How to Apply to Economics at the University of Richmond: A Department Housed in the Robins School of Business, with a B.A. in Arts and Sciences or a B.S.B.A. in Business, and GPA and Prerequisite Thresholds to Declare in the Business School, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The economics degree at the University of Richmond is taught by the Department of Economics. The department page says it is “housed administratively in the Robins School of Business”, and students can major in economics through either the School of Arts and Sciences (Bachelor of Arts) or the Robins School of Business (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in economics). This guide follows Richmond’s own pages for fall 2027 entry and speaks to U.S. applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfer applicants. The other business majors have separate guides on this site and are mentioned only where they touch economics.

1. What the programs are

• Economics major, Arts and Sciences (B.A.): 11 units, including BUAD 202 Statistics for Business and Economics, ECON 101 and 102 (principles), ECON 270 Introductory Econometrics, ECON 271 and 272 (microeconomic and macroeconomic theory), four units of economics electives (at least two at the 300 level), and either ECON 480 Senior Capstone Seminar or both ECON 490 Honors Seminar and ECON 491 Honors Thesis.
• Economics major, Robins (B.S.B.A.): all B.S.B.A. requirements plus eight additional economics courses (ECON 270, 271, 272, four units of electives with at least two at the 300 level, and ECON 480 or 490). The B.S.B.A. pre-business courses are ACCT 201, ACCT 205, BUAD 202, BUAD 205, ECON 101, ECON 102 and MATH 211; the core courses are BUAD 393, 394, 497, FIN 260, AO 225, MGMT 330, AO 340 and MKT 220. Students also take a full semester on an approved study abroad program or a course with an international business or international business economics focus.
• Related programs: the department page also lists a combined Mathematical Economics major for Arts and Sciences students (the fact sheet says it combines economics department requirements with a number of mathematics courses; its page on the math department site was not read, so check there), the Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL) major, the International Economics concentration for international studies majors, an economics minor in Arts and Sciences, and an economics concentration (four courses) for business administration and accounting majors.
• STEM: the department page says “3 majors offered with a STEM designation” but does not say which three. This is not published in the pages I read. Ask the department or International Student Services.
• Honors: ECON 490 and 491 are the honors path within the Arts and Sciences B.A. The pages I read do not give the admission rules for honors. The department page links a PDF “Honors Program in Economics” whose file name carries 2021; I did not open it, so check the department.
• Which route? The department says that in its experience employers treat both degrees the same and there is no systematic difference in outcomes, jobs or salaries. It suggests the Robins route if you want many business courses alongside economics, and the Arts and Sciences route if you want a wider variety of science or liberal arts courses. That is the department’s own view.

2. How admission works: admitted to the university first, then declare

• At application: the first-year admission pages I read (how to apply, materials, early decision and so on) do not ask you to choose Arts and Sciences or Robins and do not list an economics-specific admission standard. This is not published in the pages I read. Ask the Office of Admission (application@richmond.edu). The transfer page does say that all admitted transfer students enroll in the School of Arts and Sciences as undeclared, and the transfer committee does not admit into a specific school or major.
• Declaring the economics major in Robins (Robins declaration page): students who want a major or minor in Business Administration, Economics or Accounting complete an online Pre-Business Intent form after their first year (recommended in the summer before sophomore year or within the first two weeks of it). To declare you need a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 after at least 12 units of college coursework, including ECON 101, ACCT 201 and MATH 211 (or equivalents), and you must first pass an online Excel competency exam (80% or better, three attempts, no credit). You may declare as soon as you qualify and have until the end of the first two weeks of the fall semester of junior year. Students who do not qualify can appeal to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs two weeks before junior fall; those denied on appeal may not declare any Robins major.
• Declaring the B.A. in Arts and Sciences: the conditions are not in the pages I read. This is not published in the pages I read. The Arts and Sciences economics catalog page is on the university’s course catalog site, which is a third-party hosted catalog that I did not use. Check the university website.
• Grade rule in the major (both degrees): a GPA of at least C (2.00) in the major, with no grade below C- (1.7) in an economics course required for the major.
• Capacity: the pages I read give only the conditions above and do not mention a cap. This is not published in the pages I read.

3. Prerequisites and course sequence

• High school courses: the admission and economics pages I read list no economics-specific high school course requirement. This is not published in the pages I read. The first-year materials list only the transcript, school report, recommendations and similar items, with no subject list.
• Calculus: ECON 271 needs a calculus foundation. The pages list MATH 190, 211, 212 or 235, and the catalog text says each prerequisite needs at least a C-. MATH 211 Calculus I is also on Robins’s pre-business list.
• Introductory courses: ECON 101 (microeconomics, offered fall and spring) and ECON 102 (macroeconomics, which requires ECON 101). The department encourages majors to take ECON 101, 102 and BUAD 202 in the first year, and ECON 271 and 272 in the second year.
• Statistics and econometrics: ECON 270 requires ECON 101 and 102, one statistics course (BUAD 202, ECON 170, DSST 189, DSST 329 or DSST 330) and one calculus course, all with at least a C-. ECON 170 is the accelerated version of BUAD 202 with more mathematical depth; the catalog suggests it for students with high school statistics or a stronger math background, and you cannot earn credit for both.
• Theory courses: ECON 271 requires ECON 101, ECON 102 and a calculus course (each with at least a C-); ECON 272 requires ECON 102 and ECON 271 (each with at least a C-).
• No prerequisite overrides: the department says it does not allow them.
• Taking courses elsewhere: to take economics courses, BUAD 202 or BUAD 394 at another U.S. school for credit, you must get approval before enrolling, with a syllabus and proof of accreditation, through the Registrar’s transfer work form; the department chair reviews it. Economics majors must take ECON 271 at Richmond; it does not transfer. Only two economics electives may be taken abroad, and ECON 271 must be done before going abroad to take 300- or 400-level economics courses.
• AP, IB and A-Level credit: the economics pages I read do not give conversion rules for AP Micro/Macro, IB Economics or similar scores against ECON 101 or 102. This is not published in the pages I read. The test-optional page says only that you may self-report AP, IB and international exams such as the Gaokao, A-Levels and Cambridge exams, and that “some scores may result in college credit or exemptions” after enrolling. Ask the Registrar or the department for conversions.
• Class size: the department page says upper-level classes are limited to 25 students.

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

• Early Decision I (binding): application November 1; all credentials and the need-based aid application November 15; automatic Richmond Scholars consideration December 1; decision around December 12 (the materials page says around December 15); deposit January 5.
• Early Action (non-binding): application November 1; aid application November 15; credentials December 1 (incomplete files are deferred to Regular Decision); decision around January 23 (materials page: around January 25); reply May 1.
• Early Decision II (binding): application January 1; credentials January 15; aid application February 1; decision around February 13 (materials page: around February 15); deposit February 27.
• Regular Decision (non-binding): application January 1; credentials February 15; aid application February 1; decision around March 13 (materials page: around April 1); reply May 1.
• The pages disagree on notification dates, as shown above. Rely on the admission office’s latest notice. Everyone whose application is on file by December 1, in any plan, is considered automatically for Richmond Scholars.
• Early Decision extras: an Early Decision Agreement signed by the applicant, a parent or guardian and a school counselor. The pages say Early Decision students make up roughly 45% of the incoming class, Early Action roughly 19% and Regular Decision roughly 25%, and that Early Decision acceptance rates have historically been higher.
• Application fee: $50, waived for international applicants and applicants living abroad (redeemed through the “Richmond Awarded Fee Waiver” instructions).
• Materials: Common Application or Coalition Application; the “Richmond Question” essay (the page says three prompts on the 2026-27 application, 350 to 650 words); an official transcript covering grades 9-11; the school report; at least one recommendation from a school official (up to two more are read but not tracked); and senior progress grades (late grades do not stop the review but must be on file before a decision is fully released).
• Testing: for students entering in 2027, SAT/ACT scores are optional, and you indicate on the application whether you want them considered. Richmond superscores the SAT and ACT, and the ACT science section is not required. Codes: SAT 5569, ACT 4410. The page says the testing policy is reviewed each April. Homeschooled and online-school students must submit SAT or ACT scores.
• Interview: the application pages I read do not mention an admission interview requirement. This is not published in the pages I read.
• Class profile: the student profile page lists 18,420 applications, 3,841 admitted and 876 enrolled for that class; the middle 50% of admitted students had an unweighted core GPA of 3.84 to 4.00, SAT 1450 to 1520 (among those who submitted) and ACT 33 to 35; 14% of enrolled students are from Virginia. The apply page also gives an acceptance rate range of 22% to 28%.

5. By reader

U.S. applicants

• The process, courses and testing are the same as above. Richmond says it meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students regardless of application plan.
• In-state versus out-of-state tuition: the cost-of-attendance page lists a single tuition figure with no residency split. Whether applying from Virginia carries an admissions preference is not published in the pages I read.
• Aid dates are above (ED I and EA November 15; ED II and RD February 1). Applying by December 1 gives automatic consideration for Richmond Scholars and other university merit scholarships; the admission application itself serves as the scholarship application.

International applicants

• How to apply: there is no separate international application. Use the Common or Coalition Application and state your citizenship. International applicants use the same plans and receive equal consideration. The page says students come from more than 80 countries.
• English proficiency: required if your first language is not English, unless you qualify for a waiver. Richmond’s “competitive” scores, which the page says are not minimum admission scores: TOEFL iBT 100 or 5.5 on the updated scale; IELTS 7.5; Duolingo 135. Waivers: at least four years in an academically rigorous English-medium secondary school; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 660; ACT English 28; or an A or B equivalent grade in AP, IB or A-level English (IB 5 to 7). Test results need an official report (TOEFL code 5569); if sending scores is a financial burden, official reports submitted by your high school are accepted. A score below the competitive level can still be considered. InitialView or Vericant interviews are optional supplements and do not replace a test or waiver.
• Credentials: the page says Richmond evaluates translated transcripts and recognizes national curricula and AP, IB and A-levels. Whether a third-party credential evaluation is required is not published in the pages I read.
• Admission and aid: for non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents Richmond is need-aware, and every such applicant must submit the Certification of Financial Responsibility before a decision, whether or not they seek aid. The page says the acceptance rate for international students who do not apply for aid is the same as for U.S. students and is lower for those who do. To apply for need-based aid, submit the CSS Profile (code 5569); the aid page says “2027-28 CSS Profile”. International aid deadlines as printed on the page: Early Action and ED I November 15, 2026; ED II and RD February 1, 2027. Late filers lose a share of need-based grants (10% if up to 60 days late; ineligible after that).
• Scholarships: international students are considered for all university merit scholarships except Army ROTC; apply by December 1 for full consideration. The aid page says the average award (need-based, merit and other) to international students in 2025-26 was $69,900, and that international students who receive no aid in their first year will generally not be assisted later unless funds permit. The international admission page adds that in the early rounds need-based aid for international students is limited: the strongest ED applicants may be admitted with aid, while others may be deferred to Regular Decision so that Richmond can meet 100% of need if admitted.
• After admission: the I-20 is issued after the deposit; all international students must buy the university health insurance plan; students may stay in residence halls over breaks if they notify housing in advance.

Applicants from China

• The admission pages I read do not give China-specific requirements, or say how the gaokao or school-exam records are used. This is not published in the pages I read. Ask the Office of Admission (admission.richmond.edu).
• The only mention of the gaokao is on the test-optional page: you may self-report international exams such as the Gaokao, A-Levels and Cambridge exams on your application, and some scores may result in credit or exemptions after enrollment. It does not say whether or how they are considered.
• Everything else follows the international section: SAT/ACT optional, English proficiency for non-native speakers, the Certification of Financial Responsibility, and the CSS Profile for aid.

6. Costs

• Cost of attendance page, 2026-27, living on campus: tuition $70,725; housing $8,705; food $10,110; direct costs $89,540; books and supplies $1,000; personal $1,710; direct loan fees, if applicable, $70; indirect costs $2,780; total $92,320. For students living with parents the total is $79,985. The same page also shows 2025-26 figures (tuition $67,840, total $88,460), so check the year.
• No separate surcharge for the economics major is listed in the pages I read.

7. Internships, research and honors

• The department page says each major is assigned a faculty advisor in the department, and that some faculty research focuses on how students learn economics.
• Robins runs the Endeavor program, a living-learning experience for first-year business students; the department page says the economics department is a large part of it.
• Robins awards scholarships to selected declared business majors who are rising juniors or seniors (applications by email in early spring, mostly merit-based), and offers student jobs such as research assistants and tutors.
• The department page lists sample graduate schools and employers of recent graduates. These are samples, not statistics.

8. Transfer

• Terms and deadlines: fall or spring entry. The process page lists March 1 for fall transfer and November 1 for spring transfer, without a year. Apply with the Common Application, the Coalition Application or Richmond’s Institutional Transfer Application.
• Spaces: the page says about 300 applicants for 50 fall spaces, and about 100 applicants for 15 spring spaces.
• Eligibility: at least 6.82 transferable units (about 24 semester hours), which may be in progress when you apply; no mid-first-year transfers; anyone with college coursework after high school is treated as a transfer applicant and cannot give up credits to apply as a first-year.
• Minimums: mathematics through at least Algebra II and two years of the same foreign language (met in college if not in high school); college GPA of at least 2.0; good academic and social standing and eligibility to return. The page says successful applicants have historically held an A- or B+ average.
• Major: all transfers enter Arts and Sciences as undeclared. To declare in Robins (including the economics major), the Robins page asks sophomore transfers for a 2.7 GPA after at least 12 units including ECON 101, ACCT 201 and MATH 211 (or equivalents) and at least one semester at Richmond. Junior transfers need at least 12 units including the same courses and a 2.7 GPA after one semester at Richmond. Both must pass the Excel exam first. Robins accepts business credits only from AACSB-accredited business programs, and the admission page strongly encourages transfer candidates to complete at least calculus.
• Credit: the Registrar evaluates transfer credit only for admitted students, with a final evaluation once grades arrive. Economics majors must take ECON 271 at Richmond. Get approval before taking economics courses elsewhere.
• Aid: transfer students are not eligible for merit scholarships (they may earn departmental scholarships after enrolling); admitted transfers are offered need-based aid at 100% of demonstrated need. The pages I read do not give separate rules for international transfer aid. Ask transfer@richmond.edu.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common or Coalition Application; Richmond Question; transcript for grades 9-11, school report, at least one recommendation, senior progress grades; SAT/ACT optional
• ED I and EA November 1; ED II and RD January 1; apply by December 1 for Richmond Scholars
• To declare economics in Robins: 2.7 GPA, ECON 101, ACCT 201, MATH 211, Excel exam. Ask Richmond about the Arts and Sciences B.A.

International applicants (including China):

• Same application and plans; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo if your first language is not English, unless waived; Certification of Financial Responsibility is required
• If you need aid, submit the CSS Profile (code 5569) by the printed dates; Richmond is need-aware
• Gaokao results can be self-reported; how they are used is not published, so ask admissions

Transfer applicants:

• March 1 for fall, November 1 for spring; at least 6.82 transferable units and a 2.0 college GPA
• To declare economics in Robins: 2.7 GPA and the required courses; ECON 271 must be taken at Richmond

Sources: University of Richmond, Robins School of Business: Economics; Economics major and courses; Economics fact sheet; Robins declaration process; How to apply and deadlines; Early Decision; Early Action; Regular Decision; First-year application materials; Test-optional policy; International admission; English proficiency policy; Transfer admission; Student profile; Cost of attendance; International financial aid. Most deadline pages do not print a year. Check Richmond for the latest details and confirm the entry year (fall 2027).