How to Apply to Engineering at the University of Kentucky: Five Math and GPA Pathways into the Pigman College of Engineering, a Required First-Year Engineering Program and Engineering Standing Before Upper-Level Courses, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

At the University of Kentucky (UK), undergraduate engineering is offered by the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. Based on UK’s website, this guide is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computer science is also in this college and has its own guide on this site, so it is only mentioned briefly.

1. Majors

• Undergraduate majors: the college lists 14 undergraduate major programs. Its bachelor’s list includes aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, biomedical, biosystems, chemical, civil and computer engineering, computer engineering technology, computer science, electrical engineering, lean systems engineering technology, materials, mechanical and mining engineering, plus Exploratory Studies in Engineering.
• Paducah campus: chemical and mechanical engineering are also offered through the Paducah Extended Campus Program, where lower-division students pay West Kentucky Community and Technical College rates.
• Other programs: an Engineering/MBA dual degree, the SEAM honors program and Accelerated Master’s Pathways; the college runs a co-op program and an Engineering Living Learning Program.
• ABET accreditation: the college pages we read do not list accreditation by program; check ABET’s website or each department.

2. Admission: into the college first, then engineering standing

• Selective majors: UK Admissions lists the Pigman College of Engineering among colleges with selective majors; applicants choosing a selective major may be placed in an alternate major until a final decision.
• Five pathways into engineering (first-time freshmen meet one):
  • ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590 and an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0;
  • completion of high school calculus and an unweighted GPA of 3.0;
  • completion of high school precalculus and an unweighted GPA of 3.30;
  • an unweighted high school GPA of 3.65;
  • a proctored ALEKS math placement score of 61 and an unweighted GPA of 3.0.
  AP Calculus AB of 3 or higher, or transfer credit allowing enrollment in MA 113 or higher, also meets math readiness. Students not initially admitted to engineering may apply later as transfer students.
• First-Year Engineering (FYE): all newly admitted students take FYE for their first two semesters, with programming, hands-on design and exploration of the majors, and can then confirm or change their major. New students are listed as pre-majors (Pre-Biomedical Engineering, Pre-Civil Engineering and so on).
• Engineering standing: students need engineering standing in their program to take upper-level courses and graduate, and standing in one program does not carry to another. Common elements are a cumulative UK GPA of at least 2.5, completion of all pre-major courses and at least a 2.5 GPA in listed pre-major courses. For mechanical engineering (curriculum from 2026-27), the listed courses are CHE 105, EM 221, MA 113, MA 114, MA 213, PHY 231 and PHY 232, each with a C or better, with the best grade used if repeated. Lists differ by major; use the UK Bulletin for your entry year.
• High school pathway: the Transition to Engineering (T2E) program runs in participating Kentucky high schools; seniors who pass the course, complete and present a self-built project and are calculus-ready can receive credit for the first two FYE courses.

3. Deadlines and testing

• Fall 2027: Early Action December 1, Regular Decision February 15; applying after December 1 may rule out the Lewis Honors College and competitive and academic scholarships.
• Applying: UK Application or Common App; the fee is $50 for domestic and $60 for international applicants.
• Testing, stated differently: Admissions says UK is test-optional for admission and scholarships through 2028-29; the engineering freshman page says ACT or SAT is not required for engineering but can be used for admission and scholarships; the international requirements page lists ACT/SAT as optional but also notes “required for engineering programs”. We report all three; engineering applicants should confirm with the college.

4. U.S. domestic applicants

• Tuition (current undergraduate rates from Student Account Services, including mandatory fees, per semester): $7,088.50 for Kentucky residents and $17,923 for non-residents; some courses carry extra lab or materials fees.
• Academic Common Market (ACM): students from SREB states can pay UK in-state tuition for programs not offered by public universities at home. Four engineering programs are listed: aerospace (Delaware), biosystems (Delaware, Georgia, West Virginia), materials (Delaware, West Virginia) and mining (Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee). The list may change; check the ACM website.
• Engineering freshman merit scholarship: $2,000 a year, renewable for four years (up to $8,000), stackable with university awards. Apply for fall 2027, choose an engineering major and have scores and transcripts in by December 1, 2026; criteria are ACT 30 or SAT 1360 composite, ACT Math 33 or SAT Math 740 and a 3.50 unweighted GPA. Test-optional applicants may be reviewed holistically, but UK strongly encourages testing. There is no separate application; recipients are notified in February, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award.
• Federal aid: the 2027-28 FAFSA is expected to open October 1; UK’s school code is 001989.

5. International applicants

• Automatic admission to engineering: an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher; ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590 recommended, with other scores above UK’s placement standards (ACT English 18 and Reading 20; SAT Reading 26 and Writing 25). Test-optional pathways also exist.
• English: TOEFL iBT 71 if taken on or before January 20, 2026, or 4 overall and in each section if taken on or after January 21, 2026; TOEFL Essentials 7.5, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105. Students with TOEFL 71 to below 100 (IELTS 6.0 to below 7.5) take English for Academic Purposes. Students below the requirement can attend ESL, meet EAP requirements, complete the right math class and retest, then apply to change into engineering. See the international requirements page for exempt countries.
• Deadlines: priority deadline December 1 for fall (August start) and October 15 for spring; the international freshman scholarship deadline is December 1.
• Costs: the 2026-2027 minimum for the I-20 is $57,800 (living and books $18,234, health insurance $3,720; tuition and fees are on the tuition page).
• Scholarships: renewable international freshman awards are made for fall only, for example the Bluegrass Scholarship of $6,500 (GPA 3.0) to $16,000 a year, due December 1. The engineering page says renewable awards for international freshmen can combine to up to 100% of tuition.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: UK does not say how the Gaokao is used or what score is needed. Engineering asks for an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher; ask Engineering International Admissions (coe_international@uky.edu) how Chinese grades are converted.
• Documents: official transcripts in English; the international page lists no other China-specific requirements.
• Testing: engineering applicants can prepare ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590 as recommended; see section 3 for whether tests are required.

7. Transfer students

• Admission to engineering: a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.5 and MA 110 (or MA 109 and MA 112, or equivalents) with a B or higher; students without a B but with completed engineering calculus courses are considered case by case. Transfers also start as pre-majors and must earn engineering standing.
• Credit: Admissions generally decides total transfer hours, and the director of undergraduate studies decides which courses count for the major; engineering course credit must come from an ABET-accredited institution. UK accepts up to 67 hours from two-year institutions and unlimited credit from four-year institutions. Students from Kentucky colleges can use the Pathway to Engineering curriculum sheets.
• International transfers: deadlines May 15 (fall) and October 15 (spring); engineering asks for English scores or two completed English writing courses at a U.S. college, a 2.5 GPA and the math above. Foreign students should prepare syllabi, old tests and papers to help establish course equivalencies.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Check the five pathways: the simplest are completed high school calculus with a 3.0 unweighted GPA, or ACT Math 25 / SAT Math 590 with a 3.0
• Apply by December 1 with an engineering major to be considered for the engineering freshman scholarship; file the FAFSA after October 1
• Out-of-state students should check whether their state and major are in the Academic Common Market

International applicants (including China):

• Apply by December 1 (fall priority and scholarship deadline); TOEFL 4 (new scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105
• Aim for an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher; prepare SAT Math 590 or ACT Math 25 and confirm with Engineering whether tests are required
• After enrolling, finish FYE and your major’s pre-major courses with a UK GPA of 2.5 or higher to earn engineering standing

Transfer students:

• Hold a college GPA of 2.5 or higher and MA 110 (or MA 109 and MA 112) with a B; international transfers apply by May 15 for fall

Sources: University of Kentucky, Pigman College of Engineering programs; Engineering incoming freshman admission; First-Year Engineering Program; Application for engineering standing; Engineering international admissions; Engineering transfer admission; Engineering scholarships for incoming freshmen; Academic Common Market; Freshman admission; Selective majors and programs; International admission requirements; International cost estimate; Undergraduate tuition and fees. Information is for fall 2027 entry; check the University of Kentucky for the latest details.