100 Best universities for Economics in Germany

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 10M citations received by 370K academic papers made by 162 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

#53 in Europe

#177 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

2. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#61 in Europe

#187 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#67 in Europe

#198 in the World

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

4. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Economics

#68 in Europe

#202 in the World

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

5. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Economics

#69 in Europe

#203 in the World

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

6. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#76 in Europe

#215 in the World

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

7. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#92 in Europe

#259 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

8. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#93 in Europe

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 37,908
Founded: 1948

9. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Economics

#101 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Economics

#104 in Europe

#293 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#105 in Europe

#303 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

12. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Economics

#114 in Europe

#323 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

13. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Economics

#122 in Europe

#340 in the World

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

14. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#124 in Europe

#348 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Economics

#130 in Europe

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 39,658
Founded: 1743

16. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Economics

#131 in Europe

#366 in the World

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

17. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Economics

#148 in Europe

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 28,238
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1477

18. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Economics

#150 in Europe

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 23,342
Founded: 1969

19. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Economics

#174 in Europe

#458 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

20. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Economics

#185 in Europe

#481 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Economics

#186 in Europe

#483 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#188 in Europe

#491 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

23. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Economics

#189 in Europe

#493 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

24. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Economics

#191 in Europe

#498 in the World

Enrollment: 10,939
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1966

25. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Economics

#194 in Europe

#506 in the World

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

26. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Economics

#198 in Europe

#524 in the World

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

27. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Economics

#200 in Europe

#527 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

28. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Economics

#204 in Europe

#539 in the World

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

29. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Economics

#205 in Europe

#546 in the World

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

30. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Economics

#206 in Europe

#547 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

31. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Economics

#217 in Europe

#578 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

32. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#229 in Europe

#601 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

33. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Economics

#241 in Europe

#627 in the World

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

34. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Economics

#247 in Europe

#640 in the World

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

35. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Economics

#258 in Europe

#672 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

36. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Economics

#262 in Europe

#680 in the World

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

37. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Economics

#264 in Europe

#684 in the World

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

38. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Economics

#279 in Europe

#724 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

39. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Economics

#283 in Europe

#743 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

40. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Economics

#287 in Europe

#747 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

41. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Economics

#291 in Europe

#759 in the World

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

42. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Economics

#292 in Europe

#762 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

43. University of Kassel

For Economics

#295 in Europe

#769 in the World

Enrollment: 21,352
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1971

44. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Economics

#297 in Europe

#772 in the World

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

45. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Economics

#319 in Europe

#826 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

46. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Economics

#320 in Europe

#829 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

47. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Economics

#338 in Europe

#871 in the World

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

48. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Economics

#339 in Europe

#872 in the World

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

49. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Economics

#357 in Europe

#937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,250
Founded: 1948

50. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Economics

#364 in Europe

#952 in the World

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

51. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Economics

#375 in Europe

#978 in the World

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

52. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Economics

#376 in Europe

#979 in the World

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

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Economics

#381 in Europe

#994 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Economics

#382 in Europe

#998 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 19,387
Founded: 1817

55. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Economics

#390 in Europe

#1016 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

56. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Economics

#402 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

57. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Economics

#404 in Europe

#1057 in the World

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

58. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Economics

#407 in Europe

#1064 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1972

59. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Economics

#413 in Europe

#1077 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

60. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Economics

#424 in Europe

#1102 in the World

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

61. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Economics

#446 in Europe

#1174 in the World

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

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Economics

#461 in Europe

#1230 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#462 in Europe

#1231 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

64. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Economics

#476 in Europe

#1306 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

65. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#485 in Europe

#1334 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

66. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Economics

#492 in Europe

#1348 in the World

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

67. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Economics

#499 in Europe

#1374 in the World

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

68. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#500 in Europe

#1376 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

69. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Economics

#505 in Europe

#1391 in the World

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

70. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Economics

#517 in Europe

#1444 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

71. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Economics

#528 in Europe

#1502 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

72. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Economics

#537 in Europe

#1535 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

73. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#542 in Europe

#1556 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

74. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Economics

#548 in Europe

#1575 in the World

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

75. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Economics

#587 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

76. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Economics

#607 in Europe

#1824 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,084
Founded: 1973

77. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Economics

#630 in Europe

#1909 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

78. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Economics

#641 in Europe

#2003 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

79. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Economics

#642 in Europe

#2004 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

80. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Economics

#647 in Europe

#2044 in the World

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

81. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Economics

#648 in Europe

#2052 in the World

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

82. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Economics

#660 in Europe

#2111 in the World

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

83. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#677 in Europe

#2233 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

84. HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Saxony | Leipzig

For Economics

#702 in Europe

#2319 in the World

Enrollment: 737
Founded: 1898

85. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#704 in Europe

#2324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

86. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Economics

#705 in Europe

#2328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

87. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Economics

#720 in Europe

#2401 in the World

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

88. Hamburg School of Business Administration

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#725 in Europe

#2424 in the World

Enrollment: 731
Founded: 2004

89. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#740 in Europe

#2478 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

90. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Economics

#744 in Europe

#2509 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

91. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#764 in Europe

#2624 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

92. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Economics

#768 in Europe

#2634 in the World

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

93. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#790 in Europe

#2780 in the World

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

94. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Economics

#807 in Europe

#2898 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

95. University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#822 in Europe

#2989 in the World

Enrollment: 47,098
Founded: 1993

96. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#826 in Europe

#3013 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

97. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Economics

#827 in Europe

#3017 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

98. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Economics

#839 in Europe

#3084 in the World

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

99. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#851 in Europe

#3148 in the World

Enrollment: 12,833
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1971

100. Pforzheim University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Pforzheim

For Economics

#852 in Europe

#3150 in the World

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

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

Economics subfields in Germany

Actuarial Science63

Agricultural Economics16

Development Studies138

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics108

Environmental Economics60

International Economics80

International Relations and Diplomacy38

International Trade85

Investment Banking and Stock trading73

Political Economy64