How prestigious is the École Polytechnique?

École Polytechnique (l'X) is extremely prestigious, considered France's top Grande École for science and engineering, highly selective (under 10% acceptance) and globally renowned for rigorous training, research, and powerful alumni network in tech, industry, and government, often compared to Caltech but with a unique French military/national service history.

Is the École Polytechnique prestigious?

École Polytechnique, is the most prestigious engineering Grande École in France. A degree from École Polytechnique is highly competitive as the university is regularly recognised amongst top engineering institutions. QS World Rankings placed it as 18th out of 499 universities across the world for employability.

Is it hard to get into the École Polytechnique?

X has one of the fiercest competitions in france. it is very hard to get into, and there's also a 50% drop rate in the first year. if you do not want fierce competition, run away. it is considered one of the best, if not the best, for engineering in france. and that reputation's likely the same for all diplomas.

Is EPFL a prestigious university?

EPFL is recognised among the most dynamic and prestigious universities in the world for the quality of its education, research and innovation. The graph below reflects the results of EPFL in various international rankings.

Is EPFL hard to get into?

Yes, getting into EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) is generally considered hard and competitive, especially for international students and for popular Master's programs like Computer Science, requiring strong academic performance (often 80%+ in high school or high GPA for Master's), relevant coursework, and potentially strong projects/research, though requirements vary by program and application type (Bachelor's vs. Master's). While Swiss students with a gymnasiale maturité get in, international applicants face stricter limits, with potential caps on first-year Bachelor's students and a focus on high grades in math and related subjects, plus a challenging transition to rigorous studies after admission. 

Polytechnique: The last classroom Marc Lépine visited

Is EPFL as good as ETH?

According to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, ETH Zurich has maintained its position as continental Europe's top university, placing 11th worldwide. Its sister institution, EPFL, ranks 35th, still among the world's best for science and technology.

What are the top 3 hardest colleges to get into?

Here is our list of the 26 lowest acceptance rate colleges, as reported by U.S. News.

• Top 26 Hardest Colleges to Get Into.
• 1. California Institute of Technology. ...
• Harvard University. ...
• Columbia University. ...
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ...
• Stanford University. ...
• Brown University. ...
• University of Chicago.

What is the #1 most prestigious university in the world?

There's no single #1, as different rankings highlight different strengths, but Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Oxford consistently appear at the top, often swapping places depending on the ranking system (like U.S. News, THE, QS) and methodology (research, reputation, student outcomes). Harvard often leads in reputation and overall prestige, MIT excels in science/tech, while Oxford frequently ranks #1 for overall excellence in recent years, notes Times Higher Education (THE). 

Which is World No. 1 Engineering College?

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently ranks as the world's number one engineering college across major rankings like QS and Times Higher Education for 2025-2026, known for its innovation, research, and top-tier faculty, closely followed by institutions like Stanford University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. MIT's strength lies in its diverse engineering departments and interdisciplinary approach, fostering cutting-edge advancements in fields from AI to nanotechnology.
 

What is the most elite university in France?

There isn't one single "most prestigious" university, as it depends on discipline, but Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL), Université Paris-Saclay, and Sorbonne University consistently rank at the top globally, while highly selective Grandes Écoles like École Polytechnique (engineering) and Sciences Po (politics/social sciences) hold immense prestige within France, especially for careers. PSL excels in research and interdisciplinary studies, Paris-Saclay in science/engineering, and Sorbonne for history and broad research, while Grandes Écoles offer elite, specialized pathways.
 

Why is the école polytechnique called LX?

The school was often simply called "Polytechnique". The school has been nicknamed "l'X" or the "X" since the middle of the 19th century. Two explanations have been put forward. One points to the two crossed cannons on the school's badge.

How difficult is it to get into the Ecole Polytechnique?

It is one of the most selective universities in France and the world, with an acceptance rate of less than 10%. École Polytechnique is known for its rigorous academic program, which combines a strong foundation in mathematics and science with a broad range of courses in engineering, humanities, and social sciences.

What is the most prestigious school for engineering?

Here are the 2025 Best Engineering Schools

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Stanford University.
• University of California, Berkeley.
• Georgia Institute of Technology.
• California Institute of Technology.
• Purdue University--Main Campus.
• Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie)

What is the easiest university to get into in France?

• Paris Diderot University – Paris 7. Acceptance rate: 100% ...
• University of Strasbourg. Acceptance rate: 99% ...
• University of Paris-South XI. Acceptance rate: 99% ...
• University of Paris XIII. Acceptance rate: 98% ...
• Sorbonne University. ...
• University of Bordeaux Montaigne. ...
• American University of Paris. ...
• University of Rouen Normandie.

Which is better, ETH Zurich or EPFL?

While EPFL has a higher ratio of international students, ETH Zurich has a much larger student community overall – it's around twice the size of EPFL. As is to be expected of universities with a strong research focus, both have a high proportion of master's and doctorate students.

Can I study in Switzerland if I only speak English?

Can You Study in Switzerland With Only English? There are many Swiss universities where you can study entirely in English. Business schools, hospitality programs, and STEM fields are most likely to have English-taught courses.

Why is tuition so cheap in Switzerland?

Public Swiss universities receive significant funding from the government. That's why tuition fees are more affordable when compared to fees charged by universities from the UK or the US. International students who come to Switzerland on an exchange programme don't pay any tuition fee.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

What is the most elite university?

12 Best Colleges in the U.S.

1. Princeton University. As noted above, Princeton ranks at the top of our best colleges list. ...
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ...
3. Harvard University. ...
4. Stanford University. ...
5. Yale University. ...
6. 6. California Institute of Technology. ...
7. Duke University. ...
8. Johns Hopkins University.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of families disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth College, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Duke University, Stanford University, and Princeton University, with studies showing over 20% of students at some of these schools come from the top 1% of the income ladder, often more than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Other affluent institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and Bowdoin College also have significant representation from the wealthiest families.
 

What's the easiest Ivy League to get into?

Statistically, Cornell University is often cited as the "easiest" Ivy League to get into due to its highest overall acceptance rate (around 8-9%), but it's crucial to understand that no Ivy is easy, and acceptance varies significantly by college within Cornell, with some programs like Engineering being highly competitive, while Hotel Administration and ILR are less so. Dartmouth College and Brown University are next in line by acceptance rate, but all Ivies are extremely selective.