Merriam Webster defines University as an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees. Educated citizen is one of the most important factors for a country’s economic growth. Ethiopia as a country has given special focus to education. There are more than 50 governmental and private Ethiopian universities and colleges. In this article, we will see the top 10 Government and top 5 private Ethiopian Universities.

The data has been taken from Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022 list.

Top 10 Government Universities in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

Addis Ababa University is Ethiopia’s oldest and the largest higher learning and research institution. Addis Ababa University was founded in 1950 as the University College of Addis Ababa (UCAA), with only 33 students enrolled at the time. Since its inception, the university has been the leading center in teaching, learning, research, and community services. In addition, the University has been playing a significant role in fostering the social and economic development of the country through innovative and creative education, research, and consultancy service. The university has fourteen campuses, with twelve of these in Addis Ababa and one in Bishoftu.

The university has so far produced over 222,000 students in a wide variety of fields. Addis Ababa University offers its students the opportunity to study a range of subjects at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels within many different faculties. The university currently has 10 colleges, 4 teaching and research institutes, and 6 research institutes that focus primarily on conducting research. There are 55 departments, 12 centers, 12 schools, and 2 teaching hospitals contained within these academic units. The University is currently working with a vision to be ranked among the top ten pre-eminent African graduate and research universities in 2023.

• Established: 1950
• President: Prof. Tassew woldehanna
• Number of Students: 47,610
• World Rank: #1351 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251-111-239706/    +251-111-239752
• Website Link: http://www.aau.edu.et/

JIMMA UNIVERSITY

Jimma University, which is one of the best Ethiopian universities, was founded on the unification of the Jimma Institute of Health Science and the Jimma College of Agriculture in the 1980s. The University is one of Ethiopia’s pioneer universities among innovative community-oriented educational institutions of higher learning.

The university has an established reputation for excellence in public health training and research. It boasts a diverse and experienced faculty with diverse interests in public health. Thousands of graduates have gone on to become leaders in public health, many of whom are working to improve the health and well-being of people in Ethiopia and around the world, and the university also has teaching centers for health care students in Jimma, Omo Nada, Shebe, Agaro, and Asendabo. Moreover, the university is collaborating with international and regional partners to develop an integrated system of public health training and research, with an emphasis on community-based learning. The university is located in Jimma, Ethiopia.

• Founded: 1980’s
• President: Dr. Jemal Abafita (PhD)
• Number of Students: Not Available 
• World Rank: #2370 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251-47-111-2202
• Website Link:  www.ju.edu.et

BAHIRDAR UNIVERSITY

Bahir Dar University, located in Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara Regional State, is one of the most popular Ethiopian universities. The establishment of Bahir Dar University is linked with two institutions named Bahir Dar Polytechnic Institute and Bahir Dar Teachers’ College which were founded in 1963 and 1972 respectively. The two institutions then merged to form Bahir Dar University following the Council of Ministers’ regulation no. 60/1999.  Bahir Dar University has now 219 academic programs of which; 69 are undergraduate, 118 are masters, and 32 are Ph.D. programs. The University is providing its students with educational opportunities at regular, evening, summer, distance, and e-learning programs.

• Founded: 1963 (as polytechnic college) 1972 (as teachers’ College)
• President: Firew Tegegne Amogne (PhD)
• Number of Students: 52,830 
• World Rank: #2915 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251 583 20 9653/ +251 583 20 6059
• Website Link: http://www.bdu.edu.et/

UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

University of Gondar, situated in the historical city of Gondar, Ethiopia, is one of the oldest and pioneer higher education institutions in the country. The University was established in 1954 as a Public Health College and Training Center (PHC & TC) in a joint effort between the Imperial Ethiopian government, WHO, United States Operation Mission to Ethiopia, and UNICEF. The University is considered to be the oldest t medical training institution in Ethiopia yielding many competent health professionals in the country. Gondar university is currently working with a mission of providing vibrant, compassionate, and responsible citizens through social needs tailored curricula; conducting problem-solving research; and strengthening community engagement and technology transfer; so that the country’s socio-economic development is sustained. 

• Founded: 1954
• President: Asrat Atsedeweyn (PhD)
• Number of Students: Not Available
• World Rank: #3082 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251581141232/ +251588119013
• Website Link:  https://www.uog.edu.et/

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

Haramaya University is one of the oldest and the largest higher learning and research institutions in Ethiopia with more than six decades of enrollment history. Throughout its history, the University has produced a significant number of competent professionals that actively participated in the socio-economic development of the country.

The university is running different programs at first, second, third, and specialty degree  levels. The university has many colleges specializing in different fields such as agriculture and environmental sciences, business and economics, computing and informatics, education and behavioral sciences, health and medical sciences, law, natural and computational sciences, social sciences and humanities, and veterinary medicine. These degree programs are further broken down into various disciplines and concentrations. The university is currently working to continue producing competent graduates in a variety of fields of studies and programs. Haramaya University is located in Haramaya town, in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, near the historic Lake Haramaya.

• Founded: 1954
• President: Dr. Jemal Abafita (PhD)
• Number of Students: 30,355 (2017/18)
• World Rank: #3233 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: 251(0)255530319/ +251(0)915768463
• Website Link:  https://www.haramaya.edu.et/

HAWASSA UNIVERSITY

Hawassa University, located in the beautiful city of Hawassa, Ethiopia, is one of the most popular Ethiopian universities. The University’s establishment was associated with the opening of ‘Awassa College of Agriculture’- ACA in 1976. The University has become a full-fledged university, at the turn of the 21^st. Century. Specifically, the name HU was coined in 2000, following the fusion of ACA with two other colleges, namely ‘Wondo Genet College of Forestry’ – WCF- (established in 1978) and ‘Dilla College of Teacher Education & Health Sciences’- DCTEHS (established in 1996). At present, Hawassa University is making every effort to produce efficient and internationally competent graduates and undertake innovative works, rigorous research, and technology transfer activities to foster the social and economic development of the country. Moreover, the University is currently working with a vision of becoming one of the top ten East African research universities by 2022.

• Founded: 1976
• President: Dr. Ayano Berasso
• Number of Students: Not Available
• World Rank: #3638 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251 46 220 5168
• Website Link:  https://www.hu.edu.et/

ARBAMINCH UNIVERSITY

Arba Minch University, located in South-West Ethiopia, is another university that can be listed as one of the top public higher-education institutions in Ethiopia.  Arba Minch University was initially established as the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute (AWTI) and it was officially inaugurated as a full-fledged university in June 2004 and started offering both undergraduate and graduate programs in the different institutes, colleges, and schools. At present, the University is working as one of the National Research Universities in the country with more than 36,000 registered students in regular, evening, weekend, and distance programs.

• Founded: 1986
• President: Dr Damtew Darza
• Number of Students: 36,000
• World Rank: #4172 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251-46881-4986
• Website Link:  https://www.amu.edu.et/

ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Adama Science and Technology University is one of the most well-established Ethiopian Universities. The University was initially established in 1993 as Nazareth Technical College (NTC), providing degree and diploma level education in tech-related fields. Adama Science and Technology University is accountable to the F.D.R.E Ministry of Science and Technology. The University strives to provide ethical and competent graduates in applied science and technology through quality education, demand-driven research, and community service. Apart from its main concern, which is academics, the University is also serving the country as a host of research institutes and enterprises. In addition, the institution also offers innovative knowledge to support the socio-economic development of the country.

• Founded: 1993
• President: Dr. Lemi Guta Enyadane
• Number of Students: Not Available
• World Rank: #9724 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251 -22-211-3961
• Website Link:  https://www.astu.edu.et/

ADDIS ABABA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, established in 2011, is the first Ethiopian University to be established as a specialized institution for science and technology in the history of the nation. The Ethiopian government has given special attention to the University so that the institution is accountable to the F.D.R.E Ministry of Science and Technology. The University is playing a significant role in transforming the country’s economy from agrarian to industrialized. At present, the institution is providing undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs in its five science and technology colleges. In addition to this, eight centers of Excellence have been established to make the University a research epicenter. Currently, the university is working with a vision to be an internationally recognized and respected hub of science and technology with a strong national commitment and significant continental repute by 2025.

• Founded: 2011
• President: Dereje Engida (PhD.)
• Number of Students: 9000
• World Rank: #11093 (Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, January 2022)
• Contact: +251 11 888 0606
• Website Link:  http://www.aastu.edu.et/

MEKELLE UNIVERSITY

Mekelle University is one of the top public universities in Ethiopia. The University is located in the town of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray Regional State. The higher education institution was founded in May 2000. The University has five campuses within the city of Mek’ele. Moreover, in the University, there are seven colleges, nine institutes, and 56 departments with a variety of programs under them. Currently, Mekelle University is not working because of the ongoing war in the Tigray region.

• Founded: 2000
• President: Professor Fetien Abay
• Number of Students: Not Available
• World Rank: Not Available
• Contact: +251 (344) 404005
• Website Link:  http://www.mu.edu.et/

Top 5 Private Universities & Colleges in Ethiopia

HAYAT MEDICAL COLLEGE

Hayat Medical College is one of best private Ethiopian Universities. The college belongs to Hayat Hospital, which is a popular health institution located in Ethiopia. The Medical College was founded in 2005.  However, despite being a relatively young educational institution, Hayat Medical College is a well-established institution of higher learning that gained popularity in a short time. The Medical College offers high-quality medical education. It provides courses in Medicine and Nursing to its students to produce health professionals, who can assist in the improvement of the country’s poor health service.

• Established: 2005
• Owner: Dinku Deyasa Biru
• President: Not Available
• Contact: 251 116890034
• Website Link: https://hayathospitalmc.com/

ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY

St. Mary’s University is another notable privately-owned Ethiopian University. The University was initially founded as a Language School in 1991. Then, this paved the way for its establishment as a college in 1998. The university provides undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines through formal and distance education modalities. These programs are fully accredited by the national quality assurance organization.

Currently, the university provides undergraduate degree programs in accounting, computing science, management, marketing management, and tourism and hospitality management in both regular and extension classes. Saint Mary’s University has two campuses: the Main Campus and the Mexico Campus. Both campuses are located in Mexico, Addis Ababa. At present, the University is working with a vision of becoming one of the leading higher education centers of academic excellence in East Africa.

• Established: 1991 as a Language School, 1998 as a College
• Founder: Wondwosen Tamrat 
• President: Wondwosen Tamrat (Assoc. Prof.)
• Contact: 0115 53 80 20/ 0115 53 80 17
• Website Link: https://smuc.edu.et/

UNITY UNIVERSITY

Unity University is one of the top private Ethiopian universities and arguably it is the best privately owned university in Ethiopia. Established in 1991 as a language school, Unity is the first privately owned institute of higher learning to be recognized as a qualified university in Ethiopia by the Ministry of Education. Moreover, it is also the first privately owned university in the country to provide postgraduate programs in business administration (MBA) and development economics (MA). Since its inception, the university has played a significant role in offering quality education to its students. Currently, Unity University is working with a vision of being one of the leading African universities by 2030.

• Established: 1991
• Owner: Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi
• President: Arega Yirdaw (Ph.D.)
• Contact: +251 11 629 8163/54/55
• Website Link: https://uu.edu.et/

ADMAS UNIVERSITY

Admas University initially started its operation in October 1998 under the name “Admas Business Training Centre.” However, it was in July 2014 when Admas University became a fully-fledged university. The University offers quality education to its students on its different campuses, which are found in Ethiopia and abroad. Since its inception, the University has graduated more than 37,000 students in different fields of study. Currently, Admas University is working with the vision of being the most reputable private higher education institution in terms of outstanding quality education, research, training, and community development services in East Africa by 2020.

• Established: 1998
• Owner: Not Available
• President: Molla Tsegay (Ph.D)
• Contact: 0115-50-88-08/10
• Website Link: https://admasuniversity.edu.et/

RIFT VALLEY UNIVERSITY

Rift Valley University is one of the most prominent private Ethiopian universities. Besides, it is considered to be the largest private University in Ethiopia, with campuses in all Regional states of the country, and in Hargeisa, Somali Land. The University strives to produce competent graduates who are capable of delivering viable community services to their country. At present, the University is making an effort to be one of the leading universities in teaching, research, and community engagement in Africa by 2030.

• Established: 2001
• Owner: Dinku Deyasa
• President: Abebe Gemechu Lencha (PhD)
• Contact: +251987414141/ +251987262626
• Website Link: https://riftvalleyuniversity.org/