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98 Best Public Universities in Italy

Of the 98 Public universities in Italy, Politecnico di Milano ranks highest at #87 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Polytechnic Institute of Milan (QS World #87) and Sapienza University of Rome (QS World #128) complete the top three. Across the whole list there are 816 courses to choose from.

98 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
53Ranked
UV University of Venice logo
#53 in Italy Italy
#53 in Italy · by research impact
811,609 citations · h-index 253
54Ranked
UB University of Bergamo logo
#54 in Italy Italy

University of Bergamo

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#54 in Italy · by research impact
686,440 citations · h-index 283
55Ranked
UM University of Molise logo
#55 in Italy Italy

University of Molise

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#55 in Italy · by research impact
615,541 citations · h-index 220
56Ranked
UR University of Reggio Calabria logo
#56 in Italy Italy

University of Reggio Calabria

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
1982Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#56 in Italy · by research impact
599,655 citations · h-index 246
58Ranked
UC University of Cassino logo
#58 in Italy Italy

University of Cassino

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#58 in Italy · by research impact
446,455 citations · h-index 200
59Ranked
UT University of Teramo logo
#59 in Italy Italy

University of Teramo

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#59 in Italy · by research impact
435,378 citations · h-index 192
60Ranked
EU European University Institute logo
#60 in Italy Italy

European University Institute

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#60 in Italy · by research impact
381,643 citations · h-index 231
63Ranked
UM University of Macerata logo
#63 in Italy Italy

University of Macerata

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Admissions open
#63 in Italy · by research impact
137,506 citations · h-index 151
64Ranked
UE Università eCampus logo
#64 in Italy Italy

Università eCampus

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
100,000Students
—International
Admissions open
#64 in Italy · by research impact
85,898 citations · h-index 108
65Ranked
FU Free University "Maria Santissima Assunta" logo
#65 in Italy Italy
#65 in Italy · by research impact
73,356 citations · h-index 111

How these universities are ranked

20 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #87 (Politecnico di Milano) to #580 (Polytechnic Institute of Bari); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Sapienza University of Rome has the largest research record in this group, with 21,051,911 citations and an h-index of 1,089. 18 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 98 public to 0 private institutions. By location, Lombardy (1), Lazio (1) and Emilia-Romagna (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Bologna, founded in 1088. Sapienza University of Rome is the largest, with 112,000 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 402 bachelor's, 340 master's, 27 phd / doctorate and 27 professional. The most common subjects are Engineering (140), Business & Management (106), Arts, Design & Architecture (74) and Social Sciences & Psychology (63). The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 99% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (98% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (91% of courses with a stated intake). University of Calabria offers the widest choice, with 69 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 5 of these universities. University of Padua is the least expensive at USD 2,800 a year and Politecnico di Milano the most at USD 4,200; the middle of the range is about USD 3,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public in Italy?

Politecnico di Milano (QS World #87), Polytechnic Institute of Milan (QS World #87) and Sapienza University of Rome (QS World #128) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public in Italy?

Of those with published fees, University of Padua is the least expensive at about USD 2,800 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Public in Italy?

98 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public course take in Italy?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do Public courses start in Italy?

Fall is the main intake — 98% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Public online with a university in Italy?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

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