How to Apply to Mathematics at Yale: Get Into Yale College, Declare by the End of Sophomore Year, and Choose the Math B.A., B.S., Intensive Major or One of Four Combined Majors, With Admission Route and Prerequisites for U.S. Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

All Yale University undergraduates study in Yale College, and mathematics is taught by the Department of Mathematics, whose website sits under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Yale’s admissions pages say all undergraduates enroll in Yale College and that students declare a major by the end of sophomore year; the pages read do not mention choosing a major on the application or admission by major. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Yale’s websites (the major section follows the Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027 and the department site), for U.S. domestic students, international students (including students at high schools in China) and transfer students. Computer Science, Economics and other majors are covered in separate articles on this site; this guide mentions them only where they are combined with mathematics.

1. The mathematics majors

• Degrees: the Mathematics B.A. and B.S.; an intensive major; and four combined majors: Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Economics, Mathematics and Philosophy, and Mathematics and Physics. The department also offers a combined B.S./M.S. Applied Mathematics has its own entry in the catalog and is not covered here.
• Prerequisite: for both the B.A. and B.S., single-variable calculus through the level of MATH 1150 or equivalent (the catalog’s example: a 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam).
• Introductory sequence: proof-based linear algebra (MATH 2250 or 2260), real analysis (MATH 2550 or 2560), and vector analysis or multivariable calculus (MATH 3020 or 1200). The department says the major does not accept the computation-oriented MATH 2220.
• B.A.: ten term courses numbered 2250–5999, including the senior requirement and excluding MATH 4700. MATH 3500 (algebra) is required, plus MATH 3050 (real analysis) or 3100 (complex analysis), three courses with the “math distribution” attribute and one math elective. Yale recommends finishing 3500 and 3050 or 3100 by the end of junior year.
• B.S.: twelve term courses: the ten B.A. courses plus two advanced physical-science courses (such as approved ASTR, CHEM or PHYS courses).
• Intensive major: MATH 3050, 3100 and 3500 are all required, and at least two of the ten math courses must be graduate courses (level 5000 or above) or equivalent independent study.
• Senior requirement: a senior seminar numbered MATH 4800–4890, or, with the director of undergraduate studies’ (DUS) consent, a senior essay (MATH 4750) with a written and an oral report; the essay must contain something new, though it need not be original research.
• Outside courses: pure math majors may count up to two math-intensive courses from other departments with DUS approval; the math portion of combined majors must use courses with a math number.
• Combined majors (check the department site for details):
  • Mathematics and Computer Science: fourteen courses plus a senior project, eight in mathematics including MATH 1200, 2250 or 2260, and 2440;
  • Mathematics and Economics: MATH 1200 as a prerequisite plus twelve courses, five in mathematics (2250 or 2260, 2550 or 2560, and three electives);
  • Mathematics and Philosophy: twelve courses including MATH 1200, 2700 and at least three other math electives;
  • Mathematics and Physics: MATH 1200 as a prerequisite, 14.5 credits with at least six math courses, and a PHYS 4710 or 4720 project.
• Statistics: Statistics and Data Science is a separate department and is not covered here.

2. How admission works and when you declare

• On the application: you apply to Yale College; the pages read do not say you must list a major or that places are set by major.
• When to declare: the transfer page says Yale College students declare a major by the end of sophomore year.
• Declaration conditions: the catalog and department pages do not mention a cap or grade threshold for declaring mathematics; this is not published. You can write to the DUS team at math.dus@yale.edu.
• Size and advising: the department FAQ says there are well over 300 math (including joint-math) majors, and each major is assigned a faculty adviser, each of whom has about 15 to 20 students.
• Other rules: courses in the major cannot be taken Credit/D/Fail; at most two courses can count toward two majors at once.

3. Prerequisites, placement and credit

• Calculus placement exam: students who want to take introductory calculus at Yale (MATH 1100, 1120, 1150, 1160, 1200, 1210) must take the online placement exam, including students with AP Calculus scores (AP is taken into account, but the exam is still required). It is typically open in July. Students who start in MATH 2000 or above do not need it.
• AP / IB: the catalog says only that a 4 or 5 on AP Calculus BC is equivalent to the MATH 1150 prerequisite, and that MATH 1150 assumes MATH 1120 or AP Calculus AB. The pages read give no credit rules for AP Statistics or IB Mathematics; this is not published. Yale does not give transfer credit for courses taken in high school (see the transfer section).
• Multivariable calculus or linear algebra already taken in high school: no transfer credit, but math majors may use MATH 3020 in place of MATH 1200. A proof-based linear algebra course can be submitted to the DUS for evaluation; after an evaluation or a summer exam, a student may be allowed to substitute a higher course for MATH 2250. The exam awards no credit.
• Honors tracks: the department does not describe a separate honors sequence; MATH 2260 and 2560 are intensive versions of 2250 and 2550 for students with a stronger background and some experience with proofs.
• Math competitions: the admissions pages do not say how competitions are viewed; this is not published. The admissions office does accept a STEM Research Supplement describing your research and your contribution, with a paper, abstract or poster attached, and a research mentor may be invited to send a recommendation.

4. Rounds, materials and testing

• Single-Choice Early Action (also called Restrictive Early Action): deadline 1 November, decisions in mid-December (admit, deny or defer). It is non-binding.
  • You generally may not apply early action or early decision elsewhere;
  • exceptions include non-binding rolling admission, non-binding early programmes at public institutions, early programmes notifying after 1 January (“Round 2”), and institutions outside the U.S.;
  • deferred applicants get final decisions in late March; denied applicants cannot reapply in Regular Decision that year.
• QuestBridge National College Match: deadline 1 November, binding, with match results in early December.
• Regular Decision: deadline 2 January, decisions in late March, reply by 1 May.
• Yale says it does not advantage applicants in any of the programs.
• Platforms: the Common Application, the Coalition Application on SCOIR, or QuestBridge; submit only one per cycle.
• Materials: recommendations from two teachers who recently taught you in core academic subjects (languages, math, sciences, social studies) and from one counselor (a school administrator if there is none), a School Report with transcript, and SAT or ACT scores. A math teacher is not required; the requirement is two core-subject teachers, and math is listed among the core subjects. Seniors also send a Mid-Year Report once first-marking-period grades are available (typically January or February).
• Application fee: the pages read do not state an amount; it is not published here. Yale issues no waivers of its own, but you can apply free if you meet your platform’s eligibility criteria, the QuestBridge application is always free, and veterans and active-duty service members receive automatic waivers.
• Testing: the SAT or ACT is required; you can self-report and send official scores before enrolling. There is no preference between tests, superscores are accepted, and the ACT Science and Writing sections are optional. October and November tests are generally in time for the early round; January and February tests for Regular Decision. AP and IB scores, including predicted IB scores, are optional.

5. U.S. domestic students

• Same requirements: platforms, materials and the SAT or ACT are the same as for other applicants. Yale’s websites do not describe any in-state preference or guarantee, and the cost page lists a single set of figures with no in-state or out-of-state split.
• Financial aid: Yale admits without regard to ability to pay (need-blind), meets 100% of demonstrated need, and gives need-based scholarships rather than loans. Yale lists a zero-parent-share award (full tuition and fees, housing, food and travel) for families with incomes below $100,000 and typical assets, with hospital insurance and a $2,000 start-up grant in the first year, and scholarships covering at least tuition for incomes below $200,000 with typical assets. It gives an average annual need-based scholarship of $75,220.
• Forms: U.S. citizens and permanent residents submit the FAFSA (Yale code 001426) and the CSS Profile (code 3987); tax returns go through IDOC.
• Aid document deadlines: 1 November for Single-Choice Early Action (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) and QuestBridge, 15 February for Regular Decision, 1 April for transfer.

6. International students

• One process: all applicants, regardless of nationality, go through the same whole-person review with the same requirements.
• English: non-native English speakers without at least two years in an English-medium secondary school must submit an English test (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English, Duolingo, or an InitialView video interview, which is unscored). Yale says its most competitive applicants typically have:
  • TOEFL 5 or higher for tests after 21 January 2026, or 100+ for earlier tests;
  • IELTS 7 or higher;
  • Cambridge English (C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency or B2 First) 185 or higher;
  • Duolingo 120 or higher.
  These are reference points, not minimums.
• Testing: international applicants also need the SAT or ACT; international leaving exams and English tests do not meet that requirement.
• Documents: all materials must be in English, with certified translations; self-translations are not accepted.
• Credential evaluation and proof of funds: the pages read do not mention them; this is not published. Ask the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
• Aid: international students are eligible for the same need-based aid and are admitted need-blind. Packages include housing, meals and two round trips a year, take into account differences between the U.S. and home-country economies, and need not be reapplied for each year. Aid document deadlines: 1 December for Single-Choice Early Action (international citizens) and 15 February for Regular Decision. The CSS Profile is required for all aid applicants.

7. Students at high schools in China

• Same process: platforms, materials and requirements are the same as for other international applicants.
• Gaokao: Yale states that international leaving exams and English tests do not meet its SAT/ACT requirement. It has no Gaokao-specific policy on its websites, so whether and how it is used is not published; ask the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
• Transcripts and school-leaving exam records: Yale asks for a School Report with an official transcript listing all secondary courses, with official transcripts from any other school or college attended. The pages read have no specific notes on Chinese transcripts or school-leaving exam records; this is not published.
• English: those with fewer than two years of English-medium schooling must submit an English test; see the reference scores above.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• 2026-27 costs (US$): tuition 72,500, student activity fee 185, housing 12,080, food 9,520, plus estimates of 1,000 for books and 2,700 for personal expenses; travel varies by home address. 2027-28 figures are not yet published.
• Yale says that if the cost of attendance rises in later years, aid offers will rise with it and Yale will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated need.
• Department awards and research:
  • John Alan Lewis Summer Research Fellowship: for math majors; the department site gives $6,000 for 2024, says international students and seniors are eligible, and gives 25 February as the proposal deadline for summer 2026 (check the site for other years);
  • SUMRY, a ten-week summer research program: the site says that in a recent year there were 15 to 20 funded positions;
  • Directed Reading Program, with a graduate-student mentor and weekly one-hour meetings;
  • Prizes: the Barge competition (first- and second-year students), the Stanley, Beckwith and DeForest prizes, and others.
• Outcomes: the catalog says “Mathematics majors have numerous options after graduation, including graduate study in mathematics or in various fields of application, government or corporate laboratory work, consulting, finance and banking, and teaching.” The department says statistics on past majors’ careers are on the career strategy office’s website; they were not read for this guide and the pages read give no figures.

9. Transfer students

• Entry level: the transfer page says students start as sophomores or juniors; the eligibility page says the program admits second-term first-year students, sophomores or juniors. Entry is in the fall only, and students must study at Yale for at least two years (four terms).
• Eligibility: at least two terms (or three quarters) completed with at least four transferable course credits; applicants usually have 8 to 18. Those with fewer than two terms should apply as first-years.
• Deadlines: 1 March, with decisions in early May; testing and aid documents are due 1 April and the mid-term report 20 April. The SAT or ACT is also required.
• Credit:
  • up to the equivalent of 18 Yale course credits, with at least 18 completed at Yale;
  • courses in subjects Yale teaches usually transfer, including math (statistics, calculus I and above);
  • AP, IB, CLEP and dual-enrolment credits earned before high school graduation do not transfer;
  • at least three-quarters of transferable courses must have an A or B, with none below C.
• Transferring into mathematics: most majors are open to transfers, but some departments’ rules or prerequisites may not fit into the remaining terms. The department FAQ says whether outside math courses count toward the major is decided case by case by the DUS, who typically requires at least half of the major courses to be taken at Yale and needs your transcript, each course’s syllabus and topic list, and the final exam. The department does not state a separate transfer GPA requirement; this is not published.

Checklist

U.S. domestic students:

• Apply by 1 November (Single-Choice Early Action) or 2 January (Regular Decision); take the SAT or ACT
• Two core-subject teacher recommendations plus a counselor recommendation; file the FAFSA and CSS Profile if you need aid

International students (including students at high schools in China):

• Same deadlines and materials; take the SAT or ACT; if you have had fewer than two years of English-medium schooling, take TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English or Duolingo
• Attach certified translations of non-English documents; file the CSS Profile if you need aid, with early-action aid documents due 1 December

Transfer students:

• Apply after at least two terms; deadline 1 March, decisions in early May; up to 18 course credits transfer
• Plan the proof-based linear algebra, analysis and algebra sequence, and ask the math DUS whether outside courses will count toward the major

If you want mathematics: bring single-variable calculus to the level of MATH 1150 (or AP Calculus BC), start in MATH 1200 or directly in MATH 2250 according to the placement exam, declare by the end of sophomore year, and finish a senior seminar or essay.

Sources: Yale University, First-year application; Application requirements; Admissions timelines; Standardized and English testing; International students; Affordability; Cost of attendance; Supplementary materials; Transfer application; Transfer eligibility and credits; Transfer timeline; Yale College Programs of Study 2026–2027: Mathematics; Department of Mathematics: the major; Department of Mathematics: Math and Intensive Math; Department of Mathematics: Math major FAQ; Department of Mathematics: calculus placement; Department of Mathematics: combined B.S./M.S.; Department of Mathematics: undergraduate research; Department of Mathematics: competitions and prizes. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures; where a page prints no year on a date, check that it applies to fall 2027 entry). Check Yale for the latest details.