How to apply to UAH for engineering: eight ABET-accredited engineering degrees in the College of Engineering, with internship and co-op opportunities at Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park, with admission routes and prerequisites for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer students

At The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), undergraduate engineering is offered by the College of Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on UAH’s website, for U.S. students, international students and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science belongs to the College of Science and is covered in a separate guide.

1. Engineering degrees

• Eight undergraduate engineering degrees (college home page and ABET page): aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, cybersecurity, electrical, industrial and systems, and mechanical engineering, all Bachelor of Science degrees, listed as accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Cybersecurity is new: the home page says the college “launches a Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity”, and the ABET page lists it as accredited under the name “Cybersecurity Engineering”.
• Five departments: Chemical and Materials; Civil and Environmental; Electrical and Computer; Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management; Mechanical and Aerospace.
• Credit hours: the 2026-2027 mechanical engineering checksheet lists 128 hours; we did not check the other degrees.
• Internships and co-ops: the college describes project-based learning, capstone design, cooperative education and internships with industry partners, and says students may intern or co-op at more than 280 government agencies and companies in Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal.

2. How admission works

• You choose your degree when applying: the international page tells you to refer to the application for your particular degree, and the engineering Pre-Charge page welcomes admitted students to the College of Engineering (that page is labelled for incoming fall 2026 students, so check for the 2027 process).
• Separate entry threshold or limits: the college’s undergraduate, admitted-student and advising pages do not state a separate GPA requirement or enrollment limit for engineering; UAH has not published one. Ask engineering advising (engineering@uah.edu, 256-824-6877).
• Registering for classes: new students register for orientation, receive an invitation to the “Pre-Charge for Engineering” Canvas course and complete five modules: academic profile (how AP, dual enrollment and test scores are used), placement, the engineering curriculum and a draft schedule, registration, and tips for success.
• Academic progress policy: the college defines good progress as completing 66% or more of registered courses (earning the minimum grade that satisfies a degree requirement; a W does not count). Students may attempt any required math, science or engineering course only three times (including Ws); a student who is unsuccessful on the third attempt cannot continue in any engineering degree that requires the course, with exceptions for unusual or emergency situations.
• Changing college: the college points to the registrar’s change-of-college form; conditions have not been published on the pages we read, so ask the registrar or engineering advising.
• Laptop: the college has a laptop requirement for incoming freshmen (a PDF we did not read; one page says fall 2025 and another fall 2026, so check the version for 2027).

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school courses (freshman page): four units of English; three of mathematics including Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry (trigonometry is “highly suggested” by the College of Engineering and recommended by all other colleges); three of science; four of history or social studies; academic electives to reach 20 Carnegie units. Students with deficiencies may be admitted in good standing in some cases but must make them up in the first year in a manner approved by the department, and such courses cannot count toward the degree.
• Math starting point: the mechanical engineering checksheet lists MA 113 or Level III placement as the prerequisite for Calculus I (MA 171), and MA 113 or MA 151 for the EGR 101 computing course. Other degrees’ starting points have not been published on the pages we read.
• Foundation courses (mechanical engineering checksheet example): EH 101 and 102, MA 171 and 172, CH 121 and lab, PH 111 and 112 calculus-based physics with labs, FYE 101 and EGR 101.
• AP and tests: the first Pre-Charge module explains how AP, dual enrollment and test scores are used; the pages do not list which AP exams replace which engineering courses, and UAH has not published it there.

4. How and when to apply, and testing

• Application: a Charger Status account or the Common App; $40 nonrefundable fee. Send an official high school transcript from your school (Parchment, Student Clearinghouse, Scoir, or mail).
• Fall 2027: application submission deadline 30 July; processing deadline (all checklist items) 6 August; classes begin 18 August. The freshman scholarship priority deadline is 20 November 2026 (complete your application and checklist by then to be guaranteed consideration); the competitive scholarship priority date is 15 December; 1 May 2027 is the priority date for the $200 enrollment deposit; 15 May is the scholarship upgrade deadline. For spring 2027 entry, the submission deadline is 15 December 2026.
• Testing: new freshmen entering through fall 2027 need not submit ACT or SAT; from spring 2028 on, scores are required. UAH says a strong test-optional candidate has about a 3.5 high school GPA and recommends submitting scores if your GPA is below 3.5. ACT applicants must submit English, Math and Reading; UAH ignores the Science section and superscores; the writing section is not required.
• How review works: coursework, GPA and test scores are weighed together; a 3.0 GPA with a 21 ACT composite or 1060 SAT is a strong candidate. Entering freshmen average a 26 ACT and a 3.91 GPA.
• Essay and recommendations: UAH does not require them, and the college lists no extra requirement.

5. U.S. students: costs, scholarships and internships

• Tuition (2026-2027): undergraduate tuition is $469 per credit hour for Alabama residents and $1,102 for non-residents; 12–18 hours cost $5,511 a semester for residents and $13,076 for non-residents. There is also a $42 per hour infrastructure fee, and College of Engineering courses (CE, CHE, CPE, EE, EGR, EM, ENG, ISE, MAE, OPE) carry an additional $46 per hour college fee, charged by the college of the course, not the college of the major.
• Cost estimate (2026-2027, two semesters): $34,596 for an Alabama resident living on or off campus (tuition $11,022, average fees $2,358, housing $8,106, food $4,846, plus indirect costs) and $50,378 for a non-resident.
• Freshman academic scholarships (2027-2028, four years, no separate application, based on high school GPA, ACT/SAT superscore and residency): Alabama residents receive $2,000 a year (Juno 1, for example a 3.5–3.74 GPA with no test score) up to $8,500 (Atlas D); the top tier, Saturn V (ACT 31–36 or SAT 1390–1600 with a 4.0+ GPA), is full tuition. Without test scores: a 3.5–3.74 GPA earns $2,000, 3.75–3.99 earns $4,000 and 4.0+ earns $5,000 a year. Transcripts and scores received after 15 May 2027 are not considered for an upgrade.
• Renewal: full-time enrollment (at least 12 hours a semester), a cumulative UAH GPA of 2.5 at the end of each spring, and at least 24 UAH hours a year; students who fall short enter a one-year scholarship probation.
• Competitive scholarships: apply after admission; the application opens 1 August and the priority date is 15 December; transfer and current students can also apply. Engineering departmental awards have not been published on the pages we read; ask the scholarship office and the department.

6. International students

• Applying: a Charger Status account or the Common App. International applicants send official transcripts; if a transcript is not in English or has no cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, a course-by-course or document-by-document evaluation may be required from a listed agency (World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, International Education Evaluations or The Evaluation Company), sent directly to UAH, and UAH tells you if it is needed. A 3.0 GPA is a strong candidate.
• Application fee: the international page’s checklist says a nonrefundable $40 fee while its FAQ says $50. The two conflict, so follow the application system.
• I-20 deadlines: F-1 students must be admitted before requesting an I-20, and must request it by 1 August for fall and 1 December for spring.
• English scores (within two years; TOEFL MyBest not accepted): TOEFL iBT 72 on the old scale (no section below 18) or 3.5 on the new scale; IELTS 5.5 (no sub-score below 5.5; an overall 5.5 with at most one sub-score of 5.0–5.5 is reviewed individually); Duolingo 95; PTE or Pearson English Express 51; TOEIC 600 (listening and reading). Waived for graduates of accredited U.S. high schools or universities, IB diploma holders from IB high schools, and students whose first language is English who studied in English in a listed country, including Canada (except Quebec), the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
• Financial documents: F-1 and J-1 students submit an Affidavit of Financial Support and documents such as an official bank letter showing funds for at least one year’s tuition and living expenses; the passport biometric page is also on the checklist.
• Costs and aid: the cost estimate has no international column, so which column applies to international students has not been published. The 2027-2028 International Student Academic Scholarship (for F-1 students living outside the U.S.) is $5,000 a year (International Merit, GPA 3.0–3.49) or $10,000 (International Super Scholar, 3.5–4.0+) for four years, awarded automatically to admitted first-year students with no separate application; international students already living in the U.S. qualify for the out-of-state scholarships ($5,000 to $22,000 a year). Competitive scholarships can be applied for after admission.
• Engineering conditions: the same as for U.S. students; the pages state no extra requirement for international applicants.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international page does not mention it. UAH has not published whether Gaokao scores or Gaokao English are used; ask admissions (admissions@uah.edu, 256-824-2773). The accepted English tests are TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE and TOEIC, not Gaokao.
• English waivers: mainland China is not on the listed countries; IB diploma holders from IB high schools are waived.
• Transcripts: Chinese transcripts that are not in English or have no 4.0-scale cumulative GPA may need an agency evaluation. Huikao records, interviews and a Chinese-language page have not been published.
• Timing: for fall, the I-20 request deadline is 1 August and the submission deadline is 30 July; the freshman scholarship priority date is 20 November 2026, so apply early.

8. Transfer students

• Requirements: a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 and a 2.0 in all transferable courses; the previous institution must be regionally accredited and the student in good standing; students with fewer than 24 credit hours also need a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA.
• Applying: rolling admission with no application deadline (apply at least two months before your start term); $40 fee; official transcripts from every college attended. International applicants do not apply as transfers; they use the international page.
• Credit: official evaluation happens after admission. From a four-year college there is no limit on semester hours except technical, remedial and vocational credit, but 25% of the requirements and 12 of the final 18 hours must be completed at UAH; from a two-year college a maximum of 50% of a degree can transfer (exceptions need the dean’s written approval). UAH publishes transfer pathway worksheets for Alabama community colleges, including the engineering degrees (Google Sheets, which we did not open), and points to Alabama Transfers.
• Engineering transfer conditions: a separate engineering transfer GPA or required course sequence has not been published on the pages we read; ask the transfer counselor (256-824-2828) and engineering advising.
• Transfer scholarships (2027-2028, three years, awarded automatically): Transfer Merit $1,500 a year (GPA 3.0–3.49) and Transfer Super Scholar $3,000 (3.5+), with at least 12 transferable college credit hours, a first bachelor’s degree, and no previous UAH attendance.

Checklist

U.S. students:

• Fall 2027: submit by 30 July and complete the checklist by 6 August; complete everything by 20 November 2026 to be guaranteed scholarship consideration
• No ACT/SAT needed; three years of math including Algebra II and geometry, and the college especially suggests trigonometry
• Register through Pre-Charge for Engineering; Calculus I needs MA 113 or Level III placement

International students (including applicants from China):

• TOEFL 72, IELTS 5.5 or Duolingo 95; request the I-20 by 1 August; prepare funds for at least one year
• If your transcript is not in English or lacks a 4.0-scale GPA, expect an agency evaluation; use of the Gaokao has not been published, so ask admissions

Transfer students:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; rolling admission; ask the transfer counselor to check engineering courses

Sources: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, College of Engineering; ABET accreditation; Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education; Engineering admitted students; Student resources and academic progress policy; Experiential learning; Mechanical and aerospace engineering undergraduate programs; Mechanical engineering checksheet (2026-2027); Applying and deadlines; First-year admission; International admission; Transfer admission; Transfer credit; 2026-2027 cost of attendance; 2026-2027 tuition and fees; In-state freshman scholarships; Out-of-state freshman scholarships; International scholarships; Transfer scholarships; Scholarship renewal. Deadlines are for 2027 entry, costs for 2026-2027 and scholarships for 2027-2028; check UAH’s website for the latest.