How to Apply to Economics at Duke: The Major Is in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Choose Trinity or Pratt on the Application, B.S. and A.B. Differ in Math, ECON 101 Is Required, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Economics at Duke University is taught by the Department of Economics, and the major sits in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Admission is university-wide: applicants choose between Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering, and Duke’s admissions office says it is not easier or harder to be admitted to one program or the other, so pick the one that fits your interests. This guide follows Duke’s websites and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Business and Computer Science have their own guides on this site and are mentioned here only where they touch economics.

1. Economics degrees at Duke

• Three majors: the department offers the Bachelor of Science in Economics (B.S.), the B.S. in Economics with a Finance Concentration, and the A.B. in Economics (also written B.A. on some pages), plus minors in economics and in finance.
• A.B. versus B.S.: since fall 2022 the A.B. has fewer requirements. It does not require Economics 205 (Intermediate Microeconomics II, since renamed 301); its math requirement is MATH 111 (or 105 and 106), with no more advanced multivariable calculus. The A.B. requires ECON 101, 104, 201, 204 and 210, one applied economics course and four upper-level electives (five electives in total, at least one at the 300 level and one at the 400 level). The B.S. core is ECON 101, 104, 201, 301, 204 and 210, plus five 300- or 400-level electives (at least one of each), and a multivariable calculus math requirement. The department says students who contemplate graduate study in economics should strongly consider the B.S., and the finance concentration is available only within the B.S.
• Financial Economics Concentration: the same requirements as the B.S. plus a finance core course (ECON/FECON 372, Asset Pricing and Risk Management) and three finance electives (at most two FINTECH courses).
• STEM designation: the department says the B.S., the B.S. with the finance concentration and the A.B. all classify as STEM (CIP 45.0603, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics), allowing a 24-month STEM extension of F-1 OPT.
• Honors: Graduation with Distinction in Economics requires a minimum 3.3 GPA in both economics and overall, two credits of honors coursework and an honors thesis approved by the Honors Committee. The pathway is to finish the core courses and take two semesters of honors seminars (Econ 495 and/or 496), ideally starting in the spring of junior year, or to do honors research independent studies; registration is by permission with a proposal of no more than two pages. The thesis must be novel research.
• Course prefixes: since fall 2023, ECON courses explore economics broadly, FECON courses are financial economics, and FMKT courses are practical financial-markets skills courses.

2. Admission and declaring the major

• No economics major on the application: you choose between Trinity and Pratt on the Common App and also indicate preliminary academic interests. The economics major is in Trinity; the department says engineering students should consult their faculty advisor about declaring an economics major or minor.
• When to declare: the department says Trinity students must declare a major by the end of their fourth semester at Duke, following the Academic Advising Center’s guidelines. New majors complete an online New Major Orientation in Canvas, and need a score of at least 80% on the quiz to be cleared for open advising.
• Entry requirements and capacity: the department pages we read state no GPA threshold or enrollment cap; prerequisites are enforced through DukeHub, and prerequisites and requirements for the major may not be taken Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, except Economics 101.
• Timing of the core: core courses must be completed by the start of senior year; ECON 204 must be completed before senior year (seniors are barred from taking it, no exceptions); completing the core by the start of junior year is encouraged.
• Switching in: the pages describe no separate internal-transfer procedure; the declaration rules above apply to all Trinity students.

3. Prerequisites and courses

• At application: the admissions office recommends four years of English and at least three years each of mathematics, natural sciences, world language and social studies, about five academic courses a year, and the most challenging courses available. The page states a calculus requirement only for Pratt applicants; it names no extra high school course requirement for Trinity or for economics, so ask Duke admissions.
• Math: for the B.S., MATH 202, 212, 219 or 222 or a higher course with MATH 212 as a prerequisite, taken for a letter grade (MATH 218 is not an accepted prerequisite). For the A.B., MATH 105L and 106L, or MATH 21, MATH 111L, or any higher course with MATH 111 as a prerequisite.
• Core economics courses: ECON 101D Economic Principles; ECON 104D Statistical Foundations of Econometrics and Data Science (prerequisite MATH 21 or a higher math course); ECON 201D Intermediate Microeconomics I; ECON 204D Econometrics and Data Science; ECON 210D Intermediate Macroeconomics; and, for the B.S., ECON 301D Intermediate Microeconomics II. The department is inconsistent on 301D: the B.S. page says Econ 205D is renamed 301D beginning fall 2025, while the first-year page still lists 205D. Core courses need not be taken in sequence as long as prerequisites are met, and 205D and 210D can be taken together. Students are encouraged to start economics in their first semester.
• ECON 101 is required, and AP does not replace it: the department says that beginning fall 2023 all students must take Economics 101 and it no longer accepts AP, international placement credit (IPC) or transfer credit for it. The Registrar’s AP table (for students entering in 2026–27) lists AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics as “Not accepted”. Duke accepts IB exams at the Higher Level only, and economics is not among the IB subjects listed on that table. Students with AP exams cannot go straight into ECON 201D; they must take ECON 101 first.
• Math credit: the economics page says MATH 21 credit follows the Math Department’s AP guidelines, with a 5 on AP Calculus AB or 3, 4 or 5 on BC. The Registrar’s table lists AB 5 and BC 4 for MATH 21 and BC 5 for MATH 21 and 22, with no entry for BC 3. The two differ; follow the Registrar and the Math Department.
• Further math: students who contemplate graduate study in economics are urged to develop skills in intermediate calculus, linear algebra, differential equations and advanced calculus (B.S. page).
• Class sizes: the department says ECON 101, 104 and 201D are the largest courses (300–400 students) with discussion sections of 15–20; the other core courses typically have 100–200.

4. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Early Decision (binding): due November 2, with the Early Decision agreement, transcript, first-quarter grades, school report with counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations and financial aid applications; decisions in mid-December. Duke reports admitting 12.6% of Early Decision and 4.2% of Regular Decision applicants in 2025–26 and says there is, at least statistically, an advantage in applying Early Decision; it says there is no financial aid advantage or disadvantage.
• Regular Decision: due January 4; financial aid February 1; midyear grade report February 15; decisions in late March or early April. The page is labeled the 2026–27 cycle; confirm it corresponds to fall 2027 entry.
• Materials: the Common App (or the QuestBridge application for eligible students); transcript; school report and counselor recommendation; two teacher recommendations from major academic subjects, preferably from the last two years; an optional personal recommendation; up to 10 activities; one personal essay plus short essays: “Why Duke” (250 words), “Communities” (250 words) and an optional choice of one of three (250 words).
• Testing: for the 2026–27 cycle Duke is test-optional for first-year and transfer applicants, including international students. Applying without scores is not a disadvantage; official scores are required only from students who enroll; self-reported scores are accepted; you can later change a “do not consider” choice to “consider”, but not the other way after submitting. The ACT science section is optional but encouraged for STEM interests. The last test dates are November 7 (SAT) and October 17 (ACT) for ED and December 5 (SAT) and December 12 (ACT) for RD. ROTC scholarship applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores to those programs.
• Application fee: $85, non-refundable; students with high financial need can request a waiver online through the Common App.
• Interviews: alumni interviews are optional; Duke cannot interview everyone, not being offered one does not affect your chances and you cannot request one. For international applicants Duke also considers InitialView interviews. The Glimpse video is currently available only to students at U.S. high schools.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Testing: optional for 2026–27, as above. The pages we read state no minimum score.
• Cost: Duke lists one price, with no in-state or out-of-state split and no separate tuition for economics. The admissions office’s “Financial Support” page estimates (the page shows no year, and says the aid estimate is based on 2025–26 costs and will be updated in spring when 2026–27 costs are announced): tuition $70,265, fees $2,907, housing $10,910, food $10,075, books and course materials $536, personal expenses $3,274 and domestic transportation $582 (varies by home address), for an estimated $98,549.
• Aid: for U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens, applying for aid does not disadvantage a student in admissions; undocumented and DACA students are reviewed need-blind too. Duke commits to meeting full demonstrated need for every admitted student. It reports that 50% of undergraduates receive aid and 75% graduate debt-free. The financial aid office says a first offer will most likely contain a grant, a federal loan and work-study, and that all applicants are considered for merit scholarships.
• Applying for aid: for ED the CSS Profile and FAFSA are listed as due November 2 on the Apply page and November 3 (priority) on the Financial Support page, with additional documents such as taxes due November 15; for RD, February 1. Offers come with the admission decision (mid-December for ED, late March to early April for RD; the Financial Support page says by April 1). Applicants whose parents are divorced each submit a separate CSS Profile.
• In-state preference or guaranteed admission: none is described on the pages we read.

6. International applicants

• Same application: Duke says there is no separate application for international students; testing policies are the same for all applicants with no additional requirements; use the Common App.
• English tests: not required, but recommended for non-native speakers or students not in an English-medium curriculum. Duke lists the minimum scores it “expects”: TOEFL 100 (internet-based) or 75 (paper); IELTS 7; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180; Duolingo 130; PTE Academic 70. Scores may be self-reported; official Duolingo submissions are free, so Duke suggests submitting those officially.
• Translation: transcripts that need translating may use an official service, an EducationUSA adviser or a school official, and the originals must be submitted too; school reports and transcripts must come directly from your school.
• Aid: foreign citizens must apply for need-based aid in the original first-year application to be eligible at any point; international applicants who indicate aid interest are considered in a separate, more competitive pool, and Duke says the admit rate for foreign citizens seeking aid is usually less than half of the overall rate; those admitted with “no financial aid interest” cannot apply later. Merit scholarships consider all applicants automatically. Aid comes with the admission offer; international awards are four-year awards that renew automatically, and you attend a mandatory aid session on arrival. The CSS Profile is due November 3 (ED) or February 1 (RD) and opens October 1; some applicants are asked to submit foreign tax forms and English-language income statements from both parents’ employers through IDOC, officially translated with the exchange rate to U.S. dollars.
• Visa: the I-20 form is issued only after a student accepts the offer and returns the Certificate of Financial Responsibility.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages we read do not mention the Gaokao, and we found no China-specific page. Whether and how Gaokao results can be submitted is not published; contact Duke undergraduate admissions.
• Interviews: Duke also considers InitialView interviews and says students attending schools in China are particularly encouraged to arrange one; this applies to transfer applicants too.
• Transcripts: your school submits the transcript and school report directly; translation options are above. The pages do not name a credential-evaluation agency.
• Testing and English: the same as for all applicants — tests optional, English scores recommended.
• International curricula: AP and IB scores can be self-reported, and official reports are needed after enrolling for credit. Note the economics rule above: AP Micro and Macro earn no credit and ECON 101 is required.

8. Jobs, research and funding

• Undergraduate teaching assistants: the department often invites advanced undergraduates to help teach ECON 101 and 201D; applications run twice a year, with preference for students who have finished the core and for upperclassmen.
• Research assistantships: the Allen Starling Johnson, Jr. Distinguished Research Assistantships are offered each semester; faculty tell the EcoTeach Center, which invites qualified students to interview. The page says it is not possible to apply.
• Fellowships and grants: Davies Fellowships (for the summer between junior and senior years, by faculty nomination and subject to funds), travel grants for conference presentations and data grants.
• Other: the department lists the EcoTeach Center, the Duke Economic Analytics Laboratory (DEAL), the Duke Journal of Economics and the Economics Student Union; see the department site.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: you have attended college in the past four years and will have completed at least one full year of transferable college work by the August you hope to enroll. Those with a bachelor’s degree cannot apply; high school students earning an associate degree apply as first-years; part-time applicants are not considered. About 70 students transfer in each fall, most as sophomores and a few as juniors.
• Selectivity as published: Duke says the transfer admission rate has ranged from 3% to 7% over five years; in 2025–26, 2,460 applied, 160 were admitted and 94 enrolled (6.5%); the most successful applicants have a college GPA of at least 3.7.
• Deadline and application: March 15, fall entry only (no spring program). Use the Duke Transfer Application or the Coalition Application on SCOIR; the Common App is not accepted for transfers this cycle. Materials: the application, a College Report from a school administrator, college transcript, final high school transcript, two instructor evaluations (at least one from a college instructor), two essays (650 words on why you are transferring and 250 words on how you will explore your interests) and financial aid forms. Testing is optional. Admissions does not give a preliminary credit evaluation to prospective transfers; Trinity’s Transfer Office offers admitted students a preliminary evaluation before Decision Day.
• Credit: Duke grants credit for no more than two years of work done elsewhere; transfer students spend at least two years at Duke; at least half of any major, minor or certificate must be completed at Duke. Trinity transfers complete liberal-arts categories, language and writing requirements (sophomore entrants also take Writing 120 unless waived).
• Economics credit: the economics department accepts at most two economics transfer credits toward the major and no longer accepts transfer credit for ECON 101, 104, 201, 204, 205, 210 or 301; at least half of the major’s credits must be earned at Duke.
• Aid: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, undocumented and DACA transfer students are admitted without regard to financial circumstance and Duke meets 100% of their demonstrated need. Need-based aid is not available for international transfer students, Duke offers no merit scholarships to transfers, and fee waivers are not available to international transfers.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Submit by November 2 (Early Decision, binding) or January 4 (Regular Decision) with transcript, two teacher recommendations and a counselor recommendation; choose Trinity College of Arts & Sciences on the application
• Testing is optional; declare economics by the end of the fourth semester, and plan to take ECON 101 (AP cannot replace it)
• For aid, submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA by early November (ED) or February 1 (RD)

International applicants (including China):

• Same timeline as domestic applicants; request aid in your first application or you will not be eligible later
• English scores are recommended, not required; students in China are encouraged to book an InitialView interview; ask admissions how the Gaokao may be used
• Attach official translations for non-English transcripts and submit the originals

Transfer students:

• Apply by March 15 for fall entry only; at most two economics transfer credits count, and core courses such as ECON 101, 201 and 204 are not accepted by transfer

Sources: Duke University, Economics: undergraduate; Economics: B.S.; Economics: A.B.; Economics: Financial Economics concentration; Economics: differences between the A.B. and B.S.; Economics: core courses; Economics: first-year students; Economics: course of study and placement; Economics: major declaration; Economics: honors program; Economics: jobs, internships and funding; Trinity: majors and minors; Trinity: transfer timeline; Trinity: sophomore transfer requirements; Trinity: junior transfer requirements; Admissions: apply; Admissions: resources and FAQs; Admissions: financial support; Registrar: AP/IB credit; Financial aid: types of aid. The admissions page is labeled the 2026-27 admission cycle; check Duke’s website to confirm it corresponds to fall 2027 entry.