79 Best universities for Economics in Nigeria

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Nigeria ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 845K citations received by 96.9K academic papers made by 79 universities in Nigeria 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 Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Economics

#10 in Africa

#477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Economics

#14 in Africa

#585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Economics

#16 in Africa

#646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

4. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Economics

#21 in Africa

#788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

5. Covenant University

For Economics

#24 in Africa

#868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

6. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Economics

#31 in Africa

#1084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

7. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Economics

#38 in Africa

#1158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

8. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Economics

#39 in Africa

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

9. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Economics

#47 in Africa

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

10. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#51 in Africa

#1323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

11. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Economics

#54 in Africa

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

12. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Economics

#57 in Africa

#1390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 23,100
Founded: 1981

13. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Economics

#62 in Africa

#1515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

14. Lagos State University

For Economics

#64 in Africa

#1578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

15. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Economics

#68 in Africa

#1633 in the World

Founded: 1992

16. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Economics

#72 in Africa

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

17. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Economics

#73 in Africa

#1713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

18. University of Uyo

For Economics

#77 in Africa

#1787 in the World

Founded: 1991

19. Bayero University Kano

For Economics

#80 in Africa

#1820 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

20. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Economics

#82 in Africa

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

21. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Economics

#83 in Africa

#1868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

22. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Economics

#89 in Africa

#1954 in the World

Founded: 2000

23. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Economics

#97 in Africa

#2078 in the World

Founded: 1975

24. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Economics

#102 in Africa

#2154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1990

25. University of Jos

For Economics

#107 in Africa

#2221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

26. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Economics

#108 in Africa

#2226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

27. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Economics

#111 in Africa

#2283 in the World

Founded: 2002

28. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Economics

#114 in Africa

#2342 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

29. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Economics

#115 in Africa

#2354 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

30. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Economics

#119 in Africa

#2477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

31. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Economics

#120 in Africa

#2487 in the World

Founded: 1981

32. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Economics

#122 in Africa

#2504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

33. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Economics

#123 in Africa

#2528 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

34. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Economics

#124 in Africa

#2534 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

35. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Economics

#125 in Africa

#2547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

36. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Economics

#128 in Africa

#2569 in the World

Founded: 1980

37. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Economics

#137 in Africa

#2723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,181
Founded: 1982

38. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Economics

#140 in Africa

#2733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

39. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Economics

#141 in Africa

#2760 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

40. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Economics

#144 in Africa

#2837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

41. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Economics

#147 in Africa

#2860 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

42. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Economics

#148 in Africa

#2866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

43. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Economics

#149 in Africa

#2868 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

44. Redeemer's University

For Economics

#156 in Africa

#2958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2005

45. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Economics

#159 in Africa

#3010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

46. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Economics

#162 in Africa

#3042 in the World

Founded: 1992

47. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Economics

#167 in Africa

#3076 in the World

Founded: 1988

48. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Economics

#170 in Africa

#3114 in the World

Founded: 1988

49. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Economics

#176 in Africa

#3171 in the World

Founded: 2009

50. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Economics

#177 in Africa

#3199 in the World

Founded: 1988

51. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Economics

#179 in Africa

#3203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

52. Bells University of Technology

For Economics

#198 in Africa

#3594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

53. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Economics

#202 in Africa

#3656 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

54. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Economics

#204 in Africa

#3689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

55. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Economics

#207 in Africa

#3718 in the World

Founded: 2004

56. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Economics

#210 in Africa

#3803 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

57. Bowen University

For Economics

#214 in Africa

#3847 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

58. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Economics

#221 in Africa

#3969 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

59. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Economics

#227 in Africa

#4094 in the World

Founded: 2011

60. American University of Nigeria

For Economics

#235 in Africa

#4188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

61. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Economics

#247 in Africa

#4333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

62. Igbinedion University Okada

Nigeria | Okada

For Economics

#260 in Africa

#4547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1999

63. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Economics

#266 in Africa

#4679 in the World

Founded: 2008

64. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Economics

#267 in Africa

#4686 in the World

Founded: 2007

65. Adamawa State University

For Economics

#268 in Africa

#4690 in the World

Founded: 2002

66. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Economics

#270 in Africa

#4706 in the World

Founded: 2007

67. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Economics

#271 in Africa

#4709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

68. Benson Idahosa University

Nigeria | Benin

For Economics

#272 in Africa

#4716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2002

69. Bingham University

Nigeria | Auta Balifi

For Economics

#274 in Africa

#4771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 2005

70. Fountain University, Osogbo

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Economics

#280 in Africa

#4832 in the World

Founded: 2007

71. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Economics

#285 in Africa

#4877 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

72. Ajayi Crowther University

For Economics

#286 in Africa

#4885 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

73. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

Nigeria | Katsina

For Economics

#288 in Africa

#4959 in the World

Founded: 2006

74. Caleb University

Nigeria | Imota

For Economics

#296 in Africa

#5045 in the World

Founded: 2007

75. Adeleke University

For Economics

#305 in Africa

#5194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2011

76. Novena University

Nigeria | Ogume

For Economics

#309 in Africa

#5322 in the World

Founded: 2005

77. Crescent University, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Economics

#313 in Africa

#5393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2005

78. Wellspring University

Nigeria | Benin

For Economics

#339 in Africa

#5886 in the World

Enrollment: 500
Founded: 2009

79. Paul University

For Economics

#346 in Africa

#6058 in the World

Founded: 2009

The best cities to study Economics in Nigeria based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ibadan, Nsukka, Ife, and Lagos.

Economics subfields in Nigeria

Actuarial Science12

Agricultural Economics45

Development Studies77

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics65

Environmental Economics16

International Economics15

International Relations and Diplomacy7

International Trade14

Investment Banking and Stock trading39

Political Economy28