JS Corporation has released a university popularity ranking based on responses from 69,179 Japanese high school students. The ranking is divided into national, local public, and private universities. For international students, it may also be interesting to see which universities are popular among Japanese high school students. Of course, there are many other types of rankings—such as global university rankings, rankings by academic difficulty, or employment rates—but this survey could serve as one more reference when choosing a university. *Please note that some of the universities in this ranking do not offer degree programs that can be completed entirely in English.
Japan University Popularity Ranking 2026: Survey of 69,179 High School Students
*As of April 30, 2026. Survey conducted by JS Corporation (April 2024 – April 2026)
| Rank | National University |
|---|---|
| 1 | University of Tokyo |
| 2 | University of Tsukuba |
| 3 | Kyoto University |
| 4 | Osaka University |
| 5 | Nagoya University |
| 6 | Kyushu University |
| 7 | Kobe University |
| 8 | Hokkaido University |
| 9 | Hitotsubashi University |
| 10 | Tohoku University |
| 11 | Chiba University |
| 12 | Yokohama National University |
| 13 | Tokyo University of the Arts |
| 14 | Mie University |
| 15 | Shizuoka University |
| 16 | Hiroshima University |
| 17 | Ochanomizu University |
| 18 | Kanazawa University |
| 19 | Oita University |
| 20 | Yamagata University |
| 21 | Niigata University |
| 22 | Kagoshima University |
| 22 | Tokyo University of Foreign Studies |
| 24 | Tokyo University of Science |
| 25 | Kumamoto University |
| 26 | Fukushima University |
| 27 | Ibaraki University |
| 28 | Gunma University |
| 29 | Saitama University |
| 30 | Fukui University |
| 31 | Okayama University |
| 32 | Osaka Kyoiku University |
| 33 | Hirosaki University |
| 34 | Gifu University |
| 35 | Iwate University |
| 36 | Utsunomiya University |
| 37 | Miyazaki University |
| 38 | Hokkaido University of Education |
| 39 | Akita University |
| 40 | Aichi University of Education |
| 40 | Toyama University |
| 42 | Shinshu University |
| 43 | Tokyo Gakugei University |
| 44 | Nagasaki University |
| 45 | University of the Ryukyus |
| 46 | Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology |
| 47 | Shiga University |
| 48 | Nagoya Institute of Technology |
| 49 | Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology |
| 50 | Otaru University of Commerce |
| Rank | Local Public University |
|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka Metropolitan University |
| 2 | Tokyo Metropolitan University |
| 3 | Nagoya City University |
| 4 | Shizuoka Prefectural University |
| 5 | Aichi Prefectural University |
| 6 | University of Hyogo |
| 7 | Yokohama City University |
| 8 | Fukui Prefectural University |
| 9 | Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts |
| 10 | Kyoto Prefectural University |
| 11 | Miyagi University |
| 12 | Takasaki University of Economics |
| 13 | International Christian University |
| 14 | Kitakyushu City University |
| 15 | Kobe City University of Foreign Studies |
| 15 | Fukushima Medical University |
| 17 | Fukuoka Prefectural University |
| 18 | Kyoto City University of Arts |
| 19 | Niigata Prefectural University |
| 20 | Hiroshima City University |
| 21 | Mie Prefectural College of Nursing |
| 22 | Kagoshima Prefectural Junior College |
| 23 | Tsuru University |
| 24 | Saitama Prefectural University |
| 24 | Asahikawa City University |
| 24 | Shizuoka University of Art and Culture |
| 27 | Kanazawa College of Art |
| 27 | Toyama Prefectural University |
| 29 | Aizu University |
| 30 | Aomori Prefectural University of Health Sciences |
| 30 | Okayama Prefectural University |
| 30 | Shiga Prefectural University |
| 30 | Hiroshima Prefectural University |
| 34 | Sapporo City University |
| 35 | Iwate Prefectural University |
| 35 | Nagasaki Prefectural University |
| 37 | Nayoro City University |
| 38 | Sapporo Medical University |
| 38 | Kanagawa Prefectural University of Health and Welfare |
| 40 | Maebashi Institute of Technology |
| 41 | Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine |
| 41 | Oita Prefectural Junior College of Arts and Culture |
| 41 | Gifu Prefectural College of Nursing |
| 41 | Gunma Prefectural University of Health Sciences |
| 45 | Miyazaki Public University |
| 46 | Tsu City Mie Junior College |
| 46 | Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences |
| 48 | Oita Prefectural University of Nursing Sciences |
| 49 | Miyazaki Prefectural College of Nursing |
| 49 | Nagano University |
| Rank | Private University |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aoyama Gakuin University |
| 2 | Keio University |
| 3 | Kinki University |
| 4 | Meiji University |
| 5 | Kansai University |
| 6 | Waseda University |
| 7 | Sophia University |
| 8 | Doshisha University |
| 9 | Ritsumeikan University |
| 10 | Komazawa University |
| 11 | Rikkyo University |
| 12 | Chuo University |
| 13 | Hosei University |
| 14 | Nihon University |
| 15 | Chukyo University |
| 16 | Juntendo University |
| 17 | Toyo University |
| 18 | Kwansei Gakuin University |
| 19 | Meijo University |
| 20 | Tokai University |
| 21 | Ryukoku University |
| 22 | Senshu University |
| 23 | Kokugakuin University |
| 24 | Nippon Sport Science University |
| 25 | Tokoha University |
| 26 | Kanagawa University |
| 27 | Kokushikan University |
| 28 | Teikyo Heisei University |
| 29 | Aichi University |
| 30 | Kyoto Sangyo University |
| 31 | Chubu University |
| 32 | Kansai University of Foreign Studies |
| 33 | Tohoku Gakuin University |
| 34 | Konan University |
| 34 | Teikyo University |
| 36 | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
| 37 | Sendai University |
| 38 | Aichi Gakuin University |
| 39 | Fukuoka University |
| 40 | Aichi Shukutoku University |
| 41 | Osaka Sangyo University |
| 42 | Otemon Gakuin University |
| 43 | Tohoku Fukushi University |
| 44 | Asia University |
| 45 | Gakushuin University |
| 46 | Nanzan University |
| 47 | Seirei Christopher University |
| 48 | Tokyo University of Science |
| 49 | Niigata University of Health and Welfare |
| 50 | Osaka University of Economics |
| 50 | Kagoshima International University |
