79 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 1.96M citations received by 219K academic papers made by 79 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in Africa

#787 in the World

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

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in Africa

#1078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#22 in Africa

#1172 in the World

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

4. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#27 in Africa

#1370 in the World

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

5. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#42 in Africa

#1712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

6. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#43 in Africa

#1717 in the World

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

7. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#44 in Africa

#1720 in the World

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

8. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#52 in Africa

#1846 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

9. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#57 in Africa

#1932 in the World

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

10. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#58 in Africa

#1939 in the World

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

11. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#66 in Africa

#2112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

12. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#75 in Africa

#2285 in the World

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

13. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#86 in Africa

#2430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

14. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#93 in Africa

#2553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

15. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#95 in Africa

#2585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

16. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#98 in Africa

#2664 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

17. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#99 in Africa

#2665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

18. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#103 in Africa

#2775 in the World

Founded: 1992

19. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#104 in Africa

#2776 in the World

Founded: 1991

20. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#108 in Africa

#2907 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

21. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#111 in Africa

#2956 in the World

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

22. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#112 in Africa

#2991 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

23. University of Jos

Nigeria | Jos

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#115 in Africa

#3042 in the World

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

24. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#117 in Africa

#3068 in the World

Founded: 1975

25. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#119 in Africa

#3098 in the World

Founded: 2000

26. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#127 in Africa

#3212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

27. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#131 in Africa

#3296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

28. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#140 in Africa

#3505 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

29. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#141 in Africa

#3526 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

30. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#143 in Africa

#3531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

31. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#146 in Africa

#3568 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

32. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#148 in Africa

#3578 in the World

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

33. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#155 in Africa

#3655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

34. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#159 in Africa

#3687 in the World

Founded: 2002

35. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#162 in Africa

#3711 in the World

Founded: 1980

36. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

Nigeria | Uli

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#165 in Africa

#3767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

37. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#176 in Africa

#3898 in the World

Founded: 1981

38. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#180 in Africa

#3939 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

39. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#183 in Africa

#3993 in the World

Founded: 1988

40. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#184 in Africa

#4008 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

41. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#187 in Africa

#4054 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

42. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#189 in Africa

#4064 in the World

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

43. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#193 in Africa

#4078 in the World

Founded: 1992

44. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#194 in Africa

#4088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

45. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#196 in Africa

#4111 in the World

Founded: 1988

46. Redeemer's University

Nigeria | Ede

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#198 in Africa

#4162 in the World

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

47. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#202 in Africa

#4210 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

48. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#203 in Africa

#4228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

49. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

Nigeria | Yola

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#214 in Africa

#4381 in the World

Founded: 1988

50. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#215 in Africa

#4411 in the World

Founded: 2009

51. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#217 in Africa

#4447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

52. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#233 in Africa

#4740 in the World

Founded: 2004

53. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#236 in Africa

#4807 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

54. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#241 in Africa

#4956 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

55. Bowen University

Nigeria | Iwo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#244 in Africa

#4997 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

56. American University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Yola

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#249 in Africa

#5060 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

57. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#250 in Africa

#5066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

58. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#253 in Africa

#5091 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

59. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#265 in Africa

#5292 in the World

Founded: 2008

60. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#266 in Africa

#5294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

61. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#275 in Africa

#5471 in the World

Founded: 2011

62. Bells University of Technology

Nigeria | Ota

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#276 in Africa

#5509 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

63. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#279 in Africa

#5522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

64. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#282 in Africa

#5542 in the World

Founded: 2007

65. Igbinedion University Okada

Nigeria | Okada

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#291 in Africa

#5681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1999

66. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#296 in Africa

#5742 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

67. Bingham University

Nigeria | Auta Balifi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#297 in Africa

#5765 in the World

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

68. Adamawa State University

Nigeria | Mubi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#299 in Africa

#5797 in the World

Founded: 2002

69. Adeleke University

Nigeria | Ede

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#309 in Africa

#5960 in the World

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

70. Ajayi Crowther University

Nigeria | Oyo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#313 in Africa

#6004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

71. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

Nigeria | Katsina

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#314 in Africa

#6035 in the World

Founded: 2006

72. Benson Idahosa University

Nigeria | Benin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#315 in Africa

#6044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2002

73. Novena University

Nigeria | Ogume

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#318 in Africa

#6101 in the World

Founded: 2005

74. Paul University

Nigeria | Awka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#323 in Africa

#6167 in the World

Founded: 2009

75. Crescent University, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#324 in Africa

#6190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2005

76. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#325 in Africa

#6200 in the World

Founded: 2007

77. Fountain University, Osogbo

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#328 in Africa

#6240 in the World

Founded: 2007

78. Caleb University

Nigeria | Imota

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#334 in Africa

#6344 in the World

Founded: 2007

79. Wellspring University

Nigeria | Benin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#362 in Africa

#6854 in the World

Enrollment: 500
Founded: 2009

The best cities to study Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Nigeria based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ibadan, Nsukka, Ife, and Lagos.