How to Apply to Economics at Clemson: The John E. Walker Department of Economics in the Powers College of Business, a B.S. Entered Through Pre-Business and a B.A. That Skips It, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Clemson University’s economics degrees are taught by the John E. Walker Department of Economics, which sits in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business. The department’s page says it offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in economics for undergraduates. Below is what the official pages say for fall 2027 entry, written for U.S. applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students. We have separate articles on business and computing, so they are not covered here.

1. The programs

• B.S. versus B.A. (department page): the B.S. mainly suits business students and combines an economics foundation with accounting, management, marketing and finance coursework. The B.A. lets you choose a minor or a second major, from mathematics and political science to foreign language and culture; a B.A. with a language requirement is aimed at students interested in international business. The required-course lists for both degrees are in the college’s curriculum worksheets, which are hosted on a different server (media.clemson.edu) that I did not use. Download the latest worksheet from the college’s advising page.
• Emphasis areas: the department lists eight suggested groupings: business economics, strategy and competition; workers, wages and human capital; public policy, law and economics, public choice and institutions; macroeconomics, monetary and financial economics, growth and development; international economics; natural resources and the environment; mathematical economics and economic analytics (econometrics); economic history and the history of economic thought. The page stresses that these are suggested groupings of courses, not formal concentrations; nothing extra appears on the transcript or diploma, and courses may not be offered every semester.
• Bachelor-to-Graduate: the department says students who enter with college credit can join its Bachelor-to-Graduate program and earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. The pages I read do not give the conditions, so check the department website.
• STEM designation and honors: the department and college pages I read do not mention either. Not published there; check the department or the university’s honors pages.

2. How admission works and how you enter the major

• B.A.: the Pre-Business page says first-year business students majoring in graphic communications or economics (B.A.) are not part of Pre-Business; they follow their own pathways, described on the departmental pages. The college’s change-of-major page tells prospective B.A. students to email the department’s undergraduate advisor (adocken@clemson.edu is the address shown).
• B.S.: the Pre-Business page says Pre-Business is the starting point for all students pursuing undergraduate business degrees in accounting, economics (B.S.), financial management, management or marketing. The college’s advising page calls it a limited-enrollment program for first-year and transfer students; the number of places is not published.
• Moving from Pre-Business into the economics B.S.: finish the Pre-Business courses and keep a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (3.0 for marketing). The courses are BUS 1010, ECON 2110 and ECON 2120, ENGL 1030, an approved math sequence and a natural science with lab. For economics the approved math sequences are MATH 1020 + MATH 2070, MATH 1060 + MATH 1080, or MATH 1060 + MATH 2070 (the other business majors use MATH 1020 or 1060 with STAT 2300). Submit the change-of-major request in the university’s iROAR system.
• Timing: the college stops changing students into Pre-Business, business majors and graphic communications on the last day to add or register for classes each semester, usually the Tuesday after classes begin. The page advises submitting at least two business days earlier; processing resumes on the first registration day of the next semester.
• Changing into Pre-Business from another major (effective for 2026–2027): at least 12 credit hours at Clemson, a Clemson cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, an approved math sequence and either ECON 2110 or ECON 2120. BUS 1010 is restricted to declared Pre-Business students.
• Is entry guaranteed? The pages state the conditions above but no cap or guarantee; not published. One sentence on the page says that after you submit, the economics department contacts you to verify your plans and, after consultation, approves or denies the request, with no required in-person meeting. It follows the graphic communications paragraph and does not say which degree it applies to, so I draw no conclusion; ask the college’s Advising Center (businessadvise@g.clemson.edu) or the department.
• Choosing majors on the application: the admissions office says some majors attract many applicants or have limited classroom space, so you choose two intended majors; if you are not admitted to your first choice, the second is considered. It encourages two different majors. As a public university it gives South Carolina residents priority in evaluation.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school courses (admissions recommendation): English 4, mathematics 3, laboratory science 3, foreign language 2 (same language), social sciences 3, other 2, physical education/ROTC 1 and fine arts 1 credit. The pages set no separate high school math requirement for economics and mention no math placement test; not published there.
• First two years: the Pre-Business courses are BUS 1010 (Business Foundations, one credit), ENGL 1030, ECON 2110, ECON 2120, the approved math sequence and a natural science with lab. The remaining major courses are in the college’s curriculum worksheet. After Pre-Business come BUS 2010 Business Professionalism and BUS 3010 Business Ethics.
• AP / IB / A-Level credit: the admissions office says Clemson welcomes AP, IB and Cambridge A-Level credit, but the subject-by-subject conversion sits in credit transfer charts I did not read; not published in the text. Check the credit transfer page. The page also says CLEP recognition is very limited.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• First-year (fall and summer entry): the application opens August 1. Early Action: apply by October 15, complete materials by November 1, decisions mid-December. Regular Decision: apply by January 1, complete materials by January 10, decisions mid-February. May 1 is the final date to apply. For scholarship consideration, apply by January 1 and complete the file by January 10. Spring entry: application submitted and file complete by December 1. The page prints no year, so confirm these are for fall 2027.
• Application fee: $70, non-refundable; fee waivers are available for eligible applicants.
• Platforms: the Clemson Application, the Coalition Application (Scoir) or the Common Application. The page says no preference is given to any of them.
• Materials: a self-reported transcript (STARS, Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System), with official transcripts after admission; test scores are optional; personal statements, recommendation letters and resumes can be uploaded in the portal after you apply, but Clemson says it does not require them.
• Testing: test optional. If you submit, scores must come directly from the College Board or ACT; Clemson superscores both and does not require the essay. SAT code 5111, ACT code 3842.
• Admissions statistics (2025 first-year profile page, not by major): 64,805 applied, 27,498 accepted, 5,084 enrolled, a 42% acceptance rate; the page says 53% of South Carolina applicants for the Class of 2029 were accepted for fall entry; it also lists middle 50% SAT 1250–1400 and ACT 28–32 without saying whether that is admitted or enrolled students.

5. By reader

1. U.S. applicants

• The review is led by high school performance: GPA, class rank and the rigor of your courses relative to what your school offers. As a public university it gives South Carolina residents priority; the site says that since the 2021 cycle, 91% of South Carolina applicants have been offered a path to Clemson (fall admission, summer admission or Bridge to Clemson).
• In-state and out-of-state costs (cost page, 2026–2027, tuition and fees): $15,870 a year for South Carolina residents and $42,852 for non-residents; housing and food average $14,880; books and supplies about $1,576. Estimated totals are $32,326 (residents) and $60,308 (non-residents). The page notes that major enrichment fees apply to some majors, up to about $2,500.
• College of Business major and course fee: full-time business majors who are juniors or seniors pay $1,059 per semester (in-state) or $1,087 (out-of-state); first-years, sophomores and part-time majors taking 3000- and 4000-level business courses pay $106 (in-state) or $108 (out-of-state) per credit hour. The page speaks of “full-time business majors” and does not say whether the economics B.A. is charged; ask the college.
• Scholarships: the admissions office reviews every applicant for scholarships with no separate application; first-year students apply by January 1 and complete the file by January 10. For federal and state need-based aid, file the FAFSA by January 1. South Carolina residents may be considered for the LIFE Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows.

2. International applicants

• Deadlines: for fall entry, May 1 for the application and all credentials; June 1 for Clemson to receive the I-20 or DS-2019. For spring entry, October 1, with the I-20 or DS-2019 due November 1.
• English: TOEFL iBT 80 or higher; IELTS 6.5 or higher (at least 6.0 in each part); Duolingo 105 or higher; or English Composition I and II from an accredited U.S. college or university with a grade of B or better. The test can be waived where English is the primary or an official language.
• Credential evaluation: first-year applicants self-report their high school transcript (STARS) and send official transcripts after admission. Transfer applicants send official transcripts from all colleges, and these must be verified by a U.S. educational consultant agency; Clemson accepts World Education Services (WES) and Josef Silny & Associates.
• Funds and scholarships: after admission, International Services works with you to confirm that funds are sufficient for your entire time at Clemson. The site states there are no scholarships for international undergraduates at Clemson. All costs are paid at the start of each term (August, January and May), and deferred payment is not available to international students. International students and dependents in the U.S. also need at least $50,000 of health insurance including evacuation and repatriation; the university sells a plan and a waiver is possible for comparable coverage.
• Other: U.S. immigration rules generally prohibit international students from working during their studies, except co-op where the program requires it. The page lists sister-state agreements that give in-state tuition (three German states, Queensland in Australia and the Province of Taiwan), proven by a passport; ask International Services (is@clemson.edu) whether it applies to you.

3. Applicants from China

• Clemson’s international application page, first-year page and the economics pages do not say whether the gaokao is considered, what school-exam (huikao) materials are needed, or give any China-specific note; not published. Ask through the Undergraduate Admissions contact page, or International Services.
• What the site does say for all international applicants (the deadlines, English scores, self-reported transcripts and evaluations, and proof of funds above) applies to Chinese applicants too.

6. Internships and research

• The economics page describes careers in law, MBA study and government and says alumni hold positions in state and federal government and that the most common first jobs are in banking and finance. These are the department’s own descriptions, with no statistics.
• The college describes an Office of Career and Global Engagement offering mentorship, leadership, internship, study abroad and professional development; the fee page says the major and course fee supports these. Economics-specific internship credit and research programs are not described in the pages I read; not published there.

7. Transfer

• Deadlines: for fall entry the application opens February 1 and closes July 1; for spring entry the deadline is December 1. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and admission closes when classroom space is committed. The site says transfer admission is becoming increasingly competitive.
• Eligibility: a year of college study after high school with 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of transferable credit, not counting AP, IB or dual enrollment; a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (3.0 preferred); freshman-level English, science and mathematics for your intended major; good standing and eligibility to return to the last school attended.
• For the economics B.S.: the transfer page says the Pre-Business program is for B.S. degrees in accounting, economics and others, and applicants must have completed ENGL 1030, ECON 2110 or ECON 2120, and an approved math sequence (MATH 1020/2070, MATH 1020/STAT 2300, MATH 1060/1080, MATH 1060/2070 or MATH 1060/STAT 2300) for review consideration.
• Materials: the $70 fee and official transcripts from every college attended (even if you do not expect credit, or withdrew before final grades). With fewer than 30 credits you also send an official high school transcript; SAT/ACT is optional; high school performance is reviewed first, then college work.
• Credit transfer: the admissions office evaluates credit, and final approval for use in your degree is made by your major advisor at transfer orientation. Credit generally transfers if earned at a regionally accredited school, similar in description, required or allowed as an elective, and graded C or better; only credit, not grades, transfers. The Transfer Course Equivalency List (TCEL) can be used to check, but it is a historical record rather than a complete list.
• International transfer students: transcripts must be verified by WES or Josef Silny, with translated course descriptions; the English requirement is the same, and students who passed English Composition I and II with a B or better at a U.S. institution are exempt from TOEFL/IELTS.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• $70 fee; Early Action October 15 / Regular Decision January 1; choose two different intended majors; test scores optional
• For the economics B.S., finish the Pre-Business courses with a 2.0 GPA and then change in; the B.A. does not go through Pre-Business
• For scholarships, apply by January 1 and complete the file by January 10

International applicants (including China):

• Fall entry closes May 1; self-reported high school transcript; test scores optional; TOEFL 80 / IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each part) / Duolingo 105
• No international undergraduate scholarships; prepare proof of funds for your whole time at Clemson
• China: gaokao and huikao requirements are not published; ask admissions

Transfer applicants:

• Fall entry closes July 1; 30 credits and a GPA of 2.5 or higher; for the economics B.S., first finish ENGL 1030, ECON 2110 or 2120 and an approved math sequence
• International transfer transcripts must be evaluated by WES or Josef Silny

Sources: Clemson University, John E. Walker Department of Economics; Undergraduate information; Emphasis areas and courses; Department advising; Pre-Business program; College: change of major; College: Academic Advising; Major and course fee; First-year applicants; International applicants; Transfer applicants; College preparation; Admissions statistics; Cost and scholarships; Credit transfer. Most application pages do not print a year. Check Clemson for the latest details and confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry.