How to Apply to Economics at Tufts University: The BA in Economics and the BA/BS in Quantitative Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences, Both STEM-Certified, with Admission and Prerequisite Information for US, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Tufts University, undergraduate economics is taught by the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences, which describes economics as one of the most popular undergraduate majors at Tufts. This guide, based on Tufts’ official information, covers what US applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer applicants need to know. Where Tufts does not say, we write “not published” and say where to ask.

1. Degrees and how you get into the major

• Two majors:
  • BA in Economics: 10 courses; the department describes it as less structured with more flexibility in course choice; STEM-certified.
  • BA/BS in Quantitative Economics: 12 courses; a more mathematical approach, recommended for graduate study in economics or the more quantitative areas of business and finance; also STEM-certified.
• Minors and extensions: an Economics minor (five courses) and a Finance minor (a six-course interdisciplinary minor); a fifth-year master’s (BS/MS or BA/MS in Economics), where strong performance in Math 42 and the intermediate micro, intermediate macro and econometrics sequence is a key admission criterion; and a Senior Honors Thesis, which the department suggests for juniors with a GPA of at least 3.40: two semesters of 4 credits each, counting as two upper-level electives.
• How admission works: you apply to the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering or the SMFA, and Tufts says you are considered only for the school you apply to. The pages we read do not say whether you can choose economics on the application, or whether economics has its own admission bar or GPA threshold. The department page only links a Declaration of Major/Minor form; check the School of Arts and Sciences Bulletin or ask the department about declaration timing and grade requirements.
• Grades: all major courses must be taken for a letter grade, with a minimum of C- in mathematics, core and elective courses.

2. Prerequisites and first- and second-year sequence

• High school preparation: the pages we read do not state specific high school math or economics requirements. The department says the starting point is Principles of Economics (Economics 5) or Principles with Environmental Applications (Economics 8): one-semester courses with no prerequisites, open to all students and offered every semester.
• BA in Economics: Mathematics 32 or a higher course approved by the department (all or part may be waived with adequate prior preparation, for example through AP); core courses of Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (Economics 11), Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (Economics 12 or 18), Statistics (Economics 13, 14 or 201, or Mathematics 166 and others) and Basic Econometrics (Economics 15, 107 or 202); and five economics electives numbered 20 or above, at least three at the 100 level or higher, at least one an upper-level seminar.
• BA/BS in Quantitative Economics: Mathematics 32 and 34; core courses Economics 11, Economics 14 (Statistics for Quantitative Economics), Economics 16 or 203, Economics 18 or 205 and econometrics (Economics 107 or 202), plus Mathematics 70 or 72; four upper-level electives, at least one limited to students who completed a quantitative prerequisite and at least one a seminar. The department notes that for the Class of 2027 and later, Economics 14 replaces Economics 13 for this major.
• Recommended pacing: begin the principles course and required math in the first year and the core theory courses in the second year.
• Pre-matriculation credit (School of Arts and Sciences, simplified chart): AP Economics score of 5 earns 3 credits for either the Micro or Macro exam, and 7 credits with 5s on both, placing out of Economics 5; IB Higher Level Economics 6 or 7 earns 7 credits (Economics 5 plus additional department credit); A-Level Economics A or B earns 7. In math, AP Calculus AB 4 or 5 earns 4 credits (Math 32); BC 5 earns 8 (Math 32 and 34) and BC 4 earns Math 32; IB Mathematics 7 equals Math 32 and 34 and 6 equals Math 32; AP Statistics 4 or 5 earns 3 credits. Arts and Sciences students may receive up to five pre-matriculation course equivalents. The chart is simplified for prospective students; enrolled students should use Tufts’ Student Services website.

3. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Three rounds (dates as listed by Tufts):
  • Early Decision I (binding): 2 November 2026, decisions in mid-December;
  • Early Decision II (binding): 4 January 2027, decisions in early February;
  • Regular Decision: 4 January 2027, decisions by 1 April.
• Platforms: the Common Application, the Coalition Application powered by Scoir, or QuestBridge, with no preference. Transcripts and recommendation letters go through these platforms; the number and format of letters is not stated on the pages we read, so check the Tufts section of the Common App.
• Essays: the personal statement plus two Tufts short-answer questions: how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts (75–150 words), and, for Arts and Sciences applicants, one of your favorite school assignments in the past two years and why (100–200 words).
• Testing: test-optional for all undergraduate applicants, with no minimum. Tufts encourages SAT 1300+ or ACT 28+ to be submitted; in the most recent cycle, admitted students who submitted scores ranged from 1240–1600 on the SAT and 26–36 on the ACT. SAT code 3901, ACT code 1922; superscoring and self-reporting are accepted, with official scores verified after enrollment. Your choice about submitting scores cannot be changed after you submit.
• Application fee: the first-year fee is not stated on the pages we read (the transfer fee is USD 75); confirm in the Tufts section of the Common App.

4. US applicants

• No in-state/out-of-state split: the cost page gives one set of tuition figures.
• Aid: Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students, and under the Tufts Tuition Pact US students from families with annual income under USD 150,000 (with typical assets) attend tuition-free. Tufts says it offers no merit-based undergraduate scholarships; all aid is need-based.
• Testing: optional, as above. The pages we read do not describe any Massachusetts-resident preference.

5. International applicants

• Same credentials: international students submit the same credentials as other first-year applicants, evaluated within the context of their national academic system. Tufts names GCSE and A-Levels, the French Baccalaureate, the IB and the Abitur among the systems it knows.
• Transcripts: four years of internal results (three years of grades plus current-year marks), official results of national exams taken so far, and predicted marks for pending exams. Originals must be sent directly by a school official; photocopies are not accepted. Everything must arrive in English, translated by an English teacher, school official, professional translator or local EducationUSA office, never by the student or family. Credential evaluation companies are not needed.
• English: required if your primary language is not English, unless you have spent at least three years at an English-instruction school. Tufts accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo with no minimums, but says successful applicants generally have at least: TOEFL iBT 5.0+ on the new scale for exams on or after 21 January 2026 (100+ before that date), IELTS 7+, PTE Academic 68+ and Duolingo 130+. Superscoring is not accepted, including TOEFL MyBest. Interviews from InitialView or Duolingo can supplement English results.
• Aid: Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need regardless of citizenship, but aid must be requested when you apply; it cannot be added after admission. Submit the CSS Profile or, if that is a hardship, the free International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA). The application fee is waived for international citizens seeking need-based aid. Early Decision applicants can apply for aid with the same package as Regular Decision, but an Early Decision offer is binding. Tufts says it provides no merit-based undergraduate scholarships.
• Work and research: international students are eligible for paid on-campus jobs and research, and unpaid off-campus research or internships can earn academic credit; Tufts has resources for unpaid summer positions.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages we read do not say whether Gaokao results are considered, and have no Chinese-specific section.
• Transcripts and exams: follow the general international rules: four years of internal results sent directly by a school official, official national exam results and predicted marks where they exist, and English translations not done by the applicant or family. Whether a school-leaving exam certificate is needed is not published; ask Admissions (undergraduate.admissions@tufts.edu).
• English: the international requirements above; exempt after three years at an English-instruction school.
• Credit: Tufts says enrolled students may request credit for the IB, A-Levels and the French Baccalaureate; AP credit is in the chart above. Credit for Chinese high school coursework is not published.

7. Costs and research

• 2026-27, first-year students living on campus (USD, paid to the school): tuition 74,862, housing 11,220, food 9,374, fees 1,696, total 97,152; plus books and supplies 1,000 and personal expenses 1,846, with transportation varying. Tufts notes that actual costs are often significantly lower after aid.
• Major surcharge: none is listed on the cost page we read; costs for fall 2027 entry are not yet published.
• Research: the department describes research-paper electives, Special Topics (Economics 193), a one-semester Senior Thesis (Economics 198) and the two-semester Senior Honors Thesis (Economics 195 and 196).

8. Transfer students

• Deadline: 15 March 2027, with fall entry only (no January admission); decisions by mid-May. Apply with the Common App for transfer; the fee is USD 75 or a waiver request.
• Eligibility: good academic and disciplinary standing at an accredited two- or four-year institution. Tufts recommends at least one year of college study by enrollment, and requires at least two years as a fully enrolled Tufts student to earn a degree, so applicants with more than two years of full-time credit are discouraged.
• Materials: the Common App transfer application with the Tufts short answers, a College Report from each college, one college-level instructor or advisor evaluation, high school and official college transcripts, descriptions of past and current courses, English test scores if required, and the spring mid-term report. Test scores are optional.
• Economics-specific requirements: the pages we read do not give a GPA or prerequisite (calculus, principles of economics) requirement for transfers into economics; contact transfer.admissions@tufts.edu.
• Credit transfer: academic departments authorize credit, only courses with C- or higher receive credit, up to the equivalent of 60 credits may transfer, and 120 credits are needed to graduate; an Advising Dean provides a credit estimate at admission.
• International transfers: you may apply after the equivalent of two or more semesters at a university in your home country, but Tufts says aid for international transfer applicants is extremely limited.

Checklist

US applicants:

• Choose the School of Arts and Sciences; ED I 2 November, ED II or RD 4 January
• Personal statement plus two short answers; SAT/ACT optional; check the credit chart for AP Calculus and Economics

International applicants:

• Four years of transcripts sent by your school, national exam or predicted results, and English scores unless you have three years of English-instruction schooling
• Request aid at application; plan around about USD 97,000 as the listed annual cost, with aid depending on need

Applicants from China:

• Gaokao and school-leaving exam handling is not published; confirm with Admissions. Otherwise follow the international list

Transfer students:

• Due 15 March 2027, fall only; economics-specific transfer requirements are not published, so contact the transfer office first

Sources: Tufts University, Applying to Tufts and deadlines; Short answer questions; SAT and ACT policy; International applicants; International FAQs; International student aid; Transfer applicants; Transfer of credit; Pre-matriculation credits (AP/IB/A-Level); 2026-27 cost of attendance; Economics undergraduate programs; BA in Economics; BA/BS in Quantitative Economics; Fifth-year master’s; Senior honors thesis. Check Tufts for the latest details; where a page does not state the entry year, confirm that it applies to fall 2027 entry.