The University of Padua has claimed the top spot among large state universities with more than 40,000 students in the 2026–2027 Censis ranking of Italian higher education, a survey that Veneto region President Alberto Stefani praised. The annual edition examined 70 league tables built on more than 960 indicators and noted that traditional university enrollments have risen 19.8% over the past decade, with central Italy posting the sharpest recent gain.
Among mega-universities, the University of Palermo held seventh place with an overall score of 84.3, improving in scholarships, internationalization, and graduate employability. The University of Messina placed 12th overall among large institutions, leading all large universities in digital communication services with a score of 107.
Results were mixed elsewhere. The University of Bari finished ninth among ten mega-universities at 79.7 points, though the Polytechnic of Bari ranked third among technical universities for employability. The University of Calabria retained first place among mid-sized institutions with 91.7 points, while the University of Perugia slipped to fifth in its category.