100 Best universities for Sociology in France

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in France ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 6.25M citations received by 259K academic papers made by 122 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

#48 in Europe

#165 in the World

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

2. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Villeurbanne

For Sociology

#96 in Europe

#284 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

3. Paris Institute of Political Studies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#104 in Europe

#307 in the World

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

4. University of Montpellier

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Sociology

#116 in Europe

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

5. University of Aix-Marseilles

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Marseille

For Sociology

#145 in Europe

#411 in the World

Enrollment: 66,378
Founded: 2012

6. University of Lorraine

Grand Est | Nancy

For Sociology

#175 in Europe

#478 in the World

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

7. School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#184 in Europe

#510 in the World

Enrollment: 2,613
Founded: 1947

8. University of Lille

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Sociology

#190 in Europe

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 71,429
Founded: 2018

9. Paris West University Nanterre La Defense

Ile-de-France | Nanterre

For Sociology

#198 in Europe

#538 in the World

Enrollment: 31,975
Founded: 1964

10. University of Bordeaux

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Sociology

#199 in Europe

#540 in the World

Enrollment: 54,000
Founded: 1441

11. Grenoble Alpes University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint Martin d'Heres

For Sociology

#206 in Europe

#558 in the World

Enrollment: 57,000
Founded: 1339

12. Paris-Sud University

Ile-de-France | Orsay

For Sociology

#209 in Europe

#569 in the World

Enrollment: 23,270
Founded: 2014

13. Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#224 in Europe

#602 in the World

Enrollment: 29,680
Founded: 1960

14. University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#236 in Europe

#629 in the World

Enrollment: 42,700
Founded: 1971

15. University of Strasbourg

Grand Est | Strasbourg

For Sociology

#266 in Europe

#696 in the World

Enrollment: 10,077
Founded: 1621

16. Normal Superior School

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#269 in Europe

#704 in the World

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

17. Paris Descartes University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#270 in Europe

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 31,690
Founded: 2019

18. University of Burgundy

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Dijon

For Sociology

#277 in Europe

#725 in the World

Enrollment: 29,508
Founded: 1722

19. Paris Dauphine University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#291 in Europe

#778 in the World

Enrollment: 11,281
Founded: 1968

20. University of Paris 8

Ile-de-France | Saint-Denis

For Sociology

#297 in Europe

#797 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Creteil

For Sociology

#303 in Europe

#811 in the World

Enrollment: 37,313
Founded: 1970

22. University of Picardie Jules Verne

Hauts-de-France | Amiens

For Sociology

#310 in Europe

#830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 27,900
Founded: 1970

23. Paris Diderot University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#332 in Europe

#906 in the World

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

24. EHESP School of Public Health

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#340 in Europe

#926 in the World

Enrollment: 433
Founded: 1945

25. Normal Superior School of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#349 in Europe

#966 in the World

Enrollment: 2,297
Founded: 1987

26. University of Nantes

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Sociology

#366 in Europe

#1043 in the World

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

27. Polytechnic School

Ile-de-France | Palaiseau

For Sociology

#369 in Europe

#1047 in the World

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

28. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Nice

For Sociology

#373 in Europe

#1051 in the World

Enrollment: 25,327
Founded: 1965

29. University of Rouen Normandie

Normandy | Mont-Saint-Aignan

For Sociology

#385 in Europe

#1077 in the World

Enrollment: 31,500
Founded: 1966

30. TELECOM ParisTech

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#389 in Europe

#1089 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1878

31. University of Clermont Auvergne

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Clermont-Ferrand

For Sociology

#395 in Europe

#1108 in the World

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

32. New Sorbonne University - Paris III

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#399 in Europe

#1116 in the World

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

33. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University

Ile-de-France | Versailles

For Sociology

#404 in Europe

#1127 in the World

Enrollment: 13,816
Founded: 1991

34. Francois Rabelais University

Centre-Val de Loire | Tours

For Sociology

#418 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Enrollment: 27,388
Founded: 1969

35. University of Poitiers

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Poitiers

For Sociology

#427 in Europe

#1225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 27,820
Founded: 1431

36. University of Caen Normandy

Normandy | Caen

For Sociology

#433 in Europe

#1240 in the World

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

37. EMLYON Business School

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#458 in Europe

#1334 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1872

38. University of Angers

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Sociology

#468 in Europe

#1373 in the World

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

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#472 in Europe

#1396 in the World

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

40. University of Limoges

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Limoges

For Sociology

#477 in Europe

#1410 in the World

Enrollment: 17,658
Founded: 1968

41. National Graduate School of Engineering, Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#483 in Europe

#1451 in the World

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

42. HEC School of Management

Ile-de-France | Jouy-en-Josas

For Sociology

#496 in Europe

#1485 in the World

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

43. University of Savoy Mont Blanc

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Chambery

For Sociology

#500 in Europe

#1503 in the World

Enrollment: 14,735
Founded: 1979

44. Paul Valery University, Montpellier 3

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Sociology

#511 in Europe

#1533 in the World

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

45. University of Western Brittany

Brittany | Brest

For Sociology

#512 in Europe

#1539 in the World

Enrollment: 22,303
Founded: 1461

46. University of Rheims Champagne-Ardenne

Grand Est | Reims

For Sociology

#515 in Europe

#1551 in the World

Enrollment: 24,480
Founded: 1548

47. University of Orleans

Centre-Val de Loire | Orleans

For Sociology

#516 in Europe

#1557 in the World

Enrollment: 16,629
Founded: 1962

48. University of Franche-Comte

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte | Besancon

For Sociology

#526 in Europe

#1600 in the World

Enrollment: 21,677
Founded: 1423

49. ESSEC Business School Paris

Ile-de-France | Cergy-Pontoise

For Sociology

#527 in Europe

#1601 in the World

Founded: 1907

50. Catholic University of Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#541 in Europe

#1657 in the World

Enrollment: 12,000
Founded: 1875

51. Grenoble Graduate School of Business

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Sociology

#556 in Europe

#1715 in the World

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

52. Montpellier SupAgro

Occitanie | Montpellier

For Sociology

#558 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2007

53. University of Rennes 2

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#569 in Europe

#1792 in the World

Enrollment: 23,365
Founded: 1969

54. Pantheon-Assas Paris II University

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#582 in Europe

#1851 in the World

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

55. Normal Superior School of Paris-Saclay

Ile-de-France | Cachan

For Sociology

#620 in Europe

#2043 in the World

Enrollment: 1,382
Founded: 1912

56. Jean Monnet University

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Saint-Etienne

For Sociology

#625 in Europe

#2068 in the World

Enrollment: 17,195
Founded: 1970

57. Jean Moulin University Lyon 3

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#628 in Europe

#2074 in the World

Enrollment: 26,754
Founded: 1809

58. Eurecom

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

For Sociology

#630 in Europe

#2080 in the World

Founded: 1991

59. National School of Bridges and Roads

Ile-de-France | Champs sur Marne

For Sociology

#631 in Europe

#2082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1747

60. EDHEC Business School

Hauts-de-France | Roubaix

For Sociology

#635 in Europe

#2093 in the World

Founded: 1906

61. Kedge Business School

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Bordeaux

For Sociology

#642 in Europe

#2153 in the World

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

62. Lille Catholic University

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Sociology

#643 in Europe

#2158 in the World

Enrollment: 32,000
Founded: 1875

63. University of Perpignan Via Domitia

Occitanie | Perpignan

For Sociology

#655 in Europe

#2226 in the World

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

64. University of Toulon

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | La Garde

For Sociology

#668 in Europe

#2283 in the World

Enrollment: 11,014
Founded: 1979

65. Toulouse Business School

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#673 in Europe

#2309 in the World

Enrollment: 5,600
Founded: 1903

66. National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#674 in Europe

#2313 in the World

Enrollment: 4,148
Founded: 1969

67. University of Evry-Val d'Essonne

Ile-de-France | Evry

For Sociology

#684 in Europe

#2379 in the World

Enrollment: 6,458
Founded: 1991

68. Upper Alsace University

Grand Est | Mulhouse

For Sociology

#688 in Europe

#2391 in the World

Enrollment: 9,921
Founded: 1975

69. National Institute for Applied Sciences, Lyon

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Lyon

For Sociology

#689 in Europe

#2395 in the World

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

70. University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Pau

For Sociology

#693 in Europe

#2407 in the World

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

71. Audencia Nantes School of Management

Pays de la Loire | Nantes

For Sociology

#700 in Europe

#2459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1900

72. Agrocampus Ouest

Brittany | Rennes

For Sociology

#703 in Europe

#2478 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2008

73. University of Avignon and the Vaucluse

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | Avignon

For Sociology

#711 in Europe

#2527 in the World

Enrollment: 6,434
Founded: 1984

74. Grenoble Institute of Technology

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Grenoble

For Sociology

#715 in Europe

#2540 in the World

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

75. University of Technology of Compiegne

Hauts-de-France | Compiegne

For Sociology

#740 in Europe

#2652 in the World

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

76. SKEMA Business School

Hauts-de-France | Lille

For Sociology

#745 in Europe

#2667 in the World

Founded: 1892

77. Artois University

Hauts-de-France | Arras

For Sociology

#747 in Europe

#2674 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 12,051
Founded: 1992

78. National Advanced School of Engineering

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#762 in Europe

#2761 in the World

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

79. University of the French West Indies

Guadeloupe | Pointe-a-Pitre

For Sociology

#764 in Europe

#2785 in the World

Enrollment: 11,593
Founded: 1850

80. University of La Rochelle

Nouvelle-Aquitaine | La Rochelle

For Sociology

#775 in Europe

#2880 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1993

81. CentraleSupelec

Ile-de-France | Gif-sur-Yvette

For Sociology

#780 in Europe

#2898 in the World

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

82. ESCP Europe

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#786 in Europe

#2924 in the World

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

83. University of the Littoral Opal Coast

Hauts-de-France | Dunkirk

For Sociology

#798 in Europe

#2980 in the World

Enrollment: 10,381
Founded: 1991

84. University of Nimes

Occitanie | Nimes

For Sociology

#814 in Europe

#3058 in the World

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

85. Catholic University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#824 in Europe

#3104 in the World

Founded: 1875

86. University of Le Havre

Normandy | Le Havre

For Sociology

#836 in Europe

#3164 in the World

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

87. National Graduate School for Advanced Technologies

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#841 in Europe

#3191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 897
Founded: 1970

88. National Veterinary School of Toulouse

Occitanie | Toulouse

For Sociology

#842 in Europe

#3195 in the World

Founded: 1828

89. University of Southern Brittany

Brittany | Lorient

For Sociology

#883 in Europe

#3411 in the World

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

90. University of Technology of Troyes

Grand Est | Troyes

For Sociology

#884 in Europe

#3413 in the World

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

91. American University of Paris

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#894 in Europe

#3471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1962

92. National School of Statistics and Economic Administration

Ile-de-France | Malakoff

For Sociology

#904 in Europe

#3538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1942

93. University of French Polynesia

French Polynesia | Puna'auia

For Sociology

#905 in Europe

#3539 in the World

Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1987

94. Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France

Hauts-de-France | Valenciennes

For Sociology

#907 in Europe

#3549 in the World

Enrollment: 10,994
Founded: 1964

95. University of French Guiana

French Guiana | Cayenne

For Sociology

#910 in Europe

#3572 in the World

Enrollment: 2,580
Founded: 2014

96. National Veterinary School of Alfort

Ile-de-France | Maisons-Alfort

For Sociology

#928 in Europe

#3686 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 800
Founded: 1765

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

Ile-de-France | Paris

For Sociology

#946 in Europe

#3854 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1882

98. Angers Graduate School of Business

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Sociology

#947 in Europe

#3866 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1909

99. University of New Caledonia

New Caledonia | Noumea

For Sociology

#948 in Europe

#3875 in the World

Enrollment: 3,536
Founded: 1987

100. Catholic University of the West

Pays de la Loire | Angers

For Sociology

#952 in Europe

#3888 in the World

Enrollment: 11,400
Founded: 1875

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 History64

Communications and Public Relations68

Criminology and Criminal Justice23

Early Childhood Education8

Education Majors90

Forensic Science8

Gender Studies43

Human Rights Law11

Intellectual Property and Patent Law19

International Law14

International Relations and Diplomacy13

Journalism and Digital Media29

Law Enforcement10

Library and Information science77

Media Studies27

Military science10

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution22

Occupational Safety and Health15

Political Economy25

Political Science128

Public Policy / Administration28

Radio and Television broadcasting4

Special Education23

Sports / Exercise science25

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies89

Urban and Regional planning26