Keio University

Keio University is the largest private university in Japan. It was founded in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa, a Japanese intellectual and educator who played a major role in the modernization of Japan. Fukuzawa was a strong advocate for Western learning and culture, and he founded Keio University as a school where students could learn about the latest advances in Western science and technology.

Keio University was one of the first private institutions of higher learning in Japan, and it quickly became one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

In the early 20th century, Keio University began to expand its operations. The university opened new campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, and it established new departments in law, medicine, and engineering. Keio University also began to offer graduate programs, and it became one of the leading research universities in Japan.

During World War II, Keio University was forced to suspend its operations. However, the university reopened after the war, and it quickly resumed its position as one of the leading universities in Japan. Keio University has continued to expand and grow in the decades since the war, and it is now one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Japan.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2026, Keio University is positioned as the #215 top university in the world, which makes it the #10 top university in Japan. The university's global rank decreased by 27 points from last year.