66 Best universities for Development Studies in Spain

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Spain ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 1.73M citations received by 80.4K academic papers made by 66 universities in Spain 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. Autonomous University of Barcelona

Spain | Cerdanyola del Valles

For Development Studies

#56 in Europe

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 30,926

2. University of Barcelona

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#75 in Europe

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 64,236
Male:Female: 86:14

3. Pompeu Fabra University

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#78 in Europe

#254 in the World

Enrollment: 15,801

4. University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Development Studies

#99 in Europe

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 58,390

5. University of Granada

Spain | Granada

For Development Studies

#111 in Europe

#368 in the World

Founded: 1531

6. Complutense University of Madrid

For Development Studies

#113 in Europe

#370 in the World

Enrollment: 71,806
Founded: 1508

7. Carlos III University, Madrid

For Development Studies

#131 in Europe

#418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1989

8. University of Seville

Spain | Seville

For Development Studies

#136 in Europe

#434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1505

9. University of Saragossa

Spain | Zaragoza

For Development Studies

#155 in Europe

#474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1542

10. University of the Basque Country

For Development Studies

#170 in Europe

#514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 63,000

11. Autonomous University of Madrid

For Development Studies

#175 in Europe

#526 in the World

Founded: 1968

12. Polytechnic University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Development Studies

#178 in Europe

#531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 28,450
Founded: 1968

13. Technical University of Catalonia

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#183 in Europe

#548 in the World

Enrollment: 29,812

14. Technical University of Madrid

For Development Studies

#224 in Europe

#649 in the World

Founded: 1971

15. University of Murcia

For Development Studies

#227 in Europe

#667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1272

16. University of Malaga

For Development Studies

#229 in Europe

#670 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 36,054
Founded: 1972

17. University of Oviedo

For Development Studies

#233 in Europe

#679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1604

18. University of Alicante

Spain | San Vicente del Raspeig

For Development Studies

#239 in Europe

#689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1979

19. University of Castilla La Mancha

Spain | Ciudad Real

For Development Studies

#248 in Europe

#710 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1982

20. University of Santiago de Compostela

Spain | Santiago de Compostela

For Development Studies

#260 in Europe

#746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1495

21. University of Salamanca

Spain | Salamanca

For Development Studies

#294 in Europe

#845 in the World

Founded: 1218

22. James I University

Spain | Castellon de la Plana

For Development Studies

#298 in Europe

#855 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,343

23. University of Valladolid

Spain | Valladolid

For Development Studies

#300 in Europe

#863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1346

24. University of Navarra

Spain | Pamplona

For Development Studies

#301 in Europe

#864 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 12,779
Founded: 1952

25. Rovira i Virgili University

Spain | Tarragona

For Development Studies

#337 in Europe

#969 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 11,621

26. University of Alcala

Spain | Alcala de Henares

For Development Studies

#340 in Europe

#977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,067
Founded: 1499

27. University of Vigo

For Development Studies

#346 in Europe

#1000 in the World

Enrollment: 18,577
Founded: 1989

28. University King Juan Carlos

Spain | Mostoles

For Development Studies

#354 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1996

29. University of Cantabria

Spain | Santander

For Development Studies

#356 in Europe

#1037 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1972

30. University of Almeria

Spain | Almeria

For Development Studies

#362 in Europe

#1054 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1993

31. University of Extremadura

Spain | Badajoz

For Development Studies

#382 in Europe

#1124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1973

32. University of La Rioja

Spain | Logrono

For Development Studies

#383 in Europe

#1126 in the World

Founded: 1992

33. University of Girona

For Development Studies

#390 in Europe

#1176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 15,336

34. Public University of Navarre

Spain | Pamplona

For Development Studies

#391 in Europe

#1177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1987

35. University of La Laguna

Spain | San Cristobal de La Laguna

For Development Studies

#394 in Europe

#1191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1927

36. University Pablo de Olavide, Seville

Spain | Seville

For Development Studies

#395 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1997

37. University of Cadiz

For Development Studies

#405 in Europe

#1233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 22,500
Founded: 1979

38. Miguel Hernandez University of Elche

For Development Studies

#417 in Europe

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 19,900
Founded: 1996

39. University of A Coruna

Spain | A Coruna

For Development Studies

#427 in Europe

#1291 in the World

Founded: 1989

40. University of Deusto

For Development Studies

#430 in Europe

#1298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1886

41. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Spain | Las Palmas

For Development Studies

#445 in Europe

#1354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

42. University of Jaen

For Development Studies

#449 in Europe

#1368 in the World

Founded: 1993

43. University of Cordoba

Spain | Cordoba

For Development Studies

#453 in Europe

#1384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1972

44. University of the Balearic Islands

Spain | Palma de Mallorca

For Development Studies

#455 in Europe

#1392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 11,359
Founded: 1978

45. University of Huelva

For Development Studies

#477 in Europe

#1473 in the World

Founded: 1993

46. University Ramon Llull

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#482 in Europe

#1506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 21,253

47. University of Lleida

For Development Studies

#526 in Europe

#1680 in the World

Enrollment: 10,674

48. Polytechnic University of Cartagena

Spain | Cartagena

For Development Studies

#538 in Europe

#1733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1998

49. University of Leon

For Development Studies

#569 in Europe

#1874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1979

50. IE University

Spain | Segovia

For Development Studies

#623 in Europe

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1997

51. International University of Catalonia

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#634 in Europe

#2215 in the World

Enrollment: 4,323

52. University of Burgos

For Development Studies

#700 in Europe

#2508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

53. Comillas Pontifical University

For Development Studies

#702 in Europe

#2522 in the World

Founded: 1890

54. University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia

For Development Studies

#723 in Europe

#2632 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment: 9,685

55. European University of Madrid

Spain | Villaviciosa de Odon

For Development Studies

#738 in Europe

#2716 in the World

Founded: 1995

56. Loyola University Andalusia

Spain | Seville

For Development Studies

#754 in Europe

#2831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 2011

57. Saint Anthony Catholic University

Spain | Guadalupe

For Development Studies

#819 in Europe

#3196 in the World

Founded: 1996

58. San Vicente Martir Catholic University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Development Studies

#839 in Europe

#3294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 2003

59. CEU University of San Pablo

For Development Studies

#860 in Europe

#3471 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1993

60. Nebrija University

For Development Studies

#871 in Europe

#3565 in the World

Founded: 1995

61. Francisco de Vitoria University

For Development Studies

#884 in Europe

#3625 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. Camilo Jose Cela University

Spain | Villafranca del Castillo

For Development Studies

#945 in Europe

#3935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1999

63. CEU Cardenal Herrera University

Spain | Moncada

For Development Studies

#964 in Europe

#4012 in the World

Founded: 1999

64. Catholic University of Avila

For Development Studies

#1030 in Europe

#4360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1996

65. Mondragon University

Spain | Mondragon

For Development Studies

#1061 in Europe

#4542 in the World

66. Pontifical University of Salamanca

Spain | Salamanca

For Development Studies

#1180 in Europe

#5201 in the World

Founded: 1940

The best cities to study Development Studies in Spain based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Valencia, and Granada.

Economics subfields in Spain

Actuarial Science36

Agricultural Economics23

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics61

Environmental Economics50

International Economics55

International Relations and Diplomacy16

International Trade57

Investment Banking and Stock trading42

Political Economy28