Formal higher learning in Nepal began with the establishment of Tri-Chandra College in 1918, Nepal's first college. Until 1985,Tribhuvan University was its first and only university. The second university to be founded was Nepal Sanskrit University, which was soon followed by Kathmandu University in 1990, and Purbanchal and Pokhara Universities in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
Federal universities in Nepal are public institutions established and funded by the central government, operating with a national mandate to provide higher education across various disciplines. There are altogether sixteen federal universities operating in Nepal.
Provincial universities in Nepal emerged following the promulgation of the 2015 Constitution, which empowered provincial governments to establish higher education institutions tailored to regional development needs, such as technical skills, agriculture, and local governance. These universities receive primary funding from provincial budgets, supplemented by minimal national allocations, enabling them to focus on addressing localized educational gaps amid Nepal's federal restructuring. As of 2025, six provincial universities operate, all founded since 2019, marking a rapid expansion in decentralized higher education; however, operational challenges persist for recently established ones, including limited infrastructure and enrollment. None of these institutions currently hold PhD-granting authority, prioritizing undergraduate and emerging graduate programs instead.
The following table lists the sixteen Federal universities and six Provincial universities as of 2026, including key details verified from official sources:
The following table lists the nine autonomous medical institutes as of 2025, including key details verified from official sources:
The table below is correct as of 20 February 2025 [update] .
| State | Central universities | Province universities | Deemed universities | Private universities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koshi Province (list) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Madhesh Province (list) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| Bagmati Province (list) | 6 | 1 | 4 | 11 | |
| Gandaki Province (list) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Lumbini Province (list) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Karnali Province (list) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sudurpashchim Province (list) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Total | 16 | 6 | 9 | 31 |
2023 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities for Nepalese universities are listed below.
| University | 2023 (January edition) | 2018 (July edition) | 2016 (July edition) | 2015 (July edition) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country university rank | Change in rank from previous year | World rank | Change from previous year | Country university rank | Change in rank from previous year | World rank | Change from previous year | Country university rank | Change in rank from previous year | World rank | Change from previous year | Country university rank | Change in rank from previous year | World rank | Change from previous year | |
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| Last Updated according to Webometrics Ranking of World Universities | ||||||||||||||||
| Higher education |  | ||||||||
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| School education |
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| Media | |||||||||
