Top universities in Italy 2026
| Country Rank | WUR Rank | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 130 | University of Bologna | 63.3 | 54.2 | 50.1 | 83.3 | 82.5 | 59.7 |
| 2 | 137 | Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa | 62.8 | 58.6 | 46.9 | 86.4 | 37.7 | 59.3 |
| 3 | =170 | Sapienza University of Rome | 60.6 | 55.9 | 53.5 | 73.4 | 85.2 | 42.9 |
| =4 | 201–250 | Politecnico di Milano | 56.4–58.6 | 46.2 | 51.9 | 67.8 | 98 | 65.5 |
| =4 | 201–250 | Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies – Pisa | 56.4–58.6 | 50.2 | 38.3 | 77.5 | 93.7 | 56.8 |
| =4 | 201–250 | University of Padua | 56.4–58.6 | 46.4 | 41 | 80 | 78.9 | 53.2 |
| =7 | 251–300 | Humanitas University | 54.3–56.3 | 36.6 | 29 | 98.5 | 64 | 64 |
| =7 | 251–300 | Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore | 54.3–56.3 | 37.4 | 32.9 | 89.6 | 81.9 | 47.8 |
| =7 | 251–300 | Vita-Salute San Raffaele University | 54.3–56.3 | 34.3 | 34 | 98.8 | 66.3 | 51.3 |
| =10 | 301–350 | University of Milan | 51.6–54.2 | 38.9 | 32.5 | 86.1 | 71.2 | 47.2 |
| =10 | 301–350 | University of Naples Federico II | 51.6–54.2 | 40 | 31.8 | 83.9 | 72.5 | 35.2 |
| =10 | 301–350 | University of Rome II – Tor Vergata | 51.6–54.2 | 40.4 | 36.1 | 71.7 | 86 | 65.7 |
| =13 | 351–400 | University of Brescia | 49.9–51.5 | 35.4 | 24.7 | 88 | 72 | 43.2 |
| =13 | 351–400 | University of Florence | 49.9–51.5 | 37.6 | 37.9 | 75.9 | 76.7 | 46.7 |
| =13 | 351–400 | University of Pavia | 49.9–51.5 | 38.9 | 31.9 | 77 | 78.9 | 52.2 |
| =13 | 351–400 | University of Pisa | 49.9–51.5 | 36.3 | 34.7 | 77.7 | 67.7 | 43.2 |
| =13 | 351–400 | University of Siena | 49.9–51.5 | 39.3 | 35.1 | 75 | 75.5 | 46.7 |
| =13 | 351–400 | University of Trento | 49.9–51.5 | 34.6 | 35.2 | 77.4 | 70.3 | 61.5 |
| =13 | 351–400 | Verona University | 49.9–51.5 | 34.6 | 31.1 | 81.6 | 71.1 | 45 |
| =20 | 401–500 | Free University of Bozen-Bolzano | 46.2–49.8 | 31.4 | 21.9 | 83.7 | 51.3 | 78.2 |
| =20 | 401–500 | Marche Polytechnic University | 46.2–49.8 | 35.8 | 26.4 | 75.9 | 72.6 | 33.9 |
| =20 | 401–500 | Polytechnic University of Turin | 46.2–49.8 | 31.6 | 30 | 71 | 86.7 | 56.6 |
| =20 | 401–500 | University of Genoa | 46.2–49.8 | 39.4 | 30.9 | 74.6 | 76.2 | 46.9 |
| =20 | 401–500 | University of Milan-Bicocca | 46.2–49.8 | 25.1 | 27.1 | 87.7 | 68.1 | 46.3 |
| =20 | 401–500 | University of Turin | 46.2–49.8 | 24.3 | 31.9 | 81.7 | 74 | 44.3 |
| =26 | 501–600 | Ca’ Foscari University of Venice | 43.6–46.1 | 38 | 38 | 53.2 | 61.3 | 65.9 |
| =26 | 501–600 | Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome | 43.6–46.1 | 36.9 | 27.2 | 73.3 | 54.1 | 33.6 |
| =26 | 501–600 | Polytechnic University of Bari | 43.6–46.1 | 27 | 31.1 | 72.8 | 73.9 | 36.7 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Catania | 43.6–46.1 | 31.4 | 22 | 78.7 | 59 | 47.2 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Ferrara | 43.6–46.1 | 31.9 | 26.8 | 70.3 | 68.5 | 44 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Messina | 43.6–46.1 | 35.6 | 28.1 | 71.8 | 64.3 | 36.6 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia | 43.6–46.1 | 34.7 | 25.7 | 72.9 | 77.9 | 38.9 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Palermo | 43.6–46.1 | 33.3 | 30.5 | 66.7 | 54.7 | 37 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Salerno | 43.6–46.1 | 30.6 | 30.2 | 72.7 | 63.1 | 36.9 |
| =26 | 501–600 | University of Trieste | 43.6–46.1 | 34.3 | 27.7 | 72.4 | 57.6 | 50.9 |
| =36 | 601–800 | Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont | 39.0–43.5 | 25.6 | 24.8 | 70.6 | 52.9 | 47.8 |
| =36 | 601–800 | Parthenope University of Naples | 39.0–43.5 | 18.9 | 22.8 | 78 | 34.8 | 35.4 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Bari Aldo Moro | 39.0–43.5 | 20 | 25.8 | 71.4 | 64.6 | 38.1 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Cagliari | 39.0–43.5 | 33.8 | 24 | 64.3 | 62.7 | 40.5 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Calabria | 39.0–43.5 | 39.5 | 21.9 | 62.4 | 59.7 | 42.5 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Insubria | 39.0–43.5 | 19 | 23.7 | 79.3 | 48.7 | 41.2 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of L’Aquila | 39.0–43.5 | 32.8 | 22.4 | 66.6 | 78.5 | 39.4 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Parma | 39.0–43.5 | 20.9 | 23.9 | 70.1 | 64.8 | 39.2 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Tuscia | 39.0–43.5 | 23.8 | 28.7 | 66.5 | 59.7 | 50.6 |
| =36 | 601–800 | University of Udine | 39.0–43.5 | 32.8 | 20.9 | 69.4 | 58.5 | 41.1 |
| =46 | 801–1000 | Gabriele d‘Annunzio University | 35.5–38.9 | 17.6 | 20.9 | 63.6 | 56 | 38.7 |
| =46 | 801–1000 | University of Foggia | 35.5–38.9 | 16.8 | 26 | 63.6 | 38 | 32.2 |
| =46 | 801–1000 | University of Rome III | 35.5–38.9 | 22.7 | 25.6 | 54.7 | 63.2 | 42.2 |
| =46 | 801–1000 | University of Salento | 35.5–38.9 | 27.2 | 21.4 | 61.4 | 55.8 | 35.6 |
| =50 | 1001–1200 | Kore University of Enna | 32.1–35.4 | 17.8 | 16.6 | 57.8 | 43 | 41.3 |
| =50 | 1001–1200 | University of Camerino (Unicam) | 32.1–35.4 | 21.7 | 18.3 | 54.2 | 58.5 | 55.1 |
| =50 | 1001–1200 | University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli | 32.1–35.4 | 18.4 | 10 | 75 | 51.2 | 31.5 |
| =50 | 1001–1200 | University of Sannio | 32.1–35.4 | 30.4 | 16.8 | 56.5 | 42.8 | 29.7 |
| 54 | 1201–1500 | University of Urbino Carlo Bo | 27.3–32.0 | 17.6 | 19.9 | 47.6 | 36.3 | 50.1 |
Key insights from the Italy University Rankings 2026
- The top university in Italy is the University of Bologna. The University of Bologna is believed to be the world's oldest university.
- Some 54 universities from Italy are ranked in the Italy University Ranking 2026.
- Every major Italian town has a university, most of which are state-funded. However, there are also private universities and superior graduate schools, which are specifically focused on teaching and research at graduate level and above.
- The top three universities in Italy remain the same from last year.
Choosing a university in Italy
Italy is fast becoming a popular study abroad destinations. As the home to one fo the oldest university's in the world, the University of Bologna, Italy has a long history of providing high-quality education.
When considering which university to choose in Italy, students will need to consider factors such as tuition fees and cost, programme offerings, campus culture and location.
The table for the best universities in Italy was derived from data collected for the THE World University Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry, and international outlook. For more insight and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the Italy university ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.
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