List of 31 best universities in Tanzania

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 31 universities in Tanzania ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 541K citations received by 34.5K academic publications made by 31 universities from Tanzania, the popularity of 96 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Dar es Salaam

#26 in Africa

#1614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1970

2. Sokoine University of Agriculture

#53 in Africa

#2634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

3. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

#95 in Africa

#3667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

4. University of Dodoma

#151 in Africa

#4621 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 28,949
Founded: 2007

5. Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

#202 in Africa

#5591 in the World

Enrollment: 117
Founded: 2009

6. St. Augustine University of Tanzania

#211 in Africa

#5753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1998

7. Mzumbe University

#216 in Africa

#5803 in the World

Founded: 2003

8. Ardhi University

#240 in Africa

#6176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 4,521
Male:Female: 60:40
Founded: 2007

9. Tumaini University Makumira

#264 in Africa

#6513 in the World

Founded: 1997

10. Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences

#268 in Africa

#6569 in the World

Founded: 1994

11. State University of Zanzibar

#280 in Africa

#6724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 2002

12. Hubert Kairuki Memorial University

#309 in Africa

#7075 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1997

13. St John's University of Tanzania

#321 in Africa

#7162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2007

14. Moshi Co-operative University

#372 in Africa

#7831 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1963

15. St. Joseph University in Tanzania

#484 in Africa

#10210 in the World

Enrollment: 4,000
Founded: 2011

16. Zanzibar University

#525 in Africa

#10649 in the World

Founded: 1998

17. Ruaha Catholic University

#526 in Africa

#10650 in the World

18. University of Arusha

#540 in Africa

#10758 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1974

19. Mbeya University of Science and Technology

#547 in Africa

#10807 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 4,000
Founded: 1986

20. Mwenge Catholic University

#607 in Africa

#11456 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2005

21. University of Iringa

#632 in Africa

#11622 in the World

Founded: 2013

22. Teofilo Kisanji University

#646 in Africa

#11750 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2006

23. Muslim University of Morogoro

#693 in Africa

#12082 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2004

24. Mount Meru University

#708 in Africa

#12169 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2005

25. International Medical and Technological University

#719 in Africa

#12231 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1995

26. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Memorial University

#731 in Africa

#12283 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1998

27. Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University

#750 in Africa

#12394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2012

28. United African University of Tanzania

#823 in Africa

#12786 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 2012

29. Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology

#832 in Africa

#12841 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2015

30. University of Bagamoyo

#836 in Africa

#12867 in the World

Founded: 2010

31. Eckernforde Tanga University

#1041 in Africa

#13936 in the World

Founded: 2010

The best cities to study in Tanzania based on the number of universities and their ranks are Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma, and Arusha.

Average cost of living for students in Tanzania is $335 + $45-324 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).