77 Best universities for Economics in Italy

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Italy ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 6.83M citations received by 289K academic papers made by 77 universities in Italy 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. University of Bologna

Emilia-Romagna | Bologna

For Economics

#43 in Europe

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 96,945
Founded: 1088

2. Sapienza University of Rome

For Economics

#47 in Europe

#158 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

3. Bocconi University

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#62 in Europe

#189 in the World

Founded: 1902

4. University of Padua

For Economics

#73 in Europe

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 1222

5. Polytechnic University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#84 in Europe

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 48,645
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1863

6. University of Milan

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#91 in Europe

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 65,234
Founded: 1924

7. University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Economics

#120 in Europe

#336 in the World

Founded: 1404

8. Federico II University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Economics

#132 in Europe

#368 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1224

9. University of Florence

Tuscany | Florence

For Economics

#139 in Europe

#385 in the World

Founded: 1321

10. University of Rome Tor Vergata

For Economics

#147 in Europe

#399 in the World

Founded: 1982

11. University of Trento

Trentino-South Tyrol | Trento

For Economics

#153 in Europe

#417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 16,239
Founded: 1962

12. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#156 in Europe

#423 in the World

Founded: 1921

13. University of Pisa

For Economics

#163 in Europe

#438 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 47,736
Founded: 1343

14. University of Milano-Bicocca

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#175 in Europe

#459 in the World

Enrollment: 33,741
Founded: 1998

15. University of Pavia

Lombardy | Pavia

For Economics

#181 in Europe

#471 in the World

Enrollment: 23,849
Founded: 1361

16. Polytechnic University of Turin

Piedmont | Turin

For Economics

#187 in Europe

#487 in the World

Founded: 1859

17. University of Genoa

Liguria | Genoa

For Economics

#215 in Europe

#571 in the World

Enrollment: 36,728
Founded: 1481

18. University of Salerno

Campania | Salerno

For Economics

#221 in Europe

#587 in the World

Enrollment: 33,332
Founded: 1944

19. University of Palermo

Sicily | Palermo

For Economics

#225 in Europe

#596 in the World

Founded: 1806

20. University of Catania

Sicily | Catania

For Economics

#231 in Europe

#604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 44,338
Founded: 1434

21. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Emilia-Romagna | Modena

For Economics

#240 in Europe

#625 in the World

Founded: 1175

22. University of Siena

Tuscany | Siena

For Economics

#250 in Europe

#648 in the World

Founded: 1240

23. Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Economics

#276 in Europe

#718 in the World

Founded: 1868

24. University of Bari

For Economics

#278 in Europe

#723 in the World

Founded: 1924

25. University of Cagliari

Sardinia | Cagliari

For Economics

#281 in Europe

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 26,069
Founded: 1620

26. University of Verona

Veneto | Verona

For Economics

#289 in Europe

#753 in the World

Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1959

27. University of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Economics

#293 in Europe

#763 in the World

Enrollment: 26,732
Founded: 1308

28. Roma Tre University

For Economics

#296 in Europe

#771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1992

29. University of Brescia

Lombardy | Brescia

For Economics

#300 in Europe

#776 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 16,800
Founded: 1982

30. Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

For Economics

#307 in Europe

#796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 1987

31. Polytechnical University of Marche

Marche | Ancona

For Economics

#309 in Europe

#799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1969

32. University of Calabria

Calabria | Cosenza

For Economics

#314 in Europe

#818 in the World

Founded: 1972

33. LUISS University

For Economics

#322 in Europe

#831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 9,080
Founded: 1974

34. University of Parma

Emilia-Romagna | Parma

For Economics

#324 in Europe

#838 in the World

Founded: 1117

35. University of Trieste

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Economics

#329 in Europe

#855 in the World

Founded: 1877

36. University of Bergamo

Lombardy | Bergamo

For Economics

#334 in Europe

#861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1968

37. Parthenope University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Economics

#370 in Europe

#965 in the World

Founded: 1895

38. University of Udine

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Udine

For Economics

#393 in Europe

#1030 in the World

Founded: 1978

39. University of Salento

For Economics

#394 in Europe

#1032 in the World

Enrollment: 19,401
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1966

40. University of Aquila

Abruzzo | L'Aquila

For Economics

#396 in Europe

#1040 in the World

Founded: 1596

41. University of Ferrara

Emilia-Romagna | Ferrara

For Economics

#418 in Europe

#1087 in the World

Enrollment: 22,800
Founded: 1391

42. Free University of Bozen

Trentino-South Tyrol | Bolzano

For Economics

#419 in Europe

#1088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 4,216
Founded: 1997

43. University of Messina

Sicily | Messina

For Economics

#421 in Europe

#1097 in the World

Enrollment: 24,780
Founded: 1548

44. International School for Advanced Studies

Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste

For Economics

#428 in Europe

#1115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1978

45. G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti

Abruzzo | Chieti

For Economics

#443 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 24,716
Founded: 1965

46. Normal School of Pisa

For Economics

#454 in Europe

#1199 in the World

Founded: 1810

47. University of Eastern Piedmont

Piedmont | Vercelli

For Economics

#467 in Europe

#1255 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1998

48. Polytechnic University of Bari

For Economics

#469 in Europe

#1265 in the World

Founded: 1990

49. University of Sassari

Sardinia | Sassari

For Economics

#475 in Europe

#1298 in the World

Founded: 1558

50. University of Insubria

Lombardy | Varese

For Economics

#477 in Europe

#1318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1998

51. Carlo Bo University of Urbino

Marche | Urbino

For Economics

#484 in Europe

#1329 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 1506

52. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

Campania | Caserta

For Economics

#488 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1991

53. University of Cassino and Southern Lazio

Lazio | Cassino

For Economics

#524 in Europe

#1470 in the World

Founded: 1979

54. University of Foggia

Apulia | Foggia

For Economics

#532 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Founded: 1999

55. University of Macerata

Marche | Macerata

For Economics

#558 in Europe

#1613 in the World

Enrollment: 9,646
Founded: 1290

56. University of Tuscia

Lazio | Viterbo

For Economics

#565 in Europe

#1631 in the World

Founded: 1979

57. University of Sannio

Campania | Benevento

For Economics

#575 in Europe

#1675 in the World

Founded: 1998

58. Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria

Calabria | Reggio Calabria

For Economics

#582 in Europe

#1694 in the World

Enrollment: 8,950
Founded: 1982

59. Basilicata University

Basilicata | Potenza

For Economics

#617 in Europe

#1872 in the World

Enrollment: 6,631
Founded: 1982

60. University of Camerino

Marche | Camerino

For Economics

#637 in Europe

#1948 in the World

Founded: 1727

61. University of Molise

Molise | Campobasso

For Economics

#640 in Europe

#1991 in the World

Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 1982

62. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#655 in Europe

#2094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1996

63. IUAV University of Venice

Veneto | Venice

For Economics

#729 in Europe

#2438 in the World

Founded: 1926

64. University of Catanzaro

Calabria | Catanzaro

For Economics

#737 in Europe

#2472 in the World

Founded: 1998

65. Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome

For Economics

#743 in Europe

#2493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1993

66. Maria Santissima Assunta Free University

For Economics

#749 in Europe

#2541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1939

67. University of Teramo

Abruzzo | Teramo

For Economics

#782 in Europe

#2724 in the World

Enrollment: 5,057
Founded: 1993

68. Carlo Cattaneo University

Lombardy | Castellanza

For Economics

#792 in Europe

#2794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1991

69. IULM University

Lombardy | Milan

For Economics

#876 in Europe

#3278 in the World

Enrollment: 5,741
Founded: 1968

70. Kore University of Enna

For Economics

#899 in Europe

#3396 in the World

Founded: 2005

71. University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Campania | Naples

For Economics

#925 in Europe

#3511 in the World

Founded: 1732

72. Foro Italico University of Rome

For Economics

#1129 in Europe

#4667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 2,377
Founded: 1998

73. University of Gastronomic Sciences

For Economics

#1218 in Europe

#5205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 273
Founded: 2004

74. Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples

Campania | Naples

For Economics

#1250 in Europe

#5377 in the World

Founded: 2004

75. University of Italian Studies for Foreigners of Perugia

Umbria | Perugia

For Economics

#1288 in Europe

#5607 in the World

Founded: 1925

76. Pontifical Gregorian University

For Economics

#1291 in Europe

#5627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 2,754
Founded: 1551

77. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

For Economics

#1352 in Europe

#5954 in the World

Founded: 1984

The best cities to study Economics in Italy based on the number of universities and their ranks are Bologna, Rome, Milan, and Padua.

Economics subfields in Italy

Actuarial Science43

Agricultural Economics25

Development Studies73

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics70

Environmental Economics56

International Economics60

International Relations and Diplomacy20

International Trade63

Investment Banking and Stock trading58

Political Economy41