List of 100 best universities in South Korea

Updated:

EduRank

Top 100 universities in South Korea ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 47.5M citations received by 2.23M academic publications made by 193 universities from South Korea, the popularity of 2,408 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Seoul National University

#14 in Asia
#155 in the World
Acceptance Rate
20%
Enrollment
28,378
Founded
1946

2. Yonsei University

#36 in Asia
#293 in the World
Acceptance Rate
18%
Enrollment
29,502
Founded
1957

3. KAIST

#52 in Asia
#385 in the World
Enrollment
10,249
Founded
1971

4. Korea University

#56 in Asia
#401 in the World
Enrollment
24,351
Founded
1905

6. Hanyang University

#77 in Asia
#487 in the World
Enrollment
35,000
Founded
1939

7. Kyung Hee University

#100 in Asia
#596 in the World
Acceptance Rate
54%
Enrollment
35,826
Founded
1949

10. Kyungpook National University

#158 in Asia
#788 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
38,616
Founded
1946

11. Chung-Ang University

#163 in Asia
#797 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
28,221
Founded
1918

12. Ewha Womans University

#171 in Asia
#824 in the World
Enrollment
24,680
Founded
1886

13. Konkuk University

#220 in Asia
#970 in the World
Enrollment
21,620
Founded
1946

14. Inha University

#221 in Asia
#971 in the World
Acceptance Rate
7%
Enrollment
20,613
Founded
1954

15. Chungnam National University

#237 in Asia
#1013 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
30,000
Founded
1952

16. Sejong University

#264 in Asia
#1082 in the World
Enrollment
13,350
Founded
1940

17. Ajou University

#309 in Asia
#1202 in the World
Acceptance Rate
40%
Enrollment
14,328
Founded
1973

18. Dongguk University

#326 in Asia
#1254 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
28,204
Founded
1906

20. Sogang University

#351 in Asia
#1300 in the World
Enrollment
9,227
Male:Female
55:45
Founded
1960

21. Yeungnam University

#371 in Asia
#1355 in the World
Enrollment
21,000
Founded
1947

22. Dankook University

#381 in Asia
#1381 in the World
Acceptance Rate
40%
Enrollment
28,654
Founded
1947

23. Chonnam National University

#386 in Asia
#1392 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
33,195
Founded
1909

25. Chungbuk National University

#436 in Asia
#1533 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
24,300
Founded
1951

26. Catholic University of Korea

#466 in Asia
#1622 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
14,297
Founded
1855

27. University of Ulsan

#467 in Asia
#1623 in the World
Acceptance Rate
30%
Enrollment
15,000
Founded
1970

28. Soongsil University

#497 in Asia
#1710 in the World
Acceptance Rate
36%
Enrollment
16,000
Founded
1897

29. Kookmin University

#499 in Asia
#1713 in the World
Acceptance Rate
76%
Enrollment
24,000
Founded
1946

30. Keimyung University

#519 in Asia
#1778 in the World
Acceptance Rate
25%
Enrollment
22,700
Founded
1954

33. University of Seoul

#598 in Asia
#1996 in the World
Enrollment
15,967
Founded
1918

34. Dong-A University

#609 in Asia
#2021 in the World
Enrollment
21,519
Male:Female
51:49
Founded
1946

35. Chosun University

#615 in Asia
#2038 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
23,000
Founded
1946

37. Chonbuk National University

#661 in Asia
#2161 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
32,300
Founded
1947

38. Wonkwang University

#677 in Asia
#2207 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
25,360
Founded
1946

39. Sookmyung Women's University

#702 in Asia
#2289 in the World
Acceptance Rate
33%
Enrollment
12,869
Founded
1948

40. Gachon University

#722 in Asia
#2328 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
18,995
Founded
1982

41. Hallym University

#739 in Asia
#2365 in the World
Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
8,747
Founded
1982

42. Myongji University

#767 in Asia
#2436 in the World
Enrollment
15,000
Founded
1948

43. Kwangwoon University

#772 in Asia
#2455 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
9,807
Founded
1934

44. Soonchunhyang University

#791 in Asia
#2503 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
10,619
Founded
1978

45. Jeju National University

#792 in Asia
#2504 in the World
Acceptance Rate
38%
Enrollment
12,200
Founded
1952

48. Kyonggi University

#815 in Asia
#2574 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
16,400
Founded
1947

50. Inje University

#886 in Asia
#2784 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
15,641
Founded
1979

51. Sangmyung University

#948 in Asia
#2954 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
6,604
Founded
1937

52. University of Science and Technology Korea

#1000 in Asia
#3082 in the World
Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
1,292
Founded
2003

53. Daegu University

#1029 in Asia
#3169 in the World
Enrollment
19,593
Founded
1956

54. Kyungnam University

#1065 in Asia
#3265 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
14,000
Founded
1946

57. Hannam University

#1142 in Asia
#3439 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
17,000
Founded
1956

58. Hoseo University

#1166 in Asia
#3502 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
14,500
Founded
1978

59. Dong-Eui University

#1186 in Asia
#3552 in the World
Enrollment
24,200
Founded
1976

60. Catholic Kwandong University

#1203 in Asia
#3597 in the World
Acceptance Rate
81%
Enrollment
9,993
Founded
1954

62. Kyungsung University

#1211 in Asia
#3615 in the World
Enrollment
13,000
Founded
1955

63. Sungshin University

#1224 in Asia
#3637 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
13,000
Founded
1936

64. Sun Moon University

#1231 in Asia
#3645 in the World
Acceptance Rate
86%
Enrollment
10,058
Founded
1989

65. Dongseo University

#1244 in Asia
#3677 in the World
Acceptance Rate
81%
Enrollment
9,336
Founded
1992

66. Sahmyook University

#1273 in Asia
#3759 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
5,900
Founded
1906

67. Konyang University

#1282 in Asia
#3787 in the World
Enrollment
8,210
Founded
1991

68. Seoul Women's University

#1283 in Asia
#3791 in the World
Enrollment
8,000
Founded
1961

69. Hanbat National University

#1286 in Asia
#3804 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
14,290
Founded
1927

70. Mokpo National University

#1309 in Asia
#3860 in the World
Enrollment
12,942
Founded
1946

72. Korea Maritime and Ocean University

#1332 in Asia
#3915 in the World
Enrollment
8,831
Male:Female
78:22
Founded
1945

74. Gangneung-Wonju National University

#1353 in Asia
#3969 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
8,700
Founded
1946

76. Yong-In University

#1365 in Asia
#3993 in the World
Enrollment
7,160
Founded
1953

78. Daejeon University

#1379 in Asia
#4022 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
12,000
Founded
1980

79. Jeonju University

#1381 in Asia
#4031 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Founded
1964

80. Cheongju University

#1392 in Asia
#4063 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Founded
1946

81. Dongduk Women's University

#1404 in Asia
#4095 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
7,093
Founded
1950

83. University of Suwon

#1425 in Asia
#4150 in the World
Enrollment
12,415
Founded
1977

85. Woosong University

#1467 in Asia
#4241 in the World
Enrollment
15,000
Founded
1994

87. Pai Chai University

#1485 in Asia
#4288 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
13,000
Founded
1885

88. University of Incheon

#1526 in Asia
#4375 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
13,822
Founded
1988

89. Handong Global University

#1527 in Asia
#4376 in the World
Acceptance Rate
32%
Enrollment
4,120
Founded
1994

90. Woosuk University

#1556 in Asia
#4447 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
11,500
Founded
1979

92. Hanseo University

#1589 in Asia
#4519 in the World
Enrollment
8,500
Founded
1992

93. Daejin University

#1619 in Asia
#4581 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
7,832
Founded
1992

94. Eulji University

#1659 in Asia
#4680 in the World
Enrollment
5,700
Founded
1967

96. Sangji University

#1663 in Asia
#4687 in the World
Enrollment
8,600
Founded
1962

98. Hansung University

#1715 in Asia
#4799 in the World
Enrollment
6,686
Founded
1945

99. Seoul National University of Education

#1753 in Asia
#4876 in the World
Acceptance Rate
17%
Enrollment
3,420
Founded
1946

100. Honam University

#1757 in Asia
#4887 in the World
Enrollment
8,530
Founded
1978

The best cities to study in South Korea based on the number of universities and their ranks are Seoul, Daejeon, Pohang, and Busan.

Average cost of living for students in South Korea is $660 + $67-478 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).