Best Universities for Economics in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 196M citations received by 10.3M academic papers made by 5,995 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Economics

#2 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Economics

#3 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Economics

#4 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#5 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

7. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

8. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

9. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

10. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Economics

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

11. New York University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

12. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

13. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Economics

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

14. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Economics

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

16. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Economics

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

17. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

18. London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Economics

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

20. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Economics

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#18 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

23. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#19 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

24. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Economics

#20 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

25. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Economics

#21 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#22 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

27. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Economics

#23 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

28. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#24 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

29. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Economics

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

30. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Economics

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

31. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Economics

#25 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

32. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Economics

#26 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

33. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#5 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

34. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Economics

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

35. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Economics

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

36. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Economics

#1 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

37. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Economics

#6 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

38. Australian National University

Australia | Canberra

For Economics

#3 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1946

39. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Economics

#29 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

40. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Economics

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

41. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Economics

#2 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

42. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Economics

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

43. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Economics

#30 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

44. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#31 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

45. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Economics

#6 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

46. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Economics

#32 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

47. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#33 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

48. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Economics

#34 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

49. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#35 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

50. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Economics

#36 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

51. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Economics

#7 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

52. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#37 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

53. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#8 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

54. Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands | Rotterdam

For Economics

#9 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

55. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#10 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

56. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Economics

#38 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

57. University of Warwick

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#11 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

58. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#39 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

59. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Economics

#40 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

60. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Economics

#12 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

61. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#13 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

62. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Economics

#41 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

63. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Economics

#42 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

64. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Economics

#43 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

65. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#14 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1905

66. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#44 in North America

#5 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

67. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Economics

#15 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

68. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#16 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

69. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Economics

#45 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

70. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Economics

#46 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

71. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#17 in Europe

#13 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

72. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#18 in Europe

#14 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

73. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Economics

#3 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

74. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#47 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

75. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Economics

#48 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

76. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#49 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

77. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Economics

#50 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

78. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Economics

#51 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

79. University of Tokyo

For Economics

#4 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

80. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#19 in Europe

#15 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

81. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Economics

#52 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

82. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Economics

#53 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

83. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Economics

#20 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

84. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Economics

#21 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 23,420

85. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Economics

#54 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

86. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Economics

#5 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

87. University of Sussex

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#22 in Europe

#16 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

88. University of Groningen

Netherlands | Groningen

For Economics

#23 in Europe

#4 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

89. Chinese University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Economics

#6 in Asia

#3 in China

Founded: 1963

90. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#55 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

91. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Economics

#7 in Asia

#4 in China

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

92. Tilburg University

Netherlands | Tilburg

For Economics

#24 in Europe

#5 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 17,378
Founded: 1927

93. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

China | Hong Kong

For Economics

#8 in Asia

#5 in China

Founded: 1937

94. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Economics

#56 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

95. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#57 in North America

#7 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

96. University of York

United Kingdom | England

For Economics

#25 in Europe

#17 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

97. University of Auckland

New Zealand | Auckland

For Economics

#1 in New Zealand

Founded: 1883

98. Lund University

For Economics

#26 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

99. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Economics

#58 in North America

#51 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

100. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Economics

#59 in North America

#52 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

Economics subfields in the World

Actuarial Science1147

Agricultural Economics1007

Development Studies5236

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics3331

Environmental Economics1558

International Economics1424

International Relations and Diplomacy1024

International Trade1636

Investment Banking and Stock trading1716

Political Economy1244