How to Apply to Mathematics at the University of Arizona: Reviewed by Major at Application, with BA and BS Degrees and Seven Emphases in the Department of Mathematics, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At the University of Arizona in Tucson, undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics. Here is what you need to know, based on the Office of Admissions and the department’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science has a separate article on this site; data science and statistics and data science are mentioned only in passing.

1. Degrees and areas

• Two degrees: the department offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mathematics. The B.A. is described as not science-intensive, with a strong mathematical foundation and room for a broader range of electives; the B.S. is for students who want deeper mathematical knowledge with a science-intensive approach. Both require a computer programming course (CSC 110, ISTA 130, ECE 101 or CHEE 205 is recommended for most students).
• Common core: Calculus I (MATH 122A and 122B, or MATH 125), Calculus II (MATH 129), Vector Calculus (MATH 223), Introduction to Linear Algebra (MATH 313), Formal Mathematical Reasoning and Writing (MATH 323) and Analysis of Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH 355), ideally finished by the end of sophomore year.
• Seven emphases: applied mathematics; comprehensive mathematics (for graduate study in mathematics and science); computer science; economics/business; life sciences (for medical school or graduate study in biology or health fields); mathematics education (for middle and high school teaching); and probability and statistics. Each emphasis needs at least 15 units of 400-level mathematics, and each except mathematics education requires a minor outside the department, with courses distinct from the major. The full requirements for each emphasis are in PDF files on the department site, which this guide did not read.
• Related options: the department also has a B.S. in Data Science and a B.A. in Statistics and Data Science (not covered here); minors in mathematics, mathematics teaching, and statistics and data science; and Accelerated Master’s Programs in statistics and data science and in applied mathematics, open only to exceptional students completing a major in the department.

2. How admission works: reviewed by major, then declare with the department

• At application: the Office of Admissions says it reviews each application across all majors the student expresses interest in and admits students to the major where it believes they will be best positioned for success. Some students are admitted to The A Center, which offers more advising and structured support, taking courses as undeclared students and declaring a major later through an academic college. Whether mathematics has a separate admission line or a required prerequisite is not stated in the admissions pages read; please ask the Office of Admissions.
• Declaring the math major: the department says that to declare a major in Mathematics, Data Science or Statistics and Data Science you first complete its online information session and then meet a Math Center advisor; minors are declared through a linked form. The latest time to declare and any GPA or course thresholds are not stated in the pages read; ask an advisor or check the department knowledge base.
• Advising: the Math Center advises majors and minors on course selection and requirements, by appointment or in brief drop-in sessions; questions on enrolment, transfer credit and placement can go to the Math Academic Office (Mathematics Building room 108, math-academics@arizona.edu).
• Honors: the department says honors math sections are limited, and you must be in the W.A. Franke Honors College and meet the course prerequisites and eligibility criteria. To graduate with honors in the major, students submit a thesis prospectus, complete a thesis through the department and meet minimum GPA and honors unit requirements. Applicants indicate honors interest on the University application and answer an honors prompt.

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school courses (Admissions, set by the Arizona Board of Regents): 4 years of English; 4 years of mathematics (Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, and advanced math for which Algebra II is a prerequisite); 3 years of laboratory science; 2 years of social science (including 1 year of American history); 2 years of the same second language; 1 year of fine arts or career and technical education. The page says some subjects can be met by SAT/ACT sub-scores or offset by college coursework; for mathematics, an SAT Math score of 570 or above (March 2016 or later), an ACT Math score of 24 or above, or one college course at college algebra level or higher. Extra details for international students are on another page that this guide did not read.
• Placement: the department says you must satisfy a course’s prerequisite and eligibility criteria through U of A prerequisites, approved recent math transfer credit, UA Math Placement Test (PPL) scores, or, for first-year students only, SAT or ACT math scores. Students without recent college math credit can take the PPL assessment. The scores needed for each course are in a course placement chart that this guide did not read.
• AP/IB credit: the department says students can qualify for a math course or satisfy a foundation math requirement through transfer or dual-enrolment courses or credit by exam from AP, IB, Cambridge, CLEP or others. Which math courses specific scores replace is not stated in the pages read; Admissions provides a Transfer Credit Tool, and the department can advise.
• Math competitions: how they are viewed in admission is not stated in the pages read.

4. Deadlines and application materials

• Rounds and deadlines (fall 2027, Admissions deadlines page): the application opens 1 August 2026; the Early Action deadline is 1 November 2026, with Early Action decisions beginning 15 January 2027. Applications received after 1 November move to Regular Decision, considered on a space-available basis, with decisions released in batches in the spring. The enrolment fee is due 1 May. Early Action applicants get priority consideration for admission, merit aid and the Honors College.
• How to apply and the fee: through the Common App. The application fee is $50 for Arizona residents and $80 for non-Arizona residents or residents of other states, non-transferable and non-refundable. The international page says international students follow the same application process as US students; an international-specific fee is not stated in the pages read.
• Essay and recommendations: the Office of Admissions “strongly encourages” the 500-word application essay (why Arizona is the right fit and how your chosen area of study aligns with your interests, goals and values, plus anything else you want to share). The pages read do not require recommendations, or one from a math teacher; honors applicants may add a letter of recommendation and other materials.
• Testing: SAT and ACT scores are not required for general admission; official scores that are submitted may be used for placement at orientation or to fulfil core competency requirements.
• Review: each application is read by up to two reviewers and considers class rank, strength and performance in the curriculum, GPA in the required core courses, optional materials (SAT/ACT, resume, personal statement), and extracurricular factors such as leadership, service and work experience. Applicants may be asked for test scores or seventh-semester transcripts.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (Admissions estimates, based on 2026 figures): for Arizona residents, tuition and fees $13,900, housing and food $17,770, books $600 and travel and miscellaneous $5,000, an estimated total of $37,270; for non-Arizona residents, tuition and fees $44,400 and a total of $67,770. The University says it is freezing tuition and mandatory fees for all undergraduates, including non-residents, for 2027-28. First-year students are generally expected to live on campus (with exemptions) and may need a meal plan.
• Aid and scholarships: applicants are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships when they apply, and applying earlier helps; the FAFSA is encouraged (school code 001083, opens 1 October), and the aid offer arrives with the admission decision. Admitted students can use Scholarship Universe.
• In-state guaranteed admission: not stated in the pages read; the Office of Admissions says Arizona residents who are not admitted can transfer later via the community college network.

6. International applicants

• Process: international students follow the same process as US students, choosing the first-year or transfer application type that matches their background; the first-year Early Action deadline is 1 November 2026 (section 4). Documents must be in English; the Office of Admissions recommends a certified translation service, and final official transcripts must be translated before enrolment.
• English proficiency: required of applicants whose primary language is not English or who attended school in a non-English speaking country, regardless of citizenship. Coursework routes: Cambridge IGCSE or O Level C in English; IB English A Higher Level 5; four years of regular English at an accredited American or IB high school (ESL-type courses do not count) with a C; three years at a high school with English as the medium of instruction with a C; or WRIT 101, 102 or 107 and 108 with a C. Exam scores: IELTS (Academic, Online, Indicator or One Skill Retake) 6.5; TOEFL iBT (including MyBest, before January 2026) 79, or 4 on the new scale after January 2026; Duolingo 110; PTE Academic 60; ACT English 21; SAT EBRW 580; Cambridge English 180 or C1; others on the website. Official reports must be sent by the testing centre and dated within two years of the application. The website adds that three years of regular English with a C or better at an accredited American high school, at home or abroad, removes the need to show proficiency.
• Costs: the cost page lists estimates for Arizona residents and non-residents (section 5) and no separate international figure; the proof-of-funds amount and I-20 estimate are not stated in the pages read.
• Scholarships: all applicants are reviewed for merit scholarships when they apply (the first-year and transfer scholarship pages were not read). International-specific scholarships are not published in the pages read.
• Special pathway: Admissions says some international students may be admitted to Global Start, deferring entry to study in London through Verto Education before moving to the Tucson campus.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao and Chinese grades: the admissions pages read do not say whether the Gaokao is used or how, and give no China-specific instructions; this is not published in the pages read. Please contact the Office of Admissions.
• General requirements: the international requirements in section 6 apply: English proficiency (results or a waiver route) and English translations of transcripts. High school course requirements are in section 3; additional details for international students are on a page this guide did not read.
• International curricula: students taking AP, IB or Cambridge courses can use the Transfer Credit Tool; ask the department about math course credit.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department scholarships and awards: the department says majors may apply for department scholarships; amounts vary with academic performance, financial need and funds, and past awards ranged from $100 to $10,000+. Listed scholarships include the Noyce Scholarship (mathematics education, rolling), the McLean Transfer Scholarship (STEM majors, due 2 November), the Toubassi Award (students applying to graduate programmes in the mathematical sciences, due 2 November), the Toubassi High Impact Award (due 2 November) and the Harry W. and Janet Sine Lusk Travel Scholarship (rolling); the page shows no year, so check. Others include the McLean Mathematics Education Scholarship and McLean First-Generation Scholarship. Department awards include a 4.0 Major GPA Award, an Outstanding Senior Award (GPA 3.5+, research or internship, leadership) and an Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award.
• Opportunities: research, teaching, internships, clubs, study abroad, peer mentoring and a grader programme, and a career exploration seminar (DATA/MATH 395M).
• Outcomes: the department pages read do not print employment data or graduate destinations; they describe the kinds of careers and graduate programmes each emphasis prepares for. See the website.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: applicants who have graduated from high school and earned 12 or more transferable post-high-school credits from a community college or university, in Arizona or elsewhere.
• Requirements: if you are under 22 at the start of the term, you must meet the Core Competency Requirements and have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0; if you are 22 or older, a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0.
• Deadlines: spring 2027 entry opens 1 August 2026 and closes 1 December 2026; fall 2027 entry opens 1 January 2027 and closes 1 June 2027; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Official transcripts from every institution attended are required, plus the high school transcript for applicants under 22.
• Math-specific requirements: the pages read do not state calculus or linear algebra sequence or GPA requirements for transfer students entering the math major; the Math Academic Office can help with transfer credit and placement, and Admissions says the Office of the Registrar can help with transfer credit evaluations, and the department page also mentions the Transfer Credit & Articulation office for general education evaluations.
• Credit transfer: Admissions provides a preview tool for Arizona and out-of-state institutions. The department says approved and recent math transfer credit can satisfy math course prerequisites.
• Scholarships: transfer applicants are reviewed for merit-based transfer scholarships on application; the department also lists the McLean Transfer Scholarship (STEM majors, due 2 November).

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Common App; Early Action 1 November 2026; fee $50 (Arizona residents) or $80; no SAT/ACT required; 500-word essay strongly encouraged
• High school: 4 English, 4 math (through advanced math after Algebra II), 3 lab science, 2 social science, 2 second language, 1 fine arts or CTE

International applicants (including China):

• IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79 (4 on the new scale) or Duolingo 110, or a coursework route; English translations of documents
• How the Gaokao is used is not published; ask Admissions

After entry:

• Complete the department’s online information session and meet a Math Center advisor; choose an emphasis, finish the core, and complete a minor outside mathematics (except mathematics education)

Transfer students:

• 12+ transferable credits, GPA 2.0; fall 1 June 2027, spring 1 December 2026

Sources: University of Arizona, Mathematics: undergraduate programs; Mathematics: the major; Mathematics: Math Center advising; Mathematics: honors; Mathematics: scholarships; Mathematics: opportunities for undergraduates; Mathematics: placement and transfer credit; Admissions: first-year; Admissions: high school course requirements; Admissions: application review; Admissions: deadlines; Admissions: international students; Admissions: transfer students; Admissions: cost and aid.