List of 38 best universities in Saudi Arabia

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Top 38 universities in Saudi Arabia ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 12.1M citations received by 596K academic publications made by 38 universities from Saudi Arabia, the popularity of 144 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. King Saud University

#43 in Asia

#374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 61,412
Founded: 1957

2. King AbdulAziz University

#104 in Asia

#630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1967

3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

#149 in Asia

#826 in the World

Enrollment: 940
Founded: 2009

4. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

#175 in Asia

#894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1963

5. Umm Al-Qura University

#418 in Asia

#1614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

6. King Khalid University

#580 in Asia

#2110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1998

7. Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

#643 in Asia

#2287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 85,367
Founded: 1974

8. King Faisal University

#670 in Asia

#2355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1975

9. Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

#745 in Asia

#2557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1975

10. Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University

#775 in Asia

#2644 in the World

Founded: 2008

11. Al Jouf University

#864 in Asia

#2897 in the World

Founded: 2005

12. Qassim University

#865 in Asia

#2898 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 50,054
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 2004

13. Alfaisal University

#925 in Asia

#3044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2007

14. King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

#933 in Asia

#3063 in the World

Founded: 2005

15. Taif University

#969 in Asia

#3151 in the World

Founded: 2003

16. Prince Sultan University

#999 in Asia

#3236 in the World

Enrollment: 6,269
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1999

17. Taibah University

#1256 in Asia

#3841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 74,877
Founded: 2003

18. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

#1266 in Asia

#3877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2009

19. Effat University

#1553 in Asia

#4530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 2,093
Founded: 1999

20. Jazan University

#1589 in Asia

#4607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 54,999
Founded: 2005

21. University of Tabuk

#1630 in Asia

#4690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

22. Majmaah University

#1645 in Asia

#4727 in the World

Enrollment: 19,956
Founded: 2009

23. Najran University

#1691 in Asia

#4819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 2006

24. Islamic University of Madinah

#1847 in Asia

#5183 in the World

Enrollment: 16,150
Founded: 1961

25. Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

#1959 in Asia

#5419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 5,820
Founded: 2006

26. Northern Borders University

#2004 in Asia

#5502 in the World

Enrollment: 15,300
Founded: 2007

27. Al Baha University

#2052 in Asia

#5631 in the World

Enrollment: 22,914
Founded: 2006

28. Shaqra University

#2081 in Asia

#5677 in the World

Founded: 2008

29. Al Yamamah University

#2760 in Asia

#7097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 2,247
Founded: 2001

30. Dar Al Uloom University

#3063 in Asia

#7903 in the World

Founded: 2008

31. Institute of Public Administration, Saudi Arabia

#3164 in Asia

#8183 in the World

Founded: 1961

32. University of Jeddah

#3593 in Asia

#9207 in the World

Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 2013

33. University of Ha'il

#3629 in Asia

#9280 in the World

Founded: 2005

34. Dar Al-Hekma University

#3688 in Asia

#9424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1999

35. University of Bisha

#3834 in Asia

#9734 in the World

Enrollment: 16,966
Founded: 2014

36. University of Business and Technology

#4016 in Asia

#10103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 4,700
Founded: 2001

37. Fahad Bin Sultan University

#4045 in Asia

#10168 in the World

Founded: 2003

38. University of Hafr Al Batin

#4165 in Asia

#10406 in the World

Founded: 2014

The best cities to study in Saudi Arabia based on the number of universities and their ranks are Riyadh, Jeddah, Thuwal, and Dhahran.

Average cost of living for students in Saudi Arabia is $609 + $93-663 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).