Bachelor of Science [B.S] [Economics] From Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University Bachelor of Science in Economics is a 4-year full-time on-campus degree offered in fall and spring intakes. The program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and English proficiency (TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5+). Total cost runs US$197,840 (INR 1.89 Crore) for four years including tuition and living expenses. Open to international students with F1 visas and STEM OPT eligibility.

Economics at Texas A&M trains students for careers in policy analysis, corporate strategy, data science, and research. The program sits in a department with 1,200 undergraduates and a strong reputation in national research communities. What sets this degree apart is the balance between theory and applied econometrics, plus partnerships with universities like Erasmus Rotterdam for exchange semesters. Ideal applicants have analytical thinking skills, interest in quantitative methods, and plans to work in finance, government, or research.

• Access to one of the nation’s largest economics faculties and research resources in a single program.
• STEM-designated degree unlocks 24-month OPT extension for US work experience after graduation.
• Embedded study-abroad pathway through Erasmus Rotterdam with comparable costs to on-campus semesters.

Also Check: Texas A&M Economics Admission Requirements

Texas A&M Economics Fees and Living Costs 2026

International students at Texas A&M pay tuition on a per-credit-hour basis. Economics majors take approximately 120-130 credit hours over four years. Here is the annual fee breakdown for the 2026 academic year.

Source: Texas A&M Student Business Services 2026 Fee Schedule

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$1 = INR 95.77 as of June 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

• Tuition covers 120-130 credit hours; additional hours charged at the same per-credit rate.
• Mandatory fees include International Student Services (US$150/semester), technology, and facility fees.
• Health insurance is non-waivable; private plans may be cheaper—check the International Student Services office.
• Books cost varies by semester; spring semesters typically cost less than fall.

Cost of Living in College Station for Economics Students

College Station has a cost-of-living index of 0.95, meaning it is slightly cheaper than the US national average. Housing is the largest expense for international students in the off-campus private market.

Tip for Indian students: Shared housing with other international students can reduce costs by 10–15%. Texas A&M’s off-campus marketplace (Aggie Housing) has listings specifically for international students, and many Indian students live in shared units near campus to keep housing under US$400/month.

Texas A&M Economics Admission Requirements 2026

Texas A&M Economics admits students for two intakes per year. Fall intake is the primary pathway; spring intake is more competitive and has fewer seats.

Undergraduate economics requires strong performance in calculus and statistics; most admitted students have pre-requisite grades of A- or higher. Texas A&M does not require the GRE for undergraduate admission, but a competitive SAT Math score (700+) or ACT Math (32+) helps.

English Language Proficiency for Economics Students

All international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency. Texas A&M accepts TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo. Economics coursework involves heavy reading of academic papers and quantitative writing, so realistic minimums are higher than the stated floor.

• TOEFL 90+ or IELTS 7.0+ is the realistic entry point for Indian applicants to comfortably follow lectures and write papers in economics courses.
• IELTS is available globally and recognized in India; test centers in all metro areas with results in 5-7 days.
• Duolingo is fastest (results in 48 hours) and cheapest (US$49); TOEFL or IELTS preferred for competitive applications.

Texas A&M is ranked 26th in the US News National Universities Ranking 2024, one of the top public universities in the country. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (which houses economics in the broader social sciences cluster) ranks in the top 15 nationally for research output in applied economics.

Honest take: The TOEFL/IELTS minimums are achievable for Indian applicants with 3-4 months of focused prep, especially if your math foundation is strong. The economics program prioritizes quantitative ability over English fluency, but weak writing will show in coursework submissions.

Texas A&M Economics Application Timeline 2026

Economics applications open in September for both fall and spring intakes. Deadlines are firm; late applications are automatically rejected by the admissions portal.

Candidates need WES credential evaluation for Indian bachelor’s transcripts (5-10 business days turnaround). Letters of recommendation should come from teachers in quantitative subjects (mathematics, physics, or economics); avoid generic academic references.

Application tip: For fall 2027, Indian applicants should start gathering documents in July 2026 and have WES evaluation requested by August. The January deadline leaves only 5 months from application opening, so early prep prevents last-minute credential delays that can cost you the intake.

Texas A&M Economics Scholarships 2026

Texas A&M offers merit scholarships to international undergraduate students, but awards are highly competitive and capped at approximately 10–15% of direct costs for economics majors. Scholarships are need-blind and based solely on academic record.

Typical economics scholarship range is US$5,000 to US$15,000 per year (INR 478,850 to INR 1,436,550). A student awarded US$10,000 annually reduces the 4-year tuition burden from US$141,840 to US$101,840 (INR 1.35 Crore to INR 97.5 Lakhs).

Texas A&M also participates in the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship (India quota ~50 total; economics eligible). Fulbright covers full tuition plus living stipend but is extremely competitive (acceptance rate ~2% for India). Additional scholarships exist through specific departments—check the Department of Economics website.

Scholarship reality: International scholarships at Texas A&M are tied to first-generation, underrepresented background, and exceptional test scores. Indian applicants are not underrepresented, so merit awards typically target first-generation students or those from smaller Indian cities. Plan your finances on zero scholarship; any award is a bonus.

Read More: Texas A&M International Student Scholarships

Texas A&M Economics Salary and Graduate Outcomes 2026

Economics graduates from Texas A&M enter roles in financial analysis, policy research, management consulting, and data science. Median starting salary is US$55,000 (INR 52.68 Lakhs) gross for bachelor’s graduates entering corporate roles.

Source: Texas A&M Career Services 2025 Graduate Outcome Report

Take-home salary after federal and state tax (~25–30%) runs US$38,500 to US$41,250 (INR 36.85 Lakhs to INR 39.50 Lakhs) for the US$55,000 median. This is gross; actual net depends on state, exemptions, and loan repayment. Use the NBER tax calculator to estimate your specific scenario.

ROI reality: A four-year investment of INR 1.89 Crore recovers in 4.5 to 5 years of salary, assuming you work immediately after graduation. If you do a master’s degree after, payback extends to 6-7 years. However, visa sponsorship for H1B is not guaranteed; plan to return to India after OPT if your employer does not apply.

United States Visa and Work Rights for Economics Graduates

Graduates of the Texas A&M Economics degree are eligible for the F1 Student Visa throughout their program. After graduation, you are entitled to a post-study work permit called the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period.

• Base OPT duration is 12 months for all bachelor’s degrees; this covers the practical application of your degree after graduation.
• STEM extension adds 24 additional months (total 36 months) because economics is a STEM-designated discipline in the US for OPT purposes; this is exceptionally valuable for international graduates seeking US work experience.
• H1B skilled-worker visa sponsorship is available if your employer applies; there is no salary floor mandated, but market rates typically start at US$60,000 for economics graduates.
• Spouse/dependent visas (F2) are available; if you marry during your degree, your spouse can apply for F2 dependent status but cannot work on F2.

Permanent residency (Green Card) timelines vary; STEM field applicants have a slight advantage under the EB2 category, with processing times of 3-5 years from H1B sponsorship. Indian nationals experience longer queues due to per-country limits.

Visa reality: The 36-month OPT (12 base + 24 STEM) is your window to secure H1B sponsorship or establish a foothold in the US job market. Use your entire OPT window before returning to India; many companies sponsor H1B in your third OPT year if you’ve proven value. Visa sponsorship is not guaranteed, so maintain your Indian credentials and consider returning home if no sponsorship materializes.

Check Out: US F1 Student Visa and OPT Pathway

Texas A&M Economics Ranking 2026

Texas A&M Economics is a globally ranked discipline within the university. The program holds strong recognition across multiple authoritative rankings.

THE’s Business & Economics ranking places Texas A&M in the top 100 globally and reflects the strength of the economics faculty research output. The QS ranking recognizes the program’s reputation among employers and academics. These rankings are discipline-level (not program-level), so they reflect the entire business and economics cluster rather than economics alone.

Honest take: Texas A&M’s economics program is well-regarded in the US and globally recognized, but it does not carry the prestige of an Ivy League or MIT Sloan. Graduates from Texas A&M land good jobs in consulting and data science, but not at the same rate as top-5 tier schools. The degree opens doors; it’s not a credential that guarantees anything.