Top Public Universities in South Africa
2026 South African Public University Ranking New
What are the top public Universities in South Africa? uniRank answers this question by publishing a complete list of 25 public South African higher education institutions ranked by the 2026 uniRank University Ranking and meeting uniRank's selection criteria:
- Official Recognition: institutions must be officialy chartered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate higher education-related organization in South Africa.
- Degree Authority: they must be authorised to grant bachelor's degrees of at least three years' duration and/or postgraduate master's or doctoral degrees.
- Delivery Mode: they must deliver courses predominantly in a traditional, face-to-face, non-distance education format.
Top Public Universities in South Africa
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University Sector Breakdown Chart
South African University Sector Breakdown
Source: uniRank data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public universities are there in South Africa?
There are 25 officially chartered, licensed or accredited public South African higher-education institutions that meet uniRank's selection criteria.
Related South African University Lists
Since 2005, uniRank has provided original research, valuable information and useful resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about the best public South African universities and their online presence. Check out these additional resources:
- Oldest Universities in South Africa
Explore the most traditional and long-established South African post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research. - A-Z Universities in South Africa
Search for South African higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z. - South African Universities by Town/City
Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular South African town or city. - Top Public Universities in South Africa
Discover South African public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees. - Top Private Universities in South Africa
Find out about South African private higher education institutions. - Top Non-Profit Universities in South Africa
Explore South African not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees. - Top For-Profit Universities in South Africa
Look for South African for-profit higher education institutions. - Most popular South African Universities on Facebook
See which tertiary institutions in South Africa have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research. - Most popular South African Universities on Twitter
Discover the Universities in South Africa that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research. - Most popular South African Universities on Instagram
Find out which post-secondary institutions in South Africa are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research. - Most popular South African Universities on YouTube
Explore the Universities in South Africa with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.