List of 100 best universities in Iran

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 12.4M citations received by 1.12M academic publications made by 310 universities from Iran, the popularity of 839 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Tehran

#42 in Asia

#336 in the World

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

2. Tehran University of Medical Sciences

#91 in Asia

#547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 14,440
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1934

3. Sharif University of Technology

#129 in Asia

#710 in the World

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

4. Tarbiat Modares University

#159 in Asia

#796 in the World

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

5. Amirkabir University of Technology

#169 in Asia

#820 in the World

Enrollment: 12,468
Founded: 1958

6. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

#186 in Asia

#870 in the World

Enrollment: 13,366
Founded: 1960

7. Shahid Beheshti University

#212 in Asia

#944 in the World

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

8. Islamic Azad University, Shirvan

#218 in Asia

#960 in the World

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

9. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

#220 in Asia

#964 in the World

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

10. Iran University of Science and Technology

#233 in Asia

#995 in the World

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

11. Isfahan University of Technology

#280 in Asia

#1136 in the World

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

12. Shiraz University

#282 in Asia

#1147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1946

13. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

#297 in Asia

#1178 in the World

Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1949

14. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

#300 in Asia

#1184 in the World

Founded: 1947

15. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

#302 in Asia

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 9,905
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1946

16. University of Tabriz

#389 in Asia

#1412 in the World

Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1947

17. University of Isfahan

#399 in Asia

#1447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

18. Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology

#443 in Asia

#1571 in the World

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

19. Allameh Tabataba'i University

#622 in Asia

#2125 in the World

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

20. University of Guilan

#654 in Asia

#2218 in the World

Enrollment: 17,000
Founded: 1974

21. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

#674 in Asia

#2272 in the World

Founded: 1946

22. Alzahra University

#753 in Asia

#2452 in the World

Founded: 1964

23. Kharazmi University

#760 in Asia

#2477 in the World

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

24. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

#781 in Asia

#2557 in the World

Enrollment: 15,860
Founded: 1955

25. Yazd University

#833 in Asia

#2683 in the World

Enrollment: 14,372
Founded: 1988

26. Hamadan University of Medical Sciences

#837 in Asia

#2689 in the World

Founded: 1986

27. Urmia University

#843 in Asia

#2699 in the World

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

28. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

#865 in Asia

#2773 in the World

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

29. Razi University

#924 in Asia

#2919 in the World

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

30. Imam Khomeini International University

#975 in Asia

#3029 in the World

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

31. University of Applied Science and Technology

#1003 in Asia

#3113 in the World

Enrollment: 780,067
Founded: 1992

32. University of Mazandaran

#1033 in Asia

#3205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1979

33. Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch

#1039 in Asia

#3221 in the World

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

34. University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

#1044 in Asia

#3233 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1978

35. Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

#1058 in Asia

#3261 in the World

Founded: 1956

36. Shahed University

#1159 in Asia

#3491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1990

37. Semnan University

#1171 in Asia

#3530 in the World

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

38. Kerman Medical University

#1184 in Asia

#3556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%

39. Zanjan University

#1198 in Asia

#3589 in the World

Founded: 1975

40. Islamic Azad University, South Tehran

#1205 in Asia

#3604 in the World

Enrollment: 120,000
Founded: 1982

41. Islamic Azad University Isfahan, Khorasgan Branch

#1212 in Asia

#3629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1987

42. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

#1213 in Asia

#3631 in the World

Enrollment: 5,610
Founded: 1983

43. University of Qom

#1254 in Asia

#3736 in the World

Founded: 1980

44. Bu-Ali Sina University

#1278 in Asia

#3811 in the World

Founded: 1973

45. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

#1301 in Asia

#3863 in the World

Founded: 1965

46. Arak University

#1311 in Asia

#3895 in the World

Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1971

47. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences

#1313 in Asia

#3900 in the World

Enrollment: 9,273
Founded: 1988

48. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University

#1325 in Asia

#3924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

49. Petroleum University of Technology

#1329 in Asia

#3929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

50. Imam Hossein University

#1330 in Asia

#3931 in the World

Founded: 1986

51. University of Kashan

#1339 in Asia

#3966 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1974

52. Islamic Azad University of Mashhad

#1356 in Asia

#4008 in the World

Founded: 1982

53. Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

#1358 in Asia

#4015 in the World

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

54. Kashan University of Medical Sciences

#1394 in Asia

#4098 in the World

Enrollment: 3,039
Founded: 1986

55. Islamic Azad University, Tabriz

#1399 in Asia

#4108 in the World

Founded: 1982

56. Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences

#1406 in Asia

#4120 in the World

Founded: 1991

57. University of Sistan and Baluchestan

#1475 in Asia

#4275 in the World

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

58. Islamic Azad University, Qazvin

#1488 in Asia

#4298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1992

59. Shahrood University of Technology

#1495 in Asia

#4317 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1974

60. University of Kurdistan

#1511 in Asia

#4359 in the World

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

61. Medical University of Ilam

#1513 in Asia

#4361 in the World

Founded: 1995

62. Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch

#1531 in Asia

#4411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1984

63. Gilan University of Medical Sciences

#1549 in Asia

#4456 in the World

Founded: 1985

64. Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University

#1553 in Asia

#4466 in the World

Founded: 1994

65. Arak University of Medical Sciences

#1554 in Asia

#4473 in the World

Founded: 1986

66. University of Birjand

#1620 in Asia

#4618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1975

67. Islamic Azad University of Arak

#1649 in Asia

#4681 in the World

Founded: 1985

68. Islamic Azad University, Shiraz

#1657 in Asia

#4699 in the World

Founded: 1987

69. Urmia University of Medical Sciences

#1662 in Asia

#4709 in the World

Founded: 1986

70. Babol University of Medical Sciences

#1671 in Asia

#4734 in the World

Founded: 1985

71. Zanjan University of Medical Sciences

#1672 in Asia

#4735 in the World

Enrollment: 3,820
Founded: 1987

72. Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

#1685 in Asia

#4760 in the World

Enrollment: 2,494
Founded: 1986

73. Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

#1695 in Asia

#4774 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1983

74. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

#1704 in Asia

#4803 in the World

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

75. Bushehr University of Medical Sciences

#1735 in Asia

#4872 in the World

Founded: 1983

76. Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

#1758 in Asia

#4924 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 1985

77. Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences

#1793 in Asia

#5015 in the World

Enrollment: 2,600
Founded: 1946

78. Birjand University of Medical Sciences

#1802 in Asia

#5032 in the World

Enrollment: 3,300
Founded: 1985

79. Shahrekord University

#1827 in Asia

#5086 in the World

Enrollment: 8,300
Founded: 1927

80. Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

#1846 in Asia

#5133 in the World

Enrollment: 3,398
Founded: 1993

81. Qom University of Medical Sciences

#1868 in Asia

#5173 in the World

Founded: 2004

82. Sahand University of Technology

#1899 in Asia

#5259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1989

83. Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical

#1940 in Asia

#5331 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1983

84. Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

#1955 in Asia

#5363 in the World

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

85. Al Mustafa International University

#1964 in Asia

#5401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1979

86. Golestan University

#1976 in Asia

#5428 in the World

Founded: 2008

87. Persian Gulf University

#2007 in Asia

#5502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1991

88. University of Maragheh

#2013 in Asia

#5518 in the World

Founded: 1987

89. Lorestan University

#2040 in Asia

#5592 in the World

Enrollment: 8,955
Founded: 1977

90. Shiraz University of Technology

#2052 in Asia

#5619 in the World

Founded: 2004

91. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

#2116 in Asia

#5781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1986

92. Islamic Azad University of Roudehen

#2152 in Asia

#5884 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1983

93. Damghan University

#2165 in Asia

#5917 in the World

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

94. Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

#2172 in Asia

#5938 in the World

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

95. Hakim Sabzevari University

#2185 in Asia

#5957 in the World

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

96. Islamic Azad University of Lahijan

#2186 in Asia

#5965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Founded: 1988

97. Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

#2201 in Asia

#5995 in the World

Founded: 2007

98. Malek-Ashtar University of Technology

#2212 in Asia

#6015 in the World

Founded: 1986

99. Zabol University of Medical Sciences

#2274 in Asia

#6135 in the World

Enrollment: 1,655
Founded: 1964

100. Graduate University of Advanced Technology

#2348 in Asia

#6289 in the World

Founded: 1990

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

Average cost of living for students in Iran is $379 + $45-325 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).