How to Apply to Economics at MIT: One Institute-Wide Admission, No Required High School Courses, Three Economics Majors Chosen Around the End of First Year, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Undergraduate economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is offered by the Department of Economics, part of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS). MIT admits to the Institute as a whole: you do not apply to a department or school. This guide follows MIT’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, so they are not covered here.

1. Economics majors and options

• Three Bachelor of Science (SB) majors (department page and catalog):
  • 14-1 Economics: micro and macro theory, statistics and econometrics, and electives across fields, with a thesis (which may be replaced by an elective).
  • 14-2 Mathematical Economics: after micro and macro foundations, intensive technical and mathematical coursework, including 18.100 Real Analysis, a choice of 18.06 Linear Algebra or 18.03 Differential Equations, and at least one mathematics seminar. The catalog says it suits students interested in mathematical microeconomic theory or econometrics who plan graduate study in economics.
  • 6-14 Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science: offered jointly with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, applying economic analysis, computing, optimization and data science to real-world problems. This guide did not read the full 6-14 course list; see the 6-14 roadmap linked from the economics page and EECS.
• Minor and concentrations: the economics minor is six subjects in three levels; there are also two HASS concentrations of three subjects each, “Economics and SHASS” and “Development Economics.”
• Double majors: the department says economics suits double majors; you must complete the 17 General Institute Requirements and both majors’ requirements. Double majors in 14-1, 14-2 or 6-14 can count up to six economics subjects toward HASS (single majors three). Majors in 14-2 cannot double major in economics (including 6-14) or mathematics (including 18-C). The department page says students with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher, after at least one semester in one major, can petition the Committee on Curricula for a second major, while the catalog says students with averages below 4.0 are considered case by case.
• STEM designation: not published on the pages we read; ask the department or MIT’s international office.
• Honors programme: not published on the pages we read.

2. How admission works: admitted to MIT, choose a major around the end of first year

• No department on the application: one of the essay questions asks which field of study appeals to you most right now, chosen from a drop-down list, with roughly 100-200 words on what led to the interest. The pages do not say whether that choice constrains your later major.
• First year is undeclared: the catalog says students usually choose a major at the end of the first year, though they need not until the end of the second; first-years take the science core (math, physics, chemistry, biology) plus humanities, arts and social sciences. The Registrar says most students declare in the spring of the first year by meeting their advisor before the spring Drop Date, and the declaration takes effect at the start of the summer term with a new departmental advisor; those who do not must decide by the end of sophomore year. The Office of the First Year says first-years may declare in spring or stay an undesignated sophomore.
• Entering economics: the catalog says 14-1 is flexible enough that students can transfer into the major or add it as a second major without having taken subjects beyond 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics and 14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics in the first two years; students typically complete an intermediate micro subject, 14.05, 14.30 and 14.32 by the third year. The pages we read give no GPA threshold or cap on places; not published, so ask the department’s undergraduate office.
• Grades: the department requires a C or better in required subjects.
• First-year grading: the first term and January are pass/no-record; the second term is A, B, C or no-record.

3. Preparation and course sequence

• High school courses: Admissions says there are no required high school classes, but students must show minimum competence in the fields they will continue at MIT. Every MIT student, regardless of major, must take (or receive credit for) 18.01 single-variable and 18.02 multivariable calculus. MIT notes that even introductory economics and management science courses depend on calculus, recommends math throughout high school with at least some exposure to calculus foundations before graduating (the class may be called A Level Mathematics, Higher Level Mathematics and so on).
• Other recommendations: at least some physics, chemistry and/or biology, and some challenging humanities, arts and social science courses (English, history, economics, music, languages); no specific courses are required.
• 14-1 requirements (department page): 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics (students with a 5 on AP Micro may substitute 14.03); 14.02 Principles of Macroeconomics; one of 14.04, 14.12, 14.15, 14.16, 14.17, 14.19 or 14.26; 14.05 Intermediate Applied Macroeconomics, or 14.06 plus one of 14.18, 14.33, 14.35; statistics (14.30, 18.650 or 15.069); 14.32 Econometric Data Science; one of 14.33, 14.18 or 14.35; a thesis; and 48 units of economics electives. Two of the four communication-intensive courses 14.05, 14.18, 14.33 and 14.35 must be taken.
• 14.01 and 14.02: the catalog lists no prerequisites and offers both in fall and spring; 14.04 requires Calculus II (a GIR) and 14.01.
• 14-2 requirements: 14.01, 14.02, statistics (14.30, 18.650 or 15.069), 14.32, 18.100 Real Analysis, one economics and one mathematics communication-intensive course, one intermediate micro or game-theory course, 18.06 or 18.03, and 36 units of electives (at least one mathematics and one economics subject).
• AP / IB economics credit: the department says a 5 on AP Micro lets you take 14.03 instead of 14.01, and that it gives no transfer credit for high school courses, so AP or IB economics does not replace 14.01 or 14.02. The Office of the First Year says MIT grants credit only for certain AP and other exams and that transfer credit decisions are made by academic departments; its page describes the policy for fall 2026 entry, and the fall 2027 policy will be posted later.
• How entering credit works: credit is awarded as the equivalent MIT subject or unrestricted elective with a grade of S; if you register for a subject you have credit for, the credit is forfeited.

4. Rounds, deadlines, materials

• Rounds: Early Action (EA) closes November 1 with decisions in mid-December; Regular Action (RA) closes January 4 with decisions in mid-March; the reply date is May 1. The deadline page shows no year, while the essay prompts are labeled 2026–2027, so check that the dates apply to fall 2027. You may apply once per entry year, and students denied in EA cannot apply in RA.
• Application fee: $75 (or a waiver).
• Materials: the MIT application form, the Secondary School Report (SSR) with transcript, two teacher recommendations (one from a math or science teacher and one from a humanities, social science or language teacher is recommended), and the SAT or ACT. A conversation with an Educational Counselor is offered when one is available; if not, it is waived without penalty.
• Essays: four short essays of roughly 100-200 words, short responses of 40-50 words, and an activities list limited to four entries.
• Testing: the SAT or ACT is required, to be taken before November 30 for EA and December 31 for RA; scores are self-reported and verified on enrollment; there are no cutoffs; the highest section scores across sittings are considered. AP, IB, A-level and similar results are self-reported.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• MIT is private, and the pages we read do not describe in-state or out-of-state tuition differences or a home-state preference. Costs are in Section 8.
• Aid: U.S. citizens and permanent residents submit the CSS Profile, the FAFSA and parental tax returns through IDOC; aid is handled separately from admission, due November 30 for EA and February 15 for RA.
• Domestic and international applicants apply on the same timeline.

6. International applicants

• Who counts as international: anyone without U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, wherever they live or study. MIT says this status does not change when or how you apply, or the financial aid you are offered.
• Grades and credentials: a school counselor or equivalent official sends the SSR and transcript, which should include three years of grades and results of external exams required for university entrance in your home country (examples: IB, A-levels, French Baccalauréat, CBSE). Predicted grades are accepted, and final grades are due only after admission. MIT does not convert grades to the U.S. system and sets no country quotas.
• English tests: strongly recommended if you have used English for fewer than five years or do not speak English at home or in school. Accepted: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, Duolingo and Cambridge C1/C2. Minimum/recommended: TOEFL (before January 21, 2026) 90/100; TOEFL (from January 21, 2026, 1–6 scale) 5/5.5; IELTS 7/7.5; PTE 65/70; Cambridge 185/190; Duolingo 120/125. The pages list no country-based exemptions. RA applicants can send English tests taken through January.
• Credential evaluation: the pages do not require a credential evaluation service.
• Proof of funds and visas: not described on the pages we read; ask Student Financial Services and Admissions.
• Aid: the same policy applies; international students submit the CSS Profile and parent tax or income documents through IDOC (with English translations where needed) and do not submit the FAFSA.

7. Applicants from China

• The pages we read have no China-specific page and do not mention the Gaokao; not published, so contact MIT Admissions.
• Gaokao: the international page asks for results of external exams required for university entrance in your home country, with IB, A-levels, French Baccalauréat and CBSE as examples, and does not name the Gaokao. How Gaokao results should be submitted is not published.
• Transcripts: sent by a school counselor or equivalent official through the MIT SSR form; Naviance, Parchment, Cialfo and similar services or PDF email are also accepted. The pages do not say whether Chinese-language transcripts need translation or notarisation.
• Testing and English: the SAT or ACT is required; English test guidance is in Section 6.

8. Cost and aid

• 2026-27 listed price: tuition $66,720, student life fee $420, housing $14,090, food $8,104, books and supplies $930, personal expenses $2,496, total $92,760 (excluding a travel allowance that depends on your address). The pages show no separate economics surcharge.
• Aid: MIT says it is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need, and aid is based entirely on need, not merit. Families earning under $200,000 a year (with typical assets) attend tuition-free, and families under $100,000 are not expected to contribute. The median annual price paid by an undergraduate who received an MIT Scholarship in 2024–25 was $10,268.
• Research and internships: the department lists the 14.33 Economics Project Lab, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), and summer research with faculty or internships in government, industry or research organisations. The pages we read do not describe a required paid internship programme.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: finished high school and will have completed at least two terms of full-time study before entering; first-year college students can apply no earlier than their second term; those with more than five terms may not be eligible; MIT does not award second bachelor’s degrees. The catalog says a minimum of one year and no more than two and a half years.
• Deadlines: fall entry March 1, 2027; spring entry (February) October 15, 2026, open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, so international students apply for fall. Fee $75; the aid deadline is February 15. One application per entry year.
• Materials: the transfer application; all high school and college transcripts; two letters from college instructors (one in math or science); a School Official Report; the SAT or ACT (take it before March 31 for fall).
• Preparation: single-variable calculus, multivariable calculus, calculus-based physics, introductory biology and introductory chemistry are recommended; no separate economics prerequisite is listed. There is no minimum GPA, but competitive applicants generally have 3.5 or above and mostly A’s in math and science.
• Credit: evaluated by departments after admission, not in advance; transfer students typically lose at least one semester and most enter as sophomores. The catalog says there is typically space for only 20–30 transfer students a year.
• Economics Department transfer-credit rules: introductory economics courses taken elsewhere do not earn credit for 14.01 or 14.02; they earn HASS elective credit depending on quality and grade, though intermediate-level micro and macro courses may earn 14.01 or 14.02 credit. A substitution for a specific MIT course must be approved by the MIT instructor, with a grade of B or higher; summer courses and Harvard Extension courses are generally not accepted; there are no waiver exams; and minors and concentrators can use at most one non-MIT subject (except for students who have studied at overseas universities).

Summary

U.S. domestic applicants: apply to MIT as a whole (EA November 1 or RA January 4) with the SAT or ACT and two teacher recommendations; choose 14-1, 14-2 or 6-14 around the spring of first year, and note that transfer into 14-1 needs only 14.01 and 14.02 in the first two years.

International applicants (including China): same timeline and aid policy as domestic applicants; English test results are strongly recommended where the stated conditions apply; how the Gaokao should be submitted is not published.

Transfer students: fall entry closes March 1; international students cannot apply for spring; complete calculus, physics, biology and chemistry first.

Sources: MIT, Economics: undergraduate programs; Economics: majors; Economics: minor and concentrations; Economics: transfer credits; Economics: undergraduate research; Catalog: Economics; Catalog: major course of study; Catalog: first year; Catalog: admissions; Registrar: declaring a major; Office of the First Year: major exploration; Office of the First Year: AP and transfer credit; Deadlines and requirements; Tests and scores; International applicants; Academic foundations; Essays, activities and academics; Transcripts; First-year eligibility; Transfer eligibility; Transfer deadlines; Transfer academic preparation; Cost overview; 2026-27 cost of attendance; How to apply for aid. The first-year deadline page shows no year, while the essay prompts on the same application are labeled 2026–2027. The credit page describes policies for fall 2026 entry; check MIT for fall 2027.