Apply to the College, not to a major
The application pages describe an application to the College, with required materials, and say nothing about a separate admission to the Economics major.
Undergraduate · UChicago Economics
UChicago Economics: you apply to the College, then choose the major
The University of Chicago's admissions pages describe a College with nearly 70 majors, a Core curriculum that fills about the first third of a student's time, and a major that can be started at any time and declared by Spring Quarter of the third year. This guide explains how an Economics ambition fits that system. The pages read describe no separate application to the Economics major, and SAT or ACT scores are optional.
Official information · read 3 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Chicago says about Chicago Economics
Taken from the University of Chicago College Admissions pages on academics, the application and required materials, read on 3 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Chicago's pages for the 2028-entry details.
The Core comes first
The Core curriculum accounts for the first third of a student's time in the College.
Start a major at any time
You can begin a major at any time, including your first quarter, and the deadline for declaring is Spring Quarter of your third year unless the department specifies otherwise.
Most students change majors
UChicago says most students will change majors at least once during their time on campus, and that a major does not necessarily determine a career path.
SAT or ACT optional, with a No Harm policy
Submitting an SAT or ACT is optional and not required for admission; any score submitted is used only if it will positively affect the applicant's chance of admission.
Autumn Quarter entry only
Admission is offered for entrance in the Autumn Quarter only, with the exception of prospective students-at-large.
Official sources
- University of Chicago College Admissions: Application and Required Materialscollegeadmissions.uchicago.edu
- University of Chicago College Admissions: Academic Principlescollegeadmissions.uchicago.edu
Read on 3 November 2026 on the University of Chicago College Admissions pages on academics, the application and required materials, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The Economics department website, which returned an access-denied response, the College's course catalogue, the international applicants page and the fees and financial aid pages were not read and are not stated.
The major
What the pages say about majors
UChicago says the nearly 70 majors and 60 minors expand on the breadth of the Core curriculum, with full-time academic advisers helping students from day one. It adds that a major does not necessarily determine a career path, that you can begin a major at any time, and that most students change majors at least once. The Economics department's own requirements were not read for this guide, because that site returned an access-denied response, so the guide does not describe the major's courses.
Is it the right major?
Choosing Economics inside a broad College
UChicago describes the major as one of many, and the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
Economics fits if
you want to study economics inside a liberal arts curriculum, starting a major in your first quarter or later.
Another major fits if
your interests change, as UChicago says they do for most students.
Check the department if
you need the major's prerequisites. This guide has not read them, so use the department's pages.
Admission and testing
A College application and optional testing
The pages describe an application to the College through Apply Coalition, powered by Scoir, or the Common Application. They list four application plans, each with its own deadline, and the deadlines on the pages carry no entry-year label, so this guide does not state them. Submitting an SAT or ACT is optional, and under the No Harm policy a submitted score is used only if it will positively affect the applicant's chance of admission. Admission is for the Autumn Quarter only. This page states no scores.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not UChicago's.
Are you applying to the College rather than to a major?
The pages describe the College application. They describe no separate Economics admission.
Are you comfortable with the Core?
It accounts for the first third of a student's time.
Can you plan your application plan and timing?
The pages list four application plans with their own deadlines, which this guide does not state.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Chicago's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Chicago's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The requirements and descriptions on the pages read on 3 November 2026, which carry no entry-year label
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Chicago has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any department prerequisites not quoted here: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Chicago for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the Economics department's pages for the major's prerequisites and plan the application plan and the optional SAT or ACT.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with University of Chicago or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with University of Chicago. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to the Economics major at UChicago?
The pages read describe an application to the College and no separate admission to a major. You can begin a major at any time, including your first quarter.
When do I declare a major?
Unless the department specifies otherwise, the deadline for declaring a major is Spring Quarter of your third year.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
No. UChicago says submitting an SAT or ACT is optional and not required for admission.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Chicago's wording with no entry-year label. Check Chicago's pages again when Chicago publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Chicago Economics
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their interest in economics and mathematics, the choice between early and regular application plans and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.