Top Universities for Economics in 2017

Discover the top economics and econometrics schools based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020.

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 includes a ranking of the world’s top universities for economics and econometrics, and has been expanded this year to now showcase 400 leading institutions around the world. Based on a methodology which assesses academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact, the ranking should serve as a useful tool to those seeking a strong long-term return on investment for their economics degree.

Top universities for economics in the US & Canada

The US claims an impressive 85 out of 400 positions in the economics ranking, including 21 positions in the top 50. As well as all but two of the top 10 in the table above, other high-ranking US universities for economics include: the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (12^th), the University of Pennsylvania (13^th), New York University (NYU) (14^th), and Northwestern University (15^th).

Neighboring Canada is home to 18 more of the world’s best economics schools, including the University of Toronto (21^st) and the University of British Colombia (=25^th), with three more institutions in the top 100.

Top universities for economics in Europe

The UK claims 42 of the world’s top economics schools, nine of which are featured in the top 100. The University of Cambridge just misses out on a spot in the top 10 (ranked 11^th for economics), with UCL (University College London) (17^th) the London Business School (=25^th) and the University of Warwick (=25^th) all joining it in the top 50.

Next up is Germany with 23 representatives in the economics ranking this year, three of which are in the top 100: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and Universität Mannheim.

Italy also performs well, and is represented by 20 of the world’s best economics schools, with the specialized institution Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi (16^th) leading the way. France has 11 universities in this year’s economics ranking, including Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne at 51-100.

A further nine leading institutions for this field can be found in Spain, led by Universitat Pompeu Fabra at 34^th. Also with nine top economics schools is the Netherlands, of which three are in the top 50: the University of Amsterdam, the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Tilburg University.

Sweden and Switzerland have seven representatives in the economics ranking each, with Stockholm School of Economics (41^st) taking the lead in Sweden, while Switzerland’s ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich both also feature in the top 50.

Belgium and Russia each offer six top economics schools each. Belgium’s KU Leuven is ranked 51-100 while Russia’s National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE) is the country’s highest ranked economics school and is also placed 51-100.

Denmark is home to five more of the world’s top universities for economics including two in the top 100 (Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen).

Austria, Norway and Portugal can each claim to be home to four of the world’s best economics schools each, including the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration and Austria’s University of Vienna, both at 101-150.

Meanwhile Finland, Greece and Ireland each have three representatives in the economics ranking, with Ireland’s Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD) both faring well at 101-150.

Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania have two entrants each, with Hungary’s Central European University the highest ranked at 151-200. Lastly, Lithuania and Slovenia enter the economics ranking this year with one representative each.

Top universities for economics in Asia 

Asia is also home to a large number of the world’s best economics schools, with 16 in China alone, including Peking University (=32^nd) and Tsinghua University (=36^th).

Close behind is Japan with 13 representatives in this year’s economics ranking, led by the University of Tokyo in joint 30^th, while Hitotsubashi University and Kyoto University also feature in the top 100.

Next up is South Korea with 10 top universities for economics, half of which are new entries in 2017. Seoul National University is the country’s leading institution in 40^th place, with two more South Korean entrants in the top 100: Korea University and Yonsei University.

Hong Kong and Taiwan are home to seven of the best economics schools each, with three Hong Kong institutions featured in the global top 50. They are the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (24^th), the University of Hong Kong (=36^th) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (46^th). National Taiwan University (NTU) is Taiwan’s highest ranked institution for economics at 51-100. Malaysia meanwhile has five offerings, led by Universiti Malaya (UM) at 151-200. 

Singapore claims three more of the world’s top universities for economics, all of which are in the top 150 and led by National University of Singapore (NUS) in 20^th.

Other Asian countries featured include India with four top economics schools, while Thailand has two and Indonesia enters the ranking this year with one representative.

Top universities for economics in Australia & New Zealand

Australia claims 19 of the world’s top economics schools, seven of which are in the top 100.  In the top 50 are the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, Monash University and the University of Sydney. 

Neighboring New Zealand has seven representatives in this year’s economics ranking, led by the University of Auckland at 51-100, while the University of Canterbury and the University of Otago are both ranked 151-200.

Top universities for economics in Latin America

Brazil is the most-represented country in this region, with seven economics schools featured. Of these, Universidade de São Paulo (USP) is the highest-ranked at 101-150.

Argentina is home to four top universities for economics, with Universidad Torcuato Di Tella climbing from 201-300 to 151-200.

Mexico and Colombia each have three institutions featured, with Colombia’s Universidad de Los Andes Colombia the highest ranked at 101-150.  Finally, Peru enters the economics ranking this year with one entrant.

Top universities for economics in Africa & the Middle East

South Africa has four representatives in this year’s ranking, including three new entries. Of the four, University of Cape Town is the best performer at 251-300.

Over in the Middle East, Turkey enters the economics ranking in 2017 with four institutions featured, including Koç University at 301-350.  Israel has three entrants, including two ranked 101-150: Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.