How to Apply to Economics at Texas A&M University: The BA or BS in Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, Choosing Economics on Your Application, with Admission and Prerequisites for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Texas A&M University (main campus in College Station, Texas), undergraduate economics is offered by the Department of Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics, B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (Economics, B.S.). The college also lists five-year programs that combine the BA or BS with an MS in Economics or a Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA), a page for Bush School five-year degrees, and an Economics minor. The department says that except for ECON 202, economics coursework is offered in person only, so the degree cannot be completed online. Business (Mays Business School) is covered in a separate guide. This guide follows the official website and is written for US applicants, international applicants (including students from China) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and options

• Economics, B.A.: the department says the plan emphasizes foreign language and critical thinking; the undergraduate catalog says it requires four semesters of a college-level foreign language and a broad range of coursework across Arts and Sciences. Core courses in the plan: ECON 202 and 203 (principles), MATH 140 and MATH 142 (Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences, Business Calculus), ECMT 461 (Economic Data Analysis), ECON 323 (Microeconomic Theory), ECMT 463 (Introduction to Econometrics), ECON 410 (Macroeconomic Theory), ACCT 209, then economics and supporting electives. The plan totals 120 hours, with no more than 39 hours of economics and econometrics counting.
• Economics, B.S.: the department says the plan focuses on quantitative skills. Core courses: ECON 202 and 203, MATH 151 and 152 (or 171 and 172), ACCT 209, ECMT 461, ECON 323, ECMT 464 (Applied Econometrics), ECON 410, one data science or forecasting course (ECMT 475, ECON 470 or ECON 471), CSCE 110 or 111 (programming), a quantitative elective, and a zero-credit ECON 399 (High Impact Experience). The plan totals 120 hours, with no more than 42 hours of economics and econometrics counting.
• Grades: the catalog says the marked economics, econometrics and math courses need a C or better.
• Five-year programs and minor: admission conditions for the BA/BS + MS Economics and BA/BS + MPSA programs are not stated on the pages I read; see the department’s five-year program pages.
• STEM designation and honors: not stated on the pages I read.

2. How admission works: choose Economics on the application

• Direct entry: freshmen and off-campus transfers choose a major on the application, and the Office of Admissions reviews it. The department’s prospective-student page tells first-time-in-college and off-campus transfer applicants to contact its admissions contact for admissions and degree plan details; it does not say whether Economics is capacity-limited or give a major-specific cutoff; not published there.
• Second choice: the catalog says a competitive applicant who cannot be admitted to a major because of restricted enrollment is offered the second choice; if that is full, the student chooses an alternate major after admission. Texas top-10% automatic admission does not guarantee the choice of major.
• Change of major into Economics (current TAMU students): the department states that admission is guaranteed if you meet all posted requirements; it is not competitive. Everything must already be on your unofficial TAMU transcript, because applications are reviewed before current-term final grades post and missing or in-progress required courses are denied automatically (waivers cover only credit hours or GPA, see below).
  • Admitted Fall 2026 or later, BA: TAMU GPA of at least 3.00; ECON GPA of at least 3.00 across all attempted ECON courses (including transfer grades and retakes); ECON 203 with a C or better; ECON 323 with a B or better, taken at TAMU; MATH 140 (or 148/152/168/172) and MATH 142 (or 147/151/171), both C or better; at least 30 graded TAMU hours (15 for Blinn TEAM); no more than 75 completed college hours.
  • BS: the same GPA rules; ECON 203 (C), ECON 323 (B); MATH 151 (or 148/172) and MATH 152 (or 147/171), both C or better; plus at least two courses with a C or better from ACCT 209/229, CSCE 110/111, an upper-level ECON elective (3XX–4XX) and econometrics (ECMT 4XX). Transfer students entering Fall 2026 or later are not eligible for the BS and must apply for the BA.
  • Waivers: only for missing credit hours or GPA, by ticking a box and writing two essays; not guaranteed.
  • Application windows: Spring 2027, 12 August to 21 September 2026; Summer 2027, 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027; Fall 2027, 18 May to 28 June 2027.

3. Prerequisites and coursework

• High school courses: applicants from accredited Texas public and private high schools should complete the Foundation High School Program, preferably at the Distinguished Level of Achievement with at least one endorsement. Applicants from out-of-state or out-of-country high schools and home schools are exempt from the Texas Uniform Admission Policy. The detailed coursework description for out-of-state applicants is on the Admissions website, which I did not read; not published on the pages I read.
• Math placement: the BA math starts at MATH 140; the BS starts at MATH 151 (Calculus I). Placement tests are not described on the pages I read.
• Course sequence: year one, ECON 202/203 and math; year two, ECMT 461, ECON 323, an econometrics course and ECON 410; then economics electives and supporting electives. ECON 323 is the prerequisite for most economics electives.
• AP and IB credit (from the catalog): AP Microeconomics 3 earns ECON 202 (3 hours), AP Macroeconomics 3 earns ECON 203 (3 hours); AP Calculus AB 3 earns MATH 142 and 4 earns MATH 151; Calculus BC 3 earns MATH 151 and 4 earns MATH 151 and 152; AP Statistics 3 earns STAT 201; IB Economics (SL or HL) at 4 earns ECON 203 (3 hours). The catalog tells students to consult an academic advisor about how much credit can be used. CLEP Macroeconomics at 50 also earns ECON 203.
• Research and internships: the department says the degree plan leaves room for research, internships and overseas programs, and the BS requires the zero-credit ECON 399. Specific placements are not published on the pages I read.

4. Rounds, materials and costs (fall 2027 entry)

• Freshman (College Station): Fall 2027 opens 1 August 2026 and closes 1 December 2026, with other documents due 15 December; Spring 2027 closes 15 October 2026. If a deadline falls on a weekend, the Common App and ApplyTexas stay open until 11:59 p.m. Central on the following Monday.
• Application and fee: apply through the Common App or ApplyTexas (the choice does not affect the decision); the application fee is $75, non-refundable.
• Essay and recommendations: Essay Topic A is required; recommendation letters are optional and only the first two received are considered.
• Transcripts: US-based freshmen submit the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS) with coursework, grades and class rank through at least the junior year, and admitted students submit a final transcript with the graduation date by 15 August.
• Testing: test optional; SAT/ACT is not required. Submission is “strongly encouraged”, but the catalog says it creates no advantage or disadvantage. SAT code 6003, ACT code 4198; scores must be within five years of planned enrollment and the highest single-sitting score is used.
• Review: Texas top-10% applicants are automatically admitted (choice of major not guaranteed); everyone else gets holistic review. The catalog says decisions begin 1 September, while the freshman page says late September, and a final fall decision may not come until late March.
• Estimated costs (catalog, nine months): about $33,180 for in-state residents and about $62,272 for non-resident or international students, including tuition and fees, housing and food, books, transportation and miscellaneous expenses. A tuition calculator is provided. Whether Economics carries a college fee is not stated on the pages I read.

5. US applicants

• Testing: optional.
• Texas preference: Texas high school graduates in the top 10% are admitted automatically, and freshman applicants from Texas high schools must meet the Texas Uniform Admission Policy (SAT 480 EBRW and 530 Math, ACT 18/22/22/23, or completion of the Texas foundation, recommended or distinguished program).
• In-state vs out-of-state tuition: see the estimates above; the tuition calculator and residency pages have the details.

6. International applicants (including students from China)

• Dates: international freshmen, fall 2027, 1 August to 1 December 2026; spring 2027, 1 August to 15 October 2026 (the website also says spring dates for international freshmen can differ, so verify).
• Academic standard: the catalog says successful applicants rank near the top of their country’s educational system (B average or better), score well above average on national exams and have appropriate college-preparatory coursework; applicants must complete a program that would allow admission to a university in their home country. SAT or ACT scores are considered for international freshmen.
• English: applicants whose spoken language is not English meet one of: TOEFL iBT 80 or higher (within two years of enrollment); TOEFL Essentials 8.5 (MyBest scores not accepted); IELTS overall 6.0 (within two years); SAT EBRW 560; ACT English 21; four years of high school in the US; or at least 30 credit hours from an accredited US institution including ENGL 103 or 104 with a C or better. The catalog also tells applicants to check the Admissions website for acceptable 2026 tests.
• Records: official transcripts, mark sheets and diplomas bearing the school seal or signature, mailed by the school to the Office of Admissions, with English translations. A NACES-member evaluation (document-by-document with a GPA for high school, course-by-course for college) is strongly recommended and speeds processing. International applicants studying outside the US complete the STARS and send official academic records.
• Proof of funds and international scholarships: the amount of funds required is not stated on the pages I read. The catalog says scholarships and aid for international students are limited and that applicants with financial need should file the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) annually; contacts are Scholarships & Financial Aid and International Student and Scholar Services.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao and huikao records: the pages I read have no China-specific guidance and do not say whether the gaokao is considered; not published there. For all international applicants, the catalog asks for official records and national exam results sent directly by the school or agency, with English translations.
• What to do: ask the Office of Admissions how Chinese high school transcripts, huikao certificates and gaokao results should be submitted; the detailed international freshman page on admissions.tamu.edu was not read.

8. Transfer students

• Economics accepts off-campus transfers into the BA only: the department says there is no option to transfer directly into the BS. Minimum GPA, total transferable hours and mandatory prerequisite coursework are in the “BA-ECON Transfer Course Sheet”, which is hosted on the Admissions site that I did not read; not published on the pages I read.
• University level: transfer applicants should have at least a 2.5 GPA on at least 24 graded semester hours of transferable coursework to be competitive. In the College of Arts and Sciences most majors need about 3.0 to be competitive, with major-specific details on the course sheets; second-choice majors are considered; applicants with 90 hours may not be considered for some majors. An essay on why you chose the major is required.
• Deadlines: Spring 2027, 1 August to 15 October 2026; Summer/Fall 2027, 1 January to 1 March 2027. The same dates apply to international transfers. The application fee is $75.
• Materials: Common App or ApplyTexas application, fee, statement of purpose, and official transcripts from every institution attended (including dual credit taken in high school). Spring grades can be reviewed if the complete application is on file by 1 March and spring transcripts arrive by 1 June.
• Credit: a course equivalency database is available; A-level results of C or better earn transfer credit; non-US coursework not in English is evaluated individually, and foreign institutions must be accredited by the home country’s education authority. At least 25% of degree hours must be completed in residence, and at least 36 upper-level hours, 12 of them in the major.

Checklist

US applicants:

• Apply through the Common App or ApplyTexas by 1 December 2026 and choose Economics (BA or BS)
• Write Essay Topic A and complete the STARS; tests and recommendation letters are optional
• In the first year, take ECON 202/203 and the matching math (MATH 140/142 for the BA, MATH 151/152 for the BS)

International applicants and students from China:

• English: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0 or another accepted option, within two years
• Have your school send official transcripts, diplomas and national exam results with English translations; consider a NACES evaluation
• Ask Admissions about gaokao, huikao records and proof of funds

Transfer students and internal changes of major:

• Off-campus transfers: 24 graded hours and at least a 2.5 GPA to start; BA only; Summer/Fall 2027 deadline 1 March 2027
• Current TAMU students: 3.00 GPA, ECON 203 (C), ECON 323 (B) and the math courses guarantee entry; Fall 2027 window 18 May to 28 June 2027

Sources: Texas A&M University, College of Arts and Sciences: undergraduate economics degrees; Economics prospective students; Economics transfer requirements; Change of major into Economics; Undergraduate catalog: Economics BA; Undergraduate catalog: Economics BS; Undergraduate catalog: Admission; Undergraduate catalog: Tuition and fees; Apply as a freshman; Apply as an international student; Apply as a transfer student; Costs and tuition. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Texas A&M for the latest details.