How to Apply to Economics at the University of Chicago: Apply to the College, Study for the B.A. in Economics (Standard Track Plus Three Specializations), and Admission and Prerequisites for US, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At the University of Chicago (UChicago), undergraduate economics is offered by the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics and leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in the undergraduate College. The department says that applications for admission go through College Admissions and the Department of Economics does not participate in undergraduate admissions. So you apply to the College, not to economics itself, and take the major after you arrive. Here is what the official pages say for fall 2027 entry, for US applicants, international applicants (including Chinese applicants) and transfer applicants.

1. Economics degrees and options

• Degree: the department pages and the College Catalog describe a B.A. in Economics. The pages read for this guide do not mention a B.S. in economics or any STEM designation; ask the department or admissions if you need that.
• Four options (Curriculum FAQ and Catalog): the Standard Track, the Business Economics specialization, the Data Science specialization and the Politics and Policy specialization (EPP). The department’s undergraduate landing page says there are two tracks, standard and business economics, with data science as a specialization within the standard track, which differs slightly from the four-option wording in the FAQ; check the department for the latest.
• Standard Track: general economic principles with mathematical methods, in five parts: fundamentals, a three-course core, an empirical methods sequence, an economic policy course and electives. Up to two electives may be taken outside economics from pre-approved computer science, statistics, mathematics and Booth School of Business courses.
• Business Economics: more applied. The Catalog says the full calculus sequence is not required but students are encouraged to continue maths; four BUSN courses from Booth-approved bundles are required.
• Data Science: standard-track economics plus computer science and data science courses; the economic policy course (ECON 23950) is replaced by basic computer science and at least two data science courses in economics.
• Politics and Policy: combines economic theory with political institutions and public policy; see the Catalog for requirements.
• Honors: requires a GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.2 overall, the honors workshop and a sole-authored economics paper graded A or A-. A thesis is not required to complete the major.
• BA/MA: third-year students can apply to join the Master of Arts in Economics (MAE), MAPSS or the International Relations MA as joint students in their fourth year. The MAE route takes 9 graduate courses (3 ECMA core and 6 electives) that can also count toward the BA, and students keep their College financial aid.
• Minor/double major: not covered on the economics pages read; see the Catalog and your College adviser.

2. How you get into the major

• How admission works: you apply to the College and do not select economics at application. Whether the application asks for an intended major is not stated in the pages read; ask Admissions.
• Entry requirements: the pages read do not state a GPA threshold or enrolment cap for entering the economics major, or whether entry is guaranteed. The department says the major is designed to be started in the second year.
• Grades: completing the major requires a major GPA of 2.0 or higher and a grade of C- or higher in every course counted, taken for a quality grade (no pass/fail).
• When to declare: no declaration deadline for first-year entrants appears on the pages read. For transfer students, the page says they can declare any major as early as their first autumn quarter. Ask your College adviser for the rest.

3. Prerequisites and first two years

• High school maths: the admissions pages read do not list high school maths prerequisites. The major’s maths requirements are in the Catalog and start from college calculus (below). The Catalog also says the MATH 15300 requirement can be met by placement on the College’s Higher-Level Math Test (given before orientation) plus completion of a higher-level proof-based maths course such as MATH 15910 or MATH 20250.
• Fundamentals (standard track): two required: a third calculus course (MATH 13300, 15300, 16300, 16310 or 18300) and MATH 15250 (or MATH 18400, 20400 or similar). Two are strongly recommended: ECON 10000 Principles of Microeconomics and ECON 10200 Principles of Macroeconomics. The Catalog advises taking calculus at the highest level you qualify for.
• Core: ECON 20000-20100-20200 (The Elements of Economic Analysis I-III) or the honors sequence 20010-20110-20210.
• Empirical methods: linear algebra, then statistics (STAT 23400, 24400 or 24410), then econometrics (ECON 21020 or honors 21030), in consecutive quarters. The Catalog says AP Statistics credit cannot satisfy the statistics requirement.
• Economic policy and electives: ECON 23950 or an alternative; at least four economics electives.
• First-year advice (Curriculum FAQ): take principles of economics (ECON 10000 or 10200), calculus (MATH 15250 plus a third-quarter course) and Core courses. To keep all options open, finish the first-year calculus sequence, take ECON 20000, then 20100 and 20200.
• Prerequisites for ECON 20000: the FAQ lists several ways, such as completing MATH 15250 or 18400, or placing into MATH 15910 or higher; see the FAQ for the full list.
• AP/IB credit for economics requirements: the economics pages read do not say how AP Micro, AP Macro, AP Calculus or IB Economics map onto economics requirements. The transfer credit page says the College generally grants examination credit for some AP exams with scores of 4 or 5 and IB Higher Level exams with 6 or 7; check the College’s examination credit policy for specific subjects.

4. Deadlines and materials

• Four plans: Early Action (EA) and Early Decision I (ED I) are due 2 November 2026, with decisions in mid-December; Early Decision II (ED II) and Regular Decision (RD) are due 4 January 2027, with ED II decisions in mid-February and RD in late March. ED is binding.
• Platform: Apply Coalition (Scoir) or the Common App, one only; both are treated equally.
• Fee: no fee for students applying for need-based aid; otherwise US$90.
• Essays: the platform personal statement plus the UChicago Supplement: one extended essay chosen from several prompts and one short essay on why you want to attend.
• Recommendations: two from teachers who have taught you in an academic subject, plus an optional third. Your counselor completes the Secondary School Report with a transcript, and a mid-year report follows.
• Testing: SAT/ACT is optional under a “No Harm” policy: a submitted score is used only if it helps. This applies to domestic, international and transfer applicants. Scores can be self-reported, with official reports needed if you enrol. School codes: SAT 1832, ACT 1152.

5. US applicants

• Testing: optional, No Harm, as above.
• Tuition: the cost page lists a single tuition figure and does not describe in-state/out-of-state differences; the pages read say nothing about preference for state residents.
• Transcripts: read in the context of your school; UChicago says you are never disadvantaged for not taking a course your school did not offer. You may self-submit transcripts at first; official copies are needed if you are admitted and enrol.
• Aid: the financial aid steps for US citizens and permanent residents are not covered here; see the College’s aid pages.

6. International applicants

• Process: same as for everyone else; no separate international application. Applications are read in the context of your school and education system.
• English: not mandatory. UChicago says it admits only students with superior English, but you may submit any English proficiency exam you choose, and if English mastery is shown elsewhere in the application you need not submit scores. There is no ESL programme or conditional admission.
• Credentials: do not convert grades to a 4.0 GPA; leave class rank or GPA blank if your school does not report them; non-English documents need official English translations.
• School report: if your school has no counselor, an administrator can complete the Secondary School Report; a mentor at an accredited community-based organization such as an EducationUSA Advising Center may help, but independently hired consultants may not complete it.
• Financial documents: international aid applicants submit the Student Financial Aid Worksheet plus family income documentation (tax forms or employer statement, bank statements) and asset documentation; they do not submit the CSS Profile or FAFSA. The pages read do not state proof-of-funds requirements for enrolment.
• Aid and scholarships: first-year international students are eligible for need-based aid and merit scholarships. If you apply for aid and are admitted, UChicago meets 100% of demonstrated need, loan-free. You must apply for aid when you apply for admission; it cannot be added after admission. Merit scholarships are automatic with no separate application; only winners are notified, on a rolling basis through the end of April.
• Other: the international page says international students come from over 100 countries and are 24% of the University’s students, while the FAQ says classes are 12-15% international from over 80 countries; the pages do not explain the basis of each figure. There is no fixed number or percentage per country, and UChicago does not work with overseas recruiting agencies.

7. Applicants from China

• There is no China-specific admissions page; the international applicant guidance above applies.
• Whether the gaokao is considered: not stated on the pages read; ask Admissions.
• Transcripts and school-leaving exam records: submit complete high school transcripts and the school report; your record across all years of high school is considered. Requirements for specific exam records (such as huikao) are not stated. Translate non-English documents officially.
• English: not mandatory, as above. International applicants may also submit an InitialView interview to show communication skills.

8. Costs

• 2026-2027 cost of attendance (on campus, US$): tuition 75,960, Student Services Fee 1,677, UPASS fee 318, food and housing 21,414, books 1,800, personal 1,950, travel 702, total 103,821. Off-campus is 100,407 and commuter 91,407. First-time students in 2026 also pay a US$720 class fee in each of their first two years; health insurance is not included.
• Aid: see above; need-based aid is loan-free.
• Research and internships (economics pages): students can be research assistants with faculty in the economics department, Booth and the Harris School, and join student organizations. The honors workshop FAQ reports that 96% of the previous cohort worked as research assistants.

9. Transferring in

• Who is a transfer student: someone who has completed at least one term as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree programme. High school students taking college courses apply as first-years.
• Dates: Transfer Early Decision (TED) is due 1 March 2027 with decisions in late March; Transfer Rolling Decision (TR) has a priority date of 1 March 2027, decisions from early May, and closes 1 June. Autumn entry only.
• Materials: Common App or Apply Coalition, two teacher recommendations, final high school and all college transcripts, the College Transfer Report, a mid-term report if currently enrolled, and an essay on why you are leaving your current college.
• Entry to economics: the pages read give no GPA or course thresholds for transferring into the economics major. Transfer students can pursue any major and may declare as early as autumn of their first year; at least half of the major must be completed at UChicago.
• Credit: courses must be at an accredited bachelor’s-granting institution, earn a C or above (not C- or P), carry at least three semester or four quarter hours, and match College offerings. Courses taken before the high school diploma, online-programme courses and pre-college-level courses (for example pre-calculus) do not transfer. Two semester courses are normally equivalent to three quarter courses. Credit is evaluated after admission. Transfer credit cannot meet the Humanities, Civilization Studies or Social Sciences Core requirements.
• Residence: at least two academic years (six quarters) at UChicago, completing the Core and more than half the major with UChicago course numbers.
• Aid: apply for aid with your application. International transfer students cannot apply for need-based aid. On scholarships, the international aid page says international transfer students are not eligible for merit scholarships, but the international FAQ says admitted international transfers are considered for institutional scholarships they qualify for; ask Admissions which is correct.

Checklist

US applicants:

• Apply to the College: EA/ED I by 2 November 2026, ED II/RD by 4 January 2027; testing is optional
• The major’s maths requirements come after you enrol: the College’s maths placement guides your calculus level; see the Catalog for details

International applicants (including China):

• Same plans and deadlines; English scores are not mandatory, do not convert to a 4.0 GPA, and translate non-English documents
• If you need aid, apply with your admission application; it cannot be added later
• Whether the gaokao is considered and requirements for school-leaving exam records are not stated; ask Admissions

Transfer applicants:

• Apply by 1 March 2027; plan at least two years at UChicago; international transfers cannot apply for need-based aid

Sources: University of Chicago, College Admissions: Application; Required materials; International applicants; International financial aid; Transfer applicants; Transfer credit; Undergraduate costs; Department of Economics: Undergraduate Study; Standard track; Business Economics specialization; Data Science specialization; Politics and Policy specialization; Curriculum FAQ; BA/MA; Honors Workshop FAQ; College Catalog: Economics. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check UChicago for the latest details.