The Academic Ranking of World Universities ("Shanghai Ranking") is a global university ranking that has been published since 2003 and is conducted by the Center for World-Class Universities (CWCU) of Shanghai Jiaotong University. The ARWU uses six indicators for ranking, including the number of graduates and staff who have won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the number of frequently cited researchers, the number of articles published in Nature and Science journals, the number of articles published in journals listed in the Science Citation Index - Expanded or the Social Sciences Citation Index , and the per capita performance of a university. More than 1200 universities are actually selected by ARWU each year and the top 500 universities are ranked.

In the recent subject ranking "Sociology" the University of Cologne is ranked 1^st place nationally, and 35^th place internationally.

In the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022 "Economics", the University of Cologne shares 6-8 place with the Goethe University of Frankfurt and the Technical University of Munich nationally, and 151-200 in international comparison.

The Subject Ranking "Management" ranks the University of Cologne 1^st place with the TU Munich (Place 101-150 international ranking).

The Subject Ranking "Finance" 2020 was the University of Cologne on the 4^th place, shared with the University Münich (LMU), internationally on place 151-200.

The Subject Ranking "Business Administration" places the University of Cologne with the University Mannheim on 1^st place nationally and internationally on place 101-150.

The Subject Ranking "Political Science" places the University of Cologne with the Goethe University Frankfurt and the University of Hamburg on 5^th place nationally and internationally on place 101-150.

In the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022 "Communication", the University of Cologne shares ^11th place with the University of Leipzig, University of Bremen and the University of Augsburg nationally, and 151-200 in international comparison.

Overall the University of Cologne is ranked in the currend Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022 on place 6-9 nationally  internationally 151-200.

More information on the Website of the: Academic Ranking of World Universities