Note: Admissions requirements are identical for both our in-person programs and our online program.
- Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited US institution or an equivalent degree from a non-US institution.
- Applicants must have earned a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in their prior undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- B or higher in three introductory courses: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Calculus.
- International and domestic applicants whose previous degrees were earned in non-English speaking countries must also meet the minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirement.
- A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required.
- Submitted applications must also include a Statement of Purpose, Personal Experience Statement, Resume, and Supplementary Application form.
International applicants with a 3-year bachelor’s degree should read the information posted on the International Graduate Students Admissions Requirements page of the UMD Graduate School website. Applicants with 3-year degrees from India can be admissible, for example, if their 3-year bachelor’s degree has already been earned at the time of application, and if their degree is in economics or a closely related field, with strong grades.
Applicants do not need to have majored in economics as undergraduates. For non-ECON majors we would ideally want to see a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, and grades of B or better in introductory courses in Calculus, and Micro- and Macroeconomics.
No, our application does not require GRE scores or letters of recommendation.
Yes, AP scores of 4 or 5 are also acceptable.
We can sometimes be flexible about the GPA requirement, and work with applicants who do not meet all the prerequisite course requirements. A’s and B’s in intermediate economics courses trump lower grades in introductory courses, for example. Applicants who have never earned a B or better in calculus can take a calculus course at a local community college, with the University of Maryland Global Campus (Math 140), or elsewhere online. Relevant work experience can also be helpful. Questions about admissions requirements can be directed to the relevant program coordinator or program director (see contact information below).
The UMD Graduate School application requires both a “Statement of Purpose” and a “Personal Experience Statement.”
The application’s instructions suggest a word count of 1,000-2,000 for the Statement of Purpose. Longer than 2,000 would probably be excessive. Three or four clear paragraphs should do.
The University of Maryland has posted general guidelines for the Graduate Application’s Statement of Purpose.
Please note the words “as appropriate” before the four bullet points listed in the general guidelines. These general guidelines are for the entire Graduate School at the University of Maryland, which is comprised of hundreds of different graduate programs, many of which are research-oriented PhD programs. Our program is a professional program, not a stepping stone toward a PhD in Economics. We are not training people to produce original research. We are training people to be professional analysts who can apply economics and econometrics in quantitative evidence-based analyses. That does require being able to understand and apply the findings of cutting-edge research. But we do not need our students to have original research agendas of their own, or to have specific faculty mentors in mind before they enroll in our program.
Please write a few clear and well-organized paragraphs that explain why the program is a good fit for you and how it fits into your academic and professional goals.
Keep the standard academic criteria for admission to our program in mind. The standard admissions criteria include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. We also want to see grades of B or better in introductory courses micro- and macroeconomics, and calculus. If there are any ways in which your previous academic record does not meet the standard admissions requirements, please address those issues in your Statement of Purpose. Explain why we can expect you to succeed in our program despite those issues.
Consistent with our mission, the University of Maryland counts its diversity as one of its greatest strengths. As an institution, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. We carefully weigh the academic and non-academic strengths and achievements of our applicants. This allows us to better understand applicants’ unique experiences, potential for success, and prospective contributions to the graduate educational environment. Your Personal Experience Statement should help us understand how your personal experiences shaped your academic history, your interest in graduate education, and your ability to succeed in our program.
For our holistic admissions review, the UMD Graduate School asks applicants to respond to one of the following three “Personal Experience Statement” questions:
Do you have any examples of community involvement and/or service you would like to share?
Do you have any examples of engagement in leadership roles, facility change, or mentoring others you would like to share?
Do you have any examples of overcoming social, economic, educational, or physical barriers you would like to share?