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

#394 in the World

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

2. King AbdulAziz University

#100 in Asia

#586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1967

3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

#192 in Asia

#881 in the World

Enrollment: 940
Founded: 2009

4. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

#210 in Asia

#936 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1963

5. Umm Al-Qura University

#393 in Asia

#1401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

6. Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

#596 in Asia

#1970 in the World

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

7. King Faisal University

#682 in Asia

#2224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1975

8. King Khalid University

#731 in Asia

#2343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1998

9. Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

#733 in Asia

#2351 in the World

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

10. Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University

#770 in Asia

#2448 in the World

Founded: 2008

11. Qassim University

#862 in Asia

#2729 in the World

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

12. Prince Sultan University

#905 in Asia

#2835 in the World

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

13. King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

#924 in Asia

#2892 in the World

Founded: 2005

14. Taif University

#968 in Asia

#3016 in the World

Enrollment: 42,765
Founded: 2003

15. Alfaisal University

#978 in Asia

#3038 in the World

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

16. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

#1178 in Asia

#3547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2009

17. Taibah University

#1301 in Asia

#3861 in the World

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

18. Majmaah University

#1422 in Asia

#4161 in the World

Enrollment: 19,956
Founded: 2009

19. Effat University

#1532 in Asia

#4405 in the World

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

20. Jazan University

#1583 in Asia

#4524 in the World

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

21. University of Tabuk

#1584 in Asia

#4529 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

22. Al Jouf University

#1652 in Asia

#4671 in the World

Founded: 2005

23. Najran University

#1759 in Asia

#4920 in the World

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

24. Islamic University of Madinah

#1812 in Asia

#5040 in the World

Enrollment: 16,150
Founded: 1961

25. Northern Borders University

#1900 in Asia

#5231 in the World

Enrollment: 15,300
Founded: 2007

26. Al Baha University

#1935 in Asia

#5307 in the World

Enrollment: 22,914
Founded: 2006

27. Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

#2010 in Asia

#5508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 2006

28. Shaqra University

#2019 in Asia

#5528 in the World

Founded: 2008

29. Al Yamamah University

#2779 in Asia

#7158 in the World

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

30. Dar Al Uloom University

#3061 in Asia

#7824 in the World

Founded: 2008

31. Institute of Public Administration, Saudi Arabia

#3250 in Asia

#8335 in the World

Founded: 1961

32. University of Ha'il

#3515 in Asia

#8972 in the World

Founded: 2005

33. University of Jeddah

#3621 in Asia

#9177 in the World

Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 2013

34. Dar Al-Hekma University

#3899 in Asia

#9792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1999

35. University of Bisha

#3924 in Asia

#9825 in the World

Enrollment: 16,966
Founded: 2014

36. University of Hafr Al Batin

#4089 in Asia

#10198 in the World

Founded: 2014

37. University of Business and Technology

#4138 in Asia

#10283 in the World

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

38. Fahad Bin Sultan University

#4613 in Asia

#11270 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 $612 + $92-657 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).