How to Apply to Engineering at Michigan Tech: 15+ Engineering Majors, a Common First Year of Engineering Fundamentals and a General Engineering Option for the Undecided, Admission Routes and Prerequisites for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech), in Houghton, Michigan, teaches undergraduate engineering in its College of Engineering, which says it has an entering engineering class of about 1,000 students. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Michigan Tech’s website, for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students.

1. Engineering majors

• Listed on the College’s majors page: aerospace, applied geophysics, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE, customizable or with a systems engineering path), biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, construction management, ecological, electrical, environmental, geological engineering, geology, geospatial engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical, mechanical engineering technology, mining and robotics engineering. The page says “15+ engineering programs” and the admissions text mentions 19 degrees.
• ABET: accreditation for each major was not checked here; see the department pages.
• Computer science: in the College of Computing, with its own guide on this site.

2. Admission: a common first year, then your major

• Common courses: the Department of Engineering Fundamentals says Michigan Tech has a common first-year engineering program, and every engineering student takes the same courses in the first two semesters, adjusted for math placement, AP and dual enrollment credit.
• General/undecided engineering: undecided students can apply to general engineering and choose a major after two or three semesters; the College’s majors page also says you can start there and take up to two semesters to explore.
• Moving into a major: once you choose, meet the undergraduate advisor of that department, who explains its requirements; the site says some engineering departments have grade and/or course completion requirements. These are not published in one place. You can keep taking common classes into the second year, but this may extend your time to graduation.
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering: if the path you want is not offered by a discipline major, talk to Engineering Fundamentals advisors about the flexible BSE.

3. Preparation and math placement

• Recommended high school courses (recommendations, not requirements): for engineering, 3–4 years of English, 4 years of math progressing toward or including calculus, and 3 years of science including physics and/or chemistry, ideally a year of each; if you can take only one, physics is typically preferred. The College also recommends math up to precalculus and calculus.
• Math placement sets your first-year path (determined by the Department of Mathematics):
  • students placed into MA 1160 or MA 1161 Calculus I or higher are calculus-ready and complete first-year engineering in two semesters;
  • students placed into MA 1032 Precalculus complete it in three semesters (1.5 years).
• Placement thresholds (course prerequisites): MA 1160 needs ALEKS placement 86 or higher, AP Calculus AB/BC 3 or higher, ACT Math 29 or higher, or SAT Math 680 or higher; MA 1161 needs ALEKS 76 or higher, AP Calculus 2 or higher, ACT Math 26 or higher, or SAT Math 610 or higher, among other options.
• AP and dual enrollment: the College suggests contacting your intended major’s advisor before taking college courses or AP exams in high school; once accepted, send AP results, transcripts (including dual enrollment) and SAT or ACT scores, since your first schedule depends on earned credit. Note that after 60 credits, including AP, IB and dual enrollment credit, you are charged upper-division tuition.

4. U.S. applicants

• Application: Michigan Tech’s own application or the Common App, only one. Most majors need no letters or essays.
• Deadlines (Admissions FAQ; no year given): apply by 1 November for priority consideration, with decisions by 15 January; by 1 February for regular decision, with decisions by 1 March; later applications are accepted, with decisions in 2–3 weeks.
• Testing: domestic first-year applicants do not need SAT or ACT scores and are admitted on the high school transcript; homeschool students and those with a GPA below 3.0 may be asked for scores. Michigan Tech recommends sending scores for merit scholarships. (The requirements page and FAQ still refer to “2025” applicants; check before applying.)
• Admitted students: the FAQ gives an average GPA of 3.8 and an average ACT of 26.7 (about 1260 SAT).
• Costs (2026-27, 12–18 credits per semester): tuition $20,396 for Michigan residents and $46,294 for non-residents; with required fees ($382), lab and course fees ($668), housing and food ($15,321) and other items, totals of $40,145 and $66,043.
• Scholarships: non-Michigan first-year students are reviewed automatically by GPA: $19,000 a year for 4.00 and above, $12,000 a year for 3.35–3.749; the same page lists a National Scholars award of $12,000 to $21,000 a year. Michigan residents should see the scholarships page. College of Engineering scholarships were not found on the pages read.

5. International applicants

• Application: international undergraduates apply only through the Common App, with a non-waivable $35 processing fee. Do not send letters or essays unless asked.
• Deadlines (no year given): for fall, apply by 1 April, complete materials by 1 May and I-20 documents by 1 June.
• Transcripts: the last three years, sent by your school, with English translations; Cambridge students also send GCSE/IGCSE results and AS results or predicted A-Level grades.
• English (within two years): TOEFL 79 (before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 (after); IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in speaking and writing); SAT Reading and Writing 510; ACT English and Reading 18 each; PTE 53; Duolingo 120. There is no ESL program. The exemption list includes Canada but not China.
• Costs: the non-resident rate applies, plus a $250 surcharge per semester (not summer). After admission, submit a financial guarantee and proof of at least one year’s costs.
• Scholarships: whether the non-resident first-year scholarships cover international students is not stated; ask International Admissions.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Michigan Tech does not say how Gaokao scores are used; ask International Admissions (international@mtu.edu).
• Transcripts: the last three years of high school, sent by your school with English translations. Huikao results are not mentioned.
• English: China is not on the exemption list, so submit TOEFL, IELTS or another accepted test.
• Math placement: to start in calculus, meet the AP Calculus, SAT or ACT math or ALEKS thresholds above; how Chinese high school math converts is not published.

7. Transfer students

• Application: anyone who has taken a college course after high school applies as a transfer; domestic transfers can use Michigan Tech’s application or the Common App, international transfers only the Common App. No SAT or ACT is needed, and students with an associate degree or higher need not send a high school transcript.
• Credit: evaluated by the Registrar; see the Michigan Transfer Agreement page for Michigan community colleges.
• Entering an engineering major: conditions for transfers are not published in one place; contact your intended major’s advisor.
• Transfer scholarships: non-Michigan transfers with 12 college credits are reviewed automatically by GPA: $12,000 a year for 3.50–4.00 and $7,000 a year for 3.00–3.49.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Apply by 1 November for priority consideration, or by 1 February for regular decision
• Test scores are not required but are recommended for scholarships
• Take math through calculus, and a year each of physics and chemistry

International applicants (including China):

• Apply through the Common App by 1 April and complete materials by 1 May
• Prepare IELTS 6.5 (6.0 speaking and writing) or TOEFL 79/4.5
• Ask International Admissions about the Gaokao and scholarships

Transfer students:

• Same deadlines as first-year; contact your intended department’s advisor about its entry conditions

Sources: Michigan Technological University, Undergraduate engineering majors; General/undecided engineering; Transition to a major; Engineering/math placement; Admissions requirements; Admissions FAQs; International first-year; English requirements; English exemption countries; Transfer applicants; International transfer; 2026-27 tuition and fees; Scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures); check Michigan Tech’s website for updates.