Economics is a highly sought-after major at UCLA, attracting a large number of applicants each year. With an admission rate of 18%, Economics is considered one of the more competitive majors at the university. The UCLA Economics department offers a rigorous curriculum that prepares students with the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for success in a variety of fields.
To be considered for admission into the Economics major at UCLA, students must meet certain GPA requirements. A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) is required in each pre-major course. Additionally, students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in the economics and mathematics preparation courses, as well as a GPA of at least 2.0 in any upper-division courses taken for the major before applying. Meeting these GPA requirements is essential for students hoping to secure a spot in the competitive Economics program at UCLA.
The admission process at UCLA involves submitting a comprehensive application that includes academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and a personal statement. Meeting the GPA requirements for the Economics major is just one part of the admission process, as UCLA looks for well-rounded individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a passion for their chosen field of study. Students who meet the admission requirements and showcase their potential for success in the Economics program at UCLA have a better chance of securing a spot in one of the university’s most popular majors.
| Major | Applicants | Admit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Economics, Pre | 1,195 | 18% |
| Education and Social Transformation, Pre | 203 | 48% |
Is Economics a competitive major at UCLA?
Economics and Business Economics are two of the most popular majors offered at UCLA. Our majors are competitive and the curriculum is rigorous, but it equips students with the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills needed for successful careers and advanced degrees in a variety of fields.
What GPA do you need for UCLA economics?
A 2.0 (C) grade is required in each pre-major course. To enter the major, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade-point average in the economics and mathematics preparation courses and a GPA of at least 2.0 in any upper-division courses taken for the major before applying.
UCLA Economics Major
There are three undergraduate economics-related degree programs offered at UCLA.
For information on these programs, please click on the links below.
CURRENT STUDENTS! To declare the Pre-Major in Economics, the Pre-Major in Business Economics, or the Economics major, please complete the Change of Major Request Form and submit the form to the Economics Undergraduate Counseling Office online via the MyUCLA Message Center. The subject title of the message should be: Change of Major Request Form.
For information on how to pursue a double major with one of our majors, please review our FAQs.
For inquiries about the Mathematics/Economics major – please contact the undergraduate staff in the Mathematics Department.
A helpful worksheet to use for program planning for the majors above is the quarter by quarter worksheet.
For information on the different majors offered at UCLA – click here.
For information on the different minors offered at UCLA – click here.
For additional information about the majors, minors, and undergraduate courses offered at UCLA – check out the Curricula and Courses section of the UCLA General Catalog.
Economics at University of California – Los Angeles
824BACHELOR’S DEGREES78MASTER’S DEGREES18DOCTOR’S DEGREESThe Economics major is part of the social sciences program at University of California – Los Angeles.
We’ve gathered data and other essential information about the program, such as the average salary of graduates, ethnicity of students, how many students graduated in recent times, and more. Also, learn how UCLA ranks among other schools offering degrees in economics.
Economics Degrees Available at UCLA
- Bachelor’s Degree in Economics
- Master’s Degree in Economics
- Doctorate Degree in Economics
UCLA Economics Rankings
UCLA is in the top 10% of the country for economics. More specifically it was ranked #39 out of 627 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #5 in California.
| Ranking Type | Rank |
|---|---|
| Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 1 |
| Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 8 |
| Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 12 |
| Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 14 |
| Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 20 |
| Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools | 26 |
| Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools | 27 |
| Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools | 39 |
| Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 41 |
| Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 54 |
| Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 79 |
| Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics | 252 |
Popularity of Economics at UCLA
During the 2019-2020 academic year, University of California – Los Angeles handed out 824 bachelor’s degrees in economics. Due to this, the school was ranked #1 in popularity out of all colleges and universities that offer this degree. This is an increase of 21% over the previous year when 683 degrees were handed out.
In 2020, 78 students received their master’s degree in economics from UCLA. This makes it the #12 most popular school for economics master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 18 students received their doctoral degrees in economics in 2020, making the school the #14 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
How Much Do Economics Graduates from UCLA Make?
$48,800 BACHELOR’S MEDIAN SALARY
Salary of Economics Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree
The median salary of economics students who receive their bachelor’s degree at UCLA is $48,800. This is higher than $44,300, which is the national median for all economics bachelor’s degree recipients.
How Much Student Debt Do Economics Graduates from UCLA Have?
$15,382BACHELOR’S MEDIAN DEBT
Student Debt of Economics Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree
While getting their bachelor’s degree at UCLA, economics students borrow a median amount of $15,382 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all economics bachelor’s degree recipients across the country is $21,666.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor’s degree student from the economics program at UCLA is $160 per month.
Economics Student Diversity at UCLA
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the economics majors at University of California – Los Angeles.
Is UCLA a Good Match for You?
UCLA Economics Bachelor’s Program
Of the 824 students who graduated with a Bachelor’s in economics from UCLA in 2020, 49% were men and 51% were women.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of California – Los Angeles with a bachelor’s in economics.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 249 |
| Black or African American | 16 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 102 |
| White | 193 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 198 |
| Other Races | 66 |
UCLA Economics Master’s Program
In the 2019-2020 academic year, 68 students earned a master’s degree in economics from UCLA. About 41% of these graduates were women and the other 59% were men.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of California – Los Angeles with a master’s in economics.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 8 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4 |
| White | 6 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 47 |
| Other Races | 3 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Economics
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sociology | 800 |
| Political Science & Government | 730 |
| Anthropology | 270 |
| Geography & Cartography | 168 |
| Other Social Sciences | 21 |
Economics Bachelors Of Arts Degree
The Economics BA program helps students examine how society produces and consumes goods, and it analyzes many real-world issues such as international trade, poverty, taxes, crime, and education. The curriculum provides students with thorough training in both theoretical and empirical approaches to real world problems, and it provides a framework in which to analyze human behavior. In doing so, students graduate with the skills needed for successful careers in a wide range of fields including finance, consulting, accounting, and government.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Economics major, students will have achieved the following learning objectives:
- Application of economic analyses to everyday life, and visualization of economics in real-world situations
- Application of learning to policy-relevant issues
- Ability to understand current events
- Ability to assess the likely impact of specific policies put forth by government entities
- Evaluation of the role played by assumptions in arguments made for and against economic and policy issues
- Use of quantitative evidence and economic models to assess the validity of economic and policy-relevant arguments
- Understanding of statistical methodology and interpretation of statistical evidence
- Use of data to construct quantitative economics arguments, and to understand the statistical problems associated with interpreting the results
- Understanding of the role of sample selection/endogeneity in affecting results, and how to correct for these issues
- Formulation of written arguments that state assumptions and hypotheses, and evaluation of their pros and cons based on evidence
- Oral presentation of a carefully reasoned economic argument, and response to related questions
- Graphic presentation of a carefully reasoned economic argument by means of graphs, figures, charts, and presentation software
- Working knowledge of information databases, and knowledge of how to use the Web in gathering reliable information
- Location and use of primary data sources such as surveys
- Use of knowledge gained to understand and evaluate current economic events and new economic ideas
Major Requirements
- Major requirements checklist, Prior to 20F (PDF)
- Major requirements checklist, declaring the major F20 and beyond (PDF)
- Official Requirements in 2021-2022 UCLA Catalog
- Economics Undergraduate Student Handbook
Courses
- Prerequisite Course Guide (PDF)
- Course Descriptions
New Econometrics Course (Econ 104/104L)
Course Description: In-depth discussion of multivariate regression. Introduction to estimation of multivariate regression, and confidence intervals and hypothesis tests in context of multivariate regression. Discussion of instrumental variables and binary choice models. Emphasis on hands-on experience on data analytics and real data applications.
This new statistics/econometrics sequence includes the following courses: Economics 41, 103/103L, and 104/104L. The sequence will incorporate active learning, including but not limited to, extensive empirical examples and exercises. Students who have completed this sequence will ultimately be expected to have learned how to program in R. The knowledge and skills to analyze data are becoming increasingly important, and considered highly desirable by graduate schools and potential employers. This new sequence will give students a competitive edge in the era of the big data.
Please click here for FAQs about this new course.
Additional Information
All students interested in the Economics and the Business Economics major should be on the Econ Counseling Listserv.
To declare the pre-major or major in Economics, please print the Department of Economics Change of Major request form and submit the form to the Economics Undergraduate Counselors in 2263 Bunche Hall for processing. For those occasions that the office is closed – please submit the form online via the MyUCLA Message Center. The subject title should be: Change of Major request form.
Please Note: The Bachelor of Arts in Economics is now classified as a STEM major (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics). This change is in effect for students with a Degree Expected Term of Fall Quarter 2019 or later. It does not apply retroactively. Also note that the degree designation remains a “Bachelor of Arts”.
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