How to Apply to Economics at Denison University: A B.A. in Economics with No Application Fee, No Supplemental Essay and Optional Test Scores, Plus Admission and Prerequisite Details for Domestic, International (Including China) and Transfer Students

Denison University (in Granville) offers economics through the Department of Economics, and the site lists only the B.A. in Economics; the pages read do not place economics in a separate school or mention school-level admission. This guide follows Denison's websites and covers domestic students, international students, applicants from China and transfer students. Where the pages are silent, the guide says so.

1. Degrees and options

• B.A. in Economics: the only degree listed; the pages read do not mention a STEM designation, which is not published there.
• Financial Economics concentration: for students aiming at advanced degrees in business or finance or careers in the financial sector; fourteen courses: introductory macro and micro, Introduction to Financial Accounting (FIN 149), intermediate macro and micro, introductory econometrics, Financial Economics I and II, and two economics electives (at least one a designated writing course). The page also lists "Mathematics 135, 145, 225, and 220" in a way that is not complete; check the official page.
• Minor: introductory macro and micro, calculus, two of intermediate macro, intermediate micro and econometrics, and two electives, at least one at the 400 level.
• Related programs: the department participates in the interdepartmental Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) major; the economics page also lists Global Commerce as a related section.
• Beyond the classroom: Bloomberg terminals and Bloomberg certifications; internships at firms such as Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase and Morningstar; Summer Scholars research with a stipend and housing allowance; study abroad.
• Honors: the pages read did not describe an economics honors program; this is not published there.

2. How admission to the major works

• Apply to the university, not a school: first-years apply through the Common Application or the Coalition Application, which Denison says it evaluates the same way. The pages read do not say whether the application asks for an intended major, or whether economics has its own cutoff or capacity; this is not published there, so ask admissions.
• When you become an economics major: the department says students who want to major should finish the core courses (next section) by the end of junior year. The pages read do not state when the major is declared or a GPA threshold; check the university's course catalog or ask the department.

3. Prerequisites and courses

• High school mathematics: the pages read do not state a high school math requirement for economics.
• Core requirements: Introductory Macroeconomics (ECON 101, 4 credits), Introductory Microeconomics (ECON 102, 4 credits), Essentials of Calculus (MATH 130) or Single Variable Calculus (MATH 135), Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis (ECON 301), Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (ECON 302) and Introductory Econometrics (ECON 307).
• Prerequisite chain: ECON 301 needs 101 and 102; ECON 302 needs 101, 102 and MATH 130, 135 or 145; ECON 307 needs ECON 302 or concurrent enrollment.
• Electives: at least four more courses from ECON 201 to 440 or 460 to 470, no more than two at the 200 level, with at least one satisfying the department's writing requirement.
• Study abroad rule: only one economics course taken abroad can count toward the major; it must have economics prerequisites and be an economics (not business) course. ECON 301, 302 and 307 may not be taken abroad.
• AP and IB credit: this guide did not read Denison's exam-credit rules for economics and they are not published on the pages read; ask admissions or the registrar.

4. Dates and materials

• Plans and deadlines: Early Decision 1 (15 November), Early Decision 2 (15 January) and Regular Decision (15 January). Early Decision is binding: admitted students must enroll and withdraw other applications. All decisions become final on 1 April, and appeals must be submitted before then. The pages carry no year, so confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry.
• Fee and essay: Denison says there is no application fee and no supplemental essay (the Common or Coalition application includes a personal essay).
• Recommendations and transcript: counselor recommendation and school report (required); official high school transcript (required, used to recalculate the GPA); at least one teacher evaluation from a core subject (required).
• Interview: recommended, not required; Denison says most successful applicants complete one.
• Tests: SAT and ACT scores have not been required since 2008; submitted scores are superscored.
• Arts supplement (optional): for cinema, creative writing, dance, music, visual arts or theatre; submitters become eligible for a departmental scholarship.
• Decision timing: the domestic page says Early Decision applicants hear about a month after each deadline and Regular Decision applicants by mid-March; the international page says within a few weeks and by late March. The two pages differ.

5. Domestic students

• Costs: Denison is private and the cost page lists one rate, with no in-state or out-of-state difference. For 2026-27: tuition USD 74,000, housing and food USD 18,400, total USD 92,400. For 2027-28: tuition USD 77,000, housing and food USD 19,400, total USD 96,400. There is also a USD 4,500 work-study allowance for personal expenses and books.
• Aid: Denison says it meets 100% of demonstrated need and automatically considers every applicant for merit scholarships; need is determined from the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
• State preference: the pages read do not state a preference for in-state applicants.

6. International students

• Application: Common or Coalition application; "international" means anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• English proficiency: required. Denison considers English as the main language of instruction, English as first language, TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, SAT Reading, ACT English Language Arts and an interview; waivers are considered case by case. Minimum scores were not on the pages read.
• Certification of Finances: required of all international applicants, free, open from 1 October, submitted once through the applicant portal. Denison does not require or accept the CSS Profile from international applicants.
• Aid: international students are eligible for the same need-based aid and merit scholarships as domestic students, and Denison meets 100% of demonstrated need; Denison is need-aware for international applicants. Need-based aid can be requested only during admission.
• Merit scholarships: range from USD 5,000 per year to full tuition, awarded at admission.
• Credentials: the counselor sends the official transcript; for the counselor recommendation and school report, a teacher or other school official may submit them if there is no counselor. A third-party transcript evaluation is not mentioned on the pages read.
• Visa: admitted students who enroll receive an I-20 for an F-1 visa.
• Enrollment: about 17% of students are international, from more than 70 countries (another line says 73).

7. Applicants from China

• The pages read do not give China-specific transcript, Gaokao or Huikao requirements; this is not published there. The international page lists general requirements only. Contact international admission (internationaladmission@denison.edu).
• English proficiency, financial certification and aid rules are in section 6.

8. Transfer students

• Applying: the Common App for Transfer; Denison says there is no fee, no additional essay and no test score requirement. Required: official transcripts from every college attended, the final high school transcript and a student conduct report from each institution. An interview is recommended; an arts supplement is optional.
• Deadlines: spring (January start) 15 November; fall (August start) 15 April; rolling decisions in November and December (spring) and from April (fall); reply within two weeks of the decision. The page also mentions a fall date of 15 May that has "already passed", which does not match 15 April, so confirm.
• GPA: Denison does not publish a single minimum GPA; review is holistic, and many successful applicants earn As and Bs.
• Transferring into economics: the pages read do not state specific requirements for transferring into economics; not published there.
• Credit: up to 62 credit hours of transfer credit (including study abroad), and 64 credit hours must be completed at Denison. Credit may count toward general education, electives, and major or minor requirements when approved by the department, which makes the final decision. Admitted students receive a transfer credit evaluation; international students' credits transfer depending on content and equivalency. See section 3 for the study abroad rule for economics.
• Aid: domestic transfers submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by the application deadline; international transfers submit the Certification of Finances; merit aid needs no extra application.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Common or Coalition application, no fee and no supplemental essay; Early Decision 15 November or 15 January, Regular Decision 15 January; SAT/ACT optional
• FAFSA and CSS Profile; plan calculus and the core courses by the end of junior year

International students and applicants from China:

• Prepare an English proficiency demonstration (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or other); submit the free Certification of Finances
• Need-based aid can be requested only at application; China-specific requirements are not published on the pages read, so contact international admission

Transfer students:

• 15 November (spring) or 15 April (fall); transcripts from every college and the conduct reports
• Up to 62 credits transfer; the department decides major credit; confirm with the economics department

Sources: Denison University, Economics (B.A.); Economics major requirements; Department overview and policies; Economics courses; Financial economics concentration; Apply for admission; International applicants; International applicant financial aid; Transfer; Affordability and cost. Dates and costs are as listed on those pages; confirm undated dates apply to fall 2027 entry. Check Denison for the latest.