How to Apply to Economics at the University at Buffalo: A College of Arts and Sciences Major with BA, BS and AI and Quantitative Economics Degrees, Choose Economics on the Application, with Admission and Prerequisite Details for Domestic, International (Including China) and Transfer Students

Undergraduate economics at the University at Buffalo (UB) is taught by the Department of Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. This guide follows UB's websites and covers domestic students, international students, applicants from China and transfer students. Where UB's pages are silent, the guide says so and points to where to check.

1. Degrees

• BA in Economics: the department describes it as flexible, suited to double majors, graduate or law school, or work after graduation. 120 credits including 4 credits of Calculus I and 35 credits in economics; at least a 2.5 GPA in economics courses and 2.0 overall.
• BS in Economics: described as STEM-designated, with more mathematics and econometrics. 120 credits including 4 credits of Calculus I and 59 credits in economics; at least a 2.5 GPA in economics courses and 2.0 overall.
• BS in AI and Quantitative Economics: also described as STEM-designated and run across the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Components are a math core, AI and Society, AI and Technology, bridge courses, a quantitative economics core and a capstone. This guide did not read its total credits or GPA rule; see the course catalog.
• Joint major: an established joint major with Mathematics (BA), or a self-designed joint major with another BA program (such as Political Science, Geography or Psychology) approved by both departments. Students apply to both departments.
• Other options: BA/MA and BA/MS in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics combined degrees, a 25-credit minor, and a micro-credential in Data Science in Economics.
• Honors: BA students are nominated after Calculus I, Calculus II, Microeconomic Theory and a 3.25 GPA in economics; BS students after Calculus I, Calculus II, and research or independent study with a faculty recommendation, also at 3.25. Economics GPAs of 3.25, 3.50 and 3.75 earn Honors, High Honors and Highest Honors.

2. How admission to the major works

• Name the major on the application: the department says high school seniors and transfers first apply to UB and indicate economics as the intended major. This guide did not find a place on the application to choose BA or BS; ask the undergraduate office (ecoug@buffalo.edu).
• Extra requirements: UB's page on special requirements for certain majors lists accounting, business management, engineering, performing arts, pharmacy and others, but not economics; the first-year page says the review is generally the same for most majors. The pages read do not state a separate cutoff, capacity limit or guarantee for economics; this is not published there, so ask admissions.
• Current UB students: submit the College of Arts and Sciences Major/Minor Change Request. The department pages read here do not state a GPA threshold for adding the major; this is not published there, so contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies or check the catalog.

3. Prerequisites and courses

• High school courses: for all first-years UB suggests (does not require) four years of English, four of social studies, three of college-preparatory science, three of a second language and at least three of college-preparatory mathematics. No economics-specific high school mathematics requirement is stated; pre-calculus readiness is recommended only for accounting and business management.
• College mathematics: both the BA and BS need Calculus I (4 credits), by taking Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I, Mathematical Analysis for Management or College Calculus I. The BS in AI and Quantitative Economics lists Precalculus plus one of those.
• Introductory and core courses: Intro to Macroeconomics and Intro to Microeconomics have no prerequisites, according to the department. BA core: Economic Statistics and Data Analysis, Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics I, plus five 400-level electives (excluding internships and undergraduate teaching); the two introductory courses are recommended but not required for the BA. BS core: the BA core plus Microeconomic Theory II, Financial Economics, Labor Economics, Math for Economists, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Game Theory, Industrial Organization and Econometrics II, with both introductory courses required, and five 400-level electives from a set list.
• An inconsistency: the BA page says five 400-level electives, while the department's transfer page says at least five upper-level (300+) electives must be taken at UB. Check the catalog. The BA page also says all 400-level courses must be taken at UB.
• AP, IB and A-level credit: UB awards elective credit for AP scores of 3 or higher (sometimes counting toward major requirements); an IB diploma of 30 earns up to 30 credits, and below that, Higher Level exams with a 5 or better are guaranteed credit; A-level or AS results of E or better guarantee elective credit. The admissions page links to a lookup of how each exam applies; this guide did not read the exam-by-exam table, so check it for economics.

4. Dates and materials

• Applications and fee: ApplySUNY, the Common Application or the Coalition for College application (one only); the fee is USD 50 and non-refundable. Fee waivers are available, including SUNY, Common Application and College Board waivers.
• Fall dates (international first-years and transfers): opens 1 August; Early Action 1 November; Honors College priority 15 December; application completion 1 February (applications continue until capacity is reached); deposit 1 May or 10 days after acceptance, whichever is later. Domestic first-years follow the same dates, with a 1 March FAFSA priority date. The date tables carry no year, and the international transfer page labels the same table "Fall 2026", so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• Spring entry: submitting by 1 October is recommended; deposit 1 December.
• Early Action: 1 November, non-binding, with an early response and priority for merit scholarships; the decision is due by 1 May.
• Essay: the Common or Coalition application includes a personal essay; this guide did not read a UB supplemental essay requirement, which is not published on the pages read.
• Recommendations: UB strongly recommends at least one from a counselor, teacher, community member or employer, and accepts up to three (the international first-year page calls it one letter, optional).
• Tests: UB is test-optional; SAT and ACT are not required for admission or scholarships. The international first-year page says most admitted applicants who submit scores have an SAT composite of 1170 or above or an ACT composite of 25 or above; applicants who do not submit are not at a disadvantage.
• Mid-year grades: UB asks many applicants for them; it just means UB wants to learn more before deciding.

5. Domestic students

• In-state versus out-of-state costs: UB's yearly estimates are tuition USD 7,070 (New York State residents) versus USD 29,070 (out of state); fees USD 3,966 for both; on-campus housing and dining USD 18,606; related expenses USD 6,888; totals USD 36,530 and USD 58,530. To qualify as a New York resident, a student must show a permanent home in the state for at least 12 months before the semester; living in New York to attend college does not count.
• State preference: UB's pages do not state an admission preference for New York residents.
• Scholarships: high-achieving out-of-state first-years are automatically considered for the Provost Scholarship; New York State first-years for Pride of New York (non-tuition costs only); the Presidential Scholarship needs a separate application through the Honors College. FAFSA priority date: 1 March.

6. International students

• Grades: UB uses a 4.0 scale and expects the equivalent of a 3.0 (a B, or 83 out of 100). Course rigor is considered.
• English: minimum scores are TOEFL iBT 70, IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo 105 and PTE 50; SAT ERWS 500 or ACT English and reading 18 can also qualify. Scores must be less than two years old at admission. Citizens of Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore or the UK who are native English speakers educated entirely in English may be exempt.
• Credential evaluation: the first-year page says UB's admissions counselors know many education systems and compare your country's grading scale to UB's 4.0 scale; documents not in English need English translations. The international transfer page states that no separate transcript evaluation is needed.
• Proof of funds: F-1 and J-1 students must show funds for the first year before an I-20 is issued. Bank documents must be dated within six months, in English, and state the currency and account holder; loans must be fully sanctioned; credit card statements, tax returns, funds, stocks and property valuations are not accepted.
• Costs: estimated annual tuition USD 29,070, fees USD 6,466 (including the international student fee and SUNY health insurance), housing and dining USD 18,606, related expenses USD 6,888; total USD 61,030. The related-expenses line is labeled a 2026-27 estimate on one page and 2025-26 on another; the totals match.
• Scholarships and work: admitted international first-years are automatically considered for the Flagship Scholarship (amounts vary, renewable up to four years with good standing); the Presidential Scholarship needs a separate Honors College application. On-campus work is limited to 20 hours a week in term and 40 in breaks; off-campus work is not permitted.

7. Applicants from China

• The international first-year page lists required academic documents by country in a drop-down; this guide did not read the entry for China, so select China on that page.
• The pages read here do not state whether UB considers the Gaokao, or what is required for the Huikao; this is not published there. Contact admissions (ub-admissions@buffalo.edu).
• Documents not in English need English translations. English test requirements are in section 6; IB, A-level and AP results may earn credit.

8. Transfer students

• Who counts as a transfer: students with at least 12 credit hours of college work after high school. With more than 24 credits UB reviews the college record; with fewer, the high school transcript is reviewed too.
• International transfers: UB expects the equivalent of a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and wants transcripts from every college attended with English translations. Bring course descriptions and syllabuses to help departments assess credit. Deadlines match international first-years (1 November Early Action, 1 February regular for fall).
• Domestic transfers: fall priority scholarship consideration 15 March, regular deadline 1 May; spring priority scholarship 1 November, recommended submission 1 December. A minimum GPA is not stated on the page read.
• Transferring into economics: the admissions page says students with 60 or more transfer credits and the minimum grades in prerequisite courses may be admitted to majors in the College of Arts and Sciences (except portfolio or audition programs); others are evaluated by departments while at UB. The specific prerequisites and grades for economics were not on the pages read; contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Credit transfer: UB accepts college-level credit from regionally accredited two- and four-year institutions; check TAURUS. The department says all economics majors take at least five upper-level (300+) electives at UB, while core courses (ECO 181, 182, 405, 407, 480) and other electives may receive transfer credit. If a course is not in TAURUS, bring the syllabus (with weekly topics and textbook) and your record to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

9. Internships, research and study abroad

• Internships: Internship in Economics (ECO 496) carries credit, 8 to 10 hours per week, with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies; paid and unpaid are accepted. The department names Merrill Lynch, M&T Bank and local government offices.
• Research and independent study: require a 3.0 economics GPA and completion of Microeconomic Theory 1, Macroeconomic Theory and Econometrics I.
• Undergraduate teaching assistants work in introductory economics courses (ECO 495).
• Study abroad: more than 400 SUNY programs; the program page mentions Singapore and Italy.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Choose economics as the intended major; Early Action 1 November, regular 1 February; SAT/ACT optional
• Check New York residency and costs (USD 58,530 estimated for out-of-state)
• Plan Calculus I; compare the BA and BS on the department's page

International students and applicants from China:

• Prepare TOEFL 70, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105; select China on the international first-year page for transcript documents
• Early Action 1 November; proof of funds (USD 61,030 estimated) before an I-20
• Gaokao and Huikao policies are not published on the pages read; ask admissions

Transfer students:

• Gather transcripts from every college; international transfers are expected to have a 2.5 equivalent; search TAURUS, and bring syllabuses if needed
• Ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies about economics prerequisites and grades

Sources: University at Buffalo, Economics program page; Economics: undergraduate overview; Economics: apply; BA in Economics; BS in Economics; BS in AI and Quantitative Economics; BA vs. BS; Honors program; Joint major; Minor; Experiential learning; Economics: transfer students; First-year application; International first-year; English proficiency; Standardized tests; International transfer; Transfer application; Dates and deadlines; Special requirements for certain majors; Exam credit and transfer credit; Tuition and estimated costs; International financial details; Scholarships. Dates and costs are as listed on those pages; some pages carry no year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry. Check UB for the latest.