100 Best universities for Sociology in France

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 4.69M citations received by 219K academic papers made by 123 universities in France 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. Pierre and Marie Curie University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#47 in Europe

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Sociology

#90 in Europe

#273 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Sociology

#111 in Europe

#318 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

4. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Sociology

#150 in Europe

#417 in the World

Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 2012

5. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#164 in Europe

#454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 11,196
Founded: 1872

6. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Sociology

#177 in Europe

#485 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

7. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Sociology

#191 in Europe

#513 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

8. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#193 in Europe

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

9. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Sociology

#203 in Europe

#542 in the World

Enrollment: 53,949
Founded: 1339

10. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Sociology

#223 in Europe

#591 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 2018

11. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#227 in Europe

#596 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

12. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#239 in Europe

#626 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

13. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#269 in Europe

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,704
Founded: 2019

14. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Sociology

#276 in Europe

#722 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

15. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Sociology

#293 in Europe

#784 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

16. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#296 in Europe

#790 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

17. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Sociology

#300 in Europe

#798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 60,404
Founded: 2012

18. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#314 in Europe

#836 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

19. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Sociology

#322 in Europe

#858 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

20. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#331 in Europe

#879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,523
Founded: 1970

21. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#342 in Europe

#923 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

22. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Sociology

#345 in Europe

#943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,490
Founded: 1970

23. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Sociology

#355 in Europe

#977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 22,023
Founded: 1968

24. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Sociology

#360 in Europe

#990 in the World

Enrollment: 28,333
Founded: 1965

25. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Sociology

#361 in Europe

#991 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

26. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Sociology

#370 in Europe

#1011 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 37,252
Founded: 1460

27. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Sociology

#374 in Europe

#1028 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

28. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Sociology

#379 in Europe

#1036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,316
Founded: 1794

29. Paris-Est Creteil Val-de-Marne University

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Sociology

#384 in Europe

#1045 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

30. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Sociology

#394 in Europe

#1079 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

31. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#400 in Europe

#1099 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,536
Founded: 1794

32. Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#406 in Europe

#1121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,300
Founded: 2007

33. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Sociology

#414 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 25,078
Founded: 1431

34. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Sociology

#423 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,465
Founded: 1432

35. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#427 in Europe

#1203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1783

36. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#452 in Europe

#1307 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

37. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Sociology

#454 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

38. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Sociology

#457 in Europe

#1322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 25,687
Founded: 1971

39. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#461 in Europe

#1334 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

40. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Sociology

#467 in Europe

#1356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,690
Founded: 1854

41. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#474 in Europe

#1372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 15,232
Founded: 1971

42. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Sociology

#491 in Europe

#1436 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

43. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Sociology

#494 in Europe

#1453 in the World

Founded: 1907

44. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Sociology

#499 in Europe

#1477 in the World

Enrollment: 21,550
Founded: 1423

45. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Sociology

#506 in Europe

#1519 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

46. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Sociology

#523 in Europe

#1587 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

47. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Sociology

#525 in Europe

#1597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 5,453
Founded: 1881

48. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Sociology

#539 in Europe

#1654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 21,997
Founded: 1970

49. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#563 in Europe

#1769 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

50. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Sociology

#570 in Europe

#1811 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

51. Eurecom

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Biot Sophia-Antipolis

For Sociology

#572 in Europe

#1814 in the World

Founded: 1991

52. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#578 in Europe

#1840 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 19,018
Founded: 1970

53. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#595 in Europe

#1911 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

54. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Sociology

#598 in Europe

#1919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 8,238
Founded: 1970

55. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#608 in Europe

#1965 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

56. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Sociology

#614 in Europe

#1999 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

57. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Sociology

#619 in Europe

#2034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

58. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Sociology

#625 in Europe

#2066 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

59. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Sociology

#626 in Europe

#2067 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

60. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Sociology

#634 in Europe

#2087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 7,646
Founded: 1900

61. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#635 in Europe

#2092 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,067
Founded: 1957

62. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Sociology

#638 in Europe

#2113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 14,800
Founded: 2013

63. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Sociology

#648 in Europe

#2163 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

64. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Sociology

#649 in Europe

#2169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1984

65. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#650 in Europe

#2173 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

66. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Sociology

#652 in Europe

#2187 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

67. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Sociology

#653 in Europe

#2188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,629
Founded: 1970

68. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Sociology

#664 in Europe

#2276 in the World

Founded: 1906

69. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Sociology

#667 in Europe

#2285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,367
Founded: 1972

70. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#670 in Europe

#2295 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

71. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Sociology

#674 in Europe

#2328 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

72. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#688 in Europe

#2452 in the World

Founded: 1828

73. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Sociology

#700 in Europe

#2496 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

74. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Sociology

#707 in Europe

#2532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

75. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#709 in Europe

#2544 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

76. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Sociology

#720 in Europe

#2603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,091
Founded: 1992

77. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#724 in Europe

#2608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1780

78. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Sociology

#740 in Europe

#2669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 4,300
Founded: 1894

79. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Sociology

#743 in Europe

#2675 in the World

Founded: 1892

80. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Sociology

#756 in Europe

#2746 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

81. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Sociology

#757 in Europe

#2755 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

82. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Sociology

#764 in Europe

#2794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,687
Founded: 2007

83. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Sociology

#784 in Europe

#2935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,196
Male:Female: 77:23
Founded: 1994

84. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Sociology

#813 in Europe

#3094 in the World

Enrollment: 9,477
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1995

85. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#815 in Europe

#3117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1819

86. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Sociology

#835 in Europe

#3222 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

87. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rennes

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#843 in Europe

#3252 in the World

Enrollment: 2,073
Founded: 1966

88. School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry of the City of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#848 in Europe

#3293 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

89. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Sociology

#851 in Europe

#3302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 7,591
Founded: 1984

90. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Sociology

#854 in Europe

#3315 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

91. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Sociology

#856 in Europe

#3329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

92. Central School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Ecully

For Sociology

#868 in Europe

#3419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 2,920
Founded: 1857

93. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#872 in Europe

#3450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

94. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Sociology

#875 in Europe

#3460 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

95. University of Corsica Pascal Paoli

Corsica | Corte

For Sociology

#892 in Europe

#3558 in the World

Enrollment: 4,183
Founded: 1981

96. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Sociology

#896 in Europe

#3584 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

97. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#900 in Europe

#3594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

98. National School of Statistics and Economic Administration

Ile-de-France | Malakoff

For Sociology

#916 in Europe

#3716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1942

99. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Rouen

Normandy | Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

For Sociology

#917 in Europe

#3721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,003
Founded: 1985

100. Angers Graduate School of Business

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Sociology

#938 in Europe

#3855 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1909

The best cities to study Sociology in France based on the number of universities and their ranks are Paris, Villeurbanne, Montpellier, and Marseille.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in France

Broadcast Journalism5

Classics and Ancient History58

Communications and Public Relations60

Criminology and Criminal Justice19

Early Childhood Education9

Education Majors84

Forensic Science8

Gender Studies37

Human Rights Law9

Intellectual Property and Patent Law16

International Law12

International Relations and Diplomacy11

Journalism and Digital Media22

Law Enforcement10

Library and Information science61

Media Studies16

Military science13

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution21

Occupational Safety and Health14

Political Economy20

Political Science128

Public Policy / Administration26

Radio and Television broadcasting7

Special Education25

Sports / Exercise science22

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies83

Urban and Regional planning18