The best universities in Ghana offer the best tuition, have very good infrastructure, and are internationally recognized for their excellence. Ghana has twenty-four public universities and more than eighty private accredited tertiary institutions.
Every year universities in Ghana are ranked by several institutions such as Webometrics, EduRank, uniRank, AD Scientific Index and many others which can be confusing as to which of these universities are the overall best. To solve this problem, we will determine the overall top 10 best universities in Ghana using three criteria; quality of tuition, the infrastructure of the university, and the university’s international recognition.
Here are the overall top 10 best universities in Ghana:
- University Of Ghana
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- University Of Cape Coast
- University Of Development Studies
- University Of Education Winneba
- Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
- University Of Mines and Technology
- Ghana Communication Technology University
- Ashesi University
- University of Professional Studies
- University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian national public universities. It was founded in 1948 and changed its name to the University of Ghana in 1961 when it gained full university status. The University of Ghana adopted the collegiate system and thus categorized all schools and departments under four colleges, which are: the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Humanities, College of Education, College of Health Sciences
The University of Ghana which is mainly based in Legon, about 12 kilometers northeast of the center of Accra has its medical school in the town called Korle-Bu, with a teaching hospital and a secondary/external campus in the city of Accra. It also has a graduate school of nuclear and Allied Sciences at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, making it one of the few universities on the African continent offering programs in nuclear physics and nuclear engineering.
The University of Ghana has consistently been ranked over the years as the best university in Ghana and one of the best in Africa by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Several other institutions such as AD Scientific Index, EduRank, Scimago Institutions Rankings, Bschorlarly, and many others have also ranked Legon as the best university in Ghana in 2023. It usually ranks among the best 1000 universities in the world, and in 2023 it was ranked as the 12th best university in Africa by uniRank.
The original emphasis on establishing the University of Ghana was on the liberal arts, social sciences, law, basic science, agriculture, and medicine. However, as part of a national educational reform program, the university’s curriculum was expanded to provide more technology-based and vocational courses as well as postgraduate training.
Prominent among the University of Ghana’s infrastructure is the Balme Library, the largest within the University of Ghana Library System (UGLS), endowed with information resources, IT infrastructure, and expert staff, and is currently the biggest library in West Africa. UG campus covers an area of 99.3 hectares and is characterized by tropical compound buildings and long horizontal buildings with a colonial architectural style with a majority of the buildings having a gable roof with distinctive red clay roofing tiles.
If you are an international student, the University of Ghana may be the best choice for you because the university has over 200 agreements with educational institutions all over the world, to facilitate student exchange programs. Their International Programmes Office promotes all international activities, including admission of international students, Memorandums of Understanding between the university and international educational institutions, visiting scholars, study abroad programs, staff, and student exchange programs, and research collaboration.
Tuition fees at the University of Ghana for Ghanaian students are one of the cheapest priced at GHC 1,516 for students of humanities and GHC 2,047 for medical students. International students who offer humanities also pay about USD 5,109 and USD 13,946 for medical students.
CONTACT
+233-(0)302-213820 / +233-(0)302-213850
pad@ug.edu.gh
P.O. Box LG 25
Legon, Accra
2. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is a public university in Ghana that focuses on science and technology. In 1961, the college was granted full university status and is the largest university in the Kumasi Metropolis and the Ashanti Region.
The university offers several programs which fall under five colleges: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), College of Health Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Art and Built Environment, College of Engineering, and College of Science.
In November 2019, & 2020, KNUST was ranked as the best university in Ghana and West Africa by U.S. News & World Report. The latest Times Higher Education impact ranking in 2022 also adjudged KNUST as the best university in quality education in Africa and 14th globally. Institutions such as AD Scientific Index, EduRank, Scimago Institutions Rankings, Bschorlarly, and many others have also ranked KNUST as the second-best university in Ghana in 2023. It was also ranked as the 1489th in the world by Webometrics in 2023 and the 21st best university in Africa in 2023 by uniRank.
KNUST is approximately seven square miles in area with a group of modernist architectural buildings such as the School of Engineering building, the Great Hall, and the Unity and African Hall. There are numerous KNUST-approved hostels, mostly near the main campus. Students of all financial backgrounds have their accommodation needs catered for. There are facilities on campus where non-resident students can rest between lectures and study before they leave for their homes and hostels.
There is a large multinational international community at KNUST as a result of the high standards of education. There is an international student association that sees the interests of foreign students such as accommodation, orientation, and campus tours.
Tuition fees at KNUST for Ghanaian students who study humanities is GHC 1,351, and GHC 1,799 for science students. International students who study humanities also pay about USD 4,260, whiles science students pay about USD 6,063
CONTACT
T: +233 3220 60021 / +233 5000 99299 | E: uro@knust.edu.gh |
Ghana Post GPS Address: AK-385-1973
3. University of Cape Coast
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is a public university established in October 1962 and located in the historic town of Cape Coast. It operates on two campuses: the Southern Campus (Old Site) and the Northern Campus (New Site).
The University of Cape Coast was established as a university college in response to the country’s dire need for highly qualified and skilled manpower in the education sector. Its original mandate was therefore to train graduate teachers for second-cycle institutions, teacher training colleges, and technical institutions.
The University of Cape Coast has been ranked in 3rd place in Ghana and 2056th place in the world by Webometrics in 2023 which has usually been the case over the years. It came in 42nd place in Africa in 2003 as ranked by uniRank. AD Scientific Index, EduRank, Scimago Institutions Rankings, Bschorlarly, and many others have also ranked UCC as the third-best university in Ghana in 2023.
The university has since added to its functions the training of doctors and health care professionals, business professionals, administrators, legal professionals, and agriculturalists. UCC graduates include Ministers of State, High Commissioners, CEOs, and Members of Parliament. The University of Cape Coast is today organized into six colleges. Each college has different faculties, schools, and departments under them.
The Centre for International Education (CIE), University of Cape Coast, has fostered links with institutions of higher learning from the US, China, the UK, Sweden, Germany, Liberia, Nigeria, and Senegal, among others. The center offers specialized support services for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff on issues including, but not exclusive to, orientation, admission, enrolment, accommodation, pastoral care, pre-departure briefings, and post-return debriefings for inbound and outbound exchange students and staff.
Tuition fees at the University of Cape Coast for Ghanaian students offering humanities is aboutGHS 2,832 and GHS 3,957 for science students. International students also pay aboutUSD 5,797 for science students and USD 5,297 for students studying humanities.
CONTACT
The Registrar, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
+233 [03321]32440, +233 [03321] 32480-9
registrar@ucc.edu.gh
4. University for Development Studies
The University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale was established in 1992 by the government of Ghana. It was set up as a multi-campus institution and is the fifth public university to be established in Ghana.
It has four campuses in all, one at Nyankpala in the Northern Region of Ghana, the other at Navrongo, in the Upper East Region, the third at Tamale, in the Northern Region of Ghana, and also one in Wa in the Upper West Region – a Business School, one Medical School, one Graduate School, one Institute, three Centres and, eight Faculties: Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Integrated Development, and the Faculty of Education.
The university has a unique system of education where the whole of the third trimester is devoted to practical fieldwork in the local communities. Students of a given year group identify a specific region, and in smaller groups live and interact with the people in the local communities during each third trimester for a period of three years.
The University for development studies ranked in 137th place in Africa by uniRank in 2023. It also came in 4th place in Ghana and 2598th place in the world as stated by Webometrics.
The tuition fee at UDS is quite low for Ghanaian students who pay about GHC 1,512 to offer humanities and GHC 2,252 to offer science. International students also pay about USD 7,000 to offer medicine and USD 1,750 for Bachelor of Arts courses.
CONTACT
Email: registrar@uds.edu.gh
Telephone: +233-37-209-3697
Postal address: P. O. Box TL1350
Digital address: NT-0272-1946 Tamale, Ghana
5. University of Education, Winneba
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) is a university in Winneba, Central Region of Ghana. It was established in 1992 by the government of Ghana.
Its main aim is to train teachers for the education system of Ghana. The University of Education, Winneba is charged with the responsibility of teaching and producing professional educators to spearhead a new national vision of education aimed at redirecting Ghana’s efforts along the path of rapid economic and social development.
UEW ranked in 6th place in Ghana and 3560th best university in the world on Webometrics in 2023 and 130th place in Africa on uniRank. Universityguru and Scimago Institutions Rankings ranked UEW in 5th place and AD Scientific Index ranked it in 6th place and it was ranked in 4th place by EduRank in 2023.
The University of Education, Winneba is expected to play a leading role in Ghana’s drive to produce scholars whose knowledge would be fully responsive to the realities and exigencies of contemporary Ghana. The university has twenty-nine academic departments and centers, seven faculties, and 18 distance education regional study centers throughout Ghana.
The tuition fee at the University of Education, Winneba Ghanaian students studying humanities is GHS 1,615 and GHS 1,699 for science students. International students also pay about USD 1,052
CONTACT
Winneba Campus: 03323 22139 | Ajumako Campus: 03321 93774
6. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) was established in 1961 as a joint special fund project between the Ghana government and the United Nations.
Originally named the Institute of Public Administration, it was set up as one of the key strategic institutions to develop the public administrative system, to provide civil servants with administrative and professional competence, and to plan and administer national, regional, and local services. GIMPA is made up of six schools namely Business School, Faculty of Law, School of Technology, School of Public Service and Governance, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, School of Research, and Graduate Studies.
GIMPA is ranked in 194th place among the top universities in Africa and 5th place in Ghana by AD Scientific Index. EduRank placed GIMPA in 7th place in Ghana and Webometrics ranked it in 5th place in Ghana and the 3560th best university in the world.
GIMPA offers courses in its areas of competence leading to the award of certificates, diplomas, and degrees up to the doctoral level. Courses that led to this award include training and education in leadership, management, public administration, and technology. Today, GIMPA has transformed itself into the leading management development institute and is an independent public tertiary institution with financial and operational autonomy.
GIMPA’s mission is to maintain a Centre of Excellence for training in public and business administration, by continuously enhancing the capability of middle and top-level executives in public and private sectors as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) both in Ghana and internationally, to manage their institutions and enterprises efficiently and effectively. The Institute is accredited by the National Accreditation Board.
Tuition fees for undergraduate degree programs at GIMPA are about GHC 9,500 per year, while their Master’s programs are about GHC 20,000 every academic year. Post-graduate courses at GIMPA also cost about GHC 25,000, while diploma programs tuition fees are about GHC 7,500 per year. Post-graduate diploma programs tuition fees are about GHC 10,000 per year, while Executive Masters programs tuition fees are about GHC 42,834 per year. Tuition fees for Ph.D. programs are about GHC 22,066 per year.
CONTACT
233-(0) 332095432
+233-(0) 302908076
+233-(0) 302-404664
info@gimpa.edu.gh
7. University of Mines and Technology
The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) was established on 3rd November 1952. It is a public university located at Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana.
The university is on a mission to provide higher education in mining, petroleum, technology, and related disciplines through effective teaching and learning; to promote knowledge through active research and dissemination of information, and to offer professional services through extension activities to the mining and allied industries.
Webometrics ranked it as the 8th best university in Ghana and the 4726th best university in the world. AD Scientific Index placed it as the 20th best university in Ghana, the 395th best university in Africa and the 9042nd best university in the world.
The school focuses heavily on the sciences and has three schools namely the School of Postgraduate Studies, the School of Railways and Infrastructure Development, and the School of Petroleum Studies. It also has four faculties: the Faculty of Mining and Minerals Technology, the Faculty of Integrated Management Science, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Studies.
The university has established academic, scholarly, and other cooperative linkages and collaboration with other international universities, companies, and institutes around the world to enhance: Teaching and research, Teaching of faculty, and Cultural Integration. As a result of this collaboration, international students have a place among the students and receive world-class tuition.
Tuition fees at UMaT for diploma courses are about GHC 7,426 per year, while degree courses are GHC 2,104 per year. Post-graduate courses tuition fees are GHC 2,711 and Ph.D. courses is about GHC 3,041.
CONTACT
Hotline: +233 3123 20324/20280
Email: registrar@umat.edu.gh
webmaster@umat.edu.gh
Postal: Box 237, Tarkwa. W/R
8. Ghana Communication Technology University
Ghana Communication Technology University as established in November 2005 and gained full public University status on 13th August 2020. Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) is a technology-oriented institution of higher learning, committed to providing an educational experience of the highest quality.
The University hopes to become a centre of excellence for the training of scientists and technologist for Ghana and beyond.
Currently, GCTU offers world-class Certificate, Diploma, and Degree programs under three core faculties: the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Computing and Information Systems, and GCTU Business School. The University also runs a Graduate School which delivers postgraduate programs in the areas of Engineering, Business Administration, Management, and Information Communication Technology.
Ghana Communication Technology University was ranked as the 180th best university in Africa by uniRank in 2023 and as the 8th best university in Ghana by EduRank. AD Scientifc Index however ranked it as the 33rd best university in Ghana and the 12055th in the world.
Courses and programs of the University are carefully structured and taught by seasoned lecturers with modern training equipment in a conducive learning environment. These prepare students for meaningful and rewarding careers which are key to the nation’s economic growth and social well-being. This education however is not cheap, it comes with a steep price tag for both local and international students.
Tuition at Ghana Communication Technology University for Ghanaian students studying I.T is about GHS 3,843 and GHS 4,326 for engineering students. International students also pay about USD 3000 for I.T students and USD 4,000 for engineering students.
Contact
Tel: +233(0) 302 221446/302 21412/302 221479
Digital Address: GA-167-2979
PMB 100, Tesano, Accra – Ghana
Off J.A Kuffour Avenue, Adjacent the Police Training School, Tesano, Accra
9. Ashesi University
Ashesi is a private, not-for-profit, non-sectarian institution. Ashesi University, a multicultural institution for global learning, located on the serene Berekuso Hills in the Eastern Region of Ghana, possesses all the charm and intimacy of community that continues to draw the world to its doorsteps.
In 2018, the President of Ghana granted Ashesi a Charter to operate as a fully autonomous institution. Ashesi is the youngest university to have achieved such recognition, and one of five private universities in Ghana to have a Charter. In 2017, Ashesi was awarded the World Innovation Summit in Education Prize, one of the world’s biggest prizes in education.
EduRank ranked Ashesi university in 6th place in Ghana and 4477th place in the world, whiles Webometrics ranked Ashesi as the 11th best university in Ghana and the 6,477th in the world in 2023. According to uniRank, Ashesi university is the 95th best university in Africa in 2023.
Ashesi University’s mission is to propel an African renaissance by educating ethical, entrepreneurial leaders. Ashesi is now recognized as one of the finest universities in Africa, with a proven track record in fostering ethical leadership, critical thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to solve complex problems.
Ashesi has distinguished itself among the private universities in Ghana with a student-led honour code, integrated community service, diverse internships, and real-world projects that prepare students to develop innovative solutions for the challenges facing their individual communities, countries and the continent at large.
Set on 100 acres in Berekuso overlooking Ghana’s capital city of Accra, Ashesi’s campus combines traditional design, modern technology and environmental best practices – creating an inspiring base for young Africans from diverse backgrounds to live, collaborate and study together for generations to come.
Tuition fees for an academic year at Ashesi University is $8,394 (GHS 65,478) for undergraduates. Ashesi’s academic year consist of two semesters running respectively from late August to December, and January to May. Tuition fees also cover textbooks, internet services, other learning material and activity, and support services such as career services, health services, and counselling.
CONTACT
1 University Avenue, Berekuso
PMB CT 3, Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
10. University of Professional studies
The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) formerly known as Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), is a public university in Ghana. The main campus is located in Accra. The university was founded in 1965 as a private professional business education tuition provider and was taken over by government in 1978.
UPSA is the first university in Ghana to provide both academic and business professional education. The University offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in several programmes. UPSA has achieved the reputation as the oldest Ghanaian human resource development institution in professional Accountancy and Management with many of its products in key leadership positions in Ghana and abroad.
The University of Professional Studies was ranked as the 55th best university in Ghana and the 13536th best university in the world by Webometrics in 2023. AD Scientific Index ranked UPSA in 21st place in Ghana, 9191st place in the world and 407th best university in Africa in 2023. However, EduRank placed UPSA in 10th place in Ghana, 230th place in Africa and 6279th place in the world in 2023.
UPSA has recently introduced “dual qualification scheme” for student for the 2019/2020 academic year. The policy is to make students who enroll in a degree programme to simultaneously and compulsorily pursue a corresponding professional programme such as ACCA, ICAG, CIM, CIMA, ICSA among others as an additional course thus graduating with both a degree and a chartered certificate.
Tuition fee at UPSA is about GHS 4,326 for Ghanaian students and USD 4,000 for foreign students.
CONTACT
+233 303 937 542
+233 303 937 544
admissions@upsamail.edu.gh