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Nice climbs 15 places in the student city ranking by L’Étudiant magazine

Nice records a significant rise in the 2025 student city ranking published by L’Étudiant magazine, moving from 26th to 11th place. This 15-place jump now positions the city among the most attractive French metropolises for students, after several years of proactive policy led by the local authority and its educational and economic partners.
The quality of training, student satisfaction, and local initiatives explain this rise. Student satisfaction has reached 83%, compared to 74% previously, and local initiatives received the top score of 10/10, confirming the commitment of public and private actors to improving study and living conditions in Nice.
Nice is strengthening its higher education ecosystem with 51,000 students (compared to 25,000 in 2008), 130 research laboratories, 2,800 researchers, 20 international schools, and Université Côte d’Azur, labelled IDEX.

A remarkable progression in the national ranking

In its 2025 edition of the student city ranking, L’Étudiant magazine ranks Nice 11th, marking a 15-place advance compared to 2024, when the city was 26th among the 47 French cities assessed, each hosting more than 8,000 students.

Nice’s progression is based on several objectively measured indicators. On the one hand, the overall improvement of the evaluated criteria reflects the efforts of local authorities and higher education partners. On the other, targeted investments have made it possible to adapt the educational offering to the growing expectations of students.

In this context, Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, and Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, stated:

“This significant rise in the student city ranking is the result of our ongoing efforts with our partners in student life, higher education, and the business world. Since 2008, we have created an attractive ecosystem in the metropolitan area that has improved living, studying, and career opportunities for students in Nice. We are determined to provide students with an environment that supports their success. The establishment of top schools in Nice in recent years and the doubling of the student population (now over 51,000) are strong indicators of our territory’s attractiveness and were likely key factors in the city’s clear improvement in L’Étudiant’s ranking.”

A growing university and economic ecosystem

Since 2008, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis has implemented a university and economic attractiveness strategy that has doubled the number of students, from 25,000 to more than 51,000 today. This ecosystem is built around Université Côte d’Azur, recognized as an Initiative of Excellence (IDEX) since 2016, with 130 research laboratories and 2,800 researchers, as well as 20 international schools established in the region.

The development dynamic is supported by the creation of structuring hubs such as Nice Méridia and the international business district Grand Arénas, connected to transport infrastructures (airport, tramway, regional trains, future multimodal hub).

By 2030, the number of engineers trained in the area is expected to double, and 5,000 students and apprentices are expected at Nice Méridia.

A diversified academic offer and new key infrastructures

The education ecosystem continues to grow with the arrival of several institutions in high-value-added sectors. These include:
– IMREDD (Environment and Sustainable Development – Université Côte d’Azur)
– INPHYNI (Physics and Artificial Intelligence)
– 42 Nice (Computer Science)
– Centrale Méditerranée (Engineering)
– ISCOM (Communication)
– Campus Sud des Métiers (2,500 apprentices)
– Isart Game Business School (Creative and Cultural Industries)
– Académie du Métavers (Simplon.co and Meta)
– CNAM (Lifelong Learning)

Recently, the Campus Iconic has been added to these infrastructures — a new 20,000 m² educational hub in the heart of Nice. This project brings together Sup’de com, Idrac Business School, Ileri, and BTS programs from Aurlom, offering complementary training paths from bac+2 to specialized master’s degrees in business, communication, international relations, and cybersecurity. Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, Iconic integrates modern learning spaces, offices, cultural and hospitality facilities, and benefits from excellent accessibility via two tramway lines and the regional train network, facilitating travel throughout the Côte d’Azur region.

In addition, three new specialized institutions supported by Team Nice Côte d’Azur in 2024 are expanding the local offering: Aivancity, Supmode, and Sup-photo.

Performance according to evaluation criteria

The detailed results of the 2025 ranking show varied progress depending on the categories analyzed by L’Étudiant. The density of the academic offering has improved, with the score rising from 2/10 in 2024 to 4/10 in 2025. Local initiatives received the maximum score of 10/10, reflecting strong territorial engagement. Meanwhile, the student satisfaction rate increased by nearly 10 points, from 74% to 83%.

However, housing pressure negatively affected the student accommodation rating, which dropped from 3/10 to 1/10.

A consolidated position in the French university landscape

Despite housing tensions, Nice is now part of the group of major French student cities.

In 2025, the top of the ranking is led by Toulouse, followed by Besançon and Montpellier (tied), then Rennes, Caen, Grenoble, Nantes, Strasbourg, and Nancy.

Nice is in the next group, alongside Angers, Bordeaux, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, Orléans, Paris, and Poitiers.

This progress reflects a structured regional strategy combining academic attractiveness, economic development, and coordinated municipal leadership.

Source: Ville de Nice / L’Étudiant magazine