Admission & Application Requirements

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Admission Requirements

  1. A completed (or close to completed) bachelor's degree. The degree does not need to be in economics. Your undergraduate GPA needs to be a 3.0 or higher.
  2. Completion (with a grade of "B" or better) of:
    • An intermediate-level course in microeconomic theory (one semester or two quarters)
    • An intermediate-level course in macroeconomic theory
    • A course in money and banking
    • One semester or two quarters of college-level calculus
    • One semester or two quarters of college-level statistics

    Note to international students: International university academic records or transcripts are frequently not clear about the levels of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory you have had. If your degree is in some discipline other than Economics, such as Commerce, Business, International Trade, Banking, common degrees in China and India, then we ask that you clarify the level of micro and macroeconomic theory you studied.

    It is possible that your introductory course was taught at a level higher than the typical introductory course in the U.S., so if you are unsure, please write to us before submitting your application, making clear what textbooks were used in your micro and macro theory courses. If the texts are from your country, then send a list of the topics covered. Also make clear in your application materials how much calculus you have studied.

  3. A score from the GRE or GMAT exam taken within the last three years.

    Please note that these scores are used as only one source of information in the admission process.

  4. For foreign students from non-English speaking countries a paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 560 or a computer-based TOEFL score of at least 220 or Internet TOEFL score of at least 83.
  5. Three letters of recommendation (at least one academic reference is strongly suggested) that assess the applicant's ability to do graduate work in economics. Particularly helpful would be for at least one of the recommenders to explicitly explain the level of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory that you took in your curriculum. These letters must be written on the recommender's letterhead. In addition, each recommender should fill out the standard recommendation form for each applicant.
  6. A one-page statement of purpose. While each statement will necessarily be unique, if applicable the admissions committee would like it to include:
    • An indication of how the MA in Applied Economics degree will help the applicant achieve or further their career goals
    • An indication of how previous classroom experiences will help the student to succeed in the program
    • An indication of how previous work experiences will help the student to succeed in the program

    An important reminder: The MA in Applied Economics degree is a terminal, professional degree. It is not a research-based Ph.D. degree, nor is it necessarily good preparation for such a degree. At the present time the University of Cincinnati does not offer a Ph.D. in economics. Students desiring such a degree are encouraged to look for another program at a different university.

Completing the Application

Send all required documents to the Economics department.

These include your official transcripts of all previous college courses, your GRE or GMAT scores, your TOEFL scores (if required), and your statement of purpose. The recommendation letters should be sent directly by the recommender to the department. Alternatively, the student may include the recommendations in their application packet, with the recommender's signature across the back of a sealed envelope containing the recommendation.

Please note that your GRE and TOEFL scores must be sent to the University directly from ETS. The ETS code for the University of Cincinnati is 1833.

Our address is:
MA in Applied Economics Program
PO Box 210371
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0371

Once your application folder is complete, the admissions committee will review it and make a decision within several weeks. For example, if you complete your folder by early January, you will probably know about the decision on your admission by the end of that month, although financial aid decisions are not made until the end of March. Applications will generally be accepted through the end of August.

The department does offer financial aid to exceptional applicants. Financial aid decisions are typically made in late March, so to be considered for aid you should have a complete application folder into our department by March 1. We will generally continue to consider individuals for admission until late May, but with a substantially lower probability of being awarded financial aid.

Please send any questions about the status of your application folder to Laura.Dickson@uc.edu.

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