How to Apply to Economics at Colgate University: Declare the Major After the Intermediate Theory Course, Economics and Mathematical Economics Both Described as STEM, With Admission and Prerequisite Details for US, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Colgate University, economics is taught by the Department of Economics. The department page lists majors in Economics, Mathematical Economics and Environmental Economics, and a minor in Economics. Colgate says the department is not an undergraduate business or professional school but provides background for many career interests. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Colgate’s official information, for US applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer applicants.

1. How admission works and entering the major

• What you apply to: the application pages read (Common App, Coalition on Scoir, QuestBridge) are for the university; the materials list does not ask you to choose a major and no separate economics admission line is described. You declare the major after enrolling.
• Declaring the major: you must first earn a C or better in either ECON 251 (Intermediate Microeconomics) or ECON 252 (Intermediate Macroeconomics); students taking one of these may file a provisional declaration. No cap on places is mentioned.
• Economics major: nine economics courses and two mathematics prerequisites. Required: ECON 151 Introduction to Economics, ECON 251, ECON 252 and ECON 375 Applied Econometrics (C or better in 251, 252 and 375); four electives (at least two above 300; seniors are generally not eligible for 200-level electives); and one senior seminar at the 410 level or above. A minimum 2.00 GPA in the major’s economics courses.
• Mathematical Economics major: three mathematics and ten economics courses, 13 in all. Beyond the core it requires MATH 163 Calculus III (C or better), two further MATH courses numbered 214 or higher, at least three of ECON 345, 355, 357, 374, 385 and 475, and a senior seminar. Colgate calls it mathematically intense, suited to those considering graduate study in economics, business or quantitative social science; a 2.00 GPA across the 13 courses.
• Environmental Economics major: the department page names it, but the pages reviewed give no requirements; check Colgate’s catalog.
• Minor: at least five economics courses: ECON 151, 251 and 252 (C or better in the last two), plus two electives with at least one at the 300 level; ECON 105 does not count.
• STEM: Colgate says the Economics and Mathematical Economics majors are classified as STEM disciplines by USCIS, so international students are eligible for the 24-month OPT extension.
• Honors: a minimum 3.33 average in ECON 251, 252 and 375 is needed; students take the year-long honors seminar ECON 489 and 490 and write a thesis, and need a B+ average (A– for high honors) in the nine major courses at graduation. Colgate suggests discussing a plan with a professor by the end of junior year.
• Switching in from another major: the pages reviewed describe no separate process for switching in, only the declaration rule above.

2. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school math: the application pages list no required high school courses or math level; Colgate does not publish one on the pages reviewed. Ask admission@colgate.edu.
• First and second year: aim to finish ECON 151, 251, 252, statistics and calculus by the end of sophomore year, especially if you plan to study abroad in junior year, and ECON 375 by the end of junior year.
• ECON 375 math prerequisites: calculus (MATH 161, 162 or 163, or equivalent AP credit) and statistics (MATH 105, CORE S143, MATH 240 or MATH 316). Students with A-Level, IB or other transfer credit may be exempted from MATH 161 or MATH 105 by approval of the chair.
• Course chain: ECON 151 is a prerequisite for courses above 200; ECON 251 for 300 to 349; 251 and 252 for 350 to 374; 251, 252 and 375 for courses above 375.
• AP and IB: scores of 4 or 5 on both the AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics exams earn credit for ECON 151; one exam alone, or a 3 or lower, earns none. An IB Higher Level Economics score of 6 or 7 also earns ECON 151 credit. Scores must go to the Registrar.
• Courses elsewhere: except for transfer students, no credit for ECON 251, 252 or 375 taken elsewhere, and no more than two outside courses count toward the major, with prior department approval.

3. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Decision I (binding): 1 November, with financial aid materials the same day; decisions mid-December.
• Early Decision II (binding): 15 January; decisions mid-February.
• Regular Decision: 15 January; decisions late March.
• Materials: application and essay; $60 application fee; two academic teacher recommendations and a counselor recommendation; official transcript (with an official English translation if not in English); mid-year grades by 15 February (not holding up ED I if unavailable).
• Testing: SAT and ACT are optional with no disadvantage; scores can be self-reported and are superscored; enrolling students who had scores considered send official scores after admission.

4. US applicants

• The costs page shows one tuition figure, with no in-state/out-of-state difference, and says nothing about in-state preference.
• Under the Colgate Commitment, from fall 2026 US citizens and permanent residents with family income of $175,000 or less generally attend tuition-free; up to $200,000 generally receive packages without loans; from $175,000 to $300,000 families generally pay a percentage of income toward tuition. Confirm with Colgate.
• Apply through the Common App, Coalition on Scoir or QuestBridge.

5. International applicants (including those from China)

• Application fee: waived for non-U.S. citizens (not U.S. dual citizens or permanent residents).
• English: non-native speakers not at an English-medium secondary school must submit TOEFL iBT 4.5, IELTS 7 or Duolingo 130 at minimum, sent by the testing agency; SAT results do not waive the requirement.
• Interviews: non-native speakers are encouraged to submit InitialView or Vericant, by 1 November for ED I and 15 January otherwise.
• Academic records: seniors send mid-year grades, or predicted final grades if the school gives none; graduates send final transcripts; national or international exam results must come from the testing agency or a school official emailing admission@colgate.edu.
• Aid: Colgate meets 100% of demonstrated need for every admitted student, including international students, and is need-aware, though it says its most competitive applicants are admitted regardless of whether they apply for aid. International aid applicants submit the CSS Profile; the international page gives deadlines of 1 November (ED I) and 22 January (ED II and RD), while the first-year page gives 15 January for ED II and RD aid materials. The two pages differ, so confirm with admissions. A CSS Profile fee waiver code can be requested in the applicant portal.
• Colgate says international students are about 9% of the student body, from 87 countries.

6. Applicants from China

• Colgate does not say whether the Gaokao is considered and publishes no China-specific score requirements on the pages reviewed; ask admission@colgate.edu.
• What is stated: transcripts not in English need an official original plus an official English translation; English and exam-result requirements are above; send mid-year grades when available.
• The department lists ECON 219 The Chinese Economy among its courses.

7. Costs, research and internships

• 2026-27 billed charges for first-years and sophomores on campus (US$): tuition 76,828, housing 9,348, food 10,008, student activity fee 462, total 96,646; estimated non-billed costs 3,578 (books 1,600, transportation 800+, personal 1,128, loan fees 50); total estimated cost of attendance 100,224.
• No separate economics program fee is listed, and the pages reviewed name no economics-specific scholarship, only honors awards such as the Marshall-Keynes Award.
• Opportunities (department page): the Fed Challenge team of three to five juniors and seniors; the London Economics Study Group led each year by department faculty; the VITA tax-assistance program; the honors program, the James Madison Fellowship, or summer research with faculty.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall entry 15 March (decisions late April); spring entry 1 November (decisions early December).
• Materials: Common App or Coalition on Scoir transfer application and essay, $60 fee, high school and college transcripts, college official’s report, mid-year report and one academic evaluation from a college professor; testing optional.
• Credit: C or better in traditional liberal arts courses transfers; C- or lower and pass/fail do not; at most 16 course credits. 6–13 credits give sophomore standing and 14–16 junior standing. Departments decide which count toward a major; the economics department says transfer students may be granted more than two major credits at the chair’s discretion.
• Entering economics: the pages reviewed give no separate GPA threshold; the major page’s declaration rule is a C or better in ECON 251 or 252, with no separate note for transfers.

Checklist

US applicants:

• ED I 1 November; ED II and RD 15 January; $60 fee; testing optional
• After enrolling: ECON 151, 251, 252, statistics and calculus; C or better in 251 or 252 before declaring

International applicants (including China):

• No fee; TOEFL 4.5, IELTS 7 or Duolingo 130 or higher; transcripts with English translation; optional InitialView or Vericant interview
• If you need aid, file the CSS Profile with the application and confirm whether the cutoff is 15 or 22 January

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 March; up to 16 course credits, C or better
• Take ECON 151, calculus and statistics first, then ECON 251 or 252 early

Sources: Colgate University, Department of Economics; Economics academic program (incl. AP and transfer credit); Economics major; Mathematical Economics major; Economics minor; Economics honors program; First-year applicants; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Tuition and fees; Colgate Commitment. The deadline pages carry no year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry; costs are 2026-27 figures. Check Colgate for the latest details.