Rankings: The 56 best universities in Italy for 2025/2026

Italy seems to have it all: Amazing landscapes from coasts to mountains, an impressive history, and a remarkably tasty and diverse cuisine. Not to mention it was here that the very first university in Europe was founded, nearly one thousand years ago.

Today, several of Italy’s institutions are among the top-ranked universities in Europe. That includes centuries-old traditional universities like the University of Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome or the University of Padua - but also younger modern universities like Roma Tor Vergata or the University of Milan. Among dozens of world-class schools, it can be difficult to pick one when you are planning to study in Italy.

All study programmes in Italy

Top ranked universities in Italy

University	QS Ranking 2025	THE Ranking 2025	ARWU Ranking 2024
Politecnico di Milano	111	201	201
Sapienza University of Rome	132	185	101
University of Bologna	133	146	201
University of Padua	236	201	201
Politecnico di Torino	241	401	601
University of Milan	285	301	151
University of Naples Federico II	347	351	201
University of Turin	371	401	201
University of Florence	375	351	301
University of Pisa	382	351	151
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University	389	201	401
University of Rome Tor Vergata	393	301	401
University of Pavia	440	301	401
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	442	301	401
University of Trento	506	301	301
University of Milano-Bicocca	513	351	301
University of Genoa	547	401	301
Polytechnic University of Bari	580	501	801
Ca' Foscari University of Venice	601	501	–
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano	661	351	801
University of Brescia	691	351	601
University of Siena	691	351	601
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia	721	501	801
University of Trieste	721	501	601
Marche Polytechnic University	751	601	601
University of Messina	751	501	801
University of Verona	771	401	501
University of Perugia	801	–	501
University of Bari Aldo Moro	801	601	401
University of Salerno	801	501	801
University of Ferrara	851	501	701
University of Palermo	851	601	701
University of Catania	901	–	401
Tuscia University	901	601	–
Roma Tre University	901	801	901
University of Calabria	901	601	701
University of Parma	951	601	501
University of Chieti-Pescara	1001	801	–
University of Udine	1001	601	901
University of Salento	1001	801	–
Parthenope University of Naples	1001	601	–
University of Bergamo	1201	1001	–
Scuola Normale Superiore	–	154	801
Humanitas University	–	251	601
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma	–	501	801
University of Cagliari	–	601	801
Università degli Studi dell’Insubria	–	601	–
University of L'Aquila	–	601	–
University of Sassari	–	601	–
University of Eastern Piedmont	–	801	701
University of Camerino (Unicam)	–	801	–
University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”	–	801	801
University of Foggia	–	801	–
University of Sannio	–	801	–
Kore University of Enna	–	1001	–
University of Urbino	–	1201	–

Explained: How do the university rankings work?

The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a university’s research is referenced elsewhere).

The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking, or ARWU) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.

Study in Italy

Italy offers the perfect combination of stunning history, academic tradition, and innovative research and education. In the birthplace of Europe’s first university, many of Italy’s institutions are today among the best in the world. International students are flocking to the Southern European country to receive world-class education and enjoy la dolce vita - “the sweet life”.

Read more about studying in Italy

Find the right study programme for yourself:

Relevant links

• Studying abroad in Italy: Basic information for international students
• Study programmes in Italy
• Visit the website of the QS World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities