Master of Arts [M.A.] [Economics] From Claremont Graduate University

Claremont Graduate University (CGU) Master of Arts (M.A.) Economics is a 36-unit, full-time, in-person graduate degree in Claremont, California. It has an estimated 12 to 18-month completion, requires a completed bachelor’s degree, and lists 2026-27 tuition at US$74,520 (INR 71.36 Lakhs) before living costs. Spring and Fall starts are published, with Spring 2027’s international final deadline on 15 November 2026.

The curriculum combines modern macroeconomics and microeconomic analysis with research tools, empirical methods, and practice-oriented faculty projects. It suits Indian applicants who want analyst or policy preparation alongside a possible PhD route, but the quantitative route requires readiness for mathematics, probability, statistics, and econometrics.

• Faculty research spans behavioral and experimental economics, applied econometrics, international finance, and development policy.
• The Economic Sciences department reports enrolling about 10 master’s students each year, which supports a compact graduate learning environment.
• Students may pursue the MA with another CGU degree, such as a PhD in Psychology or Education, with some units double counted.

Also Check: Claremont Graduate University Economics admission

Claremont Graduate University Economics Fees and Living Costs 2027

The Spring 2027 target cycle uses CGU’s 2026-27 standard tuition schedule, while living figures come from the university’s 12 to 15-unit semester budget. The table separates one-time charges, per-term charges, annual insurance, and the 36-unit tuition calculation so Indian applicants can build a funding plan.

Target-cycle fee context: CGU lists standard tuition at US$2,070 (INR 1.98 Lakhs) per unit for Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027. The MA requires 36 units.

Source: Claremont Graduate University 2026-27 tuition and fee schedules.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.763 as of 25 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

• The tuition figure is calculated as 36 required units × US$2,070 (INR 1.98 Lakhs per unit), so verify any later rate change before paying.
• The US$80 (INR 7,661) application fee and US$300 (INR 28,729) standard deposit are separate cash-flow items, although the deposit is credited to tuition.
• Per-semester charges and annual insurance can change when a 12 to 18-month enrolment crosses into a later academic year, so keep a rate-change reserve.

Cost of Living in Claremont for Economics Students

CGU’s 2026-27 Cost of Attendance (COA) assigns 12 to 15-unit students US$19,753 (INR 18.92 Lakhs) in non-tuition costs per semester. The calculated monthly averages below divide the official two-semester categories by 12 months, so they are planning averages rather than quoted monthly rents.

Source: Claremont Graduate University 2026-27 Cost of Attendance; monthly figures are calculated averages.

A calculated two-semester planning baseline is US$90,989 (INR 87.13 Lakhs). It combines 24 units of tuition, two semesters of non-tuition COA, two international services fees, and one annual insurance charge. The full 36-unit programme total is not confirmed because completion can require later-year rates.

ROI reality: The confirmed tuition is INR 71.36 Lakhs before living costs, so applicants should secure funding for the 36-unit requirement and a later-year cost contingency.

Claremont Graduate University Economics Admission 2027

Admission to the MA in Economics requires a completed bachelor’s degree, official academic records, a two to three-page statement of purpose, two recommendations, and a current resume. Most Indian applicants must also submit an approved English-proficiency score unless they qualify for a documented waiver.

Claremont Graduate University (CGU) does not publish a programme GPA minimum on the live MA page. Applicants should make quantitative preparation, research interests, and academic progression easy for faculty reviewers to assess.

CGU’s current requirements do not state a separate economics prerequisite or minimum GPA. The curriculum does, however, list Math for Economists as a prerequisite in the more quantitative research-tools option, so applicants should review their mathematics and statistics preparation before applying.

English Language Requirements for Indian Applicants

The TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language, IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, and PTE is the Pearson Test of English. CGU currently publishes both TOEFL score scales, so applicants must submit the scale reported by their test provider rather than convert it themselves.

CGU requires testing agencies to send official scores, and self-reported results are not treated as official. A waiver may be available when an applicant holds a degree from the United States or documents that English was the primary language of instruction for most of the degree.

• Schedule the English test early enough to receive an official score before the Spring 2027 international deadline of 15 November 2026.
• Use the IELTS no-subscore rule as a band-level check because an overall 7.0 alone is insufficient for direct entry.
• Document the language of instruction when seeking a waiver, because CGU requires evidence rather than an unsupported claim.
• Ask about the International Scholars Program if direct-entry scores are not ready, since its lower thresholds represent a pathway rather than direct MA entry.

Read More: Claremont Graduate University courses

Tip for Indian students: CGU publishes clear English thresholds but no programme GPA minimum, so use the statement of purpose and transcript to prove quantitative readiness.

Claremont Graduate University Economics Application 2027

For the MA in Economics, Spring 2027 is the earliest published intake with an international final deadline, and the CGU application portal lists Spring 2027 as an available term. Submit by the priority deadline when possible because CGU links that stage to maximum consideration for admission and fellowships.

CGU’s general admissions page says decisions are issued within one month, but it does not publish a programme-specific decision date. The programme page and application portal also carry inconsistent status wording, so confirm that Economics is selectable before submitting the US$80 (INR 7,661) non-refundable fee.

Published 2027 application dates: CGU does not publish a clock time or timezone for these deadlines, so an exact Indian Standard Time conversion cannot be calculated. The portal controls the final cutoff, and the official calendar dates are:

Spring applicants should aim for 1 November 2026 rather than the international final date because the priority stage is tied to fellowship consideration. Fall applicants have more preparation time, but the 1 June 2027 international cutoff remains the last published date for visa processing and enrolment work.

Application Components for Economics

The strongest application connects the required documents to the MA’s research-tools choices instead of presenting unrelated credentials. CGU’s faculty make graduate admission decisions in the proposed field, so the file should show why the chosen economics direction matches prior preparation.

• Use the two to three-page statement to identify an economics research interest, explain relevant quantitative preparation, and state a realistic career or doctoral objective.
• Ask two recommenders to address analytical ability, research discipline, and readiness for graduate-level economics rather than only general character.
• Send official transcripts from every degree-granting institution and keep a final degree certificate ready for the admission stage.
• Submit GRE results only when they strengthen a transcript that does not fully show mathematical or analytical ability, because the General Test is optional.

Scores and documents should be assembled before the priority stage because official testing-agency delivery and transcript processing can outlast the writing of the application itself. Indian applicants should also retain proof of English instruction if they plan to request a waiver.

Application tip: Finish the evidence-heavy parts of the file before 1 November 2026, then use the portal to confirm that Spring 2027 Economics remains selectable before submission.

Claremont Graduate University Economics Scholarships 2027

CGU automatically considers applicants for fellowships, but the current MA Economics page does not publish a target-cycle award amount, award deadline, or guaranteed remission. The university’s general admissions page reports more than US$16 million (INR 153.22 Crore) in annual fellowships. It also says 87% of students receive some fellowship funding, which is university-wide evidence rather than an Economics award guarantee.

The Economic Sciences department lists named awards for master’s and doctoral students, while the department page does not state whether each award is available to incoming Spring 2027 students. Treat these as funding routes to verify with the department, not as confirmed reductions to the US$74,520 (INR 71.36 Lakhs) tuition.

Named Economic Sciences funding routes: The following awards are described on the current department page, and their target-cycle amounts and deadlines are not published there.

For Indian applicants, the JN Tata Endowment supports overseas master’s study with a loan scholarship of up to INR 20 Lakhs. Its 2026-27 application window is closed, and the next window is not published. The official JN Tata Endowment information states that the loan is repayable, so model it as finance rather than a fee waiver.

• The Mahindra postgraduate scholarship lists up to INR 10 Lakhs for its top three fellows or INR 5 Lakhs for others, but applications for 2026 are closed.
• The National Overseas Scholarship is a category-restricted Government of India route for eligible master’s applicants, so nationality alone does not establish eligibility.
• Because CGU has not published an Economics award value or deadline, do not subtract fellowship money from the funding proof until a written award is issued.

Also Check: Scholarships for master’s study in the USA

Scholarship reality: CGU offers several relevant funding routes, but the missing Economics-specific amount means the safe plan is to fund the full tuition and living baseline first.

Claremont Graduate University Economics Salary 2027

The MA Economics page reports alumni destinations and roles, but it does not publish a course-cohort salary, offer rate, employment rate, or named graduating class. That limitation means the figures below show career evidence and market context, not a typical CGU graduate salary.

The academic proposition is strongest for applicants who want economics research, policy analysis, or data-heavy analyst work. The curriculum includes macroeconomics, microeconomics, research tools, and a quantitative econometrics route. The tradeoff is that the US$74,520 (INR 71.36 Lakhs) tuition must be weighed against an outcome dataset that is not reported as a cohort measure.

Course-level alumni evidence: CGU’s MA Economics page lists the following destinations and roles without cohort dates or placement rates.

Source: Claremont Graduate University MA Economics alumni destinations.

The Economic Sciences department separately reports alumni placements at the Bank of Korea, Central Bank of Indonesia, Central Bank of Tanzania, and UBS. It also lists academic roles at the Indian Statistical Institute and universities. These are department-level examples without a cohort denominator, so they prove possible paths rather than placement probability.

External Salary Benchmarks

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports occupational wages, not CGU graduate outcomes. Its May 2024 economist data shows a national median and industry medians that can frame the host-country market after a student has the required work authorization.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Economists, May 2024 data.

ROI for Indian Applicants

The rationality of this professional and research-oriented MA depends on converting quantitative training into a verified role. CGU publishes no course salary or employment rate.

• The confirmed tuition is US$74,520 (INR 71.36 Lakhs), so calculate affordability against the full 36-unit requirement before treating a market median as a repayment assumption.
• Named alumni roles include data analyst, senior analyst, empirical research manager, and market research manager, so build a portfolio that demonstrates the specific role family you will pursue.
• CGU lists the programme as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) designated with a possible 36-month work window, so verify degree classification and authorisation conditions.
• CGU has not published an Economics fellowship amount, so keep the gross tuition and living baseline in your funding plan until an award is confirmed.
• Department examples include the Indian Statistical Institute and international central banks, so applicants planning an India return should map the curriculum to policy, research, or analytics roles at home.

BLS wages are gross occupational benchmarks before taxes, benefits, and local costs. Use a current take-home calculator for the job location rather than treating the median as disposable income.

Check Out: Economics universities in the Los Angeles region

ROI reality: The MA offers STEM-listed quantitative training and documented alumni paths, but the missing course-cohort outcomes make funding certainty and role-specific preparation central to the decision.

United States Visa for Claremont Economics Students 2027

International students in the in-person MA use F-1 status, the U.S. academic student classification, after admission, a Form I-20, and financial proof. The US$185 visa application fee (INR 17,716) and US$350 I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee (INR 33,517) are separate from CGU charges. CGU lists MA Economics among its STEM programmes, where STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Eligible graduates may seek 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a further 24-month STEM extension, subject to federal conditions. H-1B is an employer-sponsored specialty-occupation work status used by some graduates.

• The initial OPT window is up to 12 months, while an eligible STEM extension can add 24 months; verify degree coding and employer conditions before relying on 36 months.
• Pay the US$185 (INR 17,716) visa fee and US$350 (INR 33,517) SEVIS fee only after the admission and Form I-20 process establishes the correct payment steps.
• For later H-1B sponsorship, the employer must pay the higher of the actual or prevailing wage for the role and location, with no course-linked salary threshold.
• F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but each dependant needs an individual Form I-20 and visa, and F-2 dependants cannot work.

The United States has no fixed course-linked timeline to lawful permanent residence, also called a green card. A later employment-based route depends on the sponsoring employer, immigrant category, country chargeability, and priority date, so the MA should not be presented as a settlement route.

Read More: U.S. post-study work visa rules

Visa reality: CGU’s STEM listing may support a 36-month work-authorisation strategy for eligible graduates. Verify the programme classification and secure the right status before relying on it.