77 Best universities for Linguistics in Nigeria

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Nigeria ranked based on their research performance in Linguistics. A graph of 359K citations received by 51.4K academic papers made by 77 universities in Nigeria was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Linguistics

#12 in Africa

#789 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Linguistics

#17 in Africa

#939 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Linguistics

#21 in Africa

#1115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

4. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Linguistics

#28 in Africa

#1327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

5. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Linguistics

#38 in Africa

#1646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

6. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Linguistics

#44 in Africa

#1737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

7. Covenant University

For Linguistics

#47 in Africa

#1788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

8. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Linguistics

#54 in Africa

#1863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

9. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Linguistics

#57 in Africa

#1937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

10. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Linguistics

#60 in Africa

#2004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 23,100
Founded: 1981

11. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Linguistics

#62 in Africa

#2014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

12. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Linguistics

#63 in Africa

#2030 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

13. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Linguistics

#66 in Africa

#2038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

14. Lagos State University

For Linguistics

#75 in Africa

#2386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

15. Bayero University Kano

For Linguistics

#83 in Africa

#2482 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

16. University of Uyo

For Linguistics

#84 in Africa

#2522 in the World

Founded: 1991

17. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Linguistics

#88 in Africa

#2630 in the World

Founded: 1992

18. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Linguistics

#95 in Africa

#2768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Linguistics

#98 in Africa

#2818 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1990

20. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Linguistics

#102 in Africa

#2848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

21. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Linguistics

#103 in Africa

#2881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

22. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Linguistics

#104 in Africa

#2886 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

23. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Linguistics

#106 in Africa

#2917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

24. University of Jos

For Linguistics

#112 in Africa

#2958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

25. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Linguistics

#113 in Africa

#3008 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

26. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Linguistics

#121 in Africa

#3170 in the World

Founded: 1975

27. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Linguistics

#127 in Africa

#3253 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

28. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Linguistics

#128 in Africa

#3283 in the World

Founded: 2000

29. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Linguistics

#136 in Africa

#3385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

30. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Linguistics

#140 in Africa

#3422 in the World

Founded: 1988

31. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Linguistics

#142 in Africa

#3448 in the World

Founded: 1980

32. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Linguistics

#143 in Africa

#3493 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

33. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Linguistics

#149 in Africa

#3583 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,181
Founded: 1982

34. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Linguistics

#150 in Africa

#3587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

35. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Linguistics

#153 in Africa

#3635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

36. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Linguistics

#155 in Africa

#3680 in the World

Founded: 1981

37. Redeemer's University

For Linguistics

#156 in Africa

#3713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2005

38. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Linguistics

#158 in Africa

#3759 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

39. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Linguistics

#160 in Africa

#3777 in the World

Founded: 1992

40. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Linguistics

#161 in Africa

#3784 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

41. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Linguistics

#163 in Africa

#3792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

42. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Linguistics

#166 in Africa

#3831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

43. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Linguistics

#170 in Africa

#3916 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

44. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Linguistics

#171 in Africa

#3926 in the World

Founded: 2002

45. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Linguistics

#174 in Africa

#3982 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

46. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Linguistics

#175 in Africa

#3990 in the World

Founded: 1988

47. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Linguistics

#176 in Africa

#3995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

48. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Linguistics

#183 in Africa

#4071 in the World

Founded: 2009

49. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Linguistics

#184 in Africa

#4093 in the World

Founded: 1988

50. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Linguistics

#191 in Africa

#4253 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

51. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Linguistics

#194 in Africa

#4309 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

52. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Linguistics

#197 in Africa

#4392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

53. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Linguistics

#203 in Africa

#4519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

54. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Linguistics

#205 in Africa

#4564 in the World

Founded: 2004

55. Bowen University

For Linguistics

#211 in Africa

#4617 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

56. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Linguistics

#214 in Africa

#4632 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

57. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Linguistics

#223 in Africa

#4731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

58. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Linguistics

#230 in Africa

#4972 in the World

Founded: 2007

59. Adamawa State University

For Linguistics

#235 in Africa

#5012 in the World

Founded: 2002

60. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Linguistics

#236 in Africa

#5028 in the World

Founded: 2011

61. American University of Nigeria

For Linguistics

#238 in Africa

#5053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

62. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Linguistics

#239 in Africa

#5066 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

63. Bells University of Technology

For Linguistics

#243 in Africa

#5084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

64. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Linguistics

#250 in Africa

#5132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

65. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Linguistics

#256 in Africa

#5305 in the World

Founded: 2008

66. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Linguistics

#258 in Africa

#5346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

67. Benson Idahosa University

Nigeria | Benin

For Linguistics

#264 in Africa

#5442 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2002

68. Igbinedion University Okada

Nigeria | Okada

For Linguistics

#269 in Africa

#5538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1999

69. Ajayi Crowther University

For Linguistics

#276 in Africa

#5580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

70. Adeleke University

For Linguistics

#277 in Africa

#5588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2011

71. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Linguistics

#283 in Africa

#5671 in the World

Founded: 2007

72. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

Nigeria | Katsina

For Linguistics

#287 in Africa

#5715 in the World

Founded: 2006

73. Fountain University, Osogbo

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Linguistics

#294 in Africa

#5780 in the World

Founded: 2007

74. Bingham University

Nigeria | Auta Balifi

For Linguistics

#300 in Africa

#5835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 2005

75. Caleb University

Nigeria | Imota

For Linguistics

#319 in Africa

#5992 in the World

Founded: 2007

76. Novena University

Nigeria | Ogume

For Linguistics

#321 in Africa

#6008 in the World

Founded: 2005

77. Crescent University, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Linguistics

#325 in Africa

#6049 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2005

The best cities to study Linguistics in Nigeria based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ibadan, Nsukka, Ife, and Lagos.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Nigeria

Broadcast Journalism24

Classics and Ancient History32

Communications and Public Relations57

Criminology and Criminal Justice25

Early Childhood Education5

Education Majors56

Forensic Science16

Gender Studies29

Human Rights Law20

Intellectual Property and Patent Law7

International Law19

International Relations and Diplomacy7

Journalism and Digital Media20

Law Enforcement17

Library and Information science34

Media Studies19

Military science6

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution7

Occupational Safety and Health10

Political Economy28

Political Science79

Public Policy / Administration60

Radio and Television broadcasting37

Special Education2

Sports / Exercise science6

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies55

Urban and Regional planning6