Bachelor Programme
Economics
Columbia College's Economics major trains students to think analytically about how societies allocate scarce resources, with core theory courses in micro- and macroeconomics and econometrics, upper-level electives and a senior seminar. Topics range from international trade and financial systems to labour markets and development. Besides the general major, the department runs five interdisciplinary majors (Financial Economics, and joint majors with mathematics, political science, statistics and philosophy) that share the same theoretical core. Applicants apply to Columbia College through the Common App, the Coalition App on Scoir or QuestBridge, and declare the major in the sophomore year.
University
Columbia University
Country
United States
Level
Bachelor
Field
Economics
Duration
4 years full-time (8 semesters)
Language
English
Campus
Morningside Heights (Manhattan, New York City)
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (BA), major in Economics
Intake
Fall (September, Morningside Heights campus, New York City). First-year students can enter only in the fall
Application Deadline
Fall 2027 entry (first-year applicants, Common App, Coalition App on Scoir or QuestBridge; US$85 fee or waiver): Early Decision closes 1 November 2026 (binding; decisions mid-December 2026; financial aid application due 15 November). Regular Decision closes 1 January 2027 (decisions late March 2027; financial aid application due 15 February). Columbia has no Early Action or Early Decision II round and does not offer admission interviews. The QuestBridge National College Match deadline is also 1 November 2026
Tuition Information
2026-27 tuition: US$72,800 a year (US$36,400 a term), at the same rate for US and international students and for Columbia College and Columbia Engineering. Columbia's 2026-27 estimated first-year cost of attendance is US$99,774: tuition, fees of US$4,160 (including US$730 of one-time transcript and orientation fees), housing (US$12,522), food (US$7,128), books and supplies (US$1,320) and personal expenses (US$1,844). Travel varies and is extra. First-year students must live on campus. Columbia meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, including international students, with grants rather than loans. Admission is need-blind for US citizens and eligible non-citizens and need-aware for other international applicants, who must apply for aid at the time of application to be considered. There are no merit scholarships
Admission Requirements
- School: Columbia College (the liberal arts college; all students take the Core Curriculum). Applicants choose Columbia College or Columbia Engineering on the application; the major itself is declared later
- Testing: test-optional for the 2026-27 application cycle (Fall 2027 entry), with no disadvantage for applying without SAT or ACT scores (scores that are submitted are superscored). Columbia has announced that it will require the SAT or ACT from the 2027-28 cycle (Fall 2028 entry). Scores from tests up to November (Early Decision) or February (Regular Decision) can be used
- English proficiency (applicants whose first language is not English): TOEFL iBT 105 (tests taken on or before 20 January 2026) or 5.5 (tests from 21 January 2026), IELTS Academic 7.5, Duolingo English Test 135, or Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency 191. Testing is not required if English is the applicant's home language, if secondary school was taught in English, or with SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 700+ or ACT English or Reading 29+
- Two teacher recommendations and a counselor recommendation are required
- Recommended preparation: 4 years of English, 4 years of mathematics (at least through pre-calculus), 3-4 years each of history/social studies and laboratory science, and 3-4 years of one foreign language
- No portfolio or audition is required; optional supplementary materials (such as an arts portfolio) may be submitted