Germany's 57 Studierendenwerke are funding themselves by self-generated revenue, semester fees, subsidies by the state governments, reimbursement of expenses for handling the federal grants and loans system ("BAföG") and by subsidies from local public bodies.

• Almost one half of income (52,7%) is generated by the Studierendenwerke themselves from rental income, revenue from university catering and other income, for example from interest revenues.
   
• The percentage of overall income from semester fees was 22,5% in 2020. Average semester fees in Germany are 75,42 euros per semester. The semester fees are not tuition fees, but mandatory social contributions by each student to his/her local Studentenwerk.
   
• The Studierendenwerke fulfil a public mandate by shaping the social framework conditions for studying. In return, they receive subsidies or financial help from the respective federal state amounting to 10,9% of overall income.
   
• The Studierendenwerke receive 6,6% of their income as reimbursement of expenses for handling the federal study financing system “BAFöG” in 15 federal states.
   
• The other subsidies, which are usually subsidies by local public bodies for child-care in Studentenwerk day-care centres, make up 7,3% of the overall income.