Best Universities in Africa [2026 Rankings]

1

South Africa | Cape Town

University of Cape Town

#1 in South Africa #238 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

2

South Africa | Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

#2 in South Africa #385 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

3

South Africa | Pretoria

University of Pretoria

#3 in South Africa #391 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

4

South Africa | Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

#4 in South Africa #434 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

5

Egypt | Giza

Cairo University

#1 in Egypt #529 in the World

90% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1908 Founded

6

South Africa | Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

#5 in South Africa #598 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

7

South Africa | Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

#6 in South Africa #728 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

8

Uganda | Kampala

Makerere University

#1 in Uganda #770 in the World

50% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1922 Founded

9

Egypt | Cairo

Ain Shams University

#2 in Egypt #882 in the World

73% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

1950 Founded

10

Kenya | Nairobi

University of Nairobi

#1 in Kenya #883 in the World

66% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1970 Founded

11

South Africa | Pretoria

University of South Africa

#7 in South Africa #899 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

12

South Africa | Potchefstroom

North-West University

#8 in South Africa #921 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

13

Ghana | Legon

University of Ghana

#1 in Ghana #933 in the World

18% Acceptance

85,000 Enrollment

1948 Founded

14

Egypt | Alexandria

Alexandria University

#3 in Egypt #962 in the World

60% Acceptance

197,278 Enrollment

1942 Founded

15

Nigeria | Ibadan

University of Ibadan

#1 in Nigeria #975 in the World

11% Acceptance

41,269 Enrollment

1948 Founded

16

Tunisia | Tunis

Tunis University

#1 in Tunisia #995 in the World

39% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

17

Tunisia | Tunis

University of Tunis El Manar

#2 in Tunisia #1052 in the World

45% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

18

South Africa | Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

#9 in South Africa #1063 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

19

South Africa | Bellville

University of the Western Cape

#10 in South Africa #1096 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

20

South Africa | Makhanda

Rhodes University

#11 in South Africa #1104 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

21

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa University

#1 in Ethiopia #1121 in the World

64% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1950 Founded

22

Ghana | Kumasi

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

#2 in Ghana #1187 in the World

54% Acceptance

85,000 Enrollment

1951 Founded

23

Tunisia | Monastir

University of Monastir

#3 in Tunisia #1236 in the World

51% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

24

Egypt | Mansoura

Mansoura University

#4 in Egypt #1238 in the World

70% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1972 Founded

25

Egypt | New Cairo

American University in Cairo

#5 in Egypt #1260 in the World

90% Acceptance

6,857 Enrollment

1919 Founded

26

Nigeria | Lagos

University of Lagos

#2 in Nigeria #1269 in the World

11% Acceptance

48,680 Enrollment

1962 Founded

27

Morocco | Rabat

Mohammed V University

#1 in Morocco #1441 in the World

50% Acceptance

49,769 Enrollment

28

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

University of Dar es Salaam

#1 in Tanzania #1463 in the World

10% Acceptance

45,155 Enrollment

1970 Founded

29

Senegal | Dakar

Cheikh Anta Diop University

#1 in Senegal #1480 in the World

68% Acceptance

89,589 Enrollment

1918 Founded

30

Tunisia | Sousse

University of Sousse

#4 in Tunisia #1488 in the World

34% Acceptance

19,311 Enrollment

31

Tunisia | Tunis

University of Carthage

#5 in Tunisia #1545 in the World

53% Acceptance

50,314 Enrollment

32

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

#12 in South Africa #1633 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

33

Nigeria | Nsukka

University of Nigeria

#3 in Nigeria #1650 in the World

38% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

34

South Africa | Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

#13 in South Africa #1663 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

35

Egypt | Cairo

Al-Azhar University

#6 in Egypt #1732 in the World

77% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1961 Founded

36

Tunisia | Manouba

Manouba University

#6 in Tunisia #1746 in the World

40% Acceptance

17,040 Enrollment

37

Nigeria | Ife

Obafemi Awolowo University

#4 in Nigeria #1795 in the World

7% Acceptance

32,480 Enrollment

1962 Founded

38

Zambia | Lusaka

University of Zambia

#1 in Zambia #1806 in the World

60% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1965 Founded

39

Sudan | Khartoum

University of Khartoum

#1 in Sudan #1807 in the World

9% Acceptance

41,030 Enrollment

1956 Founded

40

Nigeria | Zaria

Ahmadu Bello University

#5 in Nigeria #1814 in the World

8% Acceptance

49,436 Enrollment

1962 Founded

41

DR Congo | Kinshasa

University of Kinshasa

#1 in DR Congo #1864 in the World

65% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1954 Founded

42

Morocco | Marrakesh

Cadi Ayyad University

#2 in Morocco #1878 in the World

59% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

43

Botswana | Gaborone

University of Botswana

#1 in Botswana #1961 in the World

61% Acceptance

4,500 Enrollment

1964 Founded

44

Zimbabwe | Harare

University of Zimbabwe

#1 in Zimbabwe #2012 in the World

18% Acceptance

20,399 Enrollment

1955 Founded

45

Ghana | Cape Coast

University of Cape Coast

#3 in Ghana #2015 in the World

60% Acceptance

85,000 Enrollment

1962 Founded

46

Kenya | Nairobi

Kenyatta University

#2 in Kenya #2040 in the World

70% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1985 Founded

47

Mozambique | Maputo

Eduardo Mondlane University

#1 in Mozambique #2048 in the World

20% Acceptance

37,968 Enrollment

1962 Founded

48

Nigeria | Ota

Covenant University

#6 in Nigeria #2053 in the World

89% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

2002 Founded

49

South Africa | Durban

Durban University of Technology

#14 in South Africa #2093 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

50

Egypt | Zagazig

Zagazig University

#7 in Egypt #2195 in the World

75% Acceptance

117,299 Enrollment

1974 Founded

51

Tanzania | Morogoro

Sokoine University of Agriculture

#2 in Tanzania #2274 in the World

44% Acceptance

117 Enrollment

1984 Founded

52

South Africa | Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

#15 in South Africa #2299 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

53

Egypt | Alexandria

Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

#8 in Egypt #2301 in the World

73% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

54

Egypt | Asyut

Assiut University

#9 in Egypt #2307 in the World

74% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1957 Founded

55

Egypt | Cairo

Helwan University

#10 in Egypt #2354 in the World

60% Acceptance

12,178 Enrollment

1975 Founded

56

Kenya | Nairobi

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#3 in Kenya #2414 in the World

16% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1994 Founded

57

Nigeria | Awka

Nnamdi Azikiwe University

#7 in Nigeria #2470 in the World

12% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1991 Founded

58

Morocco | Casablanca

Hassan II University of Casablanca

#3 in Morocco #2498 in the World

60% Acceptance

13,000 Enrollment

59

Nigeria | Ilorin

University of Ilorin

#8 in Nigeria #2528 in the World

75% Acceptance

76,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

60

Kenya | Eldoret

Moi University

#4 in Kenya #2533 in the World

93% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1984 Founded

61

Nigeria | Benin

University of Benin

#9 in Nigeria #2608 in the World

70% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1970 Founded

62

South Africa | Mankweng

University of Limpopo

#16 in South Africa #2621 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

63

DR Congo | Lubumbashi

University of Lubumbashi

#2 in DR Congo #2630 in the World

64% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1955 Founded

64

Namibia | Windhoek

University of Namibia

#1 in Namibia #2716 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1992 Founded

65

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

University of Port Harcourt

#10 in Nigeria #2730 in the World

15% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

66

South Africa | Alice

University of Fort Hare

#17 in South Africa #2762 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

67

Kenya | Nairobi

Strathmore University

#5 in Kenya #2780 in the World

52% Acceptance

8,189 Enrollment

2002 Founded

68

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

#1 in Ivory Coast #2797 in the World

32% Acceptance

60,189 Enrollment

1964 Founded

69

Tunisia | Gabes

Gabes University

#7 in Tunisia #2819 in the World

28% Acceptance

15,263 Enrollment

70

Morocco | Fez

Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

#4 in Morocco #2821 in the World

60% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

71

Ethiopia | Jimma

Jimma University

#2 in Ethiopia #2838 in the World

78% Acceptance

37,433 Enrollment

1983 Founded

72

Morocco | Kenitra

Ibn Tofail University

#5 in Morocco #2844 in the World

61% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

73

Mauritius | Reduit

University of Mauritius

#1 in Mauritius #2862 in the World

70% Acceptance

19,200 Enrollment

1965 Founded

74

Egypt | Tanta

Tanta University

#11 in Egypt #2876 in the World

72% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

75

Algeria | Algiers

University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

#1 in Algeria #2911 in the World

55% Acceptance

54,549 Enrollment

76

Egypt | Ismailia

Suez Canal University

#12 in Egypt #2975 in the World

77% Acceptance

40,317 Enrollment

1976 Founded

77

Benin | Abomey-Calavi

University of Abomey-Calavi

#1 in Benin #2988 in the World

63% Acceptance

20,400 Enrollment

1970 Founded

78

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

#3 in Tanzania #2991 in the World

25% Acceptance

2,100 Enrollment

2007 Founded

79

Uganda | Mbarara

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

#2 in Uganda #3053 in the World

8% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1989 Founded

80

DR Congo | Kisangani

University of Kisangani

#3 in DR Congo #3065 in the World

64% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

1963 Founded

81

Ghana | Tamale

University for Development Studies

#4 in Ghana #3077 in the World

16% Acceptance

13,132 Enrollment

1992 Founded

82

Egypt | Benha

Benha University

#13 in Egypt #3088 in the World

90% Acceptance

88,016 Enrollment

1976 Founded

83

Namibia | Windhoek

Namibia University of Science and Technology

#2 in Namibia #3133 in the World

32% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1985 Founded

84

South Africa | Thohoyandou

University of Venda

#18 in South Africa #3146 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

85

Tunisia | Sfax

University of Sfax

#8 in Tunisia #3152 in the World

8% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

86

Nigeria | Ojo

Lagos State University

#11 in Nigeria #3164 in the World

25% Acceptance

48,680 Enrollment

1983 Founded

87

Nigeria | Akure

Federal University of Technology, Akure

#12 in Nigeria #3173 in the World

49% Acceptance

23,100 Enrollment

1981 Founded

88

Algeria | Constantine

University of Constantine 1

#2 in Algeria #3209 in the World

57% Acceptance

39,916 Enrollment

89

Egypt | Minya

Minia University

#14 in Egypt #3222 in the World

90% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1976 Founded

90

Algeria | Tlemcen

University of Tlemcen

#3 in Algeria #3231 in the World

58% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

91

Morocco | Tetouan

Abdelmalek Essaadi University

#6 in Morocco #3235 in the World

60% Acceptance

49,769 Enrollment

92

Kenya | Njoro

Egerton University

#6 in Kenya #3285 in the World

33% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1987 Founded

93

South Africa | Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

#19 in South Africa #3337 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

94

Nigeria | Kano

Bayero University Kano

#13 in Nigeria #3363 in the World

29% Acceptance

45,810 Enrollment

1975 Founded

95

Zimbabwe | Mutare

Africa University

#2 in Zimbabwe #3387 in the World

50% Acceptance

5,434 Enrollment

1992 Founded

96

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar University

#3 in Ethiopia #3391 in the World

50% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

2001 Founded

97

Nigeria | Jos

University of Jos

#14 in Nigeria #3439 in the World

10% Acceptance

52,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

98

Gambia | Serekunda

University of the Gambia

#1 in Gambia #3447 in the World

52% Acceptance

85,000 Enrollment

1999 Founded

99

Nigeria | Calabar

University of Calabar

#15 in Nigeria #3448 in the World

30% Acceptance

40,645 Enrollment

1975 Founded

100

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

Menoufia University

#15 in Egypt #3460 in the World

71% Acceptance

80,000 Enrollment

1976 Founded

100 Best Universities in Africa

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