University, Censis ranking: Padua at the top among state-run mega universities, Luiss first among private ones

The top three positions are occupied by the University of Padua, first with an overall score of 89.5, followed by the University of Bologna and Sapienza di Roma, with scores of 87.5 and 84.3. This is what emerges from the new 2024/2025 edition of the Censis ranking of Italian universities for state-run mega universities (with over 40,000 enrolled students). The University of Palermo (83.8) rises to fourth place, gaining three positions compared to last year, followed by the State University of Milan (83.2): stable in fifth place, it surpasses the University of Pisa (82.8), which was relegated to sixth position. Seventh in the ranking of mega universities is the University of Turin, which, with an overall score of 82.7, climbs one position. The University of Florence (82.3) and the University of Naples Federico II (73.5) close the ranking, in penultimate and last position respectively.

With regard to the large state universities (20,000 to 40,000 enrolled), the University of Calabria is at the top with a total score of 92.2, higher than that of the University of Pavia (89.5), which drops to second place. Third in the ranking is the University of Perugia (87.7), followed by the University of Parma (87.2) and the University of Cagliari (86.5), which advance to fourth and fifth place. Firmly in sixth position, on a par with last year, is the University of Salerno (85.8). In seventh and eighth position are the University of Milan Bicocca (85.7) and the University of Rome Tor Vergata (84.5). Stable in ninth position is the University of Modena Reggio Emilia (83.5), while the University of Genoa climbs one place, succeeding in positioning itself among the top ten large state universities, with an overall score of 82.3.
Between eleventh and fourteenth place we find: the University of Verona (82.0), the University of Messina (80.7, which has gained four positions), the University of Ferrara (80.3) and the University of Roma Tre (80.0). Ranked 15th and 16th are the University of Campania (79.2) and the University of Bari (77.0), which is a new entry among large universities as it belonged to the group of state mega universities until last year. The University of Chieti and Pescara (76.8) and the University of Catania (76.7) close the ranking in the penultimate and last position.

As for the medium-sized state universities (10,000 to 20,000 enrolled), the University of Trento leads the ranking again this year, with a score of 94.5 maintaining first place, followed as last year by the University of Udine (93.2). The third place on the podium is occupied by the University of Sassari (91.7), which gains one position, along with the Università Politecnica delle Marche (91.0), which moves up to fourth place and precedes the University of Siena (90.5), fifth among medium-sized state universities. The sixth place is, on the other hand, occupied by a new entry, the Ca' Foscari University of Venice (88.8), until last year in the group of large state universities. Having both moved back one position, the University of Trieste (88.7) and the University of Brescia (87.8) are in seventh and eighth place.
In ninth place is the University of Urbino (84.8), which has gained three positions, followed by the University of Salento (84.7), tenth in the ranking. The ranking is closed by the University of Bergamo (83.8), eleventh, followed by the University of Eastern Piedmont and the University of Naples Parthenope, which occupy ex aequo the twelfth position with a total score of 83.5. Thirteenth and fourteenth place respectively for the University of Insubria (83.2) and the University of L'Aquila (81.8), both rising. Finally, the University of Foggia (81.3) and the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro (80.0) are in penultimate and last place.

Finally, with regard to the small state universities (up to 10,000 enrolled), the University of Camerino is stable in first place, with an overall score of 98.8, followed by the University of Tuscia, which holds second place with 88.5. The University of Macerata (86.7) and the University of Cassino (86.0) are firmly in third and fourth place. Fifth was the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (83.3), which overtook the University of Sannio, this year in sixth position (82.7). In seventh place is the University of Teramo (80.8), followed by the University of Molise (80.7). Penultimate and last positions are occupied by the University of Basilicata (80.2) and the University of Naples L'Orientale (79.7), which until last year was in the group of medium-sized state universities.

Luiss Guido Carli is the best large non-state university, a category it enters this year for the first time, taking the top step of the podium directly. This is again established by the Censis classification, the leading socio-economic research institute in Italy. The Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali excelled among the other non-state universities with over 10,000 enrolled students, with an average total of 96 points, rising on all five indicators monitored: services, scholarships, facilities, communication and digital services, and the level of internationalisation.
In particular, Luiss is the only university in the category considered to obtain the highest score in the scholarships category, confirming its constant commitment to supporting the merit of young talents. In fact, over 1,700 scholarships and exemptions have been made available for the 2024/25 academic year. Also rewarding for the University named after Guido Carli was its internationalisation - with strong partnerships with 360 universities in 73 countries and 69 double and triple degree programmes - and its communication and digital services. As President Luigi Gubitosi stated: "We are very proud of the results achieved by our University. Luiss' first place in the Censis rankings is the result of great teamwork and innovative and increasingly international teaching that attracts more foreign students. The care of the facilities and the quality of the services, the attention to scholarships, thanks also to partner companies and the close link with the business system and the labour market, are among the key factors that have enabled us to achieve this goal".