List of 31 best universities in Tanzania

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 596K citations received by 36.6K academic publications made by 31 universities from Tanzania, the popularity of 98 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Dar es Salaam

#28 in Africa

#1463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 45,155
Founded: 1970

2. Sokoine University of Agriculture

#51 in Africa

#2274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

3. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

#78 in Africa

#2991 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

4. University of Dodoma

#131 in Africa

#4008 in the World

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

5. Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

#157 in Africa

#4559 in the World

Enrollment: 117
Founded: 2009

6. Mzumbe University

#192 in Africa

#5313 in the World

Founded: 2003

7. Ardhi University

#209 in Africa

#5490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,455
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 2007

8. St. Augustine University of Tanzania

#255 in Africa

#6256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 14,780
Founded: 1998

9. Tumaini University Makumira

#269 in Africa

#6446 in the World

Founded: 1997

10. State University of Zanzibar

#297 in Africa

#6801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 2002

11. Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences

#300 in Africa

#6850 in the World

Founded: 1994

12. St John's University of Tanzania

#309 in Africa

#6964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2007

13. Hubert Kairuki Memorial University

#344 in Africa

#7312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 2,100
Founded: 1997

14. Moshi Co-operative University

#431 in Africa

#9223 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1963

15. University of Arusha

#456 in Africa

#9582 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1974

16. Mbeya University of Science and Technology

#496 in Africa

#10085 in the World

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

17. Ruaha Catholic University

#515 in Africa

#10227 in the World

18. University of Iringa

#527 in Africa

#10425 in the World

Founded: 2013

19. St. Joseph University in Tanzania

#599 in Africa

#11157 in the World

Enrollment: 4,000
Founded: 2011

20. Zanzibar University

#602 in Africa

#11192 in the World

Enrollment: 4,206
Founded: 1998

21. Mwenge Catholic University

#620 in Africa

#11383 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2005

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

#687 in Africa

#11973 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2015

23. Muslim University of Morogoro

#707 in Africa

#12118 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2004

24. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Memorial University

#744 in Africa

#12302 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1998

25. Teofilo Kisanji University

#769 in Africa

#12430 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2006

26. United African University of Tanzania

#771 in Africa

#12434 in the World

Enrollment: 1,200
Founded: 2012

27. Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University

#846 in Africa

#12907 in the World

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

28. International Medical and Technological University

#880 in Africa

#13087 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1995

29. Mount Meru University

#926 in Africa

#13364 in the World

Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2005

30. Eckernforde Tanga University

#987 in Africa

#13655 in the World

Founded: 2010

31. University of Bagamoyo

#1006 in Africa

#13765 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 $369 + $43-310 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).