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 35M citations received by 1.91M academic publications made by 193 universities from South Korea, the popularity of 2,193 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Seoul National University

#13 in Asia
#151 in the World
Acceptance Rate
20%
Enrollment
28,378
Founded
1946

2. Yonsei University

#35 in Asia
#289 in the World
Acceptance Rate
18%
Enrollment
29,502
Founded
1957

3. KAIST

#48 in Asia
#363 in the World
Enrollment
10,249
Founded
1971

4. Korea University

#55 in Asia
#398 in the World
Enrollment
24,351
Founded
1905

6. Hanyang University

#75 in Asia
#479 in the World
Enrollment
35,000
Founded
1939

7. Kyung Hee University

#99 in Asia
#591 in the World
Acceptance Rate
54%
Enrollment
35,826
Founded
1949

9. Chung-Ang University

#155 in Asia
#782 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
28,221
Founded
1918

11. Kyungpook National University

#163 in Asia
#798 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
38,616
Founded
1946

12. Ewha Womans University

#169 in Asia
#812 in the World
Enrollment
22,268
Founded
1886

13. Konkuk University

#210 in Asia
#944 in the World
Enrollment
21,620
Founded
1946

14. Inha University

#211 in Asia
#946 in the World
Acceptance Rate
7%
Enrollment
20,613
Founded
1954

15. Chungnam National University

#229 in Asia
#989 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
30,000
Founded
1952

16. Sejong University

#265 in Asia
#1086 in the World
Enrollment
13,350
Founded
1940

17. Ajou University

#310 in Asia
#1204 in the World
Acceptance Rate
40%
Enrollment
14,328
Founded
1973

18. Dongguk University

#324 in Asia
#1238 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
28,204
Founded
1906

19. Sogang University

#331 in Asia
#1256 in the World
Enrollment
9,227
Male:Female
55:45
Founded
1960

21. Yeungnam University

#368 in Asia
#1344 in the World
Enrollment
21,000
Founded
1947

22. Dankook University

#373 in Asia
#1363 in the World
Acceptance Rate
40%
Enrollment
28,654
Founded
1947

23. Chonnam National University

#389 in Asia
#1404 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
33,195
Founded
1909

25. Chungbuk National University

#422 in Asia
#1503 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
24,300
Founded
1951

26. University of Ulsan

#445 in Asia
#1567 in the World
Acceptance Rate
30%
Enrollment
15,000
Founded
1970

27. Catholic University of Korea

#452 in Asia
#1585 in the World
Acceptance Rate
60%
Enrollment
14,297
Founded
1855

28. Kookmin University

#477 in Asia
#1651 in the World
Acceptance Rate
76%
Enrollment
24,000
Founded
1946

29. Soongsil University

#483 in Asia
#1681 in the World
Acceptance Rate
36%
Enrollment
16,000
Founded
1897

30. Keimyung University

#509 in Asia
#1755 in the World
Acceptance Rate
25%
Enrollment
22,700
Founded
1954

33. Dong-A University

#575 in Asia
#1957 in the World
Enrollment
21,519
Male:Female
51:49
Founded
1946

34. University of Seoul

#581 in Asia
#1969 in the World
Enrollment
15,967
Founded
1918

35. Chosun University

#582 in Asia
#1974 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
23,000
Founded
1946

37. Chonbuk National University

#624 in Asia
#2096 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
32,300
Founded
1947

38. Wonkwang University

#645 in Asia
#2143 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
25,360
Founded
1946

39. Sookmyung Women's University

#658 in Asia
#2194 in the World
Acceptance Rate
33%
Enrollment
12,869
Founded
1948

40. Hallym University

#692 in Asia
#2290 in the World
Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
8,747
Founded
1982

41. Gachon University

#695 in Asia
#2296 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
18,995
Founded
1982

42. Kwangwoon University

#725 in Asia
#2366 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
9,807
Founded
1934

43. Myongji University

#728 in Asia
#2374 in the World
Enrollment
15,000
Founded
1948

45. Soonchunhyang University

#759 in Asia
#2442 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
10,619
Founded
1978

46. Jeju National University

#763 in Asia
#2447 in the World
Acceptance Rate
38%
Enrollment
12,200
Founded
1952

48. Kyonggi University

#793 in Asia
#2530 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
16,400
Founded
1947

50. Inje University

#882 in Asia
#2796 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
15,641
Founded
1979

51. Sangmyung University

#941 in Asia
#2967 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
6,604
Founded
1937

52. University of Science and Technology Korea

#949 in Asia
#2978 in the World
Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
1,292
Founded
2003

53. Daegu University

#1007 in Asia
#3115 in the World
Enrollment
19,593
Founded
1956

54. Kyungnam University

#1032 in Asia
#3190 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
14,000
Founded
1946

57. Hannam University

#1099 in Asia
#3357 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
17,000
Founded
1956

58. Hoseo University

#1144 in Asia
#3450 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
14,500
Founded
1978

59. Dong-Eui University

#1155 in Asia
#3477 in the World
Enrollment
24,200
Founded
1976

60. Catholic Kwandong University

#1160 in Asia
#3487 in the World
Acceptance Rate
81%
Enrollment
9,993
Founded
1954

62. Sun Moon University

#1187 in Asia
#3556 in the World
Acceptance Rate
86%
Enrollment
10,058
Founded
1989

63. Kyungsung University

#1192 in Asia
#3567 in the World
Enrollment
13,000
Founded
1955

64. Sungshin University

#1212 in Asia
#3623 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
13,000
Founded
1936

65. Dongseo University

#1223 in Asia
#3655 in the World
Acceptance Rate
81%
Enrollment
9,336
Founded
1992

66. Konyang University

#1255 in Asia
#3712 in the World
Enrollment
8,210
Founded
1991

67. Sahmyook University

#1258 in Asia
#3728 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
5,900
Founded
1906

68. Hanbat National University

#1261 in Asia
#3732 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
14,290
Founded
1927

69. Seoul Women's University

#1264 in Asia
#3736 in the World
Enrollment
8,000
Founded
1961

70. Mokpo National University

#1295 in Asia
#3813 in the World
Enrollment
12,942
Founded
1946

73. Korea Maritime and Ocean University

#1323 in Asia
#3893 in the World
Enrollment
8,831
Male:Female
78:22
Founded
1945

74. Yong-In University

#1327 in Asia
#3903 in the World
Enrollment
7,160
Founded
1953

76. Daejeon University

#1336 in Asia
#3921 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
12,000
Founded
1980

78. Jeonju University

#1361 in Asia
#3977 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Founded
1964

79. Dongduk Women's University

#1377 in Asia
#4024 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
7,093
Founded
1950

80. Cheongju University

#1379 in Asia
#4029 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Founded
1946

81. Gangneung-Wonju National University

#1386 in Asia
#4044 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
8,700
Founded
1946

83. University of Suwon

#1404 in Asia
#4096 in the World
Enrollment
12,415
Founded
1977

85. Pai Chai University

#1442 in Asia
#4188 in the World
Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
13,000
Founded
1885

87. University of Incheon

#1496 in Asia
#4305 in the World
Acceptance Rate
47%
Enrollment
13,822
Founded
1988

88. Woosong University

#1498 in Asia
#4313 in the World
Enrollment
15,000
Founded
1994

89. Handong Global University

#1500 in Asia
#4318 in the World
Acceptance Rate
32%
Enrollment
4,120
Founded
1994

90. Woosuk University

#1532 in Asia
#4386 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
11,500
Founded
1979

92. Hanseo University

#1592 in Asia
#4531 in the World
Enrollment
8,500
Founded
1992

93. Daejin University

#1605 in Asia
#4555 in the World
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
7,832
Founded
1992

94. Eulji University

#1629 in Asia
#4608 in the World
Enrollment
5,700
Founded
1967

95. Sangji University

#1640 in Asia
#4638 in the World
Enrollment
8,600
Founded
1962

97. Kosin University

#1681 in Asia
#4722 in the World
Enrollment
4,949
Founded
1946

98. Hansung University

#1697 in Asia
#4770 in the World
Enrollment
6,686
Founded
1945

99. Seoul National University of Education

#1709 in Asia
#4803 in the World
Acceptance Rate
17%
Enrollment
3,420
Founded
1946

100. Honam University

#1732 in Asia
#4861 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 $647 + $66-471 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).