Best Universities for Public Policy / Administration in Africa

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Public Policy / Administration. A graph of 220K citations received by 31.5K academic papers made by 115 universities in Africa 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 the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in South Africa

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in South Africa

#139 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in South Africa

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in South Africa

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

5. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in South Africa

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

6. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Nigeria

#240 in the World

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

7. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in South Africa

#253 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

8. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in South Africa

#280 in the World

Founded: 1918

9. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Nigeria

#313 in the World

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

10. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in South Africa

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

11. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Nigeria

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

12. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Ghana

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 67,914
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1948

13. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in Nigeria

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

14. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in South Africa

#382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

15. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in Nigeria

#414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

16. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in South Africa

#437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

17. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in Nigeria

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

18. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Botswana

#473 in the World

Founded: 1964

19. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Uganda

#492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1922

20. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in Nigeria

#509 in the World

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

21. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in Nigeria

#528 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

22. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in Nigeria

#538 in the World

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

23. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Kenya

#551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1970

24. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in Nigeria

#563 in the World

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

25. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in Nigeria

#564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

26. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in Nigeria

#587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 130,000
Founded: 1999

27. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in South Africa

#617 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

28. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in Nigeria

#639 in the World

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

29. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in South Africa

#646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

30. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in Nigeria

#651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

31. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in South Africa

#660 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

32. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Zimbabwe

#695 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 20,399
Founded: 1955

33. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Public Policy / Administration

#15 in Nigeria

#701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

34. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Public Policy / Administration

#16 in Nigeria

#716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

35. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in Nigeria

#743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

36. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Ethiopia

#793 in the World

Founded: 1950

37. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in Nigeria

#808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

38. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Ghana

#827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 85,000
Founded: 1951

39. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in South Africa

#834 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

40. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in Nigeria

#845 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

41. University of Jos

Nigeria | Jos

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in Nigeria

#857 in the World

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

42. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Public Policy / Administration

#21 in Nigeria

#873 in the World

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

43. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Public Policy / Administration

#22 in Nigeria

#893 in the World

Founded: 1991

44. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Tanzania

#898 in the World

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

45. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Public Policy / Administration

#15 in South Africa

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

46. University of Malawi

Malawi | Zomba

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Malawi

#905 in the World

Founded: 1964

47. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Kenya

#921 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

48. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Public Policy / Administration

#16 in South Africa

#922 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

49. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in Nigeria

#925 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Kenya

#927 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

51. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Zambia

#940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

52. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in Nigeria

#984 in the World

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

53. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Ghana

#1007 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

54. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Public Policy / Administration

#25 in Nigeria

#1060 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

55. University for Development Studies

Ghana | Tamale

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in Ghana

#1061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

56. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in South Africa

#1071 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

57. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Public Policy / Administration

#26 in Nigeria

#1080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

58. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Public Policy / Administration

#27 in Nigeria

#1104 in the World

Founded: 2000

59. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Public Policy / Administration

#28 in Nigeria

#1109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

60. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in Kenya

#1128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

61. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Egypt

#1134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 207,853
Founded: 1908

62. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Public Policy / Administration

#29 in Nigeria

#1149 in the World

Founded: 1975

63. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in Nigeria

#1174 in the World

Founded: 1981

64. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

Nigeria | Uli

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in Nigeria

#1184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

65. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Egypt

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 6,857
Founded: 1919

66. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Public Policy / Administration

#32 in Nigeria

#1222 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

67. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in Nigeria

#1226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

68. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in Nigeria

#1236 in the World

Founded: 1980

69. Redeemer's University

Nigeria | Ede

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in Nigeria

#1244 in the World

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

70. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

Ghana | Accra

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in Ghana

#1257 in the World

Founded: 1961

71. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in South Africa

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

72. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in Nigeria

#1286 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

73. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

Nigeria | Yola

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in Nigeria

#1301 in the World

Founded: 1988

74. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Public Policy / Administration

#38 in Nigeria

#1325 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

75. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Public Policy / Administration

#39 in Nigeria

#1338 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Public Policy / Administration

#40 in Nigeria

#1359 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

77. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Public Policy / Administration

#41 in Nigeria

#1373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

78. National University of Lesotho

Lesotho | Maseru

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Lesotho

#1386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1945

79. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in Ghana

#1388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

80. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Mozambique

#1392 in the World

Founded: 1985

81. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in Nigeria

#1394 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

82. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Public Policy / Administration

#43 in Nigeria

#1396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

83. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Public Policy / Administration

#44 in Nigeria

#1431 in the World

Founded: 1988

84. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in South Africa

#1448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

85. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in Nigeria

#1477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

86. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Ethiopia

#1480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 57,852
Founded: 2001

87. Mzumbe University

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Tanzania

#1492 in the World

Founded: 2003

88. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Morocco

#1526 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

89. Midlands State University

Zimbabwe | Gweru

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Zimbabwe

#1543 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 2000

90. Mount Kenya University

Kenya | Thika

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in Kenya

#1548 in the World

Founded: 2008

91. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in Nigeria

#1573 in the World

Founded: 2009

92. Bells University of Technology

Nigeria | Ota

For Public Policy / Administration

#47 in Nigeria

#1574 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

93. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Ethiopia

#1579 in the World

Enrollment: 30,414
Male:Female: 75:25
Founded: 1976

94. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in Nigeria

#1633 in the World

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

95. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Sierra Leone

#1639 in the World

Founded: 2005

96. Adamawa State University

Nigeria | Mubi

For Public Policy / Administration

#49 in Nigeria

#1662 in the World

Founded: 2002

97. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Mozambique

#1673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

98. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Public Policy / Administration

#50 in Nigeria

#1677 in the World

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

99. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Public Policy / Administration

#51 in Nigeria

#1679 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

100. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Namibia

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History100

Communications and Public Relations195

Criminology and Criminal Justice64

Demography322

Early Childhood Education39

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law50

International Relations and Diplomacy27

Journalism and Digital Media69

Law362

Law Enforcement41

Library and Information science112

Linguistics327

Media Studies53

Military science22

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Radio and Television broadcasting66

Social Work32

Sociology359

Special Education27

Sports / Exercise science29

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies207

Urban and Regional planning39