How to Apply to Economics at Carnegie Mellon: A Program Housed in the Tepper School but Applied To Through Dietrich College, Entered by Declaring the Major, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The Undergraduate Economics Program at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is housed in the Tepper School of Business and run together with the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The admission page says interested students apply to and enter economics through Dietrich College, while the economics department is housed in Tepper. Under Early Decision, and for transfers, you can apply to only one college of the university. This guide follows CMU’s own pages for fall 2027 entry and speaks to U.S. applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer applicants.

1. What the programs are

• B.A. in Economics: besides the economics core and electives, you take “special electives” from other humanities and social-science departments, which look at economic and social problems through history, politics, philosophy and psychology.
• B.S. in Economics: Tepper says that, compared with the B.A., students take one more math course, one more advanced economics data-analysis course and six economics electives, and calls it “the most extensive and deepest study of economics”. Many students organize their electives into two concentrations.
• Joint B.S. degrees: Economics and Mathematical Sciences (with the Department of Mathematical Sciences); Economics and Statistics (with the Department of Statistics and Data Science); and Economics and Politics (with the Institute for Politics and Strategy, described as the newest major). Dietrich’s Department of Social and Decision Sciences also offers a B.S. in Behavioral Economics.
• Minor: Economics.
• The pages disagree on how many majors there are: Dietrich’s economics page says the program has “four distinct majors” and then lists six degrees; Tepper’s page says there are “five Economics majors available”. Rely on the catalog.
• Business: Tepper also offers the B.S. in Business Administration; this site has a separate article on business, so it is not covered here.
• STEM designation and honors: the pages I read do not mention a STEM designation. For honors, they show only the Tepper College Honors Thesis I and II as an alternative to the Senior Project; any further honors rules are not published in the pages I read, so ask the Tepper undergraduate office.

2. How admission and entry to the major work

• At application: applicants to the B.A. or B.S. in Economics submit the Common Application and indicate Dietrich College; after the major-declaration process they formally join Tepper as economics majors. In the first year, students interested in economics are advised by Dietrich advisors, and the catalog encourages them to also talk to Tepper economics advisors.
• College after declaring: the catalog says B.A. and B.S. economics students are affiliated with Tepper after declaring (Tepper general-education requirements and policies apply). Economics and Politics and Economics and Statistics students are affiliated with Dietrich.
• Economics and Mathematical Sciences B.S.: you first declare the B.S. in Economics, then apply. Acceptance requires a cumulative QPA of at least “3.” (the catalog line is printed incomplete, so the exact number is not clear), a B or better in 21-127 or 21-128 and in 21-241, 73-102/73-104 (or its waiver), a B or better in 73-103, a B or better in either 73-230 or 73-240, and a personal statement.
• Economics and Politics B.S.: the catalog says students may declare as early as the second semester of the first year.
• Changing into Tepper economics from another CMU major: Tepper says acceptance is evaluated on academic performance and limited by space. You must have completed at least one semester at CMU (fall starters can apply in the spring of the first year) and passed 73-102 or 73-104, 73-103, and one of 21-254, 21-256 or 21-259. Deadlines: the last day of classes of Mini 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern for a spring start; the last day of Mini 3 or Mini 6 for a fall start. A GPA threshold is not stated on the economics catalog page; ask the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school courses (Dietrich): 4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 1 year of science (2 or more preferred), 2 years of foreign language and 6 electives. The three years of math should include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, elementary functions and pre-calculus for B.A. programs; advanced math is strongly encouraged for B.S. programs.
• Economics B.A. (catalog, at least 360 units): math 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus (or 21-111 and 21-112) and 21-256 Multivariate Analysis (or 21-259); economic theory 73-102 Principles of Microeconomics (or accelerated 73-104), 73-103 Principles of Macroeconomics, 73-230 Intermediate Microeconomics, 73-240 Intermediate Macroeconomics, 70-340 Business Communications and 70-345 Business Presentations; quantitative analysis 70-207 (or 36-200), 73-265 Economics and Data Science and 73-274 Econometrics I; four economics electives numbered 73-300 or higher; two special electives; a Senior Project 73-497 or the Honors Thesis 73-500 and 73-501; a minor from another discipline (waived with an additional major or dual degree); the University Core and 99-101 Core @ Carnegie Mellon.
• Economics B.S. (at least 360 units): math 21-120, 21-256 or 259, and 21-240 or 241 Matrix Algebra; quantitative analysis 73-265, 73-274 and 73-374 Econometrics II (or 73-423 or 70-467); the same economics core as the B.A.; six economics electives; the Senior Project or Honors Thesis; and a minor (waived with an additional major).
• Economics and Mathematical Sciences B.S.: beyond the economic theory and quantitative courses, the math list includes 21-120, 21-122, 21-127 or 128, 21-228 or 15-251, 21-241 and 21-259, plus economic electives (27 units) and a senior project. This is an excerpt of the catalog; see the catalog page for the full list.
• The other two joint majors: Economics and Statistics and Economics and Politics have their requirements on Dietrich’s catalog pages. Economics and Politics requires 27 units of electives, with at least 9 units from economics (73-xxx) and at least 9 units from the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (84-xxx; the admission page names the partner as the Institute for Politics and Strategy, while the catalog uses the Strategy and Technology name); electives can be done through the CMU Washington Semester Program.
• Placement exam: Tepper offers a placement exam for 73-102 Principles of Microeconomics for new students who want to place out. It is in person and 50 minutes; passing earns a waiver of the 73-102 prerequisite and no units. The page describes the 2026 intake (registration by August 14, exam August 19, results August 20); dates for the 2027 intake are not in the pages I read.

4. AP / IB / A-Level credit

• The admission page says CMU may grant advanced placement and credit for AP scores of 4 and 5 and for IB Higher Level scores of 6 and 7; each college decides how credit applies to the degree. Send scores in early summer; the academic dean evaluates them. Cambridge A-Levels may also earn credit; O-Levels are not accepted for placement.
• Tepper adds that AP, IB and A-Level credit is added to total units on the transcript but does not waive requirements of the economics program; to place out of 73-102 you must take the placement exam above.
• The accelerated 73-104 requires, according to a footnote on the Economics and Statistics catalog page, a 4 or 5 on AP Microeconomics or a qualifying IB/Cambridge score.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision: November 2; notified by December 15; enroll by February 1. Binding, with an Early Decision Agreement and withdrawal of other applications; you can apply to only one college within the university; outcomes are admit, deny or defer to Regular Decision; a denied applicant cannot reapply under Regular Decision.
• Regular Decision: January 4; notified no later than April 1; enroll by May 1.
• Application fee: $75; fee waivers are accepted when you meet a Common Application indicator of economic need.
• Materials: Common Application; high school courses and grades; test scores (below); a secondary school counselor evaluation; one teacher recommendation; the Common Application essay; and the CMU writing supplement with three short-answer questions. CMU does not accept supplemental submissions such as resumes, portfolios or websites, and takes no updates from applicants after January 15 (counselors may keep sending documents). If admitted you must prove you meet diploma requirements by the end of May and send the final transcript by the end of July.
• Testing: Dietrich is test flexible: scores are required, but you choose which to submit: SAT, ACT, IB (predicted or actual), AP, Cambridge A-Level (predicted or actual) or the French Baccalaureate (predicted or actual). SAT superscoring is allowed, ACT superscoring is not. Scores may be self-reported; official reports are needed only after admission and enrollment. CMU prefers testing to be done by November 1 for Early Decision and by January 3 for Regular Decision. SAT code 2074; ACT code 3534.
• Interviews: the pages I read do not describe interviews, so this is not published there. CMU recommends, but does not require, an InitialView or Vericant interview for non-native English speakers.

6. By reader

1. U.S. applicants

• The admission process, courses and testing are as above. CMU says it uses its aid resources to meet 100% of demonstrated need for domestic students.
• In-state versus out-of-state tuition: the tuition page lists a single tuition figure and no residency split. Whether applicants from Pennsylvania get any preference is not published in the pages I read.
• Aid: under the CMU Pathway Program, students whose families earn less than $75,000 a year attend tuition free, and those under $100,000 receive aid that does not include federal loans. Aid forms and dates are not in the pages I read; see Student Financial Services.

2. International applicants

• English: required of all non-native speakers. Minimums: IELTS 7.5; TOEFL iBT 102 for exams before January 21, 2026 (subscores of 25 and above are given consideration), or a total of 5 for exams on or after that date (subscores of 5 and above); TOEFL Essentials 11; Duolingo 135 (integrated subscores of 135); Cambridge 191. Scores must be no more than two years old. For repeated TOEFL attempts CMU uses the set with the highest overall score and does not use MyBest. Take the TOEFL or IELTS no later than December of senior year.
• Academic records: a transcript or other document not in English must come with an official translation verified by a counselor or school official; IB and A-Level candidates send expected results. Use your passport name. The pages I read name no credential-evaluation agency; this is not published there.
• Funding: CMU states that it does not offer financial aid to international students; you and your family must plan to pay the total cost of attendance. Proof-of-funds documents are not described in the pages I read.
• The page says international students were 19% of the undergraduate student body in 2024-2025. International scholarships are not described in the pages I read.

3. Applicants from China

• The international applicants page, the testing page and the academic requirements page do not say whether the gaokao is considered or how to send school-exam records, and give no China-specific note. This is not published in the pages I read; ask the Office of Undergraduate Admission (the pages give 412.268.2082).
• What is confirmed: you can submit SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-Level and similar scores; the English-exam and translation rules are those above.

7. Costs and scholarships

• The Student Financial Services page “2026-2027 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees” is for first-year students entering in fall 2026: $969 per unit; tuition $69,702; resident total of tuition, fees and living $91,214 (housing $11,700, food $7,950, first-year experience fee $748, technology fee $490, student activities fee $322, transportation fee $302); with books $1,000, miscellaneous $1,300 and estimated loan fees $100, the total cost of attendance is $93,614; for commuters $78,620 (including a $680 transportation allowance). Health insurance is also required, $3,093 for 2026-27, and can be waived with proof of coverage. Figures for 2027 entry are not in the pages I read.
• No separate program surcharge for economics is listed in the pages I read.
• CMU says its graduates carry, on average, under $18,000 in student loan debt. Other scholarships are not described in the pages I read.

8. Internships and research

• Tepper says research is part of every economics major, from the first economics courses to the Senior Project or the senior honors program.
• The admission page gives outcomes for the classes of 2023–2025, six months after graduation: 87% employed or in graduate school, with an average salary of $86,445; recent employers listed include the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Adobe, the Department of Defense and Jane Street. The catalog also mentions the CMU Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP).
• Specific internship arrangements are not described in the pages I read.

9. Transfer

• Fall entry only, as space permits. The transfer page gives a February 15 application deadline, March 10 for supporting documents and notification by May 17. The “Application Plans & Deadlines” page gives February 16, March 1 for supporting documents, notification by May 17 and enrollment by June 1. The two pages disagree; check the current page and the admission office.
• Eligibility and materials: you must have completed a semester of college before the deadline. Send college and high school transcripts with course descriptions from each college; self-reported first-semester grades may be requested if your college posts grades only after the full year; a professor or advisor recommendation replaces the counselor’s; and the Common Application College Report is completed by your registrar or dean. SAT or ACT is not required. Non-native English speakers must send an English exam even if they took one before.
• Transfer applicants are considered for only one college; students transferring in from another institution cannot apply to BXA programs; the admitting college evaluates transfer credit and sends the evaluation with the decision letter; campus housing is not guaranteed.
• Into economics: the transfer page gives no major-specific rules. A transfer GPA threshold and required calculus or principles courses are not stated on the admission page; ask the transfer contact listed there.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common Application, choose Dietrich College; ED November 2 or RD January 4
• Test scores required, but choose SAT, ACT, IB, AP or A-Level; one teacher recommendation and a counselor evaluation
• Three years of high school math including pre-calculus (B.A.); advanced math encouraged for the B.S.
• After enrolling, declare the major; take 73-102/104, 73-103 and calculus first

International applicants (including China):

• Same as above plus an English exam (IELTS 7.5, TOEFL iBT 102 or 5 on the new scale, Duolingo 135, Cambridge 191, and so on); official translations for non-English records
• No financial aid for international students; plan to pay the full cost
• China: gaokao requirements are not published; ask the admission office
• To place out of 73-102, take the economics placement exam (AP/IB credit does not waive it)

Transfer applicants:

• Fall entry; February 15 or 16 (the pages disagree); at least one college semester completed; no SAT/ACT needed
• One college only, no BXA; credit is evaluated with the decision letter

Sources: Carnegie Mellon University, Undergraduate Admission: Economics; Application plans and deadlines; Admission requirements; Academic requirements and college-level work; Standardized testing; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Costs and aid; 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition; Tepper: undergraduate economics; Tepper: admissions and changing majors; Dietrich: economics; Catalog: undergraduate economics; Economics B.A.; Economics B.S.; Economics and Mathematical Sciences B.S.; Economics and Statistics B.S.; Economics and Politics B.S.. Most deadlines on the pages carry no year, and the tuition page covers first-year students entering in fall 2026; figures for fall 2027 entry are not in the pages I read. Check Carnegie Mellon for the latest details and confirm the entry year.