The German higher education landscape is supported by two pillars: public universities and universities of applied sciences (FHs). Together, they have approximately 2.8 million students, with universities of applied sciences accounting for a significant share of about 38 percent. But what motivates prospective students to choose one type of institution over the other—and does this decision make a difference later in their professional lives?
A study by Felix Bittmann of the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories provides interesting insights here. It is based on a student cohort of 5,437 individuals. The results clearly show that social background plays a decisive role. Students from families with an academic background are more likely to choose universities than universities of applied sciences. Specifically, this means that if parents have a university degree, the probability of attending a university of applied sciences decreases by about 6 percentage points compared to individuals whose parents do not have a college degree.
When parents hold a doctorate, this difference rises to as much as 17 percentage points. Previous educational background is also relevant: Individuals who did not attend a traditional Gymnasium (high school) tend to be more likely to attend a university of applied sciences.
But does the type of institution make a difference in one’s career?
Here’s the surprising finding: Seven years after starting their studies, there are only minor differences based on the type of institution—or even differences that are different from what one might expect: For example, graduates of universities of applied sciences tend to earn slightly more money (6%) and are less likely to have only temporary employment contracts (-9 percentage points) than university graduates.
For comparable students, the choice of institution has no significant impact on career earnings.
Differences by Field of Study
A closer look at academic disciplines reveals some nuanced patterns:
- Computer Science: University of Applied Sciences (FH) graduates earn about 9% more than university graduates
- Engineering: University of Applied Sciences (FH) graduates are approximately 10 percentage points less likely to have only fixed-term contracts. Here, the strong practical orientation at universities of applied sciences clearly pays off, leading in many cases to rapid integration into corporate structures.
Gender-specific differences, on the other hand, are not statistically significant: The income advantage for men at universities of applied sciences is about 6%, and for women about 2%, although the confidence intervals overlap considerably.
What does this mean for prospective students?
The study thus delivers a reassuring message: The decision between a university of applied sciences and a traditional university should be based primarily on personal preferences, course content, and local circumstances—not on concerns about future career prospects. Both paths to higher education lead to comparable career outcomes.
For higher education policy, this underscores the equal standing of both types of institutions within the German education system. Universities of applied sciences are therefore not a “second-best alternative,” but rather an equal pillar of the academic landscape.
Source: Bittmann, F. (2026): Universities of Applied Sciences as an Alternative to Traditional Universities in the German Higher Education Landscape: An Analysis of Composition and Outcomes. doi:10.5281/zenodo.22076703
