100 Best universities for Economics in Germany

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 9.25M citations received by 362K 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

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

2. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#62 in Europe

#190 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Economics

#66 in Europe

#197 in the World

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

4. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#68 in Europe

#200 in the World

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

5. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Economics

#69 in Europe

#201 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

#217 in the World

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

7. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#91 in Europe

#254 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

8. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#92 in Europe

#256 in the World

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

9. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Economics

#99 in Europe

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Economics

#103 in Europe

#290 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#106 in Europe

#296 in the World

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

12. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Economics

#114 in Europe

#322 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

13. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Economics

#120 in Europe

#337 in the World

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

14. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#123 in Europe

#346 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Economics

#130 in Europe

#364 in the World

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

16. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Economics

#132 in Europe

#369 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

#408 in the World

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

19. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Economics

#172 in Europe

#456 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

20. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Economics

#183 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Economics

#184 in Europe

#481 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#186 in Europe

#484 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

23. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Economics

#187 in Europe

#487 in the World

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

24. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Economics

#189 in Europe

#489 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

25. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Economics

#190 in Europe

#497 in the World

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

26. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Economics

#196 in Europe

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

27. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Economics

#197 in Europe

#523 in the World

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

28. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Economics

#204 in Europe

#538 in the World

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

29. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Economics

#205 in Europe

#543 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Economics

#207 in Europe

#547 in the World

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

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

#230 in Europe

#609 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

33. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Economics

#240 in Europe

#623 in the World

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

34. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Economics

#242 in Europe

#630 in the World

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

35. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Economics

#258 in Europe

#669 in the World

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

36. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Economics

#262 in Europe

#677 in the World

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

37. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Economics

#264 in Europe

#683 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

38. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Economics

#278 in Europe

#721 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

39. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Economics

#281 in Europe

#730 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

40. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Economics

#282 in Europe

#732 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

41. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Economics

#289 in Europe

#753 in the World

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

42. University of Kassel

For Economics

#295 in Europe

#765 in the World

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

43. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Economics

#296 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

44. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Economics

#298 in Europe

#775 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

45. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Economics

#314 in Europe

#817 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

46. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Economics

#325 in Europe

#840 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

47. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Economics

#338 in Europe

#864 in the World

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

48. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Economics

#340 in Europe

#869 in the World

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

49. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Economics

#352 in Europe

#921 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,300
Founded: 1948

50. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Economics

#357 in Europe

#931 in the World

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

51. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Economics

#361 in Europe

#946 in the World

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

52. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Economics

#374 in Europe

#975 in the World

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

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Economics

#375 in Europe

#980 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Economics

#380 in Europe

#993 in the World

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

55. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Economics

#390 in Europe

#1020 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

56. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Economics

#399 in Europe

#1042 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

57. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Economics

#404 in Europe

#1050 in the World

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

58. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Economics

#407 in Europe

#1056 in the World

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

59. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Economics

#412 in Europe

#1067 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

60. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Economics

#427 in Europe

#1112 in the World

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

61. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Economics

#442 in Europe

#1153 in the World

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

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Economics

#464 in Europe

#1238 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#468 in Europe

#1254 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

64. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Economics

#474 in Europe

#1291 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

65. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#489 in Europe

#1338 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

66. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Economics

#496 in Europe

#1356 in the World

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

67. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Economics

#497 in Europe

#1358 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

#501 in Europe

#1378 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

69. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Economics

#502 in Europe

#1379 in the World

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

70. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Economics

#516 in Europe

#1435 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

71. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Economics

#525 in Europe

#1483 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

72. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Economics

#534 in Europe

#1523 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

73. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#547 in Europe

#1559 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

74. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Economics

#548 in Europe

#1562 in the World

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

75. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Economics

#583 in Europe

#1694 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

76. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Economics

#601 in Europe

#1806 in the World

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

77. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Economics

#605 in Europe

#1821 in the World

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

78. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Economics

#642 in Europe

#1975 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

79. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Economics

#643 in Europe

#2002 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

80. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Economics

#647 in Europe

#2029 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

#658 in Europe

#2098 in the World

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

83. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#678 in Europe

#2219 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

84. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#692 in Europe

#2270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

85. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Economics

#700 in Europe

#2317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

86. HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Saxony | Leipzig

For Economics

#713 in Europe

#2367 in the World

Enrollment: 737
Founded: 1898

87. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Economics

#716 in Europe

#2384 in the World

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

88. Hamburg School of Business Administration

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#734 in Europe

#2460 in the World

Enrollment: 731
Founded: 2004

89. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Economics

#736 in Europe

#2475 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

90. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Economics

#742 in Europe

#2504 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

91. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Economics

#750 in Europe

#2541 in the World

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

92. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#751 in Europe

#2551 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

93. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Economics

#794 in Europe

#2805 in the World

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

94. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Economics

#808 in Europe

#2891 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

95. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Economics

#817 in Europe

#2962 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

96. University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Economics

#822 in Europe

#2981 in the World

Enrollment: 21,263
Founded: 1993

97. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Economics

#827 in Europe

#2996 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

98. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Economics

#841 in Europe

#3094 in the World

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

99. Pforzheim University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Pforzheim

For Economics

#847 in Europe

#3130 in the World

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

100. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Economics

#851 in Europe

#3146 in the World

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

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

Economics subfields in Germany

Actuarial Science63

Agricultural Economics16

Development Studies137

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics108

Environmental Economics59

International Economics79

International Relations and Diplomacy36

International Trade85

Investment Banking and Stock trading73

Political Economy63