College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Applications

Thank you for your interest in the Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) M.S. or Ph.D. program! This page explains how to apply and the criteria we use to evaluate applications. Please scroll down for information on: 

• How to Apply & Application Deadlines 
• Application Checklist 
• Details on Application Components 
• Admission Criteria 
• Previous Academic Performance & Preparation 
• GRE Performance 
• Leadership & Service 
• Admissions Process 
• Visiting 

How To Apply & Application Deadlines

• The application period for consideration for the Fall 2025 cohort is now closed. 

• The application period for consideration for the Fall 2026 cohort will begin in August 2025.  Please plan to apply by December 15, 2025, for full consideration of funding. 

• All applicants must apply online. 

• There is an application fee. The fee must be paid before documents can be uploaded in the application portal. Only complete applications are reviewed. We do not offer application fee waivers. 

• International applicants: Please review the information here from the MSU Graduate School regarding requirements for international applicants. Please note that when you apply to our program, you do not need to submit proof of financial support. If you are recommended for admission and are self-funding or are being funded from an external source, that is when proof of financial support will be required. However, if you have funding from an external source, please discuss this in your academic statement.  

Application Checklist 

A complete application consists of the following items. Details on each item are provided in the next section.  

• Transcripts and diplomas from each higher education institution attended 
• Official GRE scores 
• Official English language proficiency scores for non-exempt international students 
• Personal statement 
• Academic statement 
• A table summarizing all math, microeconomics, probability/statistics, and econometrics courses taken 
• CV or resume 
• Three letters of recommendation 

Details on Application Components 

• Copies of official transcripts and diplomas from each higher education institution you have attended will be required. You should arrange to have these sent directly to the MSU Office of Admissions from your institution(s). You can upload unofficial transcripts and diplomas in the application portal, and we can use these to do initial evaluations of applications. However, if you are recommended for admission to the program, official transcripts and diplomas sent from your degree-granting institution(s) directly to the Office of Admissions will be required for your admission to be finalized. Please be sure to include Fall Semester 2024 transcripts if you take courses this semester. International applicants: Please also review the MSU Graduate School’s requirements for transcripts under the “International Transcripts” section here. 
• Official GRE scores (for all students), using MSU’s institution code, 1465, must be uploaded from your testing institution. This requirement is not waived. 
• Official TOEFL iBT scores (for non-exempt international students), using MSU’s institution code, 1465, must be uploaded from your testing institution. MSU is also currently accepting IELTS Indicator and Duolingo English test scores. International applicants: Please see the MSU Graduate School’s information on English language competency requirements here for further details, including minimum score requirements for regular admission; please carefully review this information before inquiring about waivers.  
• Personal and academic statements are required and can be completed as part of your web application or uploaded as separate documents in the application portal.  
  • Your personal statement should outline your life’s journey, how you came to your decision to pursue graduate studies in agricultural, food, and resource economics, and any obstacles you have overcome in your personal life or academic/professional journey. If you have held leadership positions in academic or community organizations, done volunteering or community service work, or promoted educational  belonging, please discuss this in your personal statement and include relevant entries in the CV/resume you submit with your application.  
  • Your academic statement should describe the areas of study in agricultural, food, or resource economics that most interest you, particular research topics or questions you wish to explore during your graduate studies (if known at the time of application), and your career goals. If there are particular AFRE faculty that you would be interested in working with, please discuss who and why in your academic statement. A discussion of how your research goals align with those of specific AFRE faculty is also helpful. We recommend that you mention 3-5 faculty members with research interests that align with yours.  
  • There is no length requirement for the personal and academic statements. The statements are reviewed as part of our holistic admissions review process, and also play a role in identifying applicants to nominate for central MSU funding opportunities (e.g., Academic Achievement Graduate Assistantship (AAGA) or University Distinguished Fellowship (UDF) funding). 
• A table summarizing all math, microeconomics, probability/statistics, and econometrics courses taken must be uploaded in the application portal. Applicants should include the following information about each course: the institution where the course was taken, the course number, course title, a list of the main topics covered in the course, and course grade.   
• You will also upload your CV or resume in the application portal. 
• Three letters of recommendation must be completed and sent via the application portal by your recommenders. Instructions are provided to recommenders during the application process. 
• You can request financial support for your program during the application process. No separate application is required to be considered for funding. Please see our Funding page for information on funding opportunities for AFRE graduate students.  

The application must be complete before the AFRE Admissions Committee can evaluate a prospective student for admission and funding.  

Admission Criteria  

Admission to AFRE graduate programs is competitive. We are only able to accept around 12-15 new students for admission each year, including both M.S. and Ph.D. We take a holistic approach to admissions and consider many factors, including previous academic background and performance, GRE scores, previous work and life experiences, service and leadership potential, and the consistency of applicant research interests with ongoing research programs in the Department.  

Previous Academic Performance & Preparation 

Successful M.S. applicants will generally have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Successful Ph.D. applicants will generally have at least a 3.5 grade point average in their M.S. program or an exceptionally strong undergraduate degree performance. The quality of the degree-granting institution is considered, and strong grades are expected in math, statistics/econometrics, and microeconomics.  

M.S. applicants should have taken Calculus I and II, introductory and intermediate microeconomics, and at least one semester of probability/statistics.  

Ph.D. applicants that have completed (or are completing) an M.S. degree should have taken master’s level courses in mathematics for economists, microeconomics, probability/statistics, and econometrics. The mathematics for economists course should cover multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and real analysis concepts. If it does not cover some of these topics, separate math courses covering the topic(s) should be taken. 

Ph.D. applicants without M.S.-level training should have taken advanced undergraduate-level courses in microeconomics, probability/statistics, and econometrics, as well as multivariable calculus (or Calculus III), linear algebra, and real analysis. 

Strong Ph.D. program applicants lacking real analysis will be considered but will be required to complete an online or in-person course on or undertake focused self-directed study in real analysis prior to the beginning of fall semester in preparation for Ph.D.-level microeconomic theory. Alternatively, Ph.D. program applicants needing additional math preparation may complete one year in the AFRE M.S. program to bolster their preparation for the Ph.D. program. Conditional on strong performance in Year 1 master’s courses, such students can apply to transfer directly to the Ph.D. program. 

GRE Performance  

AFRE requires the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for all applicants. We do not accept the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). There is no absolute GRE score requirement, and GRE scores for admitted applicants vary considerably. However, GRE scores in the 70th percentile or higher will increase chances of acceptance. The Quantitative Reasoning component of the GRE is given the most weight.  

Leadership & Service

Along with other admission criteria, AFRE reviews each application for the potential to contribute via leadership and service to the Department, University, and profession. As a graduate program, we are committed to well-being and belonging in higher education. We encourage applicants to reflect in their personal and academic statements on their potential leadership and service contributions to MSU and the broader community.

Admissions Process 

AFRE employs a two-step application screening procedure. Once an application is complete, it goes to the departmental graduate admissions committee. 

• If an applicant meets basic requirements (e.g., meets the criteria outlined in the Previous Academic Performance & Preparation section and other sections above, and has research interests that broadly align with AFRE focal areas), the prospective student profile is provided to the faculty for matching based on interests stated in the application and documented skills.  
• An applicant is recommended for admission if they are:
  • (a) deemed admissible by the admissions committee, and
  • (b) a faculty member indicates a willingness to advise the applicant

Prospective students are welcome to contact AFRE faculty to explore shared interests. However, applicants cannot secure an advisor before applying given AFRE’s admissions process. 

Visiting  

Prospective graduate students are welcome to visit the Department. In the spring of each year, the Department holds a visit day when a group of prospective students can learn about our programs and meet with faculty members, current graduate students, and staff. The visit day is the best time to visit, but students who want to come at a different time are also welcome. Please contact the AFRE Academic Program Coordinator for the graduate program if you would like to arrange a visit.