How to Apply to the University of Miami for Economics: Two Routes (B.A. in Arts and Sciences, BBA or BSBA in the Business School), Political Economy and Quantitative Economics Tracks, and Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Miami (UM) offers undergraduate economics in two places: the B.A. in Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, and an Economics major inside the Business School (University of Miami Business School), leading to the BBA or the BSBA. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UM’s official information, for US domestic applicants, international applicants (including students from China) and transfer students. Business administration has its own guide on this site; this one covers business only where it touches economics.

1. Degrees and tracks

• B.A. in Economics (Arts and Sciences): the Bulletin says students choose one of two tracks, Political Economy (People and Society) or Quantitative Economics (Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering). Requirements include ECO 211, ECO 212, intermediate microeconomics, ECO 301 (macroeconomic theory) and ECO 430 (applied econometrics), plus five major choice courses (15 credits), in a 120-credit degree.
• BBA in Economics (Business School): students complete the BBA Business Core and one of the two tracks (18 credits of economics) for 120 credits.
• BSBA in Economics (Business School): the core adds Calculus I and II (MTH 161, MTH 162), probability and statistics (MAS 311, MAS 312) and Python programming (BTE 320); it also has two tracks and 120 credits, plus a quantitative choice course (the Bulletin suggests BTE 324, BTE 423, ECO 430 and others).
• Difference between the tracks: Political Economy is dominated by People and Society courses and Quantitative Economics by STEM-area courses. The quantitative track requires MTH 161 (or an equivalent calculus course) and ECO 302 (microeconomic theory). The Arts and Sciences Bulletin labels the track “Quantitative Economics (STEM)”; whether the degree appears on the US government’s STEM degree list is not stated on the pages read, so confirm with UM.
• Minors and honors: the department offers Political Economy and Quantitative Economics minors for non-business students and oversees the Sustainable Business co-major and minor. The Arts and Sciences B.A. has Departmental Honors: a 3.9 cumulative and major GPA by the end of junior year and a 3-credit research project over the senior year.
• Other Arts and Sciences requirements: B.A. students need at least one minor or another major, a 200-level language course and a natural science course (waived if the STEM cognate already includes one).

2. How admission works

• Business School: choose the major when you apply, direct admission: to study economics in the Business School you select a Business School major on your application; the Office of Undergraduate Admission reviews all applications and admitted first-year students go straight into the Business School in their first semester. The school says competitive candidates have strong quantitative skills.
• Arts and Sciences: Admission notes that the final credentials deadline is also the last day to change to a major in another school or college. Whether Arts and Sciences economics is capped or has any entry requirement after admission is not stated on the pages read; ask Admission or the Department of Economics.
• Grade requirements: all specific coursework for the economics major needs C- or higher, and a 2.5 cumulative GPA in major coursework.
• Internal transfer from Arts and Sciences to the Business School: a B or better in MTH 161 (or equivalent) before the final four semesters, with one repeat allowed; a cumulative UM GPA of at least 3.0 on transfer; a request submitted during the semester, with reviews at the end of each semester. The Arts and Sciences Bulletin repeats that a student wanting to move to the Business School must earn a B or better in MTH 161 and have a 3.0 UM GPA.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school maths: admission pages set no economics-specific high school maths course; the Business School asks for strong quantitative skills. How UM places students in maths is not described on the pages read.
• University calculus: the Bulletin says ECO 300, 301, 302, 430 and some electives require a completed approved calculus course (MAS 110, MTH 130 or MTH 141 or higher) with at least C-, or advanced credit in calculus by exam. The quantitative track needs MTH 161 and ECO 302.
• Typical Arts and Sciences B.A. plan (the Bulletin’s sample): ECO 211 and MTH 161 in the first fall, ECO 212 in the first spring; intermediate microeconomics (ECO 300 or 302) in the second fall, ECO 301 in the second spring; ECO 430 in the third fall; the rest is major choice courses, a minor, language and general education.
• BBA: the core includes ECO 211, ECO 212, business statistics (MAS 201, MAS 202), accounting and finance; maths is met with MAS 110 or MTH 161. The economics specialization is ECO 300 or 302, ECO 303 and four major choice courses (12 credits).
• AP and IB credit: Admission says fall 2027 first-year students can receive up to 26 college credits through dual enrollment and exams; credits are evaluated only after admission, and official scores must reach Admission by the end of the first semester. Which AP or IB exams replace which economics courses is not stated on the pages read; see UM’s IB credit equivalency page or your post-admission credit evaluation.

4. Rounds, deadlines and application materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I (binding): 1 November; final credentials 13 November; decisions in mid-December.
• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November; final credentials 20 November; decisions in late January.
• Early Decision II (binding): 5 January; final credentials 25 January; decisions in late February.
• Regular Decision: 5 January; final credentials 5 February; decisions on 1 April.
• Early applicants whose files are incomplete by the final credentials date are rolled into Regular Decision.
• Application fee: US$75, non-refundable.
• Essay and recommendation: a Common App personal statement of up to 650 words; no supplemental essay. One letter of recommendation (counselor or teacher), plus the counselor’s School Report and official transcript.
• Testing: UM says it requires SAT or ACT scores, but students graduating from a high school outside the US may choose whether to submit them. Codes: SAT 5815, ACT 0760.

5. US domestic applicants

• Testing: students from US high schools follow the SAT/ACT requirement; the optional-testing groups listed (some arts, architecture and music programs, and students from schools outside the US) do not include economics.
• Tuition: the cost page lists a single tuition figure and does not distinguish in-state from out-of-state students; any in-state preference is not published, so ask Admission.
• Aid: US citizens and eligible non-residents seeking need-based aid submit the FAFSA, the CSS Profile and tax documents; all applicants are considered for merit scholarships automatically. ED I and EA applicants are also considered for Premier Scholarships.

6. International applicants

• English tests: non-native speakers submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Competitive applicants generally score above TOEFL 80 (4.5 on the new scale after 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120. Scores are valid for two years; TOEFL Essentials is not accepted.
• Waivers: an A or B in AP or IB HL English; three years at a US high school; three years at a high school outside the US taught in English; an official SAT Reading and Writing score of 650+ or ACT English 27+; a C or better in IGCSE/GCE first-language English; and more. Waivers are requested through the applicant portal.
• Transcripts: sent directly by the school; a non-English transcript needs an English translation issued by a school official or accredited agency, and self-translations or photocopies do not count.
• Funding: non-US applicants seeking need-based aid submit the CSS Profile by the round’s aid deadline (15 November for ED I and EA, 5 January for ED II and RD); all applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships. The specific financial documentation required for a visa is not stated on the pages read; contact intladmission@miami.edu.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the requirements-by-country page shows only British, IB, French Baccalaureate, West African, Indian and Caribbean curricula in readable text; the by-country table loads dynamically and was not read. UM does not publish in the pages read whether the gaokao is considered; check that page or email intladmission@miami.edu.
• IB and A-level: there is no minimum IB score, but competitive students typically score 5-7 across subjects, and Year 1 grades and predicted grades are considered; competitive A-level applicants typically sit 3-4 subjects with predicted Bs or higher, and (I)GCSE or O-level results are required.
• Testing: graduating from a Chinese high school counts as graduating outside the US, so SAT/ACT is optional.
• Transcript, translation and English test rules are as above.

8. Cost and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimate (USD, on campus): tuition 66,312; fees 2,030; housing 16,958; meals 9,400; direct costs 94,700; total 98,872 with books, personal and transportation costs. The international estimate is 104,091, including mandatory health insurance (4,483) and a higher transportation allowance. 2027-28 figures are not yet published; the site says direct costs are finalized each spring by the Board of Trustees.
• The cost page lists no separate Business School or economics tuition differential.
• Internships and research: the economics Bulletin page read does not describe internship programs; the B.A. Departmental Honors requires a year-long research project (see above).

9. Transfer students

• General requirements: Common App with the US$75 fee; a 250-word essay on why you are transferring; college transcripts and a College Report from each US institution attended. Deadlines: fall entry 1 April (aid materials 15 April), spring entry 1 November, rolling decisions. The page prints no year, so check that it applies to fall 2027. Applicants with 24+ college credits at entry need no test scores; fewer than 24 need the final high school transcript, and SAT/ACT is optional for those who finished secondary school outside the US.
• Credit: evaluated after admission course by course; C or better transfers, C- or lower does not; online maths and some other courses need department approval. Credits expire after 10 years; at least half of the major and minor must be completed at UM, and the last 45 credits in residence. UM’s MATES system maps the courses.
• Transfer into Business School economics: a cumulative transfer GPA of at least 3.0; a B or better in MTH 161 (4 credits), MTH 151 or MTH 140 and 141, or equivalents; a Calculus I syllabus uploaded to the portal; at least half of the business core completed at UM.
• Transfer into Arts and Sciences economics: the transfer page lists extra requirements only for the Business School; any separate GPA or course threshold for Arts and Sciences economics is not stated on the pages read, so ask Admission.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply through the Common App by 1 November (ED I or EA) or 5 January (ED II or RD), choosing the Business School major or the Arts and Sciences major for economics
• SAT or ACT, one recommendation, the School Report and transcript, and the US$75 fee
• For the quantitative track plan Calculus I and ECO 302 early; to move from Arts and Sciences to the Business School, earn a B or better in Calculus I

International applicants (including students from China):

• Same rounds and materials; SAT/ACT optional
• TOEFL 4.5 (new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120+ is competitive, or request a waiver
• Transcripts sent by the school with official English translations; CSS Profile for need-based aid
• Gaokao requirements are not in the pages read; email intladmission@miami.edu

Transfer students:

• 1 April for fall, 1 November for spring through the Common App; for the Business School, a B or better in Calculus I and a 3.0 GPA

Sources: University of Miami, Academic Bulletin: Economics; Bulletin: B.A. in Economics; Bulletin: College of Arts and Sciences; Bulletin: BBA in Economics; Bulletin: BSBA in Economics; Bulletin: Business School; Admission plans and deadlines; First-year requirements; English proficiency; Requirements by country; Transfer requirements; Credit information; Cost of attendance; Scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures); check the University of Miami for the latest details.