How to Apply to Economics at Wesleyan University: Declare the Major by the Second Semester of Sophomore Year, A Calculus-Based Curriculum, With Admission and Prerequisite Details for US, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut, economics is taught by the Department of Economics, in the Social Sciences Division. Wesleyan says it admits students to the university, not to a major (from its transfer FAQ). The department page says the Economics minor is no longer open to students, while the catalog still has a minor page; the two differ. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Wesleyan’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 university; there is no separate economics application or admission line.
• Entering the major (students entering in 2026 or later, per the catalog):
  • you must declare in the second semester of sophomore year, and no one may enter the major after sophomore year;
  • complete ECON 110 Introduction to Economic Theory (calculus is its prerequisite);
  • have completed or be enrolled in at least one of the core theory courses ECON 301 (micro), 302 (macro) or 303 (introductory econometrics); ECON 303 requires both 301 and 302;
  • have at least three courses, at least two numbered 200 or above, with B- or better in at least two core courses (ECON 110, 301, 302, 303);
  • meet General Education Stage 1 expectations and hold an overall GPA of 85.0 or better (the catalog’s figure).
• Major requirements: ECON 110 plus at least eight letter-graded courses numbered 201 or above: three core courses (301, 302, 303) and five electives (at least three at the 300 level or higher). Everything counted must be taken for a letter grade. Complete all core courses by the end of junior year, with at least five letter-graded economics courses by then, and keep an overall GPA of 85.0 or better.
• Capstone: three upper-level electives, each with a substantial research paper or project.
• Honors: a two-semester thesis, either ECON 409 and 410 or a 300-level paper expanded in senior fall with ECON 410; candidates should have a B+ average in economics courses before senior year and a B or better three-year cumulative average. The department also nominates senior majors to Phi Beta Kappa.
• STEM: the pages reviewed do not say whether the major is STEM-designated; ask admissions or the department.
• Rules for students who entered in 2025 or earlier differ (for example ECON 300 as a core course) and are not covered here.

2. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school math: the application pages list no required high school courses or math level; Wesleyan does not publish one on the pages reviewed. The major’s own math prerequisites follow.
• Calculus: needed for ECON 110. Per the catalog, through 2026-27 it can be met with ECON 102, MATH 120 or 121, AP Calculus AB or BC of 4 or higher, IB Higher Math of 5 or higher, or placement into MATH 122 or higher; from fall 2027, with a MATH course numbered 120 or higher, AP Calculus 4 or higher, or IB Higher Math 5 or higher.
• Probability and statistics: ECON 302 has a probability and statistics prerequisite, met by ECON 103, MATH 132, PSYC 200, AP Statistics 4 or higher or IB Higher Math 5 or higher.
• Sequence: ECON 110 by fall of sophomore year; ECON 301 and 302 by fall of junior year; ECON 303 by the end of junior year. The department says the curriculum is more mathematically intense than that of many other economics departments.
• Courses offered: the fall 2026 WesMaps listing includes ECON 101 Introduction to Economics, ECON 102 Mathematical Tools for Economic Analysis, ECON 103 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Economic Analysis and ECON 110.
• AP and IB: the department’s AP policy page gives one general credit for 4 or 5 on both AP Microeconomics and Macroeconomics plus completion of ECON 110, CSS 220 or a 200-level or higher economics course; likewise for an IB Economics score of 5 or higher; and for a 4 or 5 on one AP exam plus ECON 301 or 302. The catalog says that for students who entered in 2025 or earlier, 4 or higher on both AP exams exempts ECON 110, but it states no such exemption for those entering in 2026 or later. The sources do not say whether these agree; ask the department.

3. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Decision I: 15 November; aid deadline the same day; decisions mid-December.
• Early Decision II: 1 January; aid 1 January; decisions mid-February.
• Regular Decision: 1 January; aid 15 January; decisions late March.
• Materials: Common App or Coalition (Scoir) application with Wesleyan’s questions; secondary school report, transcript (including courses in progress) and school profile; counselor recommendation; mid-year grades; two academic teacher evaluations (Wesleyan encourages one from humanities, social sciences or languages and one from math or science); a $65 application fee, waived for aid applicants.
• Testing: SAT and ACT are optional; Wesleyan says it does not require most students to submit them.

4. US applicants

• The costs page shows no in-state/out-of-state difference and no in-state preference; the pages reviewed do not say whether admission is need-blind for domestic students.
• Wesleyan promises to meet 100% of demonstrated need, with packages that contain no loans.
• The Coalition application is also accepted.

5. International applicants (including those from China)

• Timeline: the same as for US applicants. The fee is $65; the international page states no fee waiver for non-aid applicants, and aid applicants pay none.
• International curricula: candidates in exam-based curricula (A level, French Baccalaureate, IB and others) must provide scores; actual or predicted results go through the school with the School Report.
• English: submission is optional but strongly recommended. Listed minimum expected scores: TOEFL iBT 100 (5/6), IELTS 7.5, SAT 700 evidence-based reading and writing, ACT 29 on Reading and English, Duolingo 130, Cambridge English 190. Self-reported scores are accepted; official scores are due by 1 July after enrollment.
• Interviews: no evaluative interviews; InitialView or Vericant are accepted.
• Translations: documents not in English need certified translations plus copies of the originals.
• Proof of funds: international applicants not seeking aid must submit the Certification of Finances form for four years, due 1 December (ED I), 1 February (ED II) or 15 February (RD); decisions cannot be processed without it. Expected annual support: $109,400 for 2027-28, $114,300 for 2028-29, $119,400 for 2029-30 and $124,800 for 2030-31 (estimates). Year-one funds must be liquid.
• Aid: Wesleyan meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students, but admission for aid-seeking internationals is described as extremely competitive; you must apply for aid when you apply for admission and cannot add it later. Submit the CSS Profile (code 3959, no fee waivers) or, if unable to, the ISFAA. The international aid page lists deadlines for the 2026-27 cycle (15 November 2025, 1 January 2026 and 15 January 2026), which is the previous cycle; confirm the dates for fall 2027 entry.
• Scholarships: financial aid applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are considered for the Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program, a four-year full scholarship.
• International students are about 10% of undergraduates.

6. Applicants from China

• Wesleyan does not say whether the Gaokao is considered and gives no China-specific admission requirements on the pages reviewed; ask intladmission@wesleyan.edu.
• What is stated: documents not in English need certified translations; those in international curricula must send exam results; an English test is recommended.
• China is among the places whose aid applicants are considered for the Freeman Asian Scholarship, above.

7. Costs and opportunities

• 2026-27 (US$): tuition 75,916, student activity fee 404, new student matriculation fee 300, food and housing 21,660, books and personal expenses 2,750, total 101,080 for first-years and 100,780 for continuing students (plus an optional $50 Green Fund fee). All undergraduates must live in university housing and join a meal plan.
• No separate economics program fee is listed, and the pages reviewed name no economics-specific scholarship.
• Study abroad: economics electives taken elsewhere generally count only toward graduation; exceptions for major credit are limited and likely only for academic-year (not summer) courses at the London School of Economics, Oxford or Cambridge.
• Other resources: the department’s Econ Zone tutoring, seminars and Hogendorn lectures; the Gordon Career Center supports internships.

8. Transfer students

• Eligibility: a high school diploma; full-time study elsewhere; at least one full year (a minimum of 6 Wesleyan credits) but no more than two years (16 credits) at enrollment; entry as a first-semester sophomore, second-semester sophomore or first-semester junior. Those entering as second-semester juniors or beyond are not eligible.
• Deadline: fall entry 15 March, admission notification in April (the page is written for September 2026 entry; confirm the date for fall 2027).
• Materials: Common App, college report, all college transcripts, final high school transcript, mid-term report, two college instructor evaluations and the $65 fee (waived for aid applicants); testing optional.
• Credit: C- or better (B- for summer courses); courses similar to those Wesleyan offers; at college level; at most two AP or IB credits.
• Transferring into economics: this is hard. The catalog says transfer students should not expect to enter the major. The department’s transfer policy (effective summer 2026) says almost no institution offers a true equivalent of ECON 110, so transfers generally must start with it; it is “extremely unusual” for a junior transfer to complete the major; all electives must be taken at Wesleyan; and by the end of sophomore year students need at least three economics courses, including one intermediate core course, with B- or better. Interested students should email the department chair before accepting an offer with syllabi for economics and math courses taken, AP scores, and a statement from their current economics chair on the math requirements of their core courses; the department will give a formal decision on entering the major before you must accept.
• Junior entry: Wesleyan says students entering as first-semester juniors may be prohibited from certain programs, including economics.
• International transfers: no financial aid; those not seeking aid must submit the finances form (due 1 April).

Checklist

US applicants:

• ED I 15 November; ED II and RD 1 January; $65 fee; testing optional
• After enrolling: calculus, then ECON 110; declare in the second semester of sophomore year

International applicants (including China):

• International exam results if applicable; an English test is recommended; Certification of Finances if not seeking aid
• If you need aid, apply with your admission application via the CSS Profile or ISFAA

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 March; sophomore or first-semester junior entry only
• Email the economics chair before accepting an offer to confirm you can enter the major

Sources: Wesleyan University, Department of Economics; Catalog: Economics major (2026-27); AP policy; Honors; Transfer policy (PDF); WesMaps ECON offerings; First-year applicants; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Cost of attendance. Some deadline pages carry no year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry; costs are 2026-27 figures. Check Wesleyan for the latest details.