100 Best universities for Economics in Germany

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 6.31M citations received by 324K academic papers made by 161 universities in Germany 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. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Economics

#62 in Europe

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

2. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#63 in Europe

#194 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Economics

#66 in Europe

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 38,043
Founded: 1818

4. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Economics

#73 in Europe

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

5. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#74 in Europe

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 52,418
Founded: 1472

6. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#77 in Europe

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 44,000
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1868

7. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#93 in Europe

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 37,608
Founded: 1948

8. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#98 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

9. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Economics

#101 in Europe

#283 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

10. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#106 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1388

11. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Economics

#109 in Europe

#306 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

12. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Economics

#112 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

13. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Economics

#122 in Europe

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 23,321
Founded: 2009

14. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#129 in Europe

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Economics

#133 in Europe

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 38,878
Founded: 1743

16. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Economics

#138 in Europe

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 23,938
Founded: 1457

17. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Economics

#154 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 27,770
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1477

18. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Economics

#155 in Europe

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 24,488
Founded: 1969

19. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Economics

#168 in Europe

#443 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

20. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Economics

#175 in Europe

#463 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

21. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Economics

#178 in Europe

#468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 34,616
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1968

22. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Economics

#182 in Europe

#474 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

23. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Economics

#183 in Europe

#486 in the World

Enrollment: 10,964
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1966

24. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#186 in Europe

#490 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

25. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Economics

#187 in Europe

#492 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

26. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Economics

#192 in Europe

#503 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

27. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Economics

#198 in Europe

#521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 43,728
Founded: 1780

28. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Economics

#201 in Europe

#535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 33,132
Founded: 1946

29. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Economics

#202 in Europe

#536 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Economics

#212 in Europe

#557 in the World

Enrollment: 37,473
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1965

31. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Economics

#215 in Europe

#564 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

32. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Economics

#230 in Europe

#602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 31,088
Founded: 1409

33. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Economics

#248 in Europe

#635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 27,184
Founded: 1607

34. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#249 in Europe

#636 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Economics

#252 in Europe

#649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 17,345
Founded: 1558

36. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Economics

#253 in Europe

#651 in the World

Enrollment: 27,149
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1402

37. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Economics

#261 in Europe

#668 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

38. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Economics

#264 in Europe

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

39. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Economics

#266 in Europe

#689 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

40. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Economics

#280 in Europe

#719 in the World

Enrollment: 8,392
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1818

41. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Economics

#290 in Europe

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 19,975
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1970

42. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Economics

#292 in Europe

#749 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,773
Founded: 1972

43. University of Kassel

For Economics

#294 in Europe

#753 in the World

Enrollment: 25,043
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1971

44. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Economics

#297 in Europe

#759 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

45. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Economics

#299 in Europe

#767 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

46. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Economics

#305 in Europe

#780 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

47. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Economics

#319 in Europe

#809 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

48. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Economics

#326 in Europe

#821 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 17,794
Founded: 1745

49. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Economics

#340 in Europe

#862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 19,110
Founded: 1972

50. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Economics

#343 in Europe

#872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,604
Founded: 1948

51. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Economics

#352 in Europe

#920 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,390
Founded: 1817

52. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Economics

#359 in Europe

#936 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

53. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Economics

#360 in Europe

#938 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

54. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Economics

#361 in Europe

#939 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,564
Founded: 1970

55. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Economics

#363 in Europe

#943 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

56. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Economics

#365 in Europe

#945 in the World

Enrollment: 13,607
Male:Female: 60:40
Founded: 1970

57. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Economics

#397 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

58. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Economics

#404 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 3,843
Founded: 1965

59. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Economics

#407 in Europe

#1045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1972

60. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Economics

#423 in Europe

#1102 in the World

Enrollment: 12,996
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1419

61. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Economics

#439 in Europe

#1131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 1,278
Founded: 1957

62. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#452 in Europe

#1172 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

63. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Economics

#465 in Europe

#1219 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

64. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Economics

#469 in Europe

#1225 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

65. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Economics

#478 in Europe

#1251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,210
Founded: 1991

66. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Economics

#487 in Europe

#1285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 11,846
Founded: 1973

67. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Economics

#490 in Europe

#1311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,894
Founded: 1982

68. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#494 in Europe

#1336 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

69. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Economics

#497 in Europe

#1344 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

70. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Economics

#502 in Europe

#1354 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

71. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#515 in Europe

#1425 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

72. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Economics

#523 in Europe

#1469 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

73. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Economics

#532 in Europe

#1494 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

74. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#551 in Europe

#1559 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

75. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Economics

#572 in Europe

#1638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,052
Founded: 1994

76. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Economics

#575 in Europe

#1671 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1971

77. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Economics

#579 in Europe

#1685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 2,889
Founded: 1973

78. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Economics

#594 in Europe

#1788 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

79. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Economics

#601 in Europe

#1815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 4,910
Founded: 1980

80. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Economics

#625 in Europe

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 2,227
Founded: 1971

81. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Economics

#634 in Europe

#1935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 7,280
Founded: 2013

82. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Economics

#643 in Europe

#1986 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

83. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#650 in Europe

#2070 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

84. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#662 in Europe

#2111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

85. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Economics

#676 in Europe

#2190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 3,446
Founded: 1775

86. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Economics

#685 in Europe

#2237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 13,671
Founded: 1971

87. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Economics

#691 in Europe

#2265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

88. HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Saxony | Leipzig

For Economics

#692 in Europe

#2266 in the World

Enrollment: 737
Founded: 1898

89. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#712 in Europe

#2398 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

90. Hamburg School of Business Administration

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#713 in Europe

#2402 in the World

Enrollment: 731
Founded: 2004

91. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#743 in Europe

#2578 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

92. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#754 in Europe

#2627 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

93. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#775 in Europe

#2711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1947

94. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Economics

#783 in Europe

#2744 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

95. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#789 in Europe

#2780 in the World

Enrollment: 13,494
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1971

96. University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#806 in Europe

#2879 in the World

Enrollment: 21,263
Founded: 1993

97. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Economics

#808 in Europe

#2884 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

98. Munich Business School

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#810 in Europe

#2891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 637
Founded: 1991

99. Pforzheim University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Pforzheim

For Economics

#826 in Europe

#2990 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 5,753
Founded: 1877

100. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Economics

#828 in Europe

#2999 in the World

Enrollment: 5,333
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1946

The best cities to study Economics in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Frankfurt, Hamburg, Bonn, and Heidelberg.

Economics subfields in Germany

Actuarial Science63

Agricultural Economics17

Development Studies132

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics104

Environmental Economics58

International Economics77

International Relations and Diplomacy37

International Trade84

Investment Banking and Stock trading72

Political Economy58