Applied to through a school
Penn says you apply to one of four undergraduate schools or a coordinated dual-degree programme. Mathematical Economics sits in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Undergraduate · Penn College of Arts and Sciences
Penn Mathematical Economics: economic theory in the College of Arts and Sciences
Penn says applicants apply to one of four undergraduate schools or a coordinated dual-degree programme. Mathematical Economics is a B.A. major in the College of Arts and Sciences, not a Wharton degree, so an applicant interested in economics is choosing a school as well as a subject. This guide sets out the 35-unit degree the catalogue describes.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Penn says about Penn Mathematical Economics
Taken from Penn's University Catalog entry for Mathematical Economics, BA and Penn Admissions' Four Schools, Specialized Degree Programs, International Applicants and Testing pages, read on 1 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 Penn's pages for the 2028-entry details.
A College B.A.
The College grants the Bachelor of Arts with 60+ major-granting departments.
At least 35 course units
The catalogue says double majors may need more.
Economics as a liberal arts subject
The catalogue frames economics as a social science within the liberal arts curriculum.
The SAT or ACT is required
Penn says applicants must submit scores for the SAT or ACT, with a waiver for hardship.
Official sources
- Penn Admissions: The Four Schoolsadmissions.upenn.edu
- Penn University Catalog: Mathematical Economics, BAcatalog.upenn.edu
- Penn Admissions: Testingadmissions.upenn.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on Penn's University Catalog entry for Mathematical Economics, BA and Penn Admissions' Four Schools, Specialized Degree Programs, International Applicants and Testing pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. The department's own pages, the course descriptions, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The programme
What the catalogue says the programme is
Penn's catalogue calls economics a social science and an important part of the liberal arts curriculum, centred on theories of how individuals, firms and organisations make choices and interact under constraints, and lists topics from price determination in markets to internet auctions. The major requires a minimum of 35 course units, and double majors may need more. The catalogue page is a College programme page; Wharton's economics concentrations are separate. This guide does not list individual courses.
Is it the right route?
Mathematical Economics in the College beside Wharton routes
Penn describes these as separate schools and programmes, so the choice is made at application. Avandy's comparison is general.
The College major fits if
you want mathematical economics inside a liberal arts degree.
Wharton fits if
you want a business-school degree. Avandy's Penn Wharton first-year guide covers it.
Another College route fits if
your interest is mathematics or statistics. Avandy's Penn College of Arts and Sciences guide covers the school.
Admission and testing
The College, an SAT or ACT and predicted grades
Penn requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, with a waiver for hardship. It has no explicit course requirements or minimum test score requirements, and it asks schools to provide predicted scores if final exams are not yet available. Mathematical Economics is not a separate application: the application is to the College of Arts and Sciences. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Penn's.
Do you want a liberal arts degree or a business-school degree?
The school choice is made at application.
Is mathematics a comfortable language for economics?
The major's title says so.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Penn requires one of them from applicants.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Penn'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 Penn's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The curriculum on the Penn catalogue page read on 1 November 2026, which describes itself as a guide for students entering in Fall 2026 and later
These are the best guide to what to prepare. Penn has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
Deadlines, fees, financial aid and any updated curriculum for the 2028 cohort: not stated
This guide has not read them. Check Penn for the values that apply to your application year.
What to do now
Read the catalogue entry and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania 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 the University of Pennsylvania. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Penn Mathematical Economics?
You apply to the College of Arts and Sciences, one of four undergraduate schools. Penn says you do not technically apply to Penn itself.
Is this a Wharton degree?
No. The catalogue lists it as a College Bachelor of Arts major.
How many units?
The catalogue says a minimum of 35.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Penn says applicants must submit scores for the SAT or ACT, with a waiver for hardship.
Does Penn name specific A levels or IB subjects?
Penn says it has no explicit course requirements for admittance.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Penn's wording with no entry-year label. Check Penn's pages again when Penn publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Penn Mathematical Economics
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their mathematics, how they weigh mathematical economics against Wharton routes 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.