19. Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology

#467 in Asia

#1626 in the World

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

20. University of Guilan

#653 in Asia

#2134 in the World

Enrollment: 17,000
Founded: 1974

21. Allameh Tabataba'i University

#671 in Asia

#2191 in the World

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

22. Kharazmi University

#766 in Asia

#2440 in the World

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

23. Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

#781 in Asia

#2481 in the World

Founded: 1986

24. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

#810 in Asia

#2570 in the World

Enrollment: 15,860
Founded: 1955

25. Urmia University

#826 in Asia

#2617 in the World

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

26. Alzahra University

#858 in Asia

#2716 in the World

Enrollment: 9,962
Founded: 1964

27. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

#866 in Asia

#2739 in the World

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

28. Razi University

#891 in Asia

#2796 in the World

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

29. Yazd University

#947 in Asia

#2959 in the World

Enrollment: 14,372
Founded: 1988

30. University of Applied Science and Technology

#1056 in Asia

#3230 in the World

Enrollment: 780,067
Founded: 1992

31. University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

#1068 in Asia

#3260 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1978

32. University of Mazandaran

#1085 in Asia

#3333 in the World

Founded: 1979

33. Imam Khomeini International University

#1086 in Asia

#3334 in the World

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

34. Kerman Medical University

#1087 in Asia

#3336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%

35. Shahed University

#1116 in Asia

#3404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1990

36. Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

#1125 in Asia

#3415 in the World

Founded: 1956

37. Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch

#1195 in Asia

#3588 in the World

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

38. Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

#1204 in Asia

#3612 in the World

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

39. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

#1236 in Asia

#3697 in the World

Enrollment: 5,610
Founded: 1983

40. Islamic Azad University, South Tehran

#1240 in Asia

#3709 in the World

Enrollment: 120,000
Founded: 1982

41. Zanjan University

#1248 in Asia

#3727 in the World

Founded: 1975

42. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

#1255 in Asia

#3737 in the World

Enrollment: 9,273
Founded: 1988

43. University of Qom

#1263 in Asia

#3764 in the World

Founded: 1980

44. Semnan University

#1283 in Asia

#3821 in the World

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

45. University of Kashan

#1291 in Asia

#3840 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1974

46. Islamic Azad University Isfahan, Khorasgan Branch

#1294 in Asia

#3845 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1987

47. University of Birjand

#1302 in Asia

#3863 in the World

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

48. Bu-Ali Sina University

#1326 in Asia

#3931 in the World

Founded: 1973

49. Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

#1338 in Asia

#3963 in the World

Founded: 1982

50. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

#1341 in Asia

#3967 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

51. Imam Hossein University

#1346 in Asia

#3981 in the World

Founded: 1986

52. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

#1355 in Asia

#4002 in the World

Founded: 1965

53. Arak University

#1360 in Asia

#4017 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1971

54. Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences

#1440 in Asia

#4204 in the World

Founded: 1991

55. Kashan University of Medical Sciences

#1447 in Asia

#4217 in the World

Enrollment: 3,039
Founded: 1986

56. Petroleum University of Technology

#1455 in Asia

#4240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

57. Medical University of Ilam

#1465 in Asia

#4265 in the World

Founded: 1995

58. Islamic Azad University, Tabriz

#1523 in Asia

#4382 in the World

Founded: 1982

59. Gilan University of Medical Sciences

#1536 in Asia

#4410 in the World

Founded: 1985

60. Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University

#1564 in Asia

#4468 in the World

Founded: 1994

61. University of Sistan and Baluchestan

#1569 in Asia

#4482 in the World

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

62. Arak University of Medical Sciences

#1611 in Asia

#4584 in the World

Founded: 1986

63. Shahrood University of Technology

#1620 in Asia

#4602 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1974

64. University of Kurdistan

#1627 in Asia

#4612 in the World

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

65. Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch

#1678 in Asia

#4719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1984

66. Lorestan University

#1700 in Asia

#4772 in the World

Enrollment: 8,955
Founded: 1977

67. Babol University of Medical Sciences

#1724 in Asia

#4838 in the World

Founded: 1985

68. Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

#1726 in Asia

#4842 in the World

Enrollment: 2,494
Founded: 1986

69. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

#1739 in Asia

#4867 in the World

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

70. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

#1741 in Asia

#4873 in the World

Enrollment: 3,820
Founded: 1987

71. Bushehr University of Medical Sciences

#1748 in Asia

#4891 in the World

Founded: 1983

72. Islamic Azad University, Shiraz

#1777 in Asia

#4976 in the World

Founded: 1987

73. Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

#1783 in Asia

#4987 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1983

74. Islamic Azad University of Arak

#1819 in Asia

#5058 in the World

Founded: 1985

75. Birjand University of Medical Sciences

#1847 in Asia

#5117 in the World

Enrollment: 3,300
Founded: 1985

76. Urmia University of Medical Sciences

#1859 in Asia

#5140 in the World

Founded: 1986

77. Qom University of Medical Sciences

#1871 in Asia

#5176 in the World

Founded: 2004

78. Shahrekord University

#1883 in Asia

#5198 in the World

Enrollment: 6,530
Founded: 1927

79. Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

#1884 in Asia

#5199 in the World

Enrollment: 2,600
Founded: 1946

80. Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

#1887 in Asia

#5209 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1985

81. Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

#1950 in Asia

#5339 in the World

Enrollment: 3,398
Founded: 1993

82. Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

#1951 in Asia

#5340 in the World

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

83. Al Mustafa International University

#1959 in Asia

#5358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1979

84. Sahand University of Technology

#1980 in Asia

#5424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1989

85. Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

#1997 in Asia

#5475 in the World

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

86. Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical

#1999 in Asia

#5477 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1983

87. Persian Gulf University

#2059 in Asia

#5616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1991

88. Golestan University

#2062 in Asia

#5620 in the World

Founded: 2008

89. University of Maragheh

#2135 in Asia

#5796 in the World

Founded: 1987

90. Islamic Azad University, Qazvin

#2168 in Asia

#5895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1992

91. Shiraz University of Technology

#2181 in Asia

#5919 in the World

Founded: 2004

92. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

#2183 in Asia

#5924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1986

93. Hakim Sabzevari University

#2200 in Asia

#5960 in the World

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

94. Islamic Azad University of Roudehen

#2237 in Asia

#6055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1983

95. Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

#2259 in Asia

#6102 in the World

Founded: 2007

96. Damghan University

#2260 in Asia

#6103 in the World

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

97. Malek-Ashtar University of Technology

#2270 in Asia

#6117 in the World

Founded: 1986

98. Islamic Azad University of Lahijan

#2309 in Asia

#6203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1988

99. Zabol University of Medical Sciences

#2368 in Asia

#6323 in the World

Enrollment: 1,655
Founded: 1964

100. Graduate University of Advanced Technology

#2374 in Asia

#6332 in the World

Founded: 1990

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 $348 + $36-259 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).