How to Apply to Economics at Middlebury College: A Liberal Arts College That Does Not Admit by Major, Where You Declare Economics After Entry, With an 11-Course Major and Statistics, Regression and Theory Sequences, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Middlebury College is a liberal arts college in Vermont. Economics is taught by the Department of Economics; the pages we read mention no separate business or economics school, and you apply to the college. Middlebury does not admit by major; you declare a major after entry. This guide covers fall 2027 entry according to Middlebury’s official information, in sections for U.S. 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. Degrees and tracks

• Economics major (ECON): the department pages list a single economics major and do not distinguish a B.A. from a B.S. or name the degree, and this is not stated on the pages we read; ask the department coordinator (holbrook@middlebury.edu on the department page).
• Related interdisciplinary majors: the department says it also serves students in Environmental Studies, International Studies and International Politics and Economics (IPE). The requirements page says you cannot double major in Economics and International Politics and Economics (IPEC), or in Economics and the Environmental Studies economics focus (ESEC). You can double major in Economics and the Environmental Studies policy focus (ESEP), but economics courses cannot count toward both majors unless a course is required by both.
• STEM: the economics FAQ says the economics major is an approved STEM field of study with CIP code 45.0603 (Econometrics and Quantitative Economics); more on STEM OPT is on the department’s Student Resources page.
• Honors: department honors require the senior research sequence ECON 0701 and 0702 (see below).
• Minor: the department pages we read do not mention an economics minor, so this is not published there.
• Labs: affiliated labs listed are the Middlebury Experimental Economics Lab and the Vermont Center for Behavioral Science Research on Climate and the Environment.

2. How admission works: enter first, declare later

• At application: you apply through the Common App, Coalition App or QuestBridge. The application instructions page we read does not describe admission by major or require you to choose one.
• When to declare: the department FAQ says any time after the first semester but no later than the end of the third semester. You complete the Major Declaration/Change Form (on the Registrar’s forms page), your new advisor signs it, and the department coordinator signs for the chair.
• Entry conditions: the pages we read do not state a GPA minimum or a cap on the number of majors; this is not published there. The only grade lines are course-level: at least a C- in ECON 0150 and 0155 to enter ECON 0250 and 0255 without a waiver, and at least a C- in ECON 0111 to enter ECON 0211 without a waiver.
• Internal transfer: the pages we read state no separate “transfer into economics” rule; follow the declaration process above.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school math: the admissions pages do not list specific high school courses for economics or any major. The department says the introductory courses (ECON 0150, 0155) assume no prior economics but a “thorough working knowledge of algebra”.
• Calculus: calculus I is a prerequisite for many economics courses, and the intermediate theory courses (ECON 0250, 0255) list MATH 0121 (calculus I) or an approved equivalent. The requirements page says explicitly that high school calculus does not meet the calculus I requirement. Students without AP Calculus AB 4+, BC 3+ or approved transfer credit complete the Math Department’s placement survey; those placed into calculus II or higher receive a placement code that satisfies the prerequisite, and those placed into calculus I must take it first. The department recommends clearing it in the first year.
• Structure: the requirements page says the economics major is at least 11 approved courses in four sequences, and at least 6 of the 11 (including 0400-level electives and the 0701/0702 sequence) must be taken on the Vermont campus. ECON 0701/0702 spans two terms but counts as one course for the major; ECON 0240 and 0500 do not count; winter-term electives count only if so designated in the winter catalog.
  • Introductory: ECON 0150 (macro) and ECON 0155 (micro), in either order;
  • Quantitative sequence: a first course of ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210), STAT 0116, MATH 0310, PSYC 0201 or STAT 0201, then ECON 0211 (regression). ECON 0111 cannot be taken at the same time as the others, and earns no credit if you have already taken one of them; STAT 0211 cannot replace ECON 0211;
  • Intermediate theory: ECON 0250 (macro) and ECON 0255 (micro). The department recommends finishing the theory and quantitative sequences by the end of sophomore year for students who will study abroad and, for everyone, strongly by the end of junior year;
  • Electives: at least five, one at the 0400 level and one more that is a 0300-level course, another 0400-level course or the ECON 0701/0702 senior workshop; the other three can be 0200, 0300 or 0400 level. 0400-level seminars typically enroll no more than 16 students; the 0701/0702 workshops about eight and involve an independent research paper.
• Where the official pages disagree: the department home page says “six core courses plus at least four electives, two of them senior-seminar level”, while the requirements page says 11 courses with at least five electives (one at the 0400 level, and one more that is a 0300-level course, another 0400 course or 0701/0702). Treat the requirements page’s 11 courses as the working figure and confirm with the department.
• Graduate study: the department says economics or finance graduate programs (other than an MBA) generally require a high degree of mathematical sophistication and suggests MATH 0310 in place of ECON 0111, mathematically rigorous electives, and more math and computer science courses. It also says you do not need an economics major to go on to business or an MBA.

4. AP, IB and A-Level

• Middlebury no longer awards credit for AP, IB or A-Level scores, but qualifying scores can still satisfy the 11-course economics major. Have the College Board send an official score report to the Registrar. The same rules apply where other majors require economics courses.
• AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics: a 5 waives ECON 0155/0150; a 4 waives the introductory course only if you earn B- or better in the corresponding intermediate course (ECON 0255/0250), otherwise you take an extra economics elective.
• AP Statistics: a 5 can waive ECON 0111, although the department strongly encourages taking it; a 4 requires B- or better in ECON 0211. You cannot get both AP and course credit for the same course.
• IB Higher Level economics and A-Level economics: IB 7 or A-Level A starts at ECON 0250/0255 and waives ECON 0150 and 0155, but the other introductory slot must be replaced by an economics elective (the FAQ says you get one course toward the major, while the requirements page says both introductory courses are waived; the two pages differ, so confirm with the department). IB 6 or A-Level B is encouraged to start at ECON 0250/0255 but may take ECON 0150/0155, and counts toward one introductory requirement only. To use these scores as prerequisites you also request a placement code with the Economics Placement Code Request Form.
• IB Mathematics: IB HL Mathematics does not substitute for ECON 0111.
• The pages we read cover AP, IB and A-Level only; whether other national exams (including the gaokao) can count is not published there.

5. Honors, research and after graduation

• Department honors (students beginning fall 2024 or later): you must take ECON 0701 and 0702 in senior year, after at least six Middlebury economics courses approved for the major; all ECON courses at the 200 level or higher that count for the major must be taken for a letter grade. Honors requires A- or better in 0701 and 0702 and an economics GPA of 3.5 or higher; High Honors requires A in both and 3.75; Highest Honors requires A in both and 3.9. Single economics majors get priority over double majors.
• Students who began before fall 2024 have an older honors description on the requirements page.
• Internships and research: the department says students frequently collaborate with faculty on research that leads to publications, and lists internship options such as MiddChallenge. It also says businesses and graduate schools often send information directly to majors. Specific internship employers are on the “Economics Beyond Middlebury” page.
• Alumni: the department home page lists example alumni employers (such as Amazon, Tesla, the World Bank and Goldman Sachs). These are individual examples, not statistics.

6. Rounds, deadlines and materials (the page does not print a year, so confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry)

• Early Decision I: 2 November; aid materials 15 November; decisions in mid-December.
• Early Decision II: 4 January; aid materials the same day; decisions in mid-February.
• Regular Decision: 4 January; aid materials 1 February; decisions in late March.
• Entry term: September only, February only or either. Choosing February does not affect evaluation; ED preferences are honored, and a small number of RD applicants may be offered the term they did not indicate.
• Materials: the Common App, Coalition App or QuestBridge; the application essay uses the platform prompts and there is no supplemental essay; two teacher recommendations requested; the school report, counselor recommendation and transcript come directly from your counselor. No decisions are made without senior grades (ED I: first-term grades as soon as possible; ED II: midyear grades by 15 January; RD: by 15 February).
• Application fee: not stated on the pages we read.
• Interview: an optional alumni interview can be requested (by 8 November for ED I, 9 January for ED II, 16 January for RD) but is not guaranteed; if you are not matched, Glimpse lets you record a 90-second video or audio statement.
• Testing: test optional, self-reported scores accepted; the ACT science section is not required.

7. By reader

1. U.S. applicants

• Admission, courses and testing are as above. The tuition page lists a single tuition figure and no in-state rate; whether applying from Vermont carries any preference is not published on the pages we read.
• The Apply page says Middlebury offers “full-need financial aid”. Whether domestic admission is need-blind is not stated on the pages we read; check Student Financial Services.

2. International applicants

• Middlebury says about 15 percent of its students carry international passports or grew up outside the U.S. The process is the same as for everyone; ask your school to send transcripts, test results and recommendations directly to the Admissions Office.
• English: not required if English is your native language or your classes were taught entirely in English for the last three or four years (depending on the length of your high school); everyone else must submit verifiable TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, IELTS or Cambridge English results. Recommended minimums: TOEFL iBT 5.5 (105 for tests taken before 21 January 2026), Duolingo 130, IELTS 7.0, Cambridge C1 Advanced.
• Testing: not required. Interview: not required, but Middlebury recommends an InitialView or Vericant interview with your application (there is a fee).
• Financial aid: Middlebury is need aware for international students. If you need aid you must apply when you apply for admission, by the published deadlines. Scholarships specifically for international students are not described on the pages we read.
• Credential evaluation and proof of funds: the pages we read do not mention external credential evaluation or specific proof-of-funds documents; ask admissions@middlebury.edu.

3. Applicants from China

• The application and department pages we read have no separate statement on whether the gaokao is considered, on huikao records, or on Chinese applicants; ask the Admissions Office or check its international pages.
• The process, optional testing, English requirements and aid rules are the same as in the international section above.

8. Costs

• 2026-27 costs (USD): tuition $72,924 ($36,462 per semester), housing and meals $20,920, student activity fee $542; with about $1,000 each for books, transportation and personal expenses, the total cost of attendance is about $97,386. Full-time students must carry health insurance. Tuition covers a normal load of three, four or five courses per semester.
• Students must enroll in at least two of four winter terms (J-term). No separate departmental surcharge for economics is listed, and none is mentioned on the pages we read.

9. Transfer

• Deadlines: fall entry 1 March, decisions in mid-May; spring entry 2 November, decisions in mid-December. If there are no spring vacancies, you will be told in early December and offered fall consideration.
• Who must transfer: anyone who has been or is enrolled full-time in a degree program.
• Materials: the Common App for transfers, official high school and college transcripts, progress grades requested from each current professor, college reports, at least one recommendation from a college instructor, course descriptions, and an English test if English is not your first language or your secondary school did not teach in English. Transfer is test optional. A GPA minimum or required prior courses for transfer are not stated on the pages we read.
• Credit: transfers complete at least two full academic years at Middlebury (at least 18 units). There are no credit evaluations before admission; an estimate comes before the deposit deadline, and final evaluation follows your final transcript.
• Counting outside courses toward the economics major (requirements page; it states no separate rule for transfer students): at least 6 of the 11 major courses (including 0400-level electives and ECON 0701/0702) must be taken on the Vermont campus. Economics courses taken in approved programs (abroad or domestic) can count toward the major with the chair’s pre-approval; summer courses generally do not unless there is an overriding reason, and must be at least six weeks and 36 class hours; courses with BU or MGMT prefixes are not normally treated as economics equivalents.
• Aid: entirely need-based and offered to transfers as resources permit; file the FAFSA and CSS Profile by 1 March for fall or 1 November for spring (international transfers file the CSS Profile). The deadline table gives 2 November for spring aid while the text says 1 November, so confirm the date.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Apply by 2 November (ED I) or 4 January (ED II, RD); testing optional; two teacher recommendations; no supplemental essay
• Declare economics after the first semester and by the end of the third; clear calculus I early (high school calculus does not count)

International applicants:

• Same deadlines; English test required unless exempt (aim for TOEFL 5.5, IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 130)
• If you need aid, apply with your application; admission is need-aware

Applicants from China:

• Gaokao and huikao requirements are not published on the pages we read; ask the Admissions Office. Otherwise as for international applicants
• AP or IB economics scores can satisfy major requirements but no longer earn credit

Transfer students:

• 1 March (fall) or 2 November (spring); at least two years at Middlebury
• At least 6 of the 11 economics major courses must be taken on the Vermont campus

Sources: Middlebury College, Department of Economics; Economics major requirements; Economics FAQ; Economics Beyond Middlebury; Application instructions and deadlines (including international and transfer requirements); Apply; 2026-27 tuition and fees. The deadline page does not print a year, so confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry; costs are 2026-27 figures. Check Middlebury for the latest details.