Universities in Italy ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 86 Universities in Italy

The Italian Republic is divided into 20 regions (Italian: regioni), which are further subdivided into provinces (Italian: province) and municipalities (Italian: comuni). The largest number of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are located in the Lombardy Region (Lombardia), centered around Milan, and the Lazio Region (Lazio), which includes Rome. The following uniRank league tables and sub-rankings consider all regions that include at least one Italian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Abruzzo (3)  
Basilicata (1)  
Calabria (4)  
Campania (7)  
Emilia-Romagna (4)  
Friuli Venezia Giulia (3)  
Lazio (13)  
Liguria (1)  
Lombardia (14)  
Marche (4)  
Molise (1)  
Piemonte (4)  
Puglia (5)  
Sardegna (2)  
Sicilia (4)  
Toscana (7)  
Trentino-Alto Adige (2)  
Umbria (2)  
Valle di Aosta (1)  
Veneto (4)  

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Overview of Italian Universities

Italy's higher education system features around 86 universities recognized by the Ministry of Education. The landscape is dominated by public institutions (76.7%), with private universities comprising 20.9% of the sector. Italian universities fall into several categories: comprehensive universities offering diverse disciplines, specialized technical universities (Politecnici) focused on engineering and architecture and specialized schools for specific fields. Most institutions are non-profit entities emphasizing research alongside teaching. Programs follow the Bologna Process structure with Bachelor's (3 years), Master's (2 years) and Doctoral levels. Regional distribution shows concentrations in northern Italy, though institutions exist nationwide.

Top 10 Italian Universities

1. Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna (University of Bologna) - UNIBO
   Country Rank: #1 | World Rank: #113
   Location: Bologna, Emilia-Romagna | Founded: 1088
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Offers humanities to STEM across bachelor's, master's and PhD levels
2. Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padua) - UNIPD
   Country Rank: #2 | World Rank: #208
   Location: Padua, Veneto | Founded: 1222
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Wide-ranging programs from law to engineering at all academic levels
3. Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) - POLIMI
   Country Rank: #3 | World Rank: #232
   Location: Milan, Lombardia | Founded: 1863
   Public research university | Specialized (STEM)
   Focuses on engineering, architecture and design through doctoral programs
4. Sapienza Università di Roma (Sapienza University of Rome) - UNIROMA1
   Country Rank: #4 | World Rank: #243
   Location: Rome, Lazio | Founded: 1303
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Italy's largest university offering 300+ degrees from bachelor's to PhD
5. Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan) - UNIMI
   Country Rank: #5 | World Rank: #275
   Location: Milan, Lombardia | Founded: 1924
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Features medicine, law, sciences and humanities across all degree levels
6. Università degli Studi di Torino (University of Turin) - UNITO
   Country Rank: #6 | World Rank: #287
   Location: Turin, Piemonte | Founded: 1404
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Offers diverse programs in social sciences, humanities and STEM fields
7. Università degli Studi di Pisa (University of Pisa) - UNIPI
   Country Rank: #7 | World Rank: #317
   Location: Pisa, Toscana | Founded: 1343
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Known for physics, computer science and engineering at all academic levels
8. Politecnico di Torino (Polytechnic University of Turin) - POLITO
   Country Rank: #8 | World Rank: #348
   Location: Turin, Piemonte | Founded: 1859
   Public research university | Specialized (STEM)
   Specializes in engineering, architecture and automotive technologies
9. Università degli Studi di Firenze (University of Florence) - UniFI
   Country Rank: #9 | World Rank: #371
   Location: Florence, Toscana | Founded: 1321
   Public research university | Comprehensive
   Offers arts, economics, medicine and agriculture programs
10. Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (University of Naples Federico II) - UNINA
    Country Rank: #10 | World Rank: #379
    Location: Naples, Campania | Founded: 1224
    Public research university | Comprehensive
    Features architecture, biotechnology and political science degrees

Analysis of University Types

Italy's higher education sector comprises 86 institutions, with a significant majority being publicly funded. Public universities account for 66 institutions (76.7%), while private universities constitute 18 institutions (20.9%). The remaining 2.4% represent other institutional types. This distribution reflects Italy's strong tradition of state-funded higher education, though private alternatives have grown substantially in business and specialized fields.

Global Ranking and Standing

Italian universities demonstrate strong global competitiveness, with 33 institutions (38.4%) ranked among the world's top 1,000 universities. Notably, 1 university (1.2%) appears in the elite global top 200, highlighting Italy's capacity for world-class education. These top-ranked Italian universities excel particularly in engineering, archaeology and classical studies, attracting significant international student enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Italy's #1 ranked university?
The University of Bologna (UNIBO) holds Italy's top position at country rank #1 and world rank #113.

Are Italian universities public or private?
Italy has 66 public universities (76.7%) and 18 private institutions (20.9%), with public universities generally more prominent in rankings.

What is the oldest university in Italy?
The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is both Italy's and Europe's oldest continuously operating university.

Do Italian universities teach in English?
Yes, many offer English-taught programs, particularly at master's level and in STEM fields, though Italian remains the primary language for undergraduate studies.

How many Italian universities rank globally?
33 Italian institutions (38.4% of total) appear in global top-1000 rankings, with one in the top 200.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Italian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Italy
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Italian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Italy
  Search for Italian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Italian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Italian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Italy
  Discover Italian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Italy
  Find out about Italian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Italy
  Explore Italian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Italy
  Look for Italian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Italian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Italy have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Italian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Italy that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Italian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Italy are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Italian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Italy with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.