100 Best universities for Economics in Japan

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 4.1M citations received by 274K academic papers made by 338 universities in Japan 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 Tokyo

For Economics

#5 in Asia

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,479
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Economics

#15 in Asia

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Founded: 1897

3. Osaka University

For Economics

#40 in Asia

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Founded: 1931

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Economics

#60 in Asia

#405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,560
Founded: 1911

5. Tohoku University

For Economics

#61 in Asia

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,591
Founded: 1907

6. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Economics

#62 in Asia

#413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

7. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Economics

#66 in Asia

#433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Founded: 1973

8. Nagoya University

For Economics

#73 in Asia

#475 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,834
Founded: 1939

9. Keio University

For Economics

#75 in Asia

#490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 33,518
Founded: 1858

10. Waseda University

For Economics

#85 in Asia

#526 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 47,094
Founded: 1882

11. Kobe University

For Economics

#90 in Asia

#542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1902

12. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Economics

#108 in Asia

#607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,541
Founded: 1918

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Economics

#109 in Asia

#608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 15,066
Founded: 1949

14. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Economics

#112 in Asia

#627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 6,287
Founded: 1875

15. Tokyo University of Science

For Economics

#166 in Asia

#805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 19,768
Founded: 1881

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Economics

#203 in Asia

#925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 9,059
Founded: 2005

17. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For Economics

#233 in Asia

#1026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 417
Founded: 1997

18. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Economics

#281 in Asia

#1164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

19. Chiba University

For Economics

#282 in Asia

#1169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 13,983
Founded: 1949

20. Ritsumeikan University

For Economics

#289 in Asia

#1181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

21. Nihon University

For Economics

#310 in Asia

#1246 in the World

Founded: 1889

22. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Economics

#317 in Asia

#1267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 13,057
Founded: 1922

23. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Economics

#357 in Asia

#1367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 31,739
Founded: 1885

24. Osaka Prefecture University

For Economics

#370 in Asia

#1401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

25. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Economics

#390 in Asia

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,127
Founded: 1949

26. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Economics

#426 in Asia

#1538 in the World

Founded: 1972

27. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Economics

#449 in Asia

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 12,068
Founded: 1922

28. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Economics

#470 in Asia

#1627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

29. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Economics

#490 in Asia

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

30. Osaka City University

For Economics

#497 in Asia

#1699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 8,230
Founded: 1928

31. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Economics

#502 in Asia

#1710 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,090
Founded: 1949

32. Tokai University

For Economics

#508 in Asia

#1723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

33. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Economics

#515 in Asia

#1739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

34. Osaka University of Economics

For Economics

#522 in Asia

#1751 in the World

Enrollment: 7,337
Founded: 1949

35. Hosei University

For Economics

#533 in Asia

#1774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

36. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Economics

#535 in Asia

#1776 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

37. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Economics

#537 in Asia

#1783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

38. Doshisha University

For Economics

#557 in Asia

#1830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,354
Founded: 1920

39. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Economics

#559 in Asia

#1833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 7,629
Founded: 1949

40. University of Electro-Communications

For Economics

#561 in Asia

#1835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

41. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Economics

#567 in Asia

#1847 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,679
Founded: 1912

42. Kansai University

For Economics

#568 in Asia

#1848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 29,749
Founded: 1922

43. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Economics

#569 in Asia

#1851 in the World

Founded: 1949

44. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Economics

#581 in Asia

#1873 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

45. Meiji University

For Economics

#600 in Asia

#1918 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

46. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Economics

#602 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Founded: 1934

47. Nagoya City University

For Economics

#624 in Asia

#1979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 4,685
Founded: 1950

48. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Economics

#632 in Asia

#1989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 10,849
Founded: 1949

49. Saga University

For Economics

#637 in Asia

#1999 in the World

Founded: 1949

50. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Economics

#650 in Asia

#2023 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

51. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Economics

#661 in Asia

#2042 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

52. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Economics

#665 in Asia

#2047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,179
Founded: 1949

53. Sophia University

For Economics

#666 in Asia

#2048 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 13,280
Founded: 1913

54. Gifu University

For Economics

#669 in Asia

#2051 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 7,227
Founded: 1949

55. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Economics

#683 in Asia

#2070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 38,857
Founded: 1949

56. Teikyo University

For Economics

#686 in Asia

#2075 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

57. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Economics

#688 in Asia

#2078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 9,033
Founded: 1949

58. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Economics

#691 in Asia

#2083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 20,285
Founded: 1874

59. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Economics

#695 in Asia

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

60. International University of Japan

Japan | Minamiuonuma

For Economics

#708 in Asia

#2143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1982

61. University of Toyama

For Economics

#740 in Asia

#2208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 9,208
Founded: 1975

62. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Economics

#746 in Asia

#2221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

63. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Economics

#749 in Asia

#2231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

64. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Economics

#762 in Asia

#2251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 5,198
Founded: 1928

65. Rikkyo University

For Economics

#770 in Asia

#2268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 20,720
Founded: 1922

66. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Economics

#808 in Asia

#2348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

67. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Economics

#810 in Asia

#2352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

68. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Economics

#820 in Asia

#2375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

69. Ibaraki University

For Economics

#828 in Asia

#2395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

70. Shimane University

For Economics

#830 in Asia

#2400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

71. University of Kitakyushu

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Economics

#837 in Asia

#2419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1946

72. Toho University

For Economics

#881 in Asia

#2507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

73. Mie University

For Economics

#884 in Asia

#2513 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

74. Gakushuin University

For Economics

#904 in Asia

#2561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 9,240
Founded: 1877

75. Kitasato University

For Economics

#908 in Asia

#2572 in the World

Founded: 1962

76. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Economics

#913 in Asia

#2584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

77. University of Hyogo

For Economics

#916 in Asia

#2588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,551
Founded: 2004

78. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Economics

#945 in Asia

#2652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

79. International Christian University

For Economics

#962 in Asia

#2681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1953

80. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Economics

#988 in Asia

#2737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

81. Toyo University

For Economics

#1001 in Asia

#2762 in the World

Founded: 1887

82. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Economics

#1012 in Asia

#2783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

83. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Economics

#1020 in Asia

#2800 in the World

Founded: 1978

84. Juntendo University

For Economics

#1044 in Asia

#2856 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

85. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Economics

#1049 in Asia

#2866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

86. Ryukoku University

For Economics

#1057 in Asia

#2880 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

87. Meijo University

For Economics

#1071 in Asia

#2909 in the World

Founded: 1926

88. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Economics

#1073 in Asia

#2911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

89. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Economics

#1080 in Asia

#2930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

90. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Economics

#1081 in Asia

#2932 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

91. Ochanomizu University

For Economics

#1092 in Asia

#2953 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,075
Founded: 1874

92. University of Yamanashi

For Economics

#1097 in Asia

#2964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

93. Tokyo Denki University

For Economics

#1112 in Asia

#2994 in the World

Founded: 1907

94. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Economics

#1149 in Asia

#3077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

95. Nanzan University

For Economics

#1157 in Asia

#3100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 9,883
Founded: 1949

96. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Economics

#1168 in Asia

#3117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

97. Showa University

For Economics

#1176 in Asia

#3137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

98. Akita University

For Economics

#1194 in Asia

#3168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

99. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Economics

#1202 in Asia

#3190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

100. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Economics

#1220 in Asia

#3232 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

The best cities to study Economics in Japan based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tokyo, Kyoto, Suita, and Fukuoka.

Economics subfields in Japan

Actuarial Science18

Agricultural Economics29

Development Studies233

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics145

Environmental Economics32

International Economics30

International Relations and Diplomacy17

International Trade41

Investment Banking and Stock trading34

Political Economy19