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

Egypt | Cairo

Ain Shams University

#2 in Egypt #882 in the World

73% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

1950 Founded

8

Kenya | Nairobi

University of Nairobi

#1 in Kenya #883 in the World

66% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1970 Founded

9

South Africa | Pretoria

University of South Africa

#7 in South Africa #899 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

10

South Africa | Potchefstroom

North-West University

#8 in South Africa #921 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

11

Ghana | Legon

University of Ghana

#1 in Ghana #933 in the World

18% Acceptance

85,000 Enrollment

1948 Founded

12

Egypt | Alexandria

Alexandria University

#3 in Egypt #962 in the World

60% Acceptance

197,278 Enrollment

1942 Founded

13

Nigeria | Ibadan

University of Ibadan

#1 in Nigeria #975 in the World

11% Acceptance

41,269 Enrollment

1948 Founded

14

Tunisia | Tunis

University of Tunis El Manar

#2 in Tunisia #1052 in the World

45% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

15

South Africa | Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

#9 in South Africa #1063 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

16

South Africa | Bellville

University of the Western Cape

#10 in South Africa #1096 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

17

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa University

#1 in Ethiopia #1121 in the World

64% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1950 Founded

18

Ghana | Kumasi

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

#2 in Ghana #1187 in the World

54% Acceptance

85,000 Enrollment

1951 Founded

19

Egypt | Mansoura

Mansoura University

#4 in Egypt #1238 in the World

70% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1972 Founded

20

Egypt | New Cairo

American University in Cairo

#5 in Egypt #1260 in the World

90% Acceptance

6,857 Enrollment

1919 Founded

21

Nigeria | Lagos

University of Lagos

#2 in Nigeria #1269 in the World

11% Acceptance

48,680 Enrollment

1962 Founded

22

Morocco | Rabat

Mohammed V University

#1 in Morocco #1441 in the World

50% Acceptance

49,769 Enrollment

23

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

University of Dar es Salaam

#1 in Tanzania #1463 in the World

10% Acceptance

45,155 Enrollment

1970 Founded

24

Tunisia | Sousse

University of Sousse

#4 in Tunisia #1488 in the World

34% Acceptance

19,311 Enrollment

25

South Africa | Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

#13 in South Africa #1663 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

26

Egypt | Cairo

Al-Azhar University

#6 in Egypt #1732 in the World

77% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1961 Founded

27

Tunisia | Manouba

Manouba University

#6 in Tunisia #1746 in the World

40% Acceptance

17,040 Enrollment

28

Nigeria | Ife

Obafemi Awolowo University

#4 in Nigeria #1795 in the World

7% Acceptance

32,480 Enrollment

1962 Founded

29

Nigeria | Zaria

Ahmadu Bello University

#5 in Nigeria #1814 in the World

8% Acceptance

49,436 Enrollment

1962 Founded

30

Morocco | Marrakesh

Cadi Ayyad University

#2 in Morocco #1878 in the World

59% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

31

Botswana | Gaborone

University of Botswana

#1 in Botswana #1961 in the World

61% Acceptance

4,500 Enrollment

1964 Founded

32

Kenya | Nairobi

Kenyatta University

#2 in Kenya #2040 in the World

70% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1985 Founded

33

Nigeria | Ota

Covenant University

#6 in Nigeria #2053 in the World

89% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

2002 Founded

34

South Africa | Durban

Durban University of Technology

#14 in South Africa #2093 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

35

Tanzania | Morogoro

Sokoine University of Agriculture

#2 in Tanzania #2274 in the World

44% Acceptance

117 Enrollment

1984 Founded

36

South Africa | Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

#15 in South Africa #2299 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

37

Egypt | Alexandria

Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

#8 in Egypt #2301 in the World

73% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

38

Egypt | Asyut

Assiut University

#9 in Egypt #2307 in the World

74% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1957 Founded

39

Kenya | Nairobi

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

#3 in Kenya #2414 in the World

16% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

1994 Founded

40

Nigeria | Awka

Nnamdi Azikiwe University

#7 in Nigeria #2470 in the World

12% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1991 Founded

41

Nigeria | Ilorin

University of Ilorin

#8 in Nigeria #2528 in the World

75% Acceptance

76,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

42

Kenya | Eldoret

Moi University

#4 in Kenya #2533 in the World

93% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1984 Founded

43

Nigeria | Benin

University of Benin

#9 in Nigeria #2608 in the World

70% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1970 Founded

44

South Africa | Mankweng

University of Limpopo

#16 in South Africa #2621 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

45

Namibia | Windhoek

University of Namibia

#1 in Namibia #2716 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1992 Founded

46

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

University of Port Harcourt

#10 in Nigeria #2730 in the World

15% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

47

South Africa | Alice

University of Fort Hare

#17 in South Africa #2762 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

48

Kenya | Nairobi

Strathmore University

#5 in Kenya #2780 in the World

52% Acceptance

8,189 Enrollment

2002 Founded

49

Morocco | Fez

Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

#4 in Morocco #2821 in the World

60% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

50

Ethiopia | Jimma

Jimma University

#2 in Ethiopia #2838 in the World

78% Acceptance

37,433 Enrollment

1983 Founded

51

Mauritius | Reduit

University of Mauritius

#1 in Mauritius #2862 in the World

70% Acceptance

19,200 Enrollment

1965 Founded

52

Egypt | Tanta

Tanta University

#11 in Egypt #2876 in the World

72% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

53

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

54

Uganda | Mbarara

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

#2 in Uganda #3053 in the World

8% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1989 Founded

55

Egypt | Benha

Benha University

#13 in Egypt #3088 in the World

90% Acceptance

88,016 Enrollment

1976 Founded

56

Namibia | Windhoek

Namibia University of Science and Technology

#2 in Namibia #3133 in the World

32% Acceptance

10,000 Enrollment

1985 Founded

57

Tunisia | Sfax

University of Sfax

#8 in Tunisia #3152 in the World

8% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

58

Nigeria | Akure

Federal University of Technology, Akure

#12 in Nigeria #3173 in the World

49% Acceptance

23,100 Enrollment

1981 Founded

59

Algeria | Constantine

University of Constantine 1

#2 in Algeria #3209 in the World

57% Acceptance

39,916 Enrollment

60

Kenya | Njoro

Egerton University

#6 in Kenya #3285 in the World

33% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1987 Founded

61

Zimbabwe | Mutare

Africa University

#2 in Zimbabwe #3387 in the World

50% Acceptance

5,434 Enrollment

1992 Founded

62

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar University

#3 in Ethiopia #3391 in the World

50% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

2001 Founded

63

Nigeria | Jos

University of Jos

#14 in Nigeria #3439 in the World

10% Acceptance

52,000 Enrollment

1975 Founded

64

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

Menoufia University

#15 in Egypt #3460 in the World

71% Acceptance

80,000 Enrollment

1976 Founded

65

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

Olabisi Onabanjo University

#16 in Nigeria #3476 in the World

27% Acceptance

32,480 Enrollment

1982 Founded

66

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

University of Ouagadougou

#1 in Burkina Faso #3506 in the World

50% Acceptance

44,860 Enrollment

1974 Founded

67

Tunisia | Jendouba

University of Jendouba

#9 in Tunisia #3533 in the World

38% Acceptance

19,311 Enrollment

68

Ghana | Winneba

University of Education, Winneba

#5 in Ghana #3576 in the World

79% Acceptance

4,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

69

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

#17 in Nigeria #3599 in the World

30% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1990 Founded

70

Cameroon | Buea

University of Buea

#1 in Cameroon #3621 in the World

46% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

71

Nigeria | Abuja

University of Abuja

#18 in Nigeria #3628 in the World

21% Acceptance

35,372 Enrollment

1988 Founded

72

Tunisia | Kairouan

University of Kairouan

#11 in Tunisia #3635 in the World

50% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

73

Cameroon | Dschang

University of Dschang

#2 in Cameroon #3644 in the World

34% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1993 Founded

74

Egypt | El Shorouk

British University in Egypt

#16 in Egypt #3707 in the World

40% Acceptance

12,178 Enrollment

2005 Founded

75

Uganda | Kampala

Kampala International University

#3 in Uganda #3730 in the World

82% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

2001 Founded

76

Egypt | Faiyum

Fayoum University

#17 in Egypt #3738 in the World

76% Acceptance

88,016 Enrollment

2005 Founded

77

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

Babcock University

#19 in Nigeria #3820 in the World

11% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

1999 Founded

78

Egypt | Qena

South Valley University – Qena

#18 in Egypt #3869 in the World

64% Acceptance

88,016 Enrollment

1995 Founded

79

Egypt | Nasser City

Sohag university

#19 in Egypt #3881 in the World

75% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

2006 Founded

80

Senegal | Saint-Louis

University Gaston Berger

#2 in Senegal #3898 in the World

46% Acceptance

89,589 Enrollment

1990 Founded

81

Cameroon | Ngaoundere

University of Ngaoundere

#3 in Cameroon #3915 in the World

66% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1982 Founded

82

Togo | Lome

University of Lome

#1 in Togo #3919 in the World

50% Acceptance

44,860 Enrollment

1970 Founded

83

Egypt | New Cairo

German University in Cairo

#21 in Egypt #3999 in the World

20% Acceptance

500 Enrollment

2003 Founded

84

Libya | Benghazi

University of Benghazi

#1 in Libya #4002 in the World

83% Acceptance

92,090 Enrollment

1955 Founded

85

Ethiopia | Haramaya

Haramaya University

#6 in Ethiopia #4011 in the World

78% Acceptance

30,414 Enrollment

1954 Founded

86

Algeria | Setif

Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

#6 in Algeria #4042 in the World

78% Acceptance

54,549 Enrollment

87

Nigeria | Minna

Federal University of Technology, Minna

#20 in Nigeria #4047 in the World

14% Acceptance

26,181 Enrollment

1982 Founded

88

Libya | Tripoli

University of Tripoli – Libya

#2 in Libya #4131 in the World

76% Acceptance

44,338 Enrollment

1957 Founded

89

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

#22 in South Africa #4133 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

90

Malawi | Zomba

University of Malawi

#1 in Malawi #4146 in the World

59% Acceptance

10,500 Enrollment

1964 Founded

91

Sudan | Khartoum

Sudan University of Science and Technology

#2 in Sudan #4165 in the World

57% Acceptance

13,160 Enrollment

1990 Founded

92

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

Afe Babalola University

#23 in Nigeria #4166 in the World

78% Acceptance

4,751 Enrollment

2009 Founded

93

Egypt | Beni Suef

Beni-Suef University

#22 in Egypt #4180 in the World

79% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

2005 Founded

94

Ethiopia | Mekelle

Mekelle University

#7 in Ethiopia #4191 in the World

88% Acceptance

17,030 Enrollment

1991 Founded

95

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

National University of Science and Technology

#3 in Zimbabwe #4217 in the World

73% Acceptance

20,399 Enrollment

1991 Founded

96

Nigeria | Abeokuta

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

#25 in Nigeria #4291 in the World

32% Acceptance

20,000 Enrollment

1988 Founded

97

Nigeria | Ede

Redeemer’s University

#26 in Nigeria #4322 in the World

30% Acceptance

6,000 Enrollment

2005 Founded

98

South Africa | Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

#23 in South Africa #4606 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

99

Libya | Sabha

Sebha University

#3 in Libya #4667 in the World

80% Acceptance

9,092 Enrollment

1984 Founded

100

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

Landmark University

#32 in Nigeria #4704 in the World

100% Acceptance

26,181 Enrollment

2011 Founded

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