List of 38 best universities in Saudi Arabia

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 10.4M citations received by 553K academic publications made by 38 universities from Saudi Arabia, the popularity of 140 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. King Saud University

#53 in Asia

#387 in the World

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

2. King AbdulAziz University

#103 in Asia

#609 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1967

3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

#204 in Asia

#924 in the World

Enrollment: 940
Founded: 2009

4. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

#218 in Asia

#966 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1963

5. Umm Al-Qura University

#385 in Asia

#1389 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

6. Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

#660 in Asia

#2160 in the World

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

7. King Khalid University

#709 in Asia

#2300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1998

8. Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

#747 in Asia

#2388 in the World

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

9. King Faisal University

#765 in Asia

#2434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1975

10. Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University

#809 in Asia

#2554 in the World

Founded: 2008

11. Qassim University

#824 in Asia

#2601 in the World

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

12. Prince Sultan University

#945 in Asia

#2950 in the World

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

13. King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

#970 in Asia

#3008 in the World

Founded: 2005

14. Taif University

#984 in Asia

#3044 in the World

Enrollment: 42,765
Founded: 2003

15. Alfaisal University

#1026 in Asia

#3163 in the World

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

16. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

#1110 in Asia

#3380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2009

17. Taibah University

#1307 in Asia

#3852 in the World

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

18. Majmaah University

#1475 in Asia

#4264 in the World

Enrollment: 19,956
Founded: 2009

19. Jazan University

#1544 in Asia

#4423 in the World

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

20. Effat University

#1587 in Asia

#4515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,311
Founded: 1999

21. University of Tabuk

#1593 in Asia

#4523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

22. Al Jouf University

#1616 in Asia

#4570 in the World

Founded: 2005

23. Najran University

#1804 in Asia

#5005 in the World

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

24. Al Baha University

#1935 in Asia

#5304 in the World

Enrollment: 22,914
Founded: 2006

25. Northern Borders University

#1970 in Asia

#5391 in the World

Enrollment: 15,300
Founded: 2007

26. Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

#2068 in Asia

#5651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 2006

27. Shaqra University

#2083 in Asia

#5679 in the World

Founded: 2008

28. Al Yamamah University

#2882 in Asia

#7376 in the World

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

29. Islamic University of Madinah

#2995 in Asia

#7647 in the World

Enrollment: 16,150
Founded: 1961

30. Institute of Public Administration, Saudi Arabia

#3242 in Asia

#8309 in the World

Founded: 1961

31. University of Ha'il

#3522 in Asia

#8963 in the World

Founded: 2005

32. University of Jeddah

#3638 in Asia

#9203 in the World

Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 2013

33. University of Bisha

#3881 in Asia

#9752 in the World

Enrollment: 16,966
Founded: 2014

34. Dar Al-Hekma University

#3943 in Asia

#9884 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1999

35. University of Hafr Al Batin

#4022 in Asia

#10033 in the World

Founded: 2014

36. University of Business and Technology

#4168 in Asia

#10314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 4,999
Founded: 2001

37. Dar Al Uloom University

#4596 in Asia

#11208 in the World

Founded: 2008

38. Fahad Bin Sultan University

#4636 in Asia

#11302 in the World

Founded: 2003

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 $592 + $84-601 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).