Tuition + Admissions

M.S. in Economics tuition

These are estimated figures for the total program cost. A detailed breakdown of the M.S. in Economics tuition and fees is available by visiting Niner Central.  For information on qualifying as a resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes, visit the NC Residency Determination Service.

M.S. in Economics Tuition Assistance

The Belk College of Business offers a limited number of program-based funding opportunities.

• Those who apply before the Priority Deadline are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
• Those who wish to be considered for graduate assistantships should check the appropriate box in their application indicating their interest and apply before the Priority Deadline.
• Please note that funding opportunities are highly competitive, so it is uncommon for programs to offer them to students who apply after the Priority Deadline.
  • Priority Deadline for Fall: March 1
  • Priority Deadline for Spring: October 1

University scholarship opportunities may be found in NinerScholars Portal and additional on-campus assistantships and other on-campus work may be found in Hire-A-Niner. The Graduate School also maintains a repository of information on funding.

Additional information on financial aid and student loans is available on Niner Central’s website.

M.S. in Economics Admissions

All applicants seeking admission to the M.S. in Economics program must fulfill the University’s general requirements for graduate admission at the Master’s level. Additional requirements for admission into the program include:

• Completed online application
  • Statement of purpose (essay)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Unofficial transcript(s) of all academic work attempted beyond high school (official transcripts will be required if admitted)
  • Official GRE or GMAT scores with emphasis placed on the quantitative portion
  • Resume 
• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Overall undergraduate grade point average of at least a 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale)
• Undergraduate coursework that includes *
  • Calculus
  • Econometrics (or equivalent)
  • Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
  • Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
  • Mathematical Economics (preferred) 
  • * Students missing some of these courses can still be admitted with permission of the M.S. in Economics program.

GMAT/GRE Waiver

The GMAT/GRE requirement may be waived for applicants who meet one of the following criteria:

• General Applicants – 3.0 or above undergraduate GPA, with grades of A or B in Economics, Math and Statistics courses, or 3.0 or above undergraduate GPA and one or more years of relevant work experience
• Early Entry Applicants – 3.2 or above undergraduate GPA, with grades of A or B in Economics, Math, and Statistics courses
• Graduate Certificate in Applied Econometrics Students – completion of a minimum of two courses with grades of B or above, and a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher

All GMAT/GRE waivers are at the discretion of the M.S. in Economics Program Committee. Meeting the minimum requirements to request a waiver does not mean an automatic waiver of the test, nor does it guarantee later acceptance into the program.

Applying for a GMAT/GRE Waiver

To apply for the GMAT/GRE waiver, applicants will need to complete a two-part process:

1. Complete the GMAT/GRE Waiver form
2. You will receive an email with instructions on how to submit your updated resume and all unofficial transcripts to our waiver review portal.

If you are unable to secure the GMAT/GRE waiver, you will be required to submit official GMAT/GRE test scores in your M.S. in Economics application. If you have any questions about the waiver process, please contact Kimberly McLaurin.

International Admissions

In addition to all of the requirements listed above, international applicants must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score. 

• TOEFL: Minimum score of 83 internet-based is required 
• IELTS: Minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required 
• Duolingo: Minimum score of 115 is required.

International applicants should refer to the International Admissions website for deadlines and additional admissions information.

Early Entry Admissions

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a current UNC Charlotte undergraduate student
• 3.2 cumulative undergraduate GPA
• 75 earned undergraduate hours
• Competitive GMAT/GRE score or request a GMAT/GRE waiver
• Undergraduate coursework in Calculus, Econometrics (or equivalent), Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

Application Requirements

• Completed online application
  • Resume
  • Statement of purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcript(s) of all academic work attempted beyond high school
  • Official GRE or GMAT scores or approved test waiver

Accelerated Master’s Program

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum high school GPA of 3.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Minimum score of 1220 on SAT

For additional details on the Accelerated Master’s Programs, see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies section of the Graduate Catalog and the Graduate Admissions website.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Econometrics

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following are required for the Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics:

• Completed online application
• A bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university
• GPA of at least 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale) on all previous work completed beyond high school (secondary school)
• A statement of purpose
• Unofficial transcript(s) of all academic work attempted beyond high school (official transcripts will be required if admitted)
• Official and satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and the applicant has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution

Application Deadlines

The M.S. in Economics and Graduate Certificate in Applied Econometrics program admit students throughout the year on a rolling basis.

The application process is managed by the UNC Charlotte Graduate School. Applications will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis as space permits.