How to Apply to Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park: A BSOS Major Not on the Limited Enrollment List, Chosen on the Application, With BA and BS Tracks, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is taught by the Department of Economics in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS), and students can follow a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) track. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UMD’s official information, for domestic students, international students, applicants from China and transfer students. Business (the Robert H. Smith School) and computer science have their own guides on this site, so they are not covered here.

1. Degrees and how you get into the major

• BA versus BS (the department’s major requirements page): both tracks start with introductory micro- and macroeconomics and calculus, then intermediate theory and statistics, then at least one upper-level course on quantitative analysis plus several topic courses, and both require the same number of courses. The department says the BA emphasizes breadth across economic topics and suits students who want to use economic analysis in business, government policy or non-profit work, or to prepare for an MBA or other professional master’s; the BS emphasizes the techniques of economic analysis, is best for students with a strong mathematical background, and is advised for those who might pursue a PhD in economics, health policy, public policy or finance, or a JD. Switching tracks is possible, but the page strongly recommends being certain before the intermediate theory classes.
• How admission works: the admissions office says you select a preferred major on the application, which does not affect whether you are admissible to the university; only majors on the Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP) list are reviewed separately by the program. The LEP list is Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Engineering, Immersive Media Design, Neuroscience and Psychology. Economics is not on the list, and the page says that admitted students who did not select an LEP are admitted directly to the major on their application. The admissions programs page lists Economics (Major) under the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
• Entry conditions: the pages we read state no GPA threshold or enrollment cap for economics; not published. For students already enrolled, a change or addition of major is requested through TerpEngage; the economics advisors then invite you to an ELMS course on declaring the major, where you complete modules (including the college’s graduation planning workshop), build a graduation plan and submit documents; the department signs and sends them to the college office, which can take up to 15 business days to update the record after confirmation. Students on academic probation or dismissal, student athletes and some other groups must meet a college advisor.
• Academic benchmarks: within two semesters of entering the major, students must complete designated courses with a C- or higher. BA: ECON200, ECON201 and MATH120. BS: ECON200, ECON201, MATH140 and ECON300 (or MATH241 plus any statistics course). Each student signs a benchmark contract with an advisor.
• Honors: a two-semester, 6-credit sequence (ECON396 in fall, ECON397 in spring) ending in a senior honors thesis; students must first complete designated courses with a GPA of at least 3.25 in them, with separate lists for BA and BS. The page gives an application deadline of 24 April 2026 for 2026–2027; later dates are not published.
• STEM designation: not stated on the pages we read.

2. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school coursework (university minimum): English 4 years; foreign language 2 years; history or social science 3 years; science 3 years in at least two areas with at least 2 lab experiences; mathematics 4 years including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. If you finish Algebra II before your final year, you must take a final-year course that uses non-trivial algebra, such as trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics or college algebra. UMD says the most competitive applicants exceed these minimums, with a strong A-/B+ or better average and honors, AP or IB courses. The pages we read set no extra high school courses for economics.
• BA courses: ECON200 Principles of Microeconomics, ECON201 Principles of Macroeconomics, MATH120 Elementary Calculus I (or MATH140 Calculus I), ECON230 Applied Economic Statistics (or BMGT230 Business Statistics), ECON305 Intermediate Macro Theory & Policy and ECON306 Intermediate Micro Theory & Policy; one quantitative methods course from ECON402, 414, 424 or 426; two 300/400-level ECON electives designated for the BA; and three 400-level BA electives, or one more 300/400-level BA elective.
• BS courses (effective from fall 2021): ECON200, ECON201, MATH140 Calculus I, ECON300 Methods and Tools for Economic Analysis (or MATH241 Calculus III plus any statistics course), ECON321 Economic Statistics (or STAT401), ECON325 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis, ECON326 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis and ECON422 Econometrics I; three 400-level ECON electives designated for the BS, one 400-level elective designated for the BS or BA, and one 300/400-level elective designated for the BS or BA.
• Rules for all majors: every major requirement must be completed with a C- or better, with a combined 2.0 GPA in major requirements; a course cannot double-count for two major requirements; at most 3 ECON courses per semester; prerequisites are strictly enforced; students also complete General Education (GenEd) and reach at least 120 credits.
• AP and IB credit: the admissions office says you must submit official AP, IB and A/AS-level scores after receiving an offer to receive credit, which is determined by Transfer Credit Services. The pages we read do not map AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Calculus or IB Economics to required courses; not published. See transfercredit.umd.edu (not read) or ask the economics advisors.
• Research and internships: the department says the Baltimore–Washington area offers many government and business internships and that academic research is pursued through honors or independent study. Pages on ECON387 career preparation and internship credit exist, but we read only the honors page; not published here.

3. Application rounds, materials and fees (freshmen)

• Rounds (the pages do not label every date with a year; confirm they are for fall 2027): Early Action deadline 1 November (non-binding), decision by 1 February; regular deadline 20 January, decision by 1 April; enrollment confirmation by 1 May. Applications after the regular deadline are considered on a rolling, space-available basis. Freshmen who apply for fall are automatically considered for spring.
• Platform: Common App or ApplyWeb; the choice makes no difference to review.
• Materials: the online application with an essay and an activities list or resume; a US$80 nonrefundable fee (waivers available); two recommendation letters, one from a school counselor and one from a teacher, sent directly by the recommender; official high school transcripts; and college transcripts if you have college coursework.
• Testing: SAT/ACT scores are optional; the page says test-optional “through the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles.” Send official AP, IB and similar scores only after an offer if you want credit.
• Why apply early: priority consideration for admission and for merit scholarships, and possible invitations to special programs.

4. Domestic students

• Costs (2025–26 estimates, as labeled on the cost page): tuition and fees of US$12,008 for Maryland residents and US$41,974 for out-of-state students; on-campus housing and food 16,436, books and supplies 1,250, transportation 1,514 and miscellaneous 1,200, for totals of US$32,408 (in-state) and US$62,374 (out-of-state). The page says only business, engineering and computer science majors pay additional per-credit tuition, so economics is not among them. Current rates are on the university billing site.
• In-state preference: the pages we read state no admission preference for Maryland residents; not published. Residency matters for some scholarships, for example the Dean’s Scholarship is open to in-state applicants only.
• Scholarships and aid: freshmen who submit a complete application by 1 November are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships with no extra application; U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens are considered, and spring admits are not. The scholarships include the Banneker/Key (up to full tuition, fees, housing and food and a book allowance, with Honors College admission), the President’s Scholarship (four years, US$2,000–20,000 per year, in-state and out-of-state applicants) and the Dean’s Scholarship (US$1,500 for the freshman year or US$4,500 per year for freshman and sophomore years; in-state only; not renewable). Some departments also give scholarships. For need-based aid, file the FAFSA (priority deadline 1 March, school code 002103); the Terrapin Commitment helps close the gap between aid and cost.

5. International students

• How to apply: freshmen who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents apply as international applicants, on the same platforms and deadlines with extra international requirements. The admissions office says it also considers the national education system, types of institutions attended, English proficiency and third-party evaluations of non-U.S. university credentials. It encourages international students to apply Early Action, which brings a decision by 1 February and time for the visa process.
• Transcripts and credential evaluation: submit records for each year equivalent to U.S. grades 9–12 (with national secondary examination results and certificates where appropriate), with a certified English translation for non-English documents. Applicants with non-U.S. university credentials need a course-by-course evaluation from ECE or Josef Silny & Associates; secondary records do not need evaluation.
• English: submit Duolingo, IELTS or TOEFL scores sent directly by the testing agency, less than two years old, with UMD code 5814. Passing scores: Duolingo 120, IELTS 7, TOEFL 95 (120 scale) or 5 (6-point scale); TOEFL MyBest is not accepted. The page also lists a Maryland English Institute (MEI) score range: Duolingo 115 or lower, IELTS 6.5 or lower, TOEFL 94 or lower (4.5 or lower on the 6-point scale); the international page says some applicants must complete MEI coursework before beginning their degree program and are told so in the admission letter. UMD may waive the test at its discretion, for example for four years at a U.S. high school without ESL courses, a degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, or 55 or more semester credits there with coursework equivalent to English Composition 1 and 2, or English as a first language with citizenship or a degree from a listed English-speaking country.
• Proof of funds: after admission and enrollment confirmation, students seeking an F-1 or J-1 visa must show funds for one year of tuition, fees, books, insurance and living expenses; the accepted documents are on the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) “acceptable funding” page. Medical insurance is required.
• Costs: the cost page shows only in-state and out-of-state columns, with no separate international figure; not published. Students who need an I-20 or DS-2019 pay a US$125 fee each semester.
• Scholarships: UMD says that as a publicly funded institution it is unable to provide financial assistance to international students; freshman merit scholarships consider only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages we read do not mention it; not published. Ask the international admissions office (international-admissions@umd.edu).
• Transcripts: follow the international requirements: records equivalent to U.S. grades 9–12, with a certified English translation for non-English documents. The national secondary examinations the page names as examples are GCSE/GCE, CBSE, CXC/CSEC and WAEC; it names no Chinese examination and has no China-specific guide; not published.
• English: China is not on the English-waiver country list, so submit Duolingo, IELTS or TOEFL (Section 5).
• Agents: the pages we read do not discuss recruiting agents; not published.

7. Transfer students

• Eligibility: a high school graduate who has completed at least 12 semester hours (18 quarter hours) at a regionally accredited college after high school; AP and IB credits and placement tests do not count. You are expected to have completed an English composition course and a college-level mathematics course. If you are completing the 12 credits, email admissions before applying.
• How decisions are made: admission is competitive, based on overall academic performance in a holistic review; economics is not a limited enrollment program, so your preferred major does not affect admissibility. Certain applicants from Maryland public institutions receive special consideration and are admitted when space is available.
• Economics-specific transfer requirements: the pages we read do not give required courses or a GPA for transferring into economics; not published. The department’s pages describe the declaration process and academic benchmarks that apply once you are in the major (Section 1). Contact the economics advisors (econadvising@umd.edu) and consider UMD’s Pre-Transfer Advising.
• Timing (no year on the page): for fall entry the Early Action deadline is 1 March, with decisions by late April, and the regular deadline is 1 June, with decisions by mid-July. Spring entry has an 1 August Early Action deadline and a 15 November regular deadline; international transfers apply for spring by 1 August.
• Materials: apply through ApplyWeb only; US$80 fee; one essay; official transcripts from every college attended; a final high school transcript if you have fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours since high school; SAT/ACT optional; a recommendation letter optional. International transfers also need an ECE or Josef Silny & Associates course-by-course evaluation and English scores.
• Credit: Transfer Credit Services provides a course database to estimate transfers, and final decisions follow admission and review of your official transcripts.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Common App or ApplyWeb by 1 November (Early Action) or 20 January (regular); preferred major economics; US$80 fee
• Two recommendation letters (counselor and teacher); high school transcript; SAT/ACT optional; four years of high school math including Algebra II
• After entry, choose the BA or BS and finish ECON200, ECON201 and calculus within the benchmark period

International students:

• Same deadlines; Duolingo 120, IELTS 7 or TOEFL 95 (or confirm a waiver); a third-party evaluation for any non-U.S. university credentials
• After admission, prepare one year of proof of funds; UMD provides no financial assistance to international students

Applicants from China:

• How the Gaokao is used is not published; ask international admissions first. China is not on the English-waiver list

Transfer students:

• Fall Early Action 1 March, regular 1 June; at least 12 semester hours at a regionally accredited college, plus English composition and college-level math
• Confirm the course plan with the economics advisors after admission

Sources: University of Maryland, College Park, Economics: undergraduate; Economics: major requirements; Economics: declaring the major; Economics: why economics; Economics: honors program; Colleges and schools; Limited enrollment programs; Freshman applicants; Application deadlines; International applicants; English language proficiency; Financial certification; Transfer applicants; Tuition and aid; Cost of attendance; Freshman merit scholarships. The deadline pages do not label every date with a year; the freshman page says UMD is test-optional through the spring and fall 2027 application cycles, so this guide is arranged for fall 2027 entry. Check UMD for the latest details and confirm the year. The cost page shows 2025-26 estimates.