Master of Arts [M.A] [Economics] From University of Memphis

University of Memphis Master of Arts in Economics is a two-year, 33-credit, full-time, on-campus degree in Memphis, Tennessee. It requires a bachelor’s-equivalent degree and GPA 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, roughly 55% to 65% or CGPA 5.5 to 6.5 on 10. For Spring 2027, tuition is calculated at US$1,092 per credit (INR 1.05 Lakhs), with a four-semester total of US$39,237 (INR 37.57 Lakhs).

The programme trains students in economic theory, econometrics, data handling and cost-benefit analysis. Its distinctive choice is between a comprehensive examination and a thesis, so it can serve either a professional analytics path or a PhD-oriented academic path. It suits applicants with economics or mathematics preparation who want rigorous applied analysis, but the 33-credit core requires consistent quantitative work.

• The 21-credit economics core covers seven named graduate courses before the 12-credit elective component.
• A comprehensive examination tests microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, while an approved thesis can replace one or two electives.
• The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) partnership offers a route to the Certified Business Economist designation.

Also Check: University of Memphis graduate admission

University of Memphis MA Economics Fees and Living Costs 2027

The target-cycle fee appears in the University’s 2026-27 international graduate schedule. It charges US$1,092 tuition per credit (INR 1.05 Lakhs) plus a capped service fee per semester.

Because MA Economics requires 33 credits, the table separates tuition from a four-semester service-fee illustration; actual billing changes if course loads or semesters change.

Source: University of Memphis 2026-27 international graduate fee schedule and graduate application fee page.

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.

• Tuition: 33 credits multiplied by US$1,092 (INR 1.05 Lakhs) equals US$36,036 (INR 34.51 Lakhs) before service fees.
• Service fees: The 9, 9, 9, 6 pattern totals US$3,201 (INR 3.07 Lakhs) from three 9-credit and one 6-credit service fee.
• Application cost: The US$60 international graduate application fee (INR 5,746) is separate from tuition and is non-refundable.

The fee schedule says international fees are charged per hour with no maximum, while the University Service Fee is capped after 10 credits in a semester. Fogelman College course fees or materials fees may be added when applicable, so confirm the final billing statement on the 2026-27 international graduate fee schedule before paying.

Cost of Living in Memphis for MA Economics Students

The University’s 2025-26 international graduate estimate lists US$23,367 (INR 22.38 Lakhs) annually for housing and food, books, transport and personal expenses.

These figures are an official planning estimate, not a visa maintenance figure, and the university notes actual costs may be higher or lower. Monthly values below are calculated by dividing each annual component by 12, while housing and food remain combined because the university does not publish a separate split.

The university’s cost-of-attendance page includes tuition and fees in its total but describes housing and food, books, transport and personal expenses as separate components. For a two-year budget, use those components separately from the target fee illustration because health insurance and travel are not itemized on the page.

Calculated prior-cycle planning illustration for living costs: target-cycle fees are US$39,237 (INR 37.57 Lakhs). Two years of US$23,367 annual living costs equal US$46,734 (INR 44.75 Lakhs), producing US$85,971 (INR 82.33 Lakhs).

Application, visa, travel, health insurance and course-specific charges are excluded because the official cost page does not include them.

Read More: USA cost of living for international students

Key insight: The 2026-27 fee schedule makes tuition calculable, but the total depends on credit distribution and per-semester service fees. Confirm the actual course load and billing statement before funding the programme.

University of Memphis MA Economics Admission 2027

Admission requires a bachelor’s-equivalent degree, GPA 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, MATH 1830 or MATH 1910 or equivalent, official transcripts and two faculty recommendations.

The programme also lists the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) if applicable, but publishes no course-specific minimum. The graduate minimum identifies the review pool, not a guaranteed admit, and departments may set higher standards.

No official Indian conversion is published, so 55% to 65% or CGPA 5.5 to 6.5 on 10 is rough planning only. The university makes the final equivalency decision from submitted academic records.

Academic eligibility for MA Economics

The academic screen is quantitative because the curriculum begins with economic theory, econometrics and graduate-level analysis. Indian applicants should map each mathematics prerequisite to a transcript course before submitting the application.

The programme coordinator may waive the mathematics prerequisite when prior preparation is sufficient, but the current page does not define an automatic waiver threshold.

The 2.75 GPA threshold is the published floor, while the Graduate School says programmes select competitively and can set higher standards. A strong mathematics record can therefore strengthen an application that sits near the minimum.

No programme-specific ranking from QS, Times Higher Education, Financial Times or U.S. News was verified, so an overall university position is not used as an MA Economics ranking.

English Language Proficiency for international applicants

English Language Proficiency (ELP) evidence is required for international students unless an approved exemption applies. The University of Memphis lists several accepted routes, and some departments can require higher scores.

TOEFL means Test of English as a Foreign Language, IELTS means International English Language Testing System, PTE means Pearson Test of English and DET means Duolingo English Test.

The current policy states TOEFL 550 on paper, 80 on the internet-based test before January 2026 and 4 on the internet-based test from January 2026 onward. Verify the exact score route on the current Graduate School ELP policy before submitting.

• Keep English test scores within the university’s two-year validity window and send official reports directly after uploading the application copy.
• Use the post-January 2026 TOEFL score exactly as published because the university does not provide a self-conversion instruction.
• Map MATH 1830 or MATH 1910 to your transcript and retain course outlines if the course title differs.

Tip for Indian students: The 2.75 GPA minimum can start review, but mathematics preparation, English proof and faculty recommendations shape the file. Resolve the GRE or GMAT wording before choosing a test-free application strategy.

University of Memphis MA Economics Application 2027

Spring 2027 is the target intake because it is the earliest future start with an applicant-accessible deadline. The Fogelman College deadline table lists 15 November 2026 for international specialized master’s applicants, including Economics.

The same table lists 1 March 2027 for Summer 2027 and 15 May 2027 for Fall 2027. The official FCBE deadline table publishes submission cutoffs, while programme decision dates are not published.

The Graduate Admissions page says applications are generally available about one year before the intended term. The portal closes at 12:00 a.m. EST on the deadline date, which converts the Spring 2027 cutoff to 10:30 a.m. IST on 15 November 2026.

Application timeline and deadlines

The schedule below uses the international-applicant row for the Specialized Masters group containing Economics. Decision dates are not listed, so department review and Graduate Admissions notification follow submission without a published service time.

The earlier Spring deadline matters for Indian applicants because transcript delivery, English-score reporting and visa documentation can sit outside the programme’s review process. Submit a complete file before the cutoff rather than treating the broader university recommendation as the course deadline.

Application components and order

The current MA page requires a graduate application, prior academic records, mathematics preparation and faculty recommendations. The file is reviewed by the department before Graduate Admissions communicates the final decision.

The current FCBE page says GRE or GMAT scores are required if applicable, while the classic international admissions page requires them for international graduate admission. This is an official wording conflict. Obtain written confirmation from the Economics coordinator before finalising the test plan.

• Submit the Spring 2027 application by 15 November 2026 and retain proof of submission from the portal.
• Order official transcripts and English scores early because the department cannot review an incomplete file.
• Keep the mathematics syllabus ready when an Indian course title does not match MATH 1830 or MATH 1910.

Read More: University of Memphis graduate programmes

Application tip: Use 15 November 2026 as the controlling Spring 2027 deadline because it belongs to the Economics specialized-master’s group. Resolve the GRE or GMAT conflict and finish the file before the portal cutoff.

University of Memphis MA Economics Scholarships 2027

Two funding routes can materially lower cost for this applicant profile: the Graduate Non-Resident Merit Scholarship and full-time graduate assistantships. A separate Economics fellowship exists, but its 2026-27 deadline has passed and its amount is not published.

The merit award requires a 3.25 equivalent GPA or a specified test alternative, is admissions-based and needs no separate application. Students receiving assistantships or other university funding are excluded from that merit award.

Funding routes for international MA Economics applicants

The table separates a current published award from department-controlled funding and a closed Economics-specific fellowship. None should be deducted from the budget until eligibility and the award year are confirmed in writing.

The Graduate Non-Resident Merit Scholarship is current published, but the university does not label its next award cycle separately from the admissions process. Ask whether a Spring 2027 admit receives the award for the remaining academic year.

• Maintain full-time fall and spring enrollment and a 3.0 University of Memphis GPA to retain the merit scholarship.
• Treat assistantship funding as uncertain because departments control offers and the stipend varies by appointment.
• Do not rely on the Barbara Tuckman Fellowship for Spring 2027 because the published 2026-27 application window is already closed.

The Part-Time Master’s Graduate Scholarship offers US$4,000 (INR 3.83 Lakhs) across two semesters for 3 to 8 credits. It is designed for part-time students and does not match the standard full-time MA Economics mode.

Read More: Scholarships for Indian master’s applicants

Scholarship reality: The merit scholarship can reduce one academic year’s charges, but target-cycle eligibility is not separately confirmed. Apply with the full fee plan and treat an assistantship as competitive funding rather than expected income.

University of Memphis MA Economics Salary 2027

The University of Memphis does not publish a course-specific MA Economics salary, offer rate or placement table. The programme page instead reports academic destinations and professional directions, so its evidence supports pathway choice rather than a typical graduate pay claim.

The department also cites a US$115,400 2025 median salary (INR 1.11 Crore) for an economist with a master’s degree. This is a university-cited external market benchmark, not a University of Memphis graduate outcome.

Course and department career evidence

The academic route is supported by named PhD destinations, while the professional route points to consulting, data analytics and finance. Neither route includes cohort size, offer rate, salary distribution or international-student outcomes.

Source: University of Memphis MA Economics programme page and Department of Economics page.

External salary benchmark

BLS means U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The department page identifies BLS as the source for its economist figure, and a median is the midpoint of an occupation-wide wage distribution.

The benchmark is gross occupation-level pay and cannot be used as a course placement rate or loan repayment guarantee. Take-home pay varies with tax, location and benefits, so use a current U.S. tax calculator before modelling repayment.

Return on Investment for Indian applicants

Return on Investment (ROI) is a mixed academic and professional decision. The calculated two-year fee-and-living illustration is US$85,971 (INR 82.33 Lakhs), while course-specific salary and offer-rate data are unpublished.

• Cost risk: The illustration combines US$39,237 fees (INR 37.57 Lakhs) with US$46,734 living costs (INR 44.75 Lakhs), so verify insurance and travel funding.
• Outcome scope: The programme names PhD destinations and career areas but publishes no salary or offer rate, so request recent international outcomes before using debt.
• Academic value: The thesis or comprehensive-exam choice supports different doctoral and professional plans, so select the route that matches your intended next credential.
• Host-country work window: The MA is STEM-designated and may support three years of US work through extended OPT, so confirm the I-20 classification.
• India-return risk: No India-return salary benchmark is published, so compare an India-specific role offer separately rather than importing the US$115,400 market median (INR 1.11 Crore).

The external figure is gross pay rather than take-home income, and taxes can materially change repayment capacity. Use a current tax calculator and include the loan interest rate in any personal model.

Check Out: University of Memphis university profile

ROI reality: The MA offers a credible academic pathway and a STEM-designated work option, but it does not publish course salary or offer-rate evidence. Treat the external median as market context and verify current international outcomes before borrowing.

United States Visa for Memphis MA Economics Students 2027

International students use F-1 student status for this full-time on-campus degree after admission and Form I-20 issuance. Form I-20 is the university certificate used to support the student visa process.

The Department of State lists a US$185 visa application fee (INR 17,716), and the I-901 SEVIS fee is US$350 (INR 33,517). SEVIS means Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which tracks international student status.

Source: U.S. Department of State student visa guidance and current I-901 fee instructions.

H-1B means temporary specialty-occupation status for a qualifying job. It is employer-sponsored and has no single course-specific salary threshold, while the wage must meet the higher of the actual or prevailing wage.

• OPT, Optional Practical Training: Standard post-completion work authorization is generally up to 12 months, while the MA page says its STEM designation may support three years of US work.
• STEM extension: A 24-month extension requires the exact degree classification, an eligible E-Verify employer and the required training plan, so confirm the CIP code with the international office.
• H-1B transition: Employer sponsorship, specialty-occupation duties, prevailing-wage compliance and visa availability control the next status after OPT.
• Dependants: F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but F-2 dependants are not employment-authorized.

Permanent residence is not automatic after the MA or OPT. An employer or another qualifying sponsor must pursue an employment-based immigrant category, and no course-specific settlement timeline can be promised.

Check Out: USA student visa requirements

Visa reality: The programme page identifies the MA as STEM-designated, but the extended work period still depends on the exact degree classification and employer conditions. Confirm the I-20 classification before treating post-study work as part of your funding plan.