How to Apply to Engineering at the University of Iowa: Direct Admission to the College of Engineering With an RAI of 265 and the Required Courses, Free Choice Among Nine BSE Majors, an Engineering Interest Route for Others, Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At the University of Iowa, undergraduate engineering is offered by the College of Engineering, which awards the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). Below are the key points for fall 2027 entry, from the University of Iowa’s official website, for U.S. domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants.

1. Majors

• Nine BSE majors: biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, computer science and engineering, electrical, environmental, industrial and mechanical engineering; students can also start as undeclared. Most majors ask students to choose a focus area before the end of the second year.
• Other options: the catalog lists combined degrees with Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Tippie College of Business, a dual degree with the University of Northern Iowa, and combined BSE/master’s programs in each discipline.
• Hours: mechanical engineering, for example, totals 130–132 semester hours; chemistry and math courses require placement exams.
• ABET: the college pages and catalog read for this guide do not state each program’s accreditation; check ABET or the college.

2. Admission: direct entry when you meet the criteria

• Direct admission: a Regent Admission Index (RAI) of 265 or higher and the high school course requirements; cumulative GPA is also reviewed, with emphasis on math and science. The college says students may be admitted without a test score.
• Choosing a major: students admitted directly can choose any engineering major and switch easily if their interests change.
• If not admitted directly: you are admitted to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as an Engineering Interest major and may apply to Engineering after completing the prerequisites (see section 8).
• International applicants: decisions are based on high school courses, GPA and English proficiency; ACT/SAT is optional but encouraged for additional merit scholarship consideration.

3. High school preparation

• College recommendation: one year each of high school pre-calculus, physics and chemistry.
• International applicants to Engineering: four years of math (including one year of advanced math such as trigonometry or calculus) and three years of science (including one year each of chemistry and physics), plus four years of native language and two years of one foreign language.
• Chemistry and math placement exams set your starting courses. The pages read for this guide do not say which engineering courses AP or IB can replace.

4. Dates and materials

• Fall entry: Early Action 2 November (documents by 9 November); regular deadline 1 February (documents by 8 February) — later applicants are not eligible for merit scholarships and are admitted case by case as space allows; confirm by 3 May. The page does not state the year these dates apply to, so check before applying.
• Applications: the University of Iowa application or the Common App; $80 fee.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Engineering tuition and fees (2026-27 estimates): Iowa residents $13,581 in the first year and $15,702 in years two to four; nonresidents $35,835 and $38,247. These are above the general rate ($11,971 resident, $34,247 nonresident). Housing and food are estimated at $14,022.
• Engineering scholarships: apply to the university first; once admitted, a single application in the UI Scholarship Portal places you in consideration for every engineering scholarship you qualify for. The college strongly encourages filing the FAFSA by 1 December (priority, also used for need-based aid). For the scholarship application, the page heading says 1 February while the text says submit by 2 January; both appear on the page, so confirm with the college.
• Engineering scholarships are typically one-year awards, and an award is revoked if official records show you do not meet the direct admission criteria.

6. International applicants

• English: TOEFL iBT 80 (17 in each section; from January 2026, 4.0 with 3.5 in each section) or IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band).
• Costs (2026-27 estimates): first-year international engineering tuition and fees of $37,030, about $54,630 in total; tuition of $38,547 in years two to four.
• Aid: international students cannot receive need-based scholarships, grants or loans; international merit scholarships are competitive.

7. Applicants from China

• Credential: the final credential is the senior secondary graduation certificate. Core course average: 80/100 if the transcript uses D grades, 75/100 if it does not.
• Gaokao: whether and how it is used is not published; see the requirements-by-country page or ask international admissions.

8. Transfer and internal transfer

• Criteria: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 and a 2.50 GPA in courses required for an engineering degree, from at least one semester at Iowa or 24 semester hours of college credit; Engineering Calculus I (MATH:1550) or equivalent with C- or higher; and at least one of Principles of Chemistry I, Introductory Physics I, Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving or Introduction to Engineering Computing with C- or higher.
• Credit: non-Iowa courses need C- or higher to count toward an engineering degree. Applicants with fewer than 24 semester hours are reviewed individually on high school and college records.
• Internal transfer: once eligible, submit the Change of College application on MyUI.
• International transfer deadlines: fall 15 July, spring 15 November.

Checklist

• Take pre-calculus, physics and chemistry; international applicants need four years of math plus chemistry and physics
• Apply Early Action by 2 November, and by 1 February at the latest for merit scholarships
• U.S. students: file the FAFSA by 1 December and complete the scholarship portal application after admission
• International students: TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; send SAT/ACT if you want extra merit consideration
• Applicants from China: senior secondary graduation certificate with a core average of 75 or 80
• Transfers: Engineering Calculus I plus one chemistry, physics or intro engineering course, and a 2.50 GPA

Sources: The University of Iowa, College of Engineering first-year admissions; Engineering majors; College of Engineering catalog; Mechanical Engineering BSE plan of study; Engineering transfer admissions; Engineering scholarships; 2026-27 costs; International first-year requirements; International high school courses; Requirements by country; English proficiency; International costs. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 estimates); check the University of Iowa website for updates.