How to Apply for the Economics Major at Rutgers University–New Brunswick: Economics Sits in the School of Arts and Sciences, You Start Undeclared and Declare After Principles of Economics and Calculus, With Admission and Prerequisite Requirements for US Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Rutgers University–New Brunswick, undergraduate economics is taught by the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS). Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Rutgers’ official information, for US domestic students, international students (including Chinese applicants) and transfer students. Business (Rutgers Business School) has its own article and is not covered here.

1. Degrees and options

• Degree: the SAS program list shows Economics (code 220) as a B.A., available as a major or a minor. The pages read describe no B.S. version of economics.
• Major structure: Introduction to Microeconomics (01:220:102) and Macroeconomics (103); Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (320), Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis (321) and Econometrics (322); plus seven electives, at least four of them upper-level (400-level) and no more than three lower-level (300-level); one D is allowed among the electives. The FAQ says the major totals 36 credits in economics, with one semester of statistics and one of calculus. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is needed to graduate; statistics and calculus are not counted in the economics GPA.
• Related programs: a B.S. in Data Science with an Economics track, administered by Computer Science and Statistics, includes the core of the economics major; the department notes that international students seeking an officially designated STEM degree for Optional Practical Training may find it useful. The pages read do not say whether the economics B.A. itself is STEM-designated.
• Minors and certificates: an 18-credit Economics minor and an 18-credit Quantitative Economics minor (Calculus II required for the 400-level courses). The department offers five certificates for economics majors: Computational Economics and Data Analytics, Economic Theory, Financial Economics, Global Economics and Public Policy Economics, each requiring an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a B in each certificate course.
• Honors Research Program: for declared majors who have completed intermediate micro and macro, earned B+ or higher in econometrics, and have an overall GPA of 3.5 and an economics GPA of 3.7, with a tenure-track faculty advisor; applications are due by 1 August, and completing the program is required for departmental honors.
• Other: the department lists a Fed Challenge team, the ODE economics honor society and student societies. Whether internships earn credit is not stated on the pages read; ask the department.

2. How admission to economics works

• You apply to the university and to SAS, and start undeclared: you choose the School of Arts and Sciences. The SAS advising page states that all incoming students enter Rutgers undeclared. The pages read do not say whether the application asks for an intended major, or mention a separate economics admission line.
• Declaring economics: the department requires a grade of C or better in 220:102 (Intro to Micro), 220:103 (Intro to Macro) and Calculus I (640:130, 135 or 151), then you choose economics as your first or second major in MyMajor. The SAS major page lists the same three courses; the minor has no declaration requirement. The pages read state no cap on places.
• Moving into SAS from another Rutgers school: applicants need at least 12 graded credits, a Rutgers GPA of at least 2.0 (from New Brunswick professional schools) or 3.0 (from Newark or Camden), and College Writing; the school-to-school transfer deadlines are 1 June (fall) and 10 December (spring).
• Course restriction: intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics and econometrics taken at Rutgers–Newark or Rutgers–Camden cannot count toward the SAS economics major unless taken in spring 2011 or earlier.

3. Prerequisites and the first two years

• High school units (School of Arts and Sciences, 16 academic courses): English 4 years; 2 years of one foreign language; math 3 years (including algebra I, geometry and algebra II); science 2 years; 5 other academic courses. The pages read do not set a higher math requirement for economics.
• Course sequence: Intro to Micro and Macro (precalculus 01:640:111 or 115 with a C or better is a prerequisite); Calculus I; Intermediate Micro and Macro (prerequisites: the introductory courses and Calculus I); Econometrics (prerequisites: introductory courses, Calculus I and statistics 01:960:285 or 211, each with C or better). The department says first-year students can take Intro to Micro, and does not recommend taking intermediate micro and macro in the same semester.
• Exam credit (SAS): AP Microeconomics 4 or 5 grants 220:102 and AP Macroeconomics 4 or 5 grants 220:103; IB Economics (Higher Level) 5, 6 or 7 grants 220:102-103 (6 credits); AP Calculus AB 4 or 5 grants 640:151, and BC 4 or 5 grants 640:151 and 152. A-level and other exams have separate pages that were not read.

4. Rounds, fees and materials

• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November 2026; decisions by 31 January; reply by 1 May.
• Regular Decision: 1 December; decisions by 28 February. Rutgers states you must apply by 1 December to be considered for honors and merit scholarships. Later applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis.
• Apply with the Rutgers Application or the Common App (submit only one). An essay is required (3,800 characters on the Rutgers Application; 250-650 words on the Common App, with no supplemental essays). The first-year page read does not state the application fee; the transfer page says US$70. Fee waivers are available to eligible applicants.
• Letters of recommendation are not used. Current high school students complete a STARS record covering all courses and grades for grades 9-11 and in-progress grade 12 courses.
• Test-optional: SAT/ACT submission is optional and you are not disadvantaged by not submitting; if you submit, Rutgers superscores. Rutgers highly encourages submitting scores at or above the 50th percentile for your school. Scores sent after admission cannot hurt an admission, honors or scholarship decision.
• Factors in review: required high school subjects, program strength, grades and trends, weighted GPA, rank when available, test scores if submitted and English proficiency when required; also the essay, activities, awards, family obligations and socioeconomic background.
• 2026 admitted-student profile (School of Arts and Sciences): middle 50% SAT (EBRW plus math) 1380-1520, ACT 30-34, high school GPA 3.7-4.2; the first-year class of 2025 came from 51,155 applicants to SAS, with 4,168 entering.

5. US domestic students

• In-state and out-of-state costs (New Brunswick, academic year, on campus): New Jersey residents pay tuition US$15,381, fees US$4,008 and food and housing US$21,943, about US$41,332 in total; non-residents pay tuition US$36,831, for about US$62,782. Commuters’ food and housing is US$6,060. Rutgers notes that housing, dining and fees vary with choices, and sets a residency policy for in-state tuition.
• State preference: the pages read do not describe an in-state admission preference. New Jersey residents may apply to the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), and financial aid programs such as the Garden State Guarantee and Scarlet Guarantee are described.
• Scholarships: New Brunswick uses a single merit-award process matched to your stated academic interest; apply by 1 December.

6. International students (including Chinese applicants)

• Deadlines: the same as above (EA 1 November, RD 1 December). Rutgers encourages international applicants who want scholarships to apply by the early action or regular deadline, since awards are limited and earlier applicants are more likely to receive them.
• English (required for students schooled outside the US in a country where English is not the principal language; within two years; sent by the testing service): New Brunswick minimums are TOEFL iBT 79 (tests through 21 January 2026) or 4.5 (tests from 22 January 2026); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 115; PTE 53; MET 56; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550; ACT English 21; Cambridge B2. Waivers are reviewed case by case for students who attended an English-medium school, and a B or better in college English composition at an accredited US college also exempts. Pharmacy and nursing set higher scores. The TOEFL code is 2765.
• Academic records: you may use STARS; once enrolled, mail official academic records directly from the issuing authority. Documents not in English need a translation verified by a language professor or professional translator on the translator’s letterhead. Do not send sports certificates, craft certificates or recommendation letters.
• Chinese applicants: the pages read have no China-specific instructions, and do not say how Gaokao results are used or mention the Huikao; the page gives RUinternational@admissions.rutgers.edu for questions.
• Funds: after accepting an offer you upload the International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) and bank documents to receive an I-20; they must cover the first year and be signed and dated no more than six months before the I-20 application.
• Scholarships: all admitted international students on valid non-immigrant visas are automatically considered for international scholarships, with no separate application, ranging from US$5,000 to US$16,000 per year, subject to limited availability.
• Costs: F-1 and J-1 students pay the non-New Jersey resident rate, plus a US$500 SEVIS administration fee, medical insurance and health fees, books, travel and living costs.

7. Costs summary

• On-campus New Jersey residents about US$41,332; non-residents (including international students) about US$62,782 (tuition 36,831, fees 4,008, food and housing 21,943). The cost page does not state the academic year; please confirm.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall 1 February, spring 1 October; fall applicants hear by 15 April and reply by 1 May. The application fee is US$70.
• Who is a transfer student: a high school graduate who will have completed at least 12 college credits by entry. With fewer than 24 college credits, a high school transcript is required; transcripts from every college attended are needed.
• Review: strength of academic program, grade trends, cumulative GPA and credits completed. The pages read give no minimum GPA for SAS or economics.
• Credit transfer: credit for courses at accredited institutions equivalent to Rutgers courses with a C or better; up to 60 credits from two-year and 90 from four-year institutions. New Jersey community colleges have articulation agreements; evaluations usually take 4-6 weeks after you accept.
• Getting into economics: transfer students declare the same way, with C or better in 220:102, 103 and Calculus I. The pages read do not list courses that must be finished before transfer; ask the economics department.

Checklist

US domestic students:

• Apply through the Rutgers Application or Common App to the School of Arts and Sciences by 1 November (EA) or 1 December; write the essay, complete STARS and decide whether to send SAT/ACT
• After enrolling, earn C or better in 220:102, 220:103 and Calculus I, then declare economics in MyMajor

International students (including Chinese applicants):

• Same deadlines; use STARS or mail records, with verified translations for non-English documents; an English test such as IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79 (4.5 for tests from 22 January 2026) or Duolingo 115
• After admission, prepare the ISFS and bank documents; ask the international admissions office how Gaokao results are used

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 February (fall) or 1 October (spring); gather transcripts from every college
• Complete micro and macro principles and Calculus I if possible, and confirm credit transfer with the economics department

Sources: Rutgers University, Department of Economics: undergraduate program; Economics major requirements; To declare an economics major; Undergraduate FAQs; Honors research; Double major with data science; Minor in economics; Minor in quantitative economics; Certificates in economics; School of Arts and Sciences: Economics 220; SAS major and minor advising; AP credit; IB credit; School-to-school transfer into SAS; First-year applicants; Rutgers–New Brunswick dates and deadlines; How we make decisions and admissions profile; International applicants; Tuition and fees; Scholarships; Transfer students; Required credentials for transfer applicants. Information is for fall 2027 entry (the cost page does not state its academic year). Check Rutgers for the latest details.