How to apply to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for engineering: an engineering, science and math institute, apply through GoRose or the Common App with no SAT/ACT requirement and automatic merit scholarship review, with admission routes and prerequisites for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer students

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, Indiana) is an institute focused on engineering, science and mathematics. The site lists majors by department and you apply to the institute. Here is what you need to know, based on official Rose-Hulman information, for U.S. students, international students and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. It applies to fall 2027 entry.

1. Engineering majors and how admission works

• Engineering majors: the academics page lists biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, engineering design, mechanical, nano- and optical engineering. The same page also lists non-engineering majors such as computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, plus second majors, minors and certificates.
• ABET accreditation: the accreditation page says biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, engineering design, nano-, mechanical, optical and software engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET; computer science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission. Software engineering is on the accreditation list but not in the majors list on the academics page, and the site does not say how it is offered; ask the school.
• How you are admitted: you apply to the institute. The application pages do not say that you must pick a major first, and whether the application asks for an intended major is not published; ask admissions (admissions@rhit.edu). The pages we read also do not say when students declare a major or how they change one.
• Credits: the tuition page lists the student health insurance in fall, winter and spring installments. The mechanical engineering credit table totals 194 credits: 86 engineering, 27 math, 16 foundational science, 8 writing and communication, 1 Foundations for Rose-Hulman Success, 16 technical electives, 8 free electives, 4 math/science electives and 28 humanities, social sciences and arts. Check each department for other majors.
• Concentrations: mechanical engineering offers areas of concentration in aerospace, automotive, CAD, dynamic systems and control, and thermal-fluids; electrical and computer engineering offers computer engineering and electrical engineering concentrations.

2. Prerequisites

• High school courses: the evaluation-criteria page says students are expected to complete at least four years of math, four years of English, three years of laboratory science (one year each of biology, chemistry and physics) and two years of social science before enrolling.
• Math placement (ALEKS PPL): students who have not completed a calculus course before arriving are expected to earn at least 78 by July 15; if you have not reached 78 after the third attempt, contact aleksadmin@rose-hulman.edu. Students who have completed calculus but want a precalculus review are also advised to take it. Transfer students with approved credit for MA111 or higher do not need to take it. ALEKS is free and remotely proctored with Respondus LockDown Browser (up to about 30 questions).
• AP credit: Rose-Hulman accepts AP credit and dual-credit/dual-enrollment courses; the AP page suggests AP Calculus for engineering. The list of accepted AP subjects and scores is on a separate page that we did not summarize. IB credit rules are not stated on the pages we read.

3. Timeline, fees, essays and testing

• How to apply: the GoRose App or the Common App; the school says no preference is given to either for admission or scholarships, the required materials are the same, and you should use only one.
• Materials: the submitted application, high school transcript, one letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or principal (homeschooled students need someone other than a parent), and a $65 non-refundable application fee or a qualified waiver. The listed materials include no separate engineering essay; essay requirements inside the application are not described on these pages, so check the application platform.
• Optional: domestic students at U.S. high schools may submit a 60-90 second Glimpse video; international students and domestic students at high schools abroad may submit an InitialView interview. The school says applicants without one are at no disadvantage.
• Dates (the pages give no year; verify): the application opens August 1; Early Action (non-binding) is November 1; Regular Decision is February 1; the enrollment deposit is due May 1. Early Action applications missing materials move to Regular Decision. The international page says Early Action decisions come on or before December 15.
• Testing: the school does not require SAT or ACT scores. You may self-report scores or send them from the College Board or ACT (ACT code 1232, SAT code 1668); scores are reviewed together with course rigor, subject mastery, intellectual competency and personal character. The site does not say that engineering majors have different testing requirements.

4. U.S. students

• Cost: the tuition page lists one set of rates with no in-state/out-of-state split (and does not say whether Indiana residents get any reduction). For 2026-27 the first-year estimated direct cost is tuition and fees $59,772, housing and food $18,534 and a one-time laptop fee $2,800, for a total of $81,106; for a first-year living with parents it is $70,783. Estimated indirect costs are $5,238 (miscellaneous, transportation and additional food $4,038; books and supplies $1,200). Tuition is $1,705 per credit hour, and there is a $50 co-op fee.
• Scholarships and aid: all admitted students are automatically considered for the Rose-Hulman Merit Scholarship, based on academic measures (high school curriculum, class rank and size, test scores) and non-academic measures (activities, leadership, community service); athletics is not considered. Need-based grants are determined by the FAFSA filed each year starting in October. There are also limited named scholarships and the invitation-only four-year Noblitt Scholars Program (scholarships up to full tuition).
• Other scholarships described: Competition Teams and Visual & Performing Arts scholarships (new for 2026-27; $1,000-$2,500 a year for four years; deadline April 1; interest form in the admission status portal); FIRST Robotics (two awards of $10,000 a year, renewable to $40,000 over four years; February 1; admitted students only); VEX Robotics (one award, same terms); and the Bakota Scholarship ($2,500 for a sophomore majoring in electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering).
• Preference or guaranteed admission for in-state residents: not published.

5. International students

• Materials: the international application, a letter of recommendation, an official copy of the secondary school record, TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores, and a bank statement. Requirements for credential evaluation or notarization are not published.
• English (if English is not your native language): TOEFL iBT 88 with at least 20 in each section if taken before January 21, 2026, or 4.5 with at least 4 in each section if taken on or after that date; IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each area; Duolingo 110; PTE Academic 59. Exemption: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 500 or higher, or ACT English 21 or higher. The site gives no list of exempt countries.
• Financial proof: a bank statement dated within the last six months, showing the account holder’s name, the amount and the currency, in English or with a certified translation; after admission you upload an affidavit of support in your portal. The funds must be readily available and cannot come from jobs or internships after you enter the country; earlier submission gets priority I-20 processing.
• Grades and credentials: the page asks for an official copy of the secondary school record but gives no minimum grade level or credential-evaluator requirement.
• Scholarships and cost: international applicants are also reviewed for merit scholarships; the school says international students are on average responsible for about $45,000 a year, that it cannot meet full need, and that full-tuition and full-ride awards are extremely limited. A net price calculator is offered. International students cannot waive the student health insurance fee.
• Other: the Class of 2030 includes students from China and many other countries; the page offers Chinese-language videos about safety, culture and campus life. The Associate Director of Admissions (Matt Lance) works with international applicants.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: whether and how it is used is not published, and Gaokao English is not among the listed English proof.
• Transcripts, exam records, country pages, interviews, credential evaluators: no China-specific page. The optional InitialView interview is open to international applicants but not required. Contact admissions (800-248-7448, admissions@rhit.edu) to confirm how Chinese courses and grades are handled.
• Prerequisites: see section 2; how Chinese high school courses map to them is not published.

7. Co-op

The pages we read do not describe a co-op program; the tuition page only lists a $50 co-op fee. Eligibility, pay and whether international students can take part are not published; check the school’s career services pages.

8. Transfer students

• Who: students who have completed college classes since high school. If you are a first-year at another institution, begin applying after your first-semester grades have posted.
• Materials: the transfer application form and college transcripts (courses in biology, chemistry, physics and calculus are required); with fewer than 24 transferable hours, also send your high school transcript. There is no application fee for transfers.
• Dates (no year given): FAFSA March 1, application deadline April 1, enrollment deposit May 15.
• Credit: generally 100-level or above with a C or better; coursework is evaluated after admission, and faculty, not the admissions office, make the final decision.
• GPA: no minimum GPA is stated on the transfer page. Department heads’ contacts are listed there.

Checklist

U.S. students:

• Submit through GoRose or the Common App by 1 November (Early Action) or 1 February (Regular Decision) with transcript, one recommendation and the $65 fee
• Four years of math and English, three years of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, physics) and two of social science; SAT/ACT not required
• If you have not taken calculus, reach 78 on ALEKS by 15 July

International students (including applicants from China):

• TOEFL 4.5 (88 on the old scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE 59; or an SAT 500 EBRW / ACT English 21 exemption
• A bank statement within six months, and an affidavit of support after admission; confirm with admissions how the Gaokao and Chinese courses are treated

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 April; transcripts need biology, chemistry, physics and calculus; no application fee

Sources: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Academics and majors; Accreditation; First-year application and deadlines; How to apply; Application evaluation criteria; International students; Transfer application and deadlines; AP credits; ALEKS placement; 2026-2027 tuition and fees; Rose-Hulman scholarships; Mechanical engineering credit table (example). The deadline pages do not state a year; costs are for 2026-2027 and 2027-28 costs are not yet published. Check Rose-Hulman’s website for the latest.