How to Apply to Economics at the University of Washington (Seattle): No Direct Admission as a First-Year, Apply to the University First and to the Major After Enrolling, Six B.A. and B.S. Options, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

The Department of Economics at the University of Washington Seattle teaches the undergraduate economics majors. The admissions office says most students enter their major through the standard process after enrolling, and economics is not on the list of majors that admit first-year students directly: you apply to the UW listing economics as your intended major, then apply to the economics major separately once you are a UW student. This guide follows the UW’s websites and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Business Administration and Computer Science have their own guides on this site, so they are not covered here.

1. Degrees and options

• Six options: the department lists six undergraduate major options — the B.A. in Economics, the B.A. in International Economics, the B.S. in Economics, the B.S. in Economics: Data Science, the B.S. in Financial Economics and the B.S. in Economics: Strategy.
• B.A. vs. B.S.: the B.S. “requires a more intensive background in math and statistics.” To apply to the B.S. you need a full calculus sequence (MATH 124, 125 and 126); the B.A. needs MATH 124. Graduation requirements also differ: the department’s comparison lists 65 credits (including prerequisites) for the B.A. and 75 for the B.S. The department recommends the B.S. for anyone planning a Ph.D. in economics, and says the B.A. gives more flexibility for courses outside the department.
• Choosing an option: students admitted to the B.A. or B.S. may declare an option of the same degree without another application (for example, a student admitted to the ECON B.A. may declare International Economics and is guaranteed it); to declare a B.S. option you must already be admitted to the general ECON B.S. Moving from the B.A. to the B.S. requires an application (no second RTW); moving from the B.S. to the B.A. needs only a form. The FAQ says students may pursue only one economics major option.
• STEM designation: the department says the B.A. (general), B.S. (general), B.S. Data Science, B.S. Financial Economics and B.S. Strategy are STEM-designated (CIP 45.0603) and qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension; the B.A. in International Economics is not STEM (CIP 45.0605).
• Honors and extras: a selective departmental honors program ending in an honors thesis; study abroad programs in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Thailand; a mentorship program. The undergraduate-programs page also lists four certificate areas (international economics, economic theory and quantitative methods, quantitative managerial economics, environmental and natural resource economics), while the options FAQ says the economics certificates are available through Summer 2026. Both statements are on the website; ask the department (econadv@uw.edu).
• Double degree: the department says pursuing both economics and business administration counts as a double degree requiring 225 credits.

2. Admission: the university first, the major second

• When you apply to the UW: the admissions office lists the majors that admit first-years directly (Architectural Studies, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Engineering, Informatics, Neuroscience, Statistics and some music majors, among others). Economics is not on the list. Your first- and second-choice majors may be used as factors in the admission decision; since economics is not on the list, the pages we read describe no direct-entry route to the economics major for first-years.
• Major types: the UW describes open majors, majors with minimum requirements and capacity-constrained majors. The department’s transfer page says admission to both the B.A. and B.S. is capacity-constrained based on grades in each prerequisite course, the RTW assessment and the personal statement; meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission.
• Eligibility to apply: you must be a currently enrolled UW Seattle student with at least 45 college credits completed (including AP/IB/transfer); have a UW cumulative GPA of at least 2.5; have completed all prerequisite courses (AP/IB/A-Level and transfer credit are acceptable if equivalent to the UW course; prerequisites may not be in progress); take the department’s RTW assessment in the same quarter you apply (a previous score may be reused when re-applying; you may not take it early for a first application); and submit all materials.
• Prerequisites: ECON 200 and 201; MATH 124 (B.S. applicants also need MATH 125 and 126); STAT 311 (accepted alternatives Q SCI 381 or STAT 390; PSYCH 318 or CSE 312 for double majors in Psychology or Computer Science). The department says Q METH 201, STAT 220/221, STAT 290 and AP Statistics are not accepted. The prerequisites need a minimum 2.5 GPA overall and no less than 2.0 in any course; “S” grades are not accepted; each can be repeated once and the better grade counts. The “Choosing Your Economics Degree” page also lists English Composition (5 credits) as a prerequisite, while the application and B.A./B.S. pages do not; both are on the website.
• When: applications open each Autumn, Winter and Spring quarter, due at 11:59 pm on the second Friday of the quarter, with results by the end of Week 6. The page says Autumn applications closed Friday, October 9, decisions come on or before November 4, and the Winter 2027 application opens in mid-December. The department says there is no right or wrong time to apply, as long as prerequisites are finished and you can complete the major within UW academic progress policies.
• Materials: the department application form; your current unofficial UW transcript; unofficial transcripts for all transfer credits, including Running Start and dual enrollment; a personal statement (one page at most, double-spaced, 12 pt, margins of at least 0.5 inch; there is no word limit and anything beyond one page is not considered); and a detailed course plan for double-major or double-degree applicants. The department strongly recommends adding planned courses to MyPlan and submitting a PDF.
• The RTW assessment: the “Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Writing” assessment is held in person on the first Friday of each Autumn, Winter and Spring quarter; you read an article on an economic issue and write an essay. It is graded on a 6-point scale where 3 is the “passing” benchmark, with no strict minimum for admission. The department says a strong score can compensate for a lower GPA and a poor one can be a concern even with a strong GPA; only your first score counts if you take it more than once before applying, and on re-application you may retake it or keep your first score.
• Review and recent numbers: holistic — prerequisite grades, overall academic performance, the RTW and the personal statement are all reviewed. The department lists, for Autumn 2025, 137 applications and 100 admitted (73%), with admitted students averaging a 3.57 prerequisite GPA, a 3.56 overall GPA and a 3.88 RTW score; for Winter 2026, 116 applications and 86 admitted (74%). Across Autumn 2023 to Winter 2026, 73%–80% were admitted each quarter. The department stresses these are averages only.

3. Prerequisites, courses and credit

• High school: all first-year applicants must meet the minimum College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs): English 4 credits, mathematics 3, social sciences 3, world languages 2, science 3 (including 2 of lab science), a senior-year math-based quantitative course 1, fine/visual/performing arts 0.5 and academic elective 0.5. Mathematics must reach at least algebra, geometry and second-year algebra; arithmetic, pre-algebra, business math and statistics do not count. The pages we read list no economics-specific high school courses; you meet the major’s prerequisites with college courses after you enroll.
• AP and IB credit (admissions office tables): AP Microeconomics 4 or 5 earns ECON 200 (a 3 earns ECON 190); AP Macroeconomics 4 or 5 earns ECON 201 (a 3 earns ECON 191); AP Calculus AB 3, 4 or 5 earns MATH 124; AP Calculus BC 4 or 5 earns MATH 124 and 125 (a 3 earns MATH 124). IB Economics Higher Level 6 or 7 earns ECON 200 and 201, HL 5 earns ECON 200, HL 4 and Standard Level 4–7 earn ECON 100. The department says AP/IB/A-Level credit counts toward the prerequisites if it is equivalent to the UW course, and AP Statistics cannot replace STAT 311.
• B.A. graduation: ECON 300 (Intermediate Microeconomics), ECON 301 (Intermediate Macroeconomics), ECON 382 (Introduction to Econometrics; ECON 424, 482, 483 or 484 may substitute), five 400-level ECON courses, and at least 50 ECON credits. ECON 300, 301 and 382 must be completed at UW Seattle and cannot be transferred; 300 and 301 need a grade of 2.0 or higher.
• B.S. graduation: ECON 300 and 301; at least 15 credits of “Theory & Methods” courses (one from ECON 400 or 401 and one from ECON 424, 482 or 483); 15 more credits of 400-level economics; at least 50 ECON credits.
• All students also complete University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements and 180 credits in total.

4. Applying to the UW: timelines, fees and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Timeline: the UW does not offer early decision or early action. The first-year autumn application opens August 15 and closes November 15; test scores are due December 31; decisions arrive March 1–15; May 1 is National College Decision Day. A winter-quarter first-year application closes September 1, but winter is not open to international first-year applicants.
• Platform: the Common App.
• Application fee: $85 for U.S. first-year students (fee waivers available) and $95 for international first-year students (no fee waivers).
• Essay: the Common App essay (650 words maximum, a choice of seven prompts) is required. You also choose first- and second-choice majors.
• Self-reported courses: every first-year applicant, including international and homeschool students, self-reports courses and grades through the STARS system after submitting the application; the record cannot be changed once submitted. A final official high school transcript is required only if you are admitted and plan to enroll.
• Testing: the SAT/ACT is not required; reviewers do not see scores you send. The UW says high scores (1400 SAT or 31 ACT or above) “may be considered” for a handful of students who might not otherwise be admitted. Homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools without letter or numeric grades must still submit scores.
• Recommendations and interviews: no letters of recommendation, no interviews, and demonstrated interest is not considered.
• Admission data: the three-year average admit rate is 47% for Washington residents and 39% for non-residents; the middle 50% of admitted students for autumn 2025 had a high school GPA of 3.75–3.98 (4.0 scale). The pages we read give no first-year admit rate for economics.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Cost (Seattle nine-month budget for 2026-27): resident tuition $13,406 with a total of $24,044 (living with parents) or $36,746 (on or off campus); non-resident tuition $44,460 with a total of $55,098 (living with parents) or $67,800 (on or off campus). The on/off-campus column includes housing and food $18,858, books $900, personal $2,508 and transportation $1,074. The UW notes some majors or programs may have additional fees; the pages we read list none for economics.
• In-state vs. out-of-state: as above; admit rates are also reported separately by residency.
• Aid: U.S. citizens and permanent residents apply for aid through the UW (February 1 is the FAFSA + WASFA priority date); the UW accepts Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET). The pages we read describe no economics-specific scholarship beyond the department’s page for undergraduate scholarship recipients, which we did not review.
• Major application: after enrolling, follow section 2; total credits do not matter as long as the prerequisites are done.

6. International applicants

• English proficiency: international first-year applicants must submit TOEFL, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test (DET) meeting the UW’s minimum; the score is also considered in holistic review. Minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 76 (before January 21, 2026) or 4.0 (new scale, from January 21, 2026); IELTS 6.0; DET 110. The UW lists averages for admitted international students: TOEFL 107 (120-point scale), IELTS 7.6, DET 139. Exams must be taken on or before December 31 of the application year and sent by the testing agency (TOEFL code 4854); MyBest and superscoring are not used, conditional admission is not offered, and TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for two years.
• Exemption: applicants whose primary and secondary education took place in Australia, Canada (English-speaking provinces), the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or the U.S. are exempt; being born in those countries but educated elsewhere does not exempt you.
• SAT/ACT as an alternative: English proficiency is considered met with an average grade of B or better in high-school English writing/literature (with English the language of instruction in grades 10–12) and an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 580 or ACT English score of 22; these scores are used for the English requirement only.
• Limits: winter quarter is not open to international first-year applicants and the $95 fee cannot be waived.
• Cost and funding: international students pay non-resident tuition ($44,460 for 2026-27). The UW states that it does not provide financial aid or scholarships to undergraduate international students and that they should be prepared to cover all expenses. Proof-of-funds amounts are not described on the pages we read; ask UW admissions.
• OPT: see the STEM designations in section 1.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages we read do not mention the Gaokao and have no China-specific page; whether Gaokao results are used is not published, so ask UW admissions.
• Transcripts: for schools outside the U.S. following a national compulsory curriculum, applicants must upload a scanned, unofficial transcript for grade 9 and above; records must be in English or the native language with official English translations; do not mail transcripts. A final official transcript is required only after admission and enrollment. The pages do not name a credential-evaluation agency.
• English: submit TOEFL, IELTS or DET as in section 6; the exemption list names only English-speaking countries, and China is not among them.
• International curricula: the admissions office has AP, IB and A/AS-Level credit pages; AP and IB credit appears in section 3.
• Major application: Chinese applicants apply to the economics major after enrolling, like everyone else.

8. Transfer students

• University level: the autumn-quarter transfer application opens December 15. The transfer application page lists a deadline of February 15, while the “Dates and deadlines” page lists February 28; decisions come May 1 to June 30. Winter transfer applications are open to U.S. applicants only, and spring quarter is open only to specific engineering and computer science departments. The application fee is $85 ($95 for international, no waivers). SAT/ACT is not required; you need a personal statement and college transcripts (plus a high school transcript if you have fewer than 40 transferable quarter credits). The transfer GPA is used only for admissibility to the UW; the UW says some selective majors calculate GPA differently, and the pages we read do not say how economics does.
• Direct-to-major pathway: the department says students applying to transfer for autumn can submit an additional application to the economics major and, if admitted, start with the major declared. These applications are accepted in spring quarter only (the winter application closes before the transfer deadline), and students are notified by the UW and the department at the same time. The “intended major” on the UW application is for information only and does not count as applying to the major.
• General pathway: students who cannot meet the direct-to-major requirements can enroll at the UW, finish the missing courses and apply in a later cycle; the department says the pathway has no impact on how applications are reviewed.
• Transfer credit for prerequisites: equivalents to STAT 311 are uncommon. The department names MATH 211 at Shoreline Community College and North Seattle College as approved equivalents, and says MATH& 146 and BA 240 from Washington community colleges do not meet the prerequisite. Courses from outside Washington must have a significant computational element using R (preferred) or Python; Excel- or Stata-only courses are not approved. ECON 300, 301 and 382 must be taken at UW Seattle.
• Credit cap: the pages we read do not state a limit on transferable credits; ask UW admissions.

9. Cost, internships and research

• Costs are in section 5; international students pay the non-resident rate.
• The department lists a mentorship program, the Economics Undergraduate Board (free tutoring and seminars) and UW Women in Economics. Specific internship or research placements are not described on the pages we read; check the department. A page on Curricular Practical Training for international economics students exists but we did not review it.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply through the Common App by November 15 listing economics as your intended major, then self-report courses in STARS; the SAT/ACT is not required
• Finish the CADRs in high school (math through second-year algebra, ideally calculus); after enrolling take ECON 200/201, MATH 124 (plus 125 and 126 for the B.S.) and STAT 311
• Once prerequisites are done and you have 45 credits, apply to the major by the second Friday of a quarter, take the RTW that quarter and write a one-page personal statement

International applicants (including China):

• Apply by November 15 and take TOEFL, IELTS or DET by December 31; the fee is $95 and winter and spring are not open to international first-year applicants; no UW scholarships; budget for non-resident costs
• For national-curriculum schools upload an unofficial transcript for grade 9 and above with official English translation; ask admissions how the Gaokao is used
• Apply to the economics major after enrolling, the same way as domestic students

Transfer students:

• Apply to the UW by February 15 (or February 28; check the current date); for direct-to-major entry apply to the economics department in spring quarter
• Complete prerequisites before transferring where possible; statistics must include R or Python; take ECON 300/301/382 at UW

Sources: University of Washington, Economics: undergraduate programs; Economics: majors and options; Economics: apply to the major; Economics: RTW assessment; Economics: B.A.; Economics: B.S.; Economics: choosing a degree; Economics: major options FAQ; Economics: transfer students; Admissions: first-year; Admissions: how to apply; Admissions: admission to majors; Admissions: CADRs; Admissions: by the numbers; Admissions: SAT/ACT; Admissions: English proficiency; Admissions: AP credit; Admissions: IB credit; Admissions: dates and deadlines; Admissions: cost of attendance; Admissions: transfer; Admissions: transfer application; Admissions: transfer GPA. Dates on the Economics pages (such as October 9) show no year; check that they apply to fall 2027 entry. Always confirm on the University of Washington website.