Academic Index Last updated: June 22, 2026

58 Best Universities in Spain for Sports

We ranked the top 58 universities for Sports in Spain based on strict academic metrics. To determine these leaders, we isolated 2.1M specialized research publications which collectively generated 49.94M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Sports Spain Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

Filter

Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Granada

University of Granada

For Sports

#38 in Europe #128 in the World

53% Acceptance

56,842 Enrollment

1531 Founded

2

Valencia

University of Valencia

For Sports

#81 in Europe #233 in the World

51% Acceptance

58,390 Enrollment

3

Barcelona

University of Barcelona

For Sports

#87 in Europe #248 in the World

69% Acceptance

64,236 Enrollment

4

Cerdanyola del Valles

Autonomous University of Barcelona

For Sports

#89 in Europe #251 in the World

54% Acceptance

30,926 Enrollment

5

Seville

University of Seville

For Sports

#153 in Europe #402 in the World

45% Acceptance

36,054 Enrollment

1505 Founded

6

Bilbao

University of the Basque Country

For Sports

#174 in Europe #441 in the World

60% Acceptance

63,000 Enrollment

7

Madrid

Autonomous University of Madrid

For Sports

#176 in Europe #444 in the World

53% Acceptance

58,390 Enrollment

1968 Founded

8

Malaga

University of Malaga

For Sports

#186 in Europe #461 in the World

45% Acceptance

36,054 Enrollment

1972 Founded

9

Madrid

Complutense University of Madrid

For Sports

#193 in Europe #476 in the World

56% Acceptance

58,390 Enrollment

1508 Founded

10

Las Palmas

University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

For Sports

#307 in Europe #775 in the World

81% Acceptance

22,500 Enrollment

1979 Founded

11

Barcelona

Pompeu Fabra University

For Sports

#312 in Europe #783 in the World

55% Acceptance

15,801 Enrollment

12

Oviedo

University of Oviedo

For Sports

#320 in Europe #809 in the World

81% Acceptance

63,000 Enrollment

1604 Founded

13

Palma de Mallorca

University of the Balearic Islands

For Sports

#338 in Europe #894 in the World

50% Acceptance

11,359 Enrollment

1978 Founded

14

San Vicente del Raspeig

University of Alicante

For Sports

#345 in Europe #910 in the World

70% Acceptance

14,343 Enrollment

1979 Founded

15

Girona

University of Girona

For Sports

#481 in Europe #1416 in the World

50% Acceptance

15,336 Enrollment

16

Cadiz

University of Cadiz

For Sports

#303 in Europe #768 in the World

81% Acceptance

22,500 Enrollment

1979 Founded

17

Villafranca del Castillo

Camilo Jose Cela University

For Sports

#456 in Europe #1291 in the World

70% Acceptance

22,266 Enrollment

1999 Founded

18

Alcala de Henares

University of Alcala

For Sports

#299 in Europe #752 in the World

45% Acceptance

28,067 Enrollment

1499 Founded

19

Villaviciosa de Odon

European University of Madrid

For Sports

#177 in Europe #446 in the World

56% Acceptance

4,323 Enrollment

1995 Founded

20

Badajoz

University of Extremadura

For Sports

#173 in Europe #438 in the World

70% Acceptance

56,842 Enrollment

1973 Founded

21

Madrid

Nebrija University

For Sports

#730 in Europe #2607 in the World

73% Acceptance

21,253 Enrollment

1995 Founded

22

Pamplona

University of Navarra

For Sports

#183 in Europe #455 in the World

41% Acceptance

13,835 Enrollment

1952 Founded

23

Bilbao

University of Deusto

For Sports

#364 in Europe #968 in the World

71% Acceptance

21,253 Enrollment

1886 Founded

24

A Coruna

University of A Coruna

For Sports

#245 in Europe #607 in the World

63% Acceptance

17,304 Enrollment

1989 Founded

25

Moncada

CEU Cardenal Herrera University

For Sports

#451 in Europe #1268 in the World

71% Acceptance

11,000 Enrollment

1999 Founded

26

Valladolid

University of Valladolid

For Sports

#412 in Europe #1118 in the World

50% Acceptance

63,000 Enrollment

1346 Founded

27

Pamplona

Public University of Navarre

For Sports

#267 in Europe #660 in the World

70% Acceptance

28,450 Enrollment

1987 Founded

28

Castellon de la Plana

James I University

For Sports

#390 in Europe #1051 in the World

60% Acceptance

14,343 Enrollment

29

Valencia

San Vicente Martir Catholic University of Valencia

For Sports

#446 in Europe #1259 in the World

70% Acceptance

22,266 Enrollment

2003 Founded

30

Murcia

University of Murcia

For Sports

#126 in Europe #333 in the World

60% Acceptance

56,842 Enrollment

1272 Founded

31

Seville

University Pablo de Olavide, Seville

For Sports

#147 in Europe #387 in the World

50% Acceptance

36,054 Enrollment

1997 Founded

32

Vigo

University of Vigo

For Sports

#244 in Europe #604 in the World

64% Acceptance

18,577 Enrollment

1989 Founded

33

Barcelona

International University of Catalonia

For Sports

#409 in Europe #1106 in the World

72% Acceptance

4,323 Enrollment

34

Santiago de Compostela

University of Santiago de Compostela

For Sports

#337 in Europe #889 in the World

50% Acceptance

24,095 Enrollment

1495 Founded

35

Leon

University of Leon

For Sports

#295 in Europe #736 in the World

50% Acceptance

10,674 Enrollment

1979 Founded

36

Mostoles

University King Juan Carlos

For Sports

#120 in Europe #318 in the World

79% Acceptance

36,054 Enrollment

1996 Founded

37

Vic

University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia

For Sports

#474 in Europe #1382 in the World

79% Acceptance

22,266 Enrollment

38

Salamanca

University of Salamanca

For Sports

#342 in Europe #904 in the World

53% Acceptance

28,067 Enrollment

1218 Founded

39

Almeria

University of Almeria

For Sports

#310 in Europe #780 in the World

50% Acceptance

22,500 Enrollment

1993 Founded

40

Santander

University of Cantabria

For Sports

#529 in Europe #1655 in the World

60% Acceptance

63,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

41

Madrid

Francisco de Vitoria University

For Sports

#505 in Europe #1526 in the World

71% Acceptance

22,266 Enrollment

1992 Founded

42

Zaragoza

University of Saragossa

For Sports

#135 in Europe #350 in the World

50% Acceptance

63,000 Enrollment

1542 Founded

43

Lleida

University of Lleida

For Sports

#473 in Europe #1375 in the World

57% Acceptance

10,674 Enrollment

44

Avila

Catholic University of Avila

For Sports

#741 in Europe #2663 in the World

70% Acceptance

17,304 Enrollment

1996 Founded

45

Tarragona

Rovira i Virgili University

For Sports

#457 in Europe #1298 in the World

50% Acceptance

11,621 Enrollment

46

Madrid

CEU University of San Pablo

For Sports

#391 in Europe #1055 in the World

67% Acceptance

11,000 Enrollment

1993 Founded

47

Elche

Miguel Hernandez University of Elche

For Sports

#181 in Europe #452 in the World

60% Acceptance

19,900 Enrollment

1996 Founded

48

Valladolid

Miguel de Cervantes European University

For Sports

#458 in Europe #1305 in the World

75% Acceptance

4,323 Enrollment

2002 Founded

49

Cordoba, Spain

University of Cordoba

For Sports

#348 in Europe #914 in the World

90% Acceptance

24,095 Enrollment

1972 Founded

50

Barcelona

University Ramon Llull

For Sports

#366 in Europe #973 in the World

70% Acceptance

21,253 Enrollment

51

Jaen

University of Jaen

For Sports

#225 in Europe #560 in the World

69% Acceptance

56,842 Enrollment

1993 Founded

52

Seville

Loyola University Andalusia

For Sports

#764 in Europe #2768 in the World

81% Acceptance

21,253 Enrollment

2011 Founded

53

San Cristobal de La Laguna

University of La Laguna

For Sports

#472 in Europe #1360 in the World

50% Acceptance

58,390 Enrollment

1927 Founded

54

Burgos

University of Burgos

For Sports

#560 in Europe #1788 in the World

70% Acceptance

14,343 Enrollment

1994 Founded

55

Logrono

University of La Rioja

For Sports

#659 in Europe #2265 in the World

74% Acceptance

56,842 Enrollment

1992 Founded

56

Salamanca

Pontifical University of Salamanca

For Sports

#578 in Europe #1870 in the World

74% Acceptance

1,842 Enrollment

1940 Founded

57

Ciudad Real

University of Castilla La Mancha

For Sports

#133 in Europe #347 in the World

60% Acceptance

36,054 Enrollment

1982 Founded

58

Huelva

University of Huelva

For Sports

#510 in Europe #1555 in the World

61% Acceptance

22,500 Enrollment

1993 Founded