How to Apply to Mathematics at Dickinson College: A Liberal Arts College Where You Apply to the College, Mathematics Shares a Department with Computer Science, Early Deadlines on 15 November and Test-Optional Since 1994, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania is a four-year residential liberal arts college, and undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Students apply to the College as a whole, not to a separate school. Here is what you need to know, based on the department’s and the Office of Admissions’ websites, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science is not covered in this article.

1. Degrees and areas

• Major and minor: the department offers a major and a minor in mathematics, with courses in pure and applied mathematics and statistics. The pages read do not say whether the degree is a B.A. or a B.S.; please ask the Office of Admissions or the Registrar.
• Major requirements (11 courses): MATH 170, 171, 211, 262, 270, 351 and 361; one math course with 351 or 361 as a prerequisite; one additional math course numbered 301 or higher; and two additional math courses numbered 201 or higher, one of which may be replaced by COMP 132 or ECON 398 or, with prior department approval, a mathematics-intensive course from another department.
• Minor (five courses): 171 and 211, one of 325, 351 or 361, and two other courses numbered 201 or higher. The department lists three tracks: Track 1 (170, 171, 211, 262, 270, 361) and Track 2 (170, 171, 211, 262, 351, elective) focus on theoretical mathematics; Track 3 (170, 171, 211, 225, 325, elective) focuses on statistics.
• Applied interests: the department says students interested in applied mathematics should consider the electives 225, 241, 271, 325 and 331. The pages read do not list “pure”, “applied” and “statistics” as separate majors.
• Department features: the department says majors take part in research with faculty, and some projects lead to publications; it hosts the Math & CS Chats series, has a chapter of the honor society Pi Mu Epsilon, and gives awards and scholarships each year to its strongest students.

2. How admission works: apply to the College, declare after entry

• At application: the admissions checklist and FAQ do not ask applicants to state an intended major or say that admission is decided by major. Whether an intended major entered on the application affects the decision is not stated in the pages read; please ask the Office of Admissions.
• Declaring the major: the department says a student who wishes to declare should contact the department chair, who assigns a faculty member as major advisor based on the student’s interests and current advising loads; students are encouraged to meet the advisor at least once a term before course selection. The detailed declaration instructions are on a separate page that is not on the College’s own website, which this article did not read; please follow the department.
• Conditions to declare, grade requirements, caps on places and internal-transfer conditions: not stated in the pages read. They are not published there; contact the department (office phone 717-245-1413).
• General requirements: the department says there is no College-wide mathematics graduation requirement, but a Quantitative Reasoning (QR) requirement that every introductory mathematics course satisfies. The international student FAQ adds that every student completes a first-year seminar, a writing-intensive course, a US diversity course and a comparative civilizations course, and a second language through the intermediate level.

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school preparation: the Office of Admissions says the minimum is a secondary-school programme of at least 16 units, including four of English, three of natural science (at least two with labs), two of social science and three of college-preparatory mathematics; two units of a world language are preferred but not required. The department pages do not state a separate high school math requirement for the major.
• Placement exam: the department says all incoming students must take the mathematics placement exam before matriculating, even if they do not plan to take a math class. It is a 25-question, 30-minute exam written by the Mathematical Association of America, a calculus-readiness exam on precalculus only (no calculus), covering geometry and measurement, graphs of functions, word problems and modeling, exponents and logarithms, equations and factoring, functional notation, inequalities and absolute value, and trigonometry.
• Exemptions from the exam: AP Precalculus 3, 4 or 5; AP Calculus AB 3, 4 or 5; AP Calculus BC 4 or 5; a BC score of 1–3 with an AB subscore of 3, 4 or 5; British A-Level mathematics grade A or B; or a 5 or higher on an IB mathematics exam.
• Entry courses: MATH 121 (Elementary Statistics, which does not count toward the major or minor), 151 (Introduction to Calculus, a blend of precalculus and calculus, placement required), 170 (Single Variable Calculus), 171 (Multivariable Calculus; Dickinson swaps the traditional order, so 171 comes before 270), 211 (Foundations of Higher Mathematics, with an emphasis on writing proofs) and 270 (Integration and Infinite Series, spring only). The department gives four suggested paths: students who place into 151 start with 151 and 170; those with suitable precalculus preparation start with 170 and 171; those with 170 credit start with 171 and 270; and those with 170 and 270 credit start with 171 or 211.
• AP/IB credit: the department says the College gives credit for AP and IB; for example, credit for MATH 170 (or 270) earned through AP or IB appears on the transcript as AP/IB transfer work, 1 credit. Which score maps to which course is not stated in the pages read; see the online placement guide and the Registrar’s page. The international student FAQ says the College awards credit for AP, IB, A-Levels, the French Baccalaureate, the Swiss Maturité and the German Abitur.
• Honors: departmental honors is for majors: a GPA of 3.40 or higher in all courses related to the major, a yearlong research project, an honors thesis, a public presentation and a defense; students intending to pursue honors submit a statement of intent to their project advisor by June 1 of the summer after the junior year. This is a graduation distinction after entry; the pages read do not describe an honors entry sequence in mathematics.
• Math competitions: how they are viewed in admission is not stated in the pages read. The admissions checklist does list optional Schoolhouse Mastery certifications (schoolhouse.world certifications in calculus, physics and other STEM courses), which can be uploaded after submitting the application as “Certificates and Awards”.

4. Deadlines and application materials

• Rounds and deadlines (first-year): Early Decision I (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) are both due 15 November, with notification in mid-December (ED I) and mid-January (EA); Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both due 15 January, with notification in late February (ED II) and late March (RD) and a reply date of 1 May for RD; Regular Decision applicants may switch to ED II by submitting the Early Decision Agreement by 28 January. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry; they also say there will be no first-year spring 2027 admissions cycle.
• How to apply: the Dickinson FlexApp, the Common Application or the Coalition Application (powered by Scoir). The application fee is not stated in the pages read; check with the Office of Admissions or the application platform.
• Essay and recommendations: an application essay is required, plus a high school transcript listing all courses and grades (grades 9–12), the counselor recommendation and school report, and one recommendation from a teacher in a core course (two recommended); the pages do not say it must be a math teacher. ED applicants also submit a signed Early Decision Agreement. An interview is not required but is described as valuable, and can be virtual or in person.
• Testing: the College has been test-optional since 1994. If scores are not submitted, the College says it focuses on the high school record, the counselor and teacher recommendations and the application and essay, and scores are not reviewed for admission or merit scholarship consideration. For admitted students the middle 50% range is SAT 1310–1460 and ACT composite 30–33. The SAT code is 2186 and the ACT code 3550; the ACT science section is not required. AP and IB scores are not reviewed for credit during admission, though overall performance may be considered.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition (2026-27): the cost page lists tuition of $71,100 and required fees of $550; for on-campus students, housing $9,600 and food $9,050 (Any 21 Meal Plan), plus books $1,324, personal expenses $1,718, transportation $300 and direct loan fees $64, for a total of $93,706; students living with a parent or family member total $85,560. The page lists a single tuition figure, with no in-state/out-of-state distinction. Students not covered by a US health insurance policy are billed for student health insurance, estimated at $2,000 for 2026-27. The rates for fall 2027 entry are not stated in the pages read.
• Need-based aid: the College says it meets 100% of demonstrated need through need-based grants, student employment and loans; applicants submit the CSS Profile (institutional aid) and the FAFSA (federal and state aid) by the admission deadline. In 2025-26, the total need-based package for grant recipients averaged $59,475, 62% of students received need-based grants, and the average need-based grant of $54,208 covered 79.7% of tuition.
• The Dickinson Promise: the website says that, starting with the class of 2030, domestic families with incomes of $125,000 or less qualify for free tuition and those with incomes of $75,000 or less attend loan-free; eligibility is determined from the FAFSA and CSS Profile with no separate application. The pages read do not say which entry year the class of 2030 corresponds to, so it is not converted here; see the Dickinson Promise page.
• Merit scholarships: academic and merit awards range from $15,000 to $45,000 per year, all applicants are considered with no separate application in most cases, awards run for eight semesters and require a 2.0 GPA; the Reynolds Leadership Scholarship (Maryland) and the Dickinson-Cumberland County Scholarship need a separate application. There are also regional scholarships (for example for Maryland, the Washington, D.C. area, Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico, and certain Pennsylvania counties). As an NCAA Division III college, Dickinson does not award athletic scholarships.
• In-state priority or guaranteed admission: not stated in the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Who applies as international: U.S. citizens, permanent residents and applicants whose visa status gives access to U.S. federal financial aid follow the domestic guidelines; all others follow the international guidelines.
• English requirements: applicants whose first language is not English must show proficiency. Recommended scores: TOEFL iBT 90 (4.5 on the scale from January 2026), IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo English Test (with interview) 120. Proficiency can also be shown by at least three years at a high school where English is the principal language of instruction (all coursework other than a modern language taught in standard English, not ESL); transfer applicants can show at least two years at a college or university where English is the principal language of instruction. Dickinson does not provide an ESL programme.
• Materials: the school report; an official transcript or marks sheets for the last three years (with English translation if not in English), with official or predicted results of national or international exams (such as GCSE/IGCSE, A-Level, IB, CBSE, Abitur or the French Baccalaureate); a mid-year report; a counselor recommendation and an academic teacher recommendation (in English or translated); and the Certification of Finances (COF), required of all international applicants whether or not they apply for aid. An interview is not required, and an InitialView or Vericant interview is also accepted; for fall 2027 admission the last day to schedule a College interview is 11 December 2026.
• Funding and aid: Dickinson is need-aware in the admission of international students, so the ability to fund a Dickinson education is considered in decisions. Need-based aid is limited, and for international students it can cover up to the full cost of tuition. All international applicants are considered for merit scholarships with no separate application. Applicants seeking need-based aid submit the CSS Profile (those who cannot may submit the International Student Financial Aid Application, ISFAA). The College also says that mandatory health insurance ($2,500) and one-time fees of $125 are not covered by aid and must be funded by the student; the cost page estimates student health insurance at $2,000 for 2026-27, so the two pages give different numbers and the latest should be checked.
• Credential evaluation: transcripts not in English need a translation. International transfer students with college transcripts from outside the US must have them evaluated by WES (course-by-course) after admission and the enrollment deposit.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages read do not mention the Gaokao. Whether Gaokao results are accepted and how they would be used is not published there; please ask the international admissions office (studyusa@dickinson.edu).
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: no China-specific requirements are published in the pages read; the general international requirements for transcripts, predicted results, English proficiency and finances are in section 6. The College says its admissions staff are familiar with international education systems and credentials.
• Student community: the international FAQ mentions a Chinese Students and Scholars Association on campus.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department awards: the department says it gives awards and scholarships each year to its strongest students (amounts and conditions are not stated in the pages read). The College also says students can apply for a grant for an unpaid or low-paid summer internship and that 100% of students who want an internship will have one.
• Research: the department says majors take part in research projects, some of which lead to publications with faculty; its page lists employers and graduate schools of its students, but prints no employment data.
• Outcomes: the international admissions page prints this sentence: “96% of Dickinsonians are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation.” It is a College-wide statement, not a mathematics figure. The department says that each year several graduates pursue graduate studies in mathematics and related fields, while others become actuaries, consultants, scientists and educators.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts as a transfer: the international student FAQ says anyone who has graduated from secondary school and enrolled and taken any coursework at a post-secondary institution must apply as a transfer applicant. The international FAQ says merit scholarship and aid opportunities are the same as for first-year applicants, while the transfer page describes the merit scholarships and need-based aid available to transfers as limited.
• Deadlines: fall entry 1 April (preferred; later applications are considered on a space-available basis), with notification in mid-May; spring entry 1 November, with notification in mid-December; Community College Partnership applicants 1 March (fall) and 1 October (spring). The enrollment deposit is due two weeks after acceptance. The transfer FAQ says transfer admission is not rolling and applications are reviewed together after the deadline, while the deadline page says later applications are considered on a space-available basis; please confirm with the transfer office.
• Materials: apply through the Common Application, including Dickinson’s member questions and Writing Supplement, a Transfer College Report from each college attended, a midterm report, an academic evaluation (preferably from a college instructor), official transcripts from all colleges and an official secondary school transcript or GED. Testing is optional. International transfer applicants also need English results or a waiver, the CSS Profile if seeking aid, and the COF.
• Grade requirement: the transfer FAQ says the Admissions Office looks for a minimum GPA of 3.0, and that most admitted students have much stronger records; on average 30–40 transfer students were admitted per year over the past three years from about 160–180 applicants.
• Math credit transfer: the department says transfer credits should, whenever possible, be approved in advance. Statistics courses go to Professor Melissa Innerst and other math courses to Professor Lorelei Koss, with the course description, syllabus, textbook and the corresponding Dickinson course; after approval, submit the details through the online Enrollment in Another Institution form. Precalculus is not accepted as college-level; MATH 151 is a unique blend of precalculus and calculus that is hard to match elsewhere; a course transferring as MATH 170 should be like “Calculus I” (courses such as applied or business calculus typically do not); because Dickinson swaps calculus II and III, someone who has taken only MATH 170 will probably not find a course elsewhere that transfers as MATH 171. Math majors who want credit toward the major are strongly encouraged to take electives, not required courses. The formal credit evaluation is done by the registrar after acceptance and the deposit; before applying, admissions staff can give an unofficial evaluation.
• Conditions for transferring into the math major: the pages read do not state specific requirements (such as a calculus or linear algebra sequence) for transfer students entering the major; please contact the department.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED I and EA 15 November; ED II and Regular 15 January; one core-course teacher recommendation (two recommended); testing optional; CSS Profile and FAFSA by the admission deadline
• Take the mathematics placement exam before entry (exemptions for certain AP, IB and A-Level results)

International applicants (including China):

• TOEFL 90 (4.5 new scale), IELTS 7.0, Duolingo 120 (or three years at an English-medium high school); Certification of Finances; CSS Profile if seeking aid
• Gaokao use is not published; ask the international admissions office

After entry:

• Choose MATH 151, 170 or 171 from your placement; the major takes 11 courses; contact the department chair to declare

Transfer students:

• Fall 1 April, spring 1 November; minimum GPA 3.0; get outside math courses approved by the department first

Sources: Dickinson College, Mathematics; Mathematics curriculum; Mathematics advising; Mathematics placement and transfer credits; Mathematics student honors; Admissions: application information; Admissions: deadlines; Admissions: checklist; Admissions: applying FAQ; Admissions: standardized testing; Admissions: international; International application information; International student FAQ; International financial aid; Admissions: transfer; Transfer application; Transfer deadlines; Transfer FAQ; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Scholarships and grants. Some dates on the admissions pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry and see the College’s website for the latest.