How to Apply to Economics at Vassar College: Apply to the College First, Then Find a Faculty Advisor and Declare the Economics Major After Enrolling, With Requirements for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York), undergraduate economics is taught by the Department of Economics, which the department describes as one of the largest departments on campus, with an energetic Majors Committee. Vassar’s admission pages are written by college, not by major: the application checklist has no “choose a major” item, and the economics major is declared after enrolling. This guide follows the official information for fall 2027 entry for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants. Business and computer science have their own guides on this site and are not covered here.

1. Degrees and options

• Economics major: the department’s “declaring the major” page sets the requirements of the course plan (see section 2). The full list of major courses is in the Vassar College Catalogue, which is a third-party-hosted catalog that was not read for this guide; the degree title is not stated on the pages read.
• Correlate sequence (similar to a minor): the department offers three. A correlate takes at least six units of graded ECON work, with at least five at the 200 level or above; it must include ECON 200 or ECON 201 and at least one 300-level unit; at least four units must be taken at Vassar and at most two may be taken NRO; ECON 120 does not count. AP Microeconomics or Macroeconomics (score 4 or 5) and IB Economics (score 5, 6 or 7) that appear on the transcript as college credit are accepted as equivalent to ECON 102 for prerequisites, but cannot satisfy correlate requirements.
• Senior thesis: a student first gets a faculty member to advise; ECON 300 (Senior Thesis Preparation) in fall and ECON 301 (Senior Thesis) in spring of senior year; the thesis is due the first class day after spring break, with a short presentation. Independent Work (ECON 298, ECON 399) is also available.
• Honors and prizes: the department lists prizes such as the Virginia Swinburne Brownell Prize and the Agnes Reynolds Jackson Prize. Vassar’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter (chartered 1898) elects seniors each spring on academic achievement, breadth and intellectual adventurousness. The department’s opportunities page also describes the Ford Scholars Program (collaborative research between students and faculty in the humanities and social sciences).
• STEM designation: not stated on the pages read (not published on the pages read; ask the department).

2. How you get into the major

The steps on the department’s “declaring the major” page:

• A prospective major asks a member of the economics faculty to be their major advisor. All faculty are eligible and generally agree, unless they already advise many students.
• The advisor explains how to fill out the Yellow Card. The course choices are tentative and not binding; the point is to think through the requirements. Fill it out as though no study abroad will take place, but time any study abroad around the core: students should complete ECON 102, 200, 201 and 203 before going abroad.
• The card must show at least 10 units, including MATH 241 (the page gives no title) and nine graded, classroom economics courses (ECON 120 and ungraded courses such as field courses are not counted).
• The card must show at least two units at the 300 level; students may take more, but for study abroad planning at least two of them must be taken at Vassar.
• It must show at least eight units outside the social science division.
• After the advisor checks that all major and graduation requirements are met, the student requests, through the Registrar’s website, that a major declaration form be sent electronically to the advisor and the department chair. The department’s administrator then welcomes the student, enrolls them in the majors’ Moodle site and tracks progress.

The pages read do not say by which semester you must declare, or give a GPA minimum or seat limit for the major (not published on the pages read; ask the department or the Registrar).

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school: admission recommends four years each of English, mathematics, science, history or social science and a language other than English, with a substantial part of your work in AP, IB or the highest level available; the pages read set no separate high-school math requirement for economics.
• Sequence: introductory ECON 102 (Introduction to Economics); core courses ECON 200 (Macroeconomic Theory), ECON 201 (Microeconomic Theory) and ECON 203 (Introduction to Econometrics). ECON 200, 201 and 203 are not open to first-year students. The major also needs MATH 241 and at least two 300-level units.
• AP and IB: the department says students with AP or IB exams may, after consulting the chair, register above the introductory level without the prerequisites, but no credit is granted toward the major for AP or IB exams; even with an exemption from introductory courses, students still take 10 units of graded work at Vassar. Admission adds that Vassar awards credit for scores of 4 or 5 on select AP exams and 5, 6 or 7 on select IB Higher Level exams, up to 2 units of pre-matriculation exam credit.
• Study away and outside courses: the department does not automatically count study abroad toward the major; for economics courses taken at other accredited institutions, students consult the chair and provide course information, prerequisites and a syllabus, and sometimes work samples; generally no more than one credit at the 300 level is granted.
• Exchange: Vassar has an exchange with the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) for one or two semesters. Places are limited, nomination by the department is required, a GPA of 3.7 or higher is required, and ECON 102, 200, 201, 203 plus at least one of ECON 303, 304 or 310 are recommended, with math suggestions (such as MATH 220 and 221).
• Research and internships: research options include working as a faculty research assistant or on joint projects; the internships page read has no specific content.

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

• How to apply: first-year applicants use the Common Application, the Coalition Application or the QuestBridge Application; the fee is $65 or a fee waiver.
• Deadlines: Early Decision I November 15; Early Decision II January 1; Regular Decision January 1. The pages carry no year, so confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry.
• Checklist: School Report (counselor recommendation and high school transcript), one teacher evaluation, a mid-year report (Early Decision applicants send a fall progress report); TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo if English is neither your first language nor the primary language of instruction in your last three years of secondary school; Early Decision applicants also sign an Early Decision agreement.
• Essays: the selection criteria mention essays, recommendations and community involvement. “Your Space” is an optional place to share poetry, art, videos and other work.
• Testing: SAT/ACT is optional. You declare in the applicant portal whether to include scores; the deadlines are November 22 (Early Decision I and spring transfer), January 8 (Early Decision II and Regular Decision) and April 1 (fall transfer). Self-reported scores are accepted and Vassar superscores; enrolling students who self-report must send official scores.
• Interviews: optional, non-evaluative informational interviews with alumni can be requested after applying.

5. By type of applicant

U.S. applicants

• The tuition page lists one set of charges with no in-state/out-of-state split; testing is optional; the pages read do not state any preference for residents of a particular state.
• U.S. citizens and permanent residents applying for aid complete the FAFSA (Vassar code 002895) and the CSS Profile (code 2956) and send documents through IDOC.

International applicants

• English: required if English is not the primary language of instruction in your last three years of secondary school. Accepted: TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) and PBT, but not TOEFL Essentials; IELTS Academic, not General Training; Duolingo, with results sent directly by Duolingo at the time of application. The pages read give no score minimums.
• Interviews: applicants who submit TOEFL or IELTS are recommended to complete an interview too; for Duolingo the interview portion is reviewed; Vassar accepts InitialView and Vericant interviews. International applicants cannot request alumni interviews, but Vassar may contact you if it has interviewers nearby.
• Transcripts and credentials: a complete, school-certified record of coursework and grades; include national or international exams taken during secondary school (such as GCSE, IB MYP, CBSE); terminal exams (A levels, IB, French baccalauréat, CBSE) are required for enrollment. Documents must be in English: send a certified copy of the original and a translation, ideally by an agency (a school official or English teacher may translate if an agency is a hardship). Translated recommendations need a signed original too.
• Financial aid: Vassar meets the full demonstrated need of admitted students who apply for aid with their admission application. Students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents must apply for aid at the same time as admission; those admitted without aid in the first year are not eligible for Vassar funding later; international transfer students are not eligible. The international page says Vassar is “need aware” for international applicants, while the financial aid page says Vassar is “need-blind” and aid applications do not affect admission; both appear, so confirm with admission which applies to you.
• Visa and funds: the Office of International Services supports students; the pages read do not describe proof-of-funds requirements.

Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether gaokao results are considered and give no China-specific or huikao guidance (not published on the pages read; ask admission).
• Transcripts: follow the general international instructions above: complete, certified records with English versions or certified translations.
• Other: the international page says Vassar students come from more than 50 countries, and the Vassar International Students Association is a student-run group.

6. Costs and scholarships

• 2026–27: tuition $76,140; housing and dining $19,800; fees $1,020; a suggested $2,250 for books, supplies, personal expenses and transportation. Students living on campus must join a board plan; all students need health insurance, through the College or with a waiver. The pages list no extra economics charge.
• Financial aid: over half of students receive aid, with an average scholarship award of $63,033, and Vassar commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated need. Aid deadlines: Early Decision I November 15, Early Decision II January 1, Regular Decision February 1, fall transfer March 15, spring transfer November 1.
• Funding and prizes described on the department pages: the Ford Scholars Program supports collaborative scholarship between students and faculty in the humanities and social sciences; a $500–$1,000 prize goes to a junior whose senior thesis needs research materials in or near Washington, D.C.

7. Transfer students

• Eligibility and deadlines: students with a high school diploma or GED who have enrolled in college apply as transfers, as early as the first term of college. Transfer admission is need aware and places are limited. Fall transfer deadline March 15; spring transfer November 1. The pages carry no year; check them.
• Materials: Common Application and the $65 fee (or waiver); transcripts from all high schools and colleges; the Transfer College Report; the Transfer Academic Evaluation with a recommendation from a college instructor (a second recommendation may be added); a mid-term grade report; optional SAT/ACT; English test results for non-native speakers.
• Decisions: spring transfers are notified in mid-December, fall transfers in early May.
• Credit: transfers must complete the equivalent of at least four full-time semesters at Vassar. Vassar gives credit for liberal arts and sciences courses roughly equivalent in content, methodology and rigor to catalogue courses; it does not give credit for physical education (excluding dance), pre-professional or vocational hours, courses under 2 semester hours, or distance learning. For economics courses toward the major, see the outside-courses rule in section 3; the pages read give no economics-specific transfer prerequisites (not published on the pages read).
• Aid: limited resources for transfers; international transfers are not eligible for aid.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Apply by November 15 (Early Decision I) or January 1 (Early Decision II or Regular); $65; School Report, one teacher evaluation, mid-year report
• SAT/ACT optional; no major to choose on the application; after enrolling, find a faculty advisor and complete the Yellow Card to declare

International applicants (including China):

• If your secondary instruction was not in English, send TOEFL, IELTS Academic or Duolingo; prepare certified transcripts with English versions
• Apply for aid at the same time as admission; ask admission about gaokao

Transfer applicants:

• Apply by March 15 (fall) or November 1 (spring); include a college instructor’s recommendation and the Transfer Academic Evaluation
• Plan at least four full-time semesters at Vassar; take economics courses from elsewhere to the chair for credit review

What the pages did not say

• The full list of major courses, the degree title and the deadline to declare: the catalogue is third-party hosted and was not read, and the pages read give no timing; check with the department or Registrar.
• English score minimums, proof of funds and how gaokao or huikao is treated: not published on the pages read; ask admission.
• STEM designation and economics-specific transfer prerequisites: not published on the pages read.

Sources: Vassar College, Department of Economics; Courses and requirements; Declaring the economics major; AP and study abroad credit; Correlate sequence in economics; Senior thesis; Study away; Prizes and honors; Application deadlines; How to apply; First-year requirements; International applicants; Transfer applicants; 2026-27 tuition and fees; Applying for financial aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are the 2026-27 figures on the site). Check Vassar College for the latest details.