How to Apply to Mathematics at WashU: Applying to the College of Arts & Sciences, No Formal Major Declaration Until Sophomore Year, Five Math Majors, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics in the College of Arts & Sciences. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on WashU’s 2026-27 Bulletin, the department’s website, and the admissions and financial aid pages, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science has its own dedicated article on this site; it appears here only where it joins mathematics in a combined major.

1. Majors and options

• Five majors: the Bulletin says the department offers majors in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, along with two dual majors, Mathematics and Computer Science and Mathematics and Economics. The department site describes “five majors, including three majors joint with Computer Science and Economics”; in the Bulletin all five major pages are Arts & Sciences BA requirement pages. There is also a mathematics minor.
• Mathematics major: 42 units, with every required course, lower- and upper-level, taken for a letter grade and completed with C– or higher. It includes the three-course calculus sequence (MATH 1510, 1520, 2130; 9 units) and an introductory computing course (3 units, which may be waived after consulting the computer science director of undergraduate studies), plus 24 units of required upper-level courses: Foundations for Higher Mathematics, Real Analysis I and II, Complex Variables, Topology I, Linear Algebra and Modern Algebra, and at least one of Topology II, Differential Geometry, Number Theory and Cryptography, or Partial Differential Equations. Two further upper-level mathematics electives (6 units) complete the major.
• Applied Mathematics major: also 42 units with C– or higher. Required upper-level courses include Foundations for Higher Mathematics, Real Analysis I and II, Linear Algebra, Numerical Applied Mathematics and Topics in Applied Mathematics, plus at least two of Fourier Series and Integrals, Complex Variables, Number Theory and Cryptography, and Partial Differential Equations, and two more upper-level mathematics electives.
• Mathematical Sciences major: 36 units with C– or higher. Required upper-level courses are Foundations for Higher Mathematics, Matrix Algebra and Elementary to Intermediate Statistics and Data Analysis (SDS 3020, from Statistics and Data Science), one of several full-year 4000-level sequences (real analysis, topology, linear and modern algebra, or numerical and applied mathematics), at least one course from a list that includes combinatorics and graph theory, and two more upper-level courses in mathematics or statistics and data science. The Bulletin adds that students whose primary major is secondary education may replace the full-year sequence with MATH 3310 and MATH 4220.
• Mathematics and Computer Science: 51 units. The Bulletin says the major was developed through a collaboration between the McKelvey School of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences, and students in either school can declare it; Arts & Sciences students also meet the BA distribution requirements.
• Mathematics and Economics: 57 units, with economics core courses, econometrics and mathematics courses, and seven electives (three in economics, three in mathematics, and one from either department or the pre-approved list).
• Restrictions: a student cannot declare more than one major or minor in the department, which includes the Mathematics and Computer Science and Mathematics and Economics dual majors; no upper-level course can count toward more than one major or minor; at most 3 units of independent study or research count toward the major.
• Accelerated BA/Master’s: the department says the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences has an accelerated program in which highly qualified majors can earn both the BA and the MA in mathematics with two additional semesters (usually five years in total).

2. Admission: choose a school, no formal declaration before sophomore year

• When you apply: admissions says you must choose one of five undergraduate schools (Architecture, Art, Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering) as your home base and indicate a primary academic interest. Mathematics is in Arts & Sciences; the pages read show no separate admission line for mathematics and no major-by-major admission.
• Declaring the major: admissions says you do not need to formally declare a major until your second year; the Arts & Sciences Bulletin describes students typically exploring for two to three semesters before declaring, with declaration started online in Workday and the department following up and assigning an advisor. Whether the department limits places or sets a grade requirement for declaring is not stated on the pages read; contact the department (the Bulletin lists mathadvising@wustl.edu).
• Changing schools: admissions says you are welcome to take classes in or transfer to other schools as your interests evolve; the conditions are not published on the pages read, so ask the advising office after enrolling.
• Second majors: the Bulletin says a BA student may complete up to two majors and one minor, and students in architecture, art, business or engineering may add a second major in Arts & Sciences (receiving one degree with two majors).

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school courses: admissions says it does not require specific courses; successful candidates’ transcripts often include 4 years of English, 4 years of mathematics (architecture, business and engineering strongly recommend calculus), 3-4 years of laboratory science, 3-4 years of history or social science and at least two years of the same foreign language. Arts & Sciences recommends chemistry and physics for students planning pre-medicine or natural science work. Any specific high school mathematics requirement for the major is not published on the pages read.
• Calculus placement exam: the department says incoming students planning to take Calculus I, II or III take a placement exam in Canvas (three modules; you may take more than one), which takes about 2 hours; it is advisory, and no course credit is given for doing well. Students with disability accommodation needs apply through Disability Resources. Preparatory courses include MATH 1010 (Foundations for Calculus) and MATH 1515 (Calculus I With Foundations).
• AP credit: AP Calculus BC 5 gives 6 units for MATH 1510–1520, with placement in MATH 2130 or possibly MATH 2801; BC 4 means placement in MATH 2130 and a waiver of 1510 and 1520 (a waiver carries no credit, but completing 2130 with C+ or better earns retroactive credit); AB, or the AB subscore on BC, of 5 gives 3 units for MATH 1510 with placement in 1520; AB 4 means placement in 1520 and a waiver of 1510. Schools may cap total pre-matriculation credit. The pages read do not list credit for AP Statistics.
• IB and A-Level: an IB HL Mathematics score of 6-7 gives 3 units for Calculus I; if the HL program included the Series and Differential Equations option, students can earn Calculus II credit retroactively by completing MATH 2130 with C+ or better, or petition for a “Calculus II waived” notation. A-Level Mathematics grades A*, A or B give 3 units for MATH 1510 automatically (a C after completing 1520 with C+ or better); A-Level Further Mathematics A*, A or B gives 6 units for MATH 1510 and 1520.
• Honors sequence: MATH 2801-2802 (First-Year Honors Mathematics) is for first-year students and treats single and multivariable calculus and basic linear algebra rigorously, with an emphasis on proofs; the first semester uses Apostol’s Calculus, volume 1. The prerequisite is a 5 on AP Calculus BC, a 7 on IB HL Mathematics or Further Mathematics, an A on A-Level Further Mathematics, or the instructor’s permission. The department adds that many students who were very successful in high school calculus, including some with a 5 on BC, will find the regular MATH 2130 a better fit, and that a strong major is still possible that way. Students who complete the honors sequence are recommended to bypass MATH 2130, MATH 3300 and MATH 3010 and take other upper-level courses instead; the upper-level unit requirement stays the same.
• Math competitions: the admissions pages read do not say how competitions are viewed. The department says WashU teams compete in the Putnam Competition in the fall and the Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition in the spring.

4. Deadlines and materials (fall 2027 first-year entry)

• Early Action (EA): due 2 November, decisions by 23 December, non-binding; reply by 1 May.
• Early Decision I (ED I): due 2 November, decisions by 11 December, reply by 4 January; binding.
• Early Decision II (ED II): due 4 January, decisions by 12 February, reply by 1 March; binding.
• Regular Decision (RD): due 4 January, decisions by 1 April, reply by 1 May.
• Materials: Common Application or Coalition Application; school report and official transcript, one teacher evaluation and a counselor recommendation (WashU does not say the teacher must teach mathematics); a 250-word response to “what you are interested in studying at college and why”, plus the application essay. The video supplement and Schoolhouse.world certifications are optional and carry no penalty if skipped. WashU does not offer evaluative interviews.
• Application fee: $75, nonrefundable; waived for all financial aid applicants and those for whom it would cause hardship.
• Testing: for US citizen/permanent resident applicants WashU is test optional; if you submit, send the SAT or ACT (writing not required).

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition: the costs page lists one undergraduate rate with no in-state/out-of-state split. For 2026-27 (USD): tuition 71,310, student activity fee 712, student health and wellness fee 700, average housing and food (modern double room, Platinum meal plan) 24,272, total university charges 96,994; estimated books 1,412, travel 1,050 and miscellaneous 2,804, 5,266 in all. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published.
• Aid: admissions says WashU meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted US citizen/permanent resident students without loans, regardless of decision plan. Submit the CSS Profile, FAFSA and Noncustodial Parent Statement (if applicable) by 17 November for EA and ED I, 11 January for ED II and 1 February for Regular Decision.
• Scholarships: each school offers four-year scholarships up to the full cost of tuition, chosen from the admission application with no separate application; for priority consideration for the Signature Scholar Programs, submit by 16 December and answer a 250-word question for each program in the Pathway. School scholarships and Signature Scholar Programs are awarded after the Early Decision II notification date, and WashU recommends Regular Decision for students who need an academic scholarship to attend.
• Residency preference or guaranteed admission: not stated on the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Academic records: a minimum of 12 years of primary and secondary study and a secondary school diploma or equivalent are required. Submit original transcripts or certified copies, a description of the grading system, examination results (IGCSE, predicted A-Levels, national exams and so on), school-leaving certificates and certified English translations, covering all secondary school work.
• Testing: students at high schools outside the US may choose to submit the SAT or ACT; predicted or actual national examination results (for example Baccalauréat, Abitur); predicted or actual IB Diploma results; predicted or actual A-Levels; three AP exam scores; or, if not an IB Diploma candidate, three IB higher-level scores. For STEM majors in the College of Arts & Sciences, one of these must be in math (HL Math for IB). The pages read do not say explicitly whether the mathematics major counts as a STEM major; confirm with admissions.
• English: if your first language is not English, submit the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test. WashU lists these competitive levels: TOEFL (including Home Edition) 100 for exams before 21 January 2026 and 5.0 on the new scale from that date; IELTS Academic 7.0; Duolingo 130. December 2026 tests are the last accepted for fall 2027 admission (October for EA and ED I). From fall 2027 entry the SAT and ACT are no longer accepted in place of English scores. Three or more years in an English-medium US high school with strong performance may earn an exemption, considered case by case (admissions@wustl.edu). WashU strongly encourages international applicants to submit a third-party interview such as InitialView; skipping it carries no disadvantage.
• Proof of funds: international students are eligible for aid only if they apply for it during the admission process, not after the decision or during their four years. If you say you do not intend to apply for need-based aid, you must submit the International Financial Information form or the application stays incomplete. Before a Form I-20 is processed, enrolling students submit statements of funds, an Affidavit of Financial Support and certified English bank statements showing enough for the first year’s tuition and living expenses and a comparable amount for each later year.
• Aid and scholarships: WashU says it meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted undergraduates; international applicants who need aid submit the CSS Profile by the deadlines above. International applicants are also considered for the school scholarships.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: WashU’s examples of national examinations are the Baccalauréat, Abitur and Maturita; the pages read do not mention the Gaokao or give China-specific guidance. This is not published there, so contact admissions (admissions@wustl.edu).
• Transcripts and other records: the rules for all international applicants are in section 6 (transcripts, grading-system description, exam results and certificates with certified English translations); no China-specific requirements are published on the pages read.
• International curricula: students in IB, A-Level and AP programs can use the credit rules in section 3.
• Visas: WashU can issue the documents for an F-1 or J-1 visa, only after admission and proof of sufficient funds.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5 for the 2026-27 figures. All full-time degree-seeking students must have health insurance, through the WashU plan or proof of other adequate coverage by 5 September.
• Department awards: each year the department considers graduating majors for the Ross Middlemiss Prize (a graduating major with an outstanding record) and the Martin Silverstein Award (any graduating major, with preference for excellent work in applied mathematics or analysis), and gives the Brian Blank Award to distinguished juniors.
• Honors: the department recommends Latin Honors at graduation. Distinction requires at least 33 upper-level units with a GPA of 3.7 or higher and at least five 4000-level-or-above courses with a B or higher; High Distinction adds an honors thesis; Highest Distinction adds five such courses at B+ or higher and either two graduate qualifying courses with exams, or 42 upper-level units at GPA 3.7 plus nine 4000-level-or-above courses at B+ or higher. Students talk to a faculty advisor in the spring of junior year and submit an Honors Proposal Form.
• Undergraduate research: independent study for up to 3 units, plus the Freiwald Scholars program (open to juniors, sophomores and exceptionally strong first-years; at least one semester and one funded summer). The page shows applications for spring-summer 2027 due 27 October 2026, with a résumé, a one-page statement of interest and two faculty letters.
• Outcomes: the department site says: “In recent years, 96% of reporting graduates secured opportunities within 6 months of graduation.” It also lists employers and graduate schools reported by mathematics and statistics majors, which this guide does not repeat.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: students who have completed at least one semester at another college or university. Spring transfer admission is for Arts & Sciences only, and international spring transfer students must already be studying at a US university; fall transfer applications are open to all schools.
• Deadlines: fall entry 1 March, with decisions by 7 May and reply by 20 May; spring entry 15 October, with decisions by 20 November and reply by 30 November (the page is labelled for 2026-2027 transfer applicants, so check the spring year). International transfer applicants are not eligible for WashU financial aid.
• Academic profile: transfer places are very limited, from zero to a small handful per school in a given year. Admissions says successful applicants present at least a 3.5 GPA from a two- or four-year college across a broad curriculum and have completed first-year composition; the page gives no mathematics course requirement for Arts & Sciences and asks applicants to contact admissions (314-935-6000).
• Stay in your school: you must remain in the school you are admitted to; moving to another school requires applying after one full semester at WashU and is not guaranteed.
• Mathematics credit: the department says your undergraduate school arranges the transfer of appropriate math credits, and the department is usually consulted, especially for upper-level courses; courses may first be recorded as “math electives” until evaluated. Bringing syllabi, textbook names and tables of contents helps. The Bulletin says courses from a two-year college such as a community college cannot satisfy upper-level requirements, and at least half of the upper-level units must be earned at WashU or in a WashU-approved overseas program.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply by 2 November (EA, ED I) or 4 January (ED II, RD), choosing Arts & Sciences with mathematics as your primary interest
• Testing optional; for aid, submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA by your round’s deadline; for Signature Scholar Programs, apply by 16 December

International applicants (including China):

• Transcripts and exam results with certified English translations; if you submit testing, include a math score
• TOEFL 5.0 new scale (100 old), IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 130 are the levels WashU lists; say at application time whether you need aid; ask admissions how the Gaokao is used

After entry:

• Take the placement exam, choose your calculus start from AP/IB credit, consider MATH 2801-2802 if eligible; declare through Workday, with C– or higher in every required course

Transfer students:

• 1 March for fall, 15 October for spring; a 3.5 GPA or higher is more competitive; bring math syllabi for the department’s evaluation

Sources: Washington University in St. Louis, Bulletin: Mathematics; Mathematics major; Applied Mathematics major; Mathematical Sciences major; Mathematics and Computer Science major; Mathematics and Economics major; Bulletin: Arts & Sciences; Department: undergraduate program; Department: incoming students; Department: undergraduate research; Department: careers; Application dates and deadlines; First-year U.S. citizen/permanent resident applicants; First-year international applicants; English testing requirements; Transfer applicants; 2026-27 costs. The dates page is labelled for fall 2027 first-year entry and the costs are 2026-27 figures; the department pages and Bulletin are the current versions. See WashU’s website for the latest.