Graduate Record Examination
If you are applying for Fall 2024, GRE scores are required for all applicants. There is no minimum score requirement.
English Language Proficiency Tests
Students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores from TOEFL or another English Language Proficiency Test. TOEFL scores are preferred, but IELTS or MELAB scores are accepted. A minimum TOEFL score of 79 is required. Alternative tests include IELTS (minimum score 6.5) or MELAB (minimum score 80). This requirement is waived for foreign applicants who have completed a degree within the past two years from a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States or another English-speaking country. More information is available here.
Applicants lacking a background in economics, math, or statistics may be required to complete coursework before entering the program.
M.S.
A four-year bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) is required, and a grade point average of 3.0 (B average) for both undergraduate and graduate coursework is preferred.
Minimum preparation for the M.S. program:
- micro and macroeconomic theory at the intermediate undergraduate level
- statistics
- two semesters of calculus (differential and integral calculus)
- Additional coursework in economics, statistics and math is highly desirable and recommended, especially for students who intend to apply for the doctoral program after completion of the M.S. degree.
Ph.D.
A relevant master’s degree or an especially strong undergraduate record is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Please be sure to include relevant coursework on the course history section of your online application. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (B average) for both graduate and undergraduate coursework is expected.
Applicants to the Ph.D. program should have completed the coursework listed above for entrance to the M.S. program. In addition, applicants should have completed:
- microeconomic theory at the M.S. level
- econometrics or mathematical statistics at the M.S. level
- multivariate calculus and linear algebra
Additional coursework in economics, statistics, and math is highly desirable and recommended.
If you are unsure whether you should apply to the master's or the PhD., please contact the Director of Graduate Studies at [email protected] to discuss your background.
Application Process
December 10 is the priority application deadline and the deadline for applicants who wish to be considered for financial aid for fall admission. Applications received by December 10 will be given priority consideration for admission and financial support. Applications received after December 10 will be considered only on a space and funds available basis.
Admission is typically offered only for the fall semester in Applied Economics. Students will only be considered for spring admission if they have completed all courses that are equivalent to the required core sequence that begins in the fall. This applies for both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs.
Instructions
Applications cannot be reviewed until all required materials listed below are submitted successfully and application fees have been paid.
How to Apply:
Submit all required materials through the online application system.
Required Materials and What to Submit
Note
- Given that all materials are submitted electronically, no materials need to be mailed to the department.
- Please do not upload any publications, awards or writing samples.
| Required Materials | What to submit |
|---|---|
| Application for Graduate Admission | Required: personal information, application information, educational background, test information (self-reported), employment/residence information, course history, applicant statement, diversity statement, and recommendations. In Applicant Statement please describe your immediate and long-term research and career interests. In the Diversity Statement please follow the prompt below and limit to one page single-spaced. The Applied Economics Graduate Program and the University of Minnesota embrace the principle that diversity promotes excellence. Diversity, broadly defined, comes from many sources: backgrounds, identities, life experiences, abilities, and intellectual orientation. Our goal is to promote academic excellence supported by respect for others and enhanced by diversity in our workplace, classrooms, and research. Please share how you might contribute to and/or benefit from diversity in our community of scholars. Optional: all other fields or application materials are optional, but will not be taken into consideration if submitted. Please do not submit a writing sample. |
| Application Fee | Fees vary based on applicant status. For information, visit the Graduate School's application fee page. Unfortunately we are unable to offer application fee waivers. |
| Transcripts | Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly into the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of any degree-granting transcripts. Applicants will receive instructions on how to submit official documents after they are admitted. International Transcripts and Credentials Uploading Your Transcript |
| Letters of Recommendation | Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate work. Other recommenders, such as employers, are also acceptable. Three (3) references are required. Your recommenders will receive an email with instructions about how to upload a letter. Paper copies are not accepted. |
| GRE Scores | Scores should be entered in the Test Information-Self-Reported field in the online application. Request official scores be sent electronically to the University of Minnesota (institution code 6874) GMAT scores are not accepted. |
| TOEFL (IELTS or MELAB) Scores | TOEFL scores are preferred. Scores should be entered in the self-reported Test Information field in the online application and official scores should be sent to the University of Minnesota (institution code 6874). |
| Curriculum Vitae or Résumé | Upload into the Program Supplementary Information section. |
Change of Status
Complete the new application if you want to:
- add a new program (at the same or higher degree level)
- change to a different program (at the same or higher degree level)
- change from a Master’s to a Ph.D. degree (in the same program you are currently enrolled in)
- If you are currently a Master’s student in applied economics and want to apply to the Ph.D. program, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies at [email protected] before you submit your application. They will let you know which parts of the new application you need to complete. We recommend that you prepare a new statement of research interests explaining your goals for the Ph.D. program, and that you obtain at least two (2) letters of recommendation from faculty in the applied economics graduate program.
Complete the Express Change of Status application (.doc, PDF) if you want to:
- drop from a Ph.D. and pursue a Master's only (in the same program your Ph.D. was in)
Complete the Express Readmit application if you want to:
- Apply to be re-instated in the same graduate program and degree, but your active student status has lapsed in the past five years. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Metin Cakir at [email protected] before you submit your express re-admit application for further instructions. For more instructions, visit Applying for Readmission.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Admissions
- Funding
- The Graduate School
- Applied Economics Graduate Program
Director of Graduate Studies - Metin Cakir & Graduate Program Coordinator - Jenna Mead
[email protected]