How to Apply to Engineering at the University of New Hampshire: Bioengineering, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Ocean and More in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Pathway Programs for Some Admits, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) offers undergraduate engineering through the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS), on its Durham campus in New Hampshire. The college covers more than engineering: it also houses mathematics, chemistry, physics, earth sciences and computing majors. This guide follows UNH’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computer Science has its own guide on this site and is not covered here.

1. Engineering majors in the college

• Majors (undergraduate list on the college website): Bioengineering (B.S.); Chemical Engineering (B.S., with Bioengineering, Energy and Environmental Engineering options); Civil Engineering (B.S.); Computer Engineering (B.S., with a Biomedical Engineering option); Electrical Engineering (B.S., with a Biomedical Engineering option); Engineering Physics (B.S.); Environmental Engineering (B.S.); Mechanical Engineering (B.S.); Ocean Engineering (B.S.). The same list also includes computer science, data science, information technology, mathematics, chemistry, physics and earth sciences. Aerospace, materials and industrial engineering do not appear on the list.
• Degree: the engineering majors above are listed as Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees.
• ABET accreditation: the college’s accreditation page lists ABET-accredited programs in Bioengineering, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, plus Computer Science and Information Technology. Engineering Physics is not on that list. The page does not say which ABET commission accredits each program, so check ABET’s website.
• Co-op: the admissions, scholarship and accreditation pages we read do not describe an engineering co-op program. Not stated by UNH in what we read; ask the college or UNH Career and Professional Success.

2. How admission works: direct admission, pathway programs and changing majors

• One application: apply to UNH through the Common App. No supplemental essay is required beyond the Common App essay. UNH says individual majors and colleges may have additional entrance requirements. The pages we read do not describe how the application records a major choice.
• Pathway Programs: UNH says some admitted students are placed in a pathway program for the College of Life Sciences, the Paul College of Business and Economics, or CEPS. These are students who demonstrate a tremendous capacity for success in their first-choice major but still need to meet program-specific admission benchmarks; they work with an advisor to meet prerequisites and then transfer into the major. The same passage also says you cannot change into your first-choice major if you are in a pathway program or were placed in an alternate major, which appears to conflict with the previous sentence. Ask Admissions (admissions@unh.edu) how it works.
• Changing majors: email Admissions with your name, student ID and the major you want; Admissions reviews the request. UNH says some majors have competitive enrollment limits for incoming first-years. The detailed competitive-major sections on that page cover health programs (health sciences, nursing, occupational therapy, exercise science) and internal transfer to business; it does not give engineering-specific capacity or GPA thresholds. Not stated by UNH.
• Undeclared: the transfer page mentions “CEPS Undeclared”, which is closed to students with 57 or more transfer credits. Whether first-year applicants can enter the college as undeclared is not stated in the pages we read.
• Internal transfer into the college: GPA thresholds, required course grades and capacity are not stated in the pages we read.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• Engineering (with mathematics), first-year application page: four years of mathematics including pre-calculus, and four years of science including chemistry and/or physics lab work; UNH expects applicants to be enrolled in math and science in their senior year. The international application page words it as four years of mathematics (including one half credit of trigonometry or pre-calculus) and four years of science (chemistry and/or physics lab).
• University-wide minimums: four years of English; three years of mathematics (including Algebra I and II and Geometry or equivalents); two years of laboratory science (three preferred); two years of history or social science; two years of a single world language (preferred); and two additional full-year college-preparatory courses. UNH says the most successful applicants exceed the minimums and individual majors may add requirements.
• Math placement test: not stated in the pages we read.
• AP: UNH uses AP results for placement and credit, with scores sent by the College Board (CEEB code 3918); the score-to-credit table is on UNH’s AP policy pages, which we did not read. For which engineering courses AP credit counts, see the college’s “Advanced Standing & Prior College Credit” resource.
• IB: eight credits for each Higher Level exam scored 5, 6 or 7; no credit for Standard Level exams or for Higher Level Art/Design, Film and Business/Management.

4. Rounds, materials and testing

• Early Action: November 15 (the Common App must arrive by then; decision before the end of January). On supporting documents, the first-year page says they may arrive after November 15, while the international page says they are due by December 12 and incomplete files are deferred to Regular Decision (results in March); the two differ, so follow the checklist in your applicant portal. Regular Decision: February 1, decision by the end of March. Spring Decision: October 15, decision before the end of December (the page does not say which entry term this round is for). Financial-aid priority date March 1 (federal code 002589); deposit May 1. The pages print no year; the apply page tells first-year applicants to submit Early Action by November 15, so check that this is the fall 2027 cycle.
• Application fee: $50 for New Hampshire residents, $65 for non-residents; waivers can be requested through the Common App.
• Transcripts: high school transcript, college transcripts for dual-enrollment coursework, or a GED/HiSET. UNH’s self-reported transcript system (STARS) lets first-year applicants apply with an unofficial transcript before sending an official one.
• Recommendation: one letter from a school counselor or core academic teacher; UNH does not require more than one and prefers no more than two.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are optional. The Common App asks whether you want scores considered, and you can change the answer before a decision is made (the first-year page says before the application has been reviewed, the test-optional page says before receiving a decision; the wording differs slightly). Students who enroll and have taken the tests are asked to submit scores after the May 1 deposit, for research only. UNH says there are no score cut-offs and no one is admitted or denied solely on test scores. The pages do not say engineering has a separate testing requirement.
• Interview/portfolio: there are no interviews; the auditions and portfolios listed on the page are for certain music, theatre and studio-art majors, and engineering is not listed.
• College-specific essay: none for admission. The college’s Industry Scholarships have a supplemental essay (see below).

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Tuition (2026–27, Durham undergraduate): New Hampshire resident $16,304 a year; non-resident $37,996; New England Regional Student Program (limited to approved majors) $28,532; mandatory fees including the technology fee $3,868.
• Engineering differential: CEPS engineering and computer science students pay an extra $752 a semester, $1,504 a year, on top of the above.
• New Hampshire residents: UNH describes the “New Hampshire Promise”, which bridges the gap between aid and in-state tuition for up to four years; see UNH for eligibility. The pages we read do not describe priority or guaranteed admission for state residents.
• Scholarships and aid: UNH says 88% of first-year students receive aid or scholarships. CEPS has two Industry Scholarships (funded by Whelen Engineering and Johnson Controls), each covering “a significant portion” of tuition, fees and room and board for four years. Students “admitted to UNH by the early action deadline (Nov. 15th)” who meet certain merit criteria are contacted by Admissions and invited to apply with a supplemental essay (typically due in late January); the Whelen scholarship also requires demonstrated need and a FAFSA by March 1; semi-finalists may have a virtual interview, with finalists notified by mid-April. The college lists more than 200 scholarships; most recipients are full-time students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, departments review applications each spring and recipients are notified in May.
• Testing and grades: SAT/ACT optional, as above.

6. International applicants

• Materials: the Common App; transcripts for secondary school (and any university coursework) with English translations; one recommendation; English-proficiency scores; a copy of the passport biographic page; no interview. UNH accepts unofficial documents to complete the application and requires official copies after enrollment is confirmed, received by June 30. UNH says undergraduate applicants do not need a credential evaluation, but academic credentials must be in English.
• Grades: the international page’s FAQ on eligibility says UNH recalculates GPA in-house under its own core-course guidelines and states a U.S.-equivalent 2.7 or above, based on grades 9, 10 and 11. The admissions page also says requirements vary by country curriculum and UNH looks for a university-preparatory program covering English, math, science, social science and a world language.
• English proficiency: required if English is not your first language. Minimum scores: IELTS 6.5; Duolingo English Test 120; LanguageCert 70; PTE Academic 59; TOEFL Essentials 8.5; TOEFL iBT 87 (before January 2026) or 4.5 on the new scale (January 2026 and after). Waivers: an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher waives the requirement; applicants from schools where English is the language of instruction can request a waiver, considered case by case. The pages we read do not list exempt countries. Applicants who are otherwise admissible but below the requirement may be considered for the ESL Bridge Program.
• Funds: the estimate-of-expenses page is the one used for I-20/DS-2019 forms (see Costs below). We did not find a separate bank-balance requirement; not stated by UNH in what we read, so ask the Office of International Students and Scholars.
• Scholarships and aid: international students are not eligible for U.S. federal aid, but are eligible for merit scholarships (the international page says “up to $40K USD”) and the International Engagement and Service Scholarship (IESS) for high-achieving international undergraduates with financial need, which covers partial tuition and is renewable for up to eight semesters. Admitted students who receive a merit scholarship are invited by email, generally in late February or early March, to apply for the international scholarships, which are limited and competitive.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international page, the international application page and the test-optional page do not mention the gaokao, and there is no China-specific country page. Whether and how gaokao results are used is not stated by UNH; ask Admissions (admissions@unh.edu).
• Transcripts: transcripts need English translations; see the international section for the official-document rules. The pages do not say what stamps or certification Chinese school transcripts need. Not stated by UNH.
• English: see above; TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo and others are accepted, and an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher waives the requirement.
• Interview and evaluation agencies: no interview; no third-party credential evaluation for undergraduate applications (transfer applicants need a course evaluation, see below).

8. Costs

• International estimate (2026–27, undergraduate, used for I-20): non-resident tuition $37,996; fees $3,868; housing $9,410; food $5,624; health insurance $2,554; total direct costs $59,452 (the page notes CEPS adds $1,504); books and supplies $1,000 and miscellaneous $3,795, for an estimated total of $64,247 over nine months. F-1 and J-1 visa holders must enroll in the UNH student health benefits plan.
• Domestic estimate (2026–27 Durham undergraduate): cost of attendance $40,920 for residents, $62,862 for non-residents and $53,298 for New England regional students; the tuition line in the table is the base rate with no separate CEPS differential, and the figures are estimates that may change. New undergraduates pay a one-time $400 administration fee.
• 2027–28 prices are not yet shown on the pages we read; check UNH Student Accounts.

9. Transfer students

• College requirements (transfer page): a recommended cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher; Calculus I (equivalent to UNH MATH 425) with a C or better is required for all CEPS majors; engineering majors also need calculus-based Physics I with a C or better (preferred), and Chemistry I may substitute; Mechanical Engineering requires Calculus II. UNH says students lacking calculus or science foundations on entry may need four years to graduate. CEPS Undeclared is closed to students with 57 or more transfer credits.
• Deadlines: fall entry April 1 (rolling review begins in mid-February, decisions from March); spring entry October 15, with an extended deadline of December 1; financial-aid priority March 1. The page prints no year, and one line about health majors mentions “Fall 2026”, so confirm the fall 2027 dates.
• Materials: the Transfer Common App or UNH transfer application; $50 (resident) or $65 (non-resident) fee; high school transcript or GED/HiSET unless you hold an associate or bachelor’s degree; official transcripts from every college attended; no interview.
• International transfers: English scores as above, college transcripts with English translations; for transfer credit, evaluation options include World Education Services (WES) and the Center for Educational Documentation, which UNH says is required to receive credit.
• Credit transfer: after admission UNH posts an official credit evaluation to your MyUNH account showing credits transferred and general-education requirements met; departments then review which courses count toward the major, which can take extra time. You can check how courses transfer in Transferology. Transfer scholarships exist; see UNH for criteria and deadlines.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Common App by November 15 (Early Action) or February 1 (Regular), one recommendation, transcript (a self-reported one is fine at first); SAT/ACT optional
• Take four years of math (with pre-calculus) and four years of science (with chemistry or physics lab) and keep taking both in senior year
• For the CEPS Industry Scholarships, the page says “admitted by the early action deadline (Nov. 15th)” and then watch for the invitation; confirm the details with Admissions; for aid, file the FAFSA by March 1 (code 002589)

International applicants (including China):

• Same timeline as domestic applicants; $65 application fee; transcripts with English translation, official copies due by June 30
• English: IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120, PTE 59 and so on, or an SAT reading and writing score of 500+ for a waiver; ask Admissions how to submit the gaokao
• Watch for the international scholarship invitation in late February to early March

Transfer students:

• Calculus I and Physics I (or Chemistry I) with C or better, GPA of 3.0+ recommended; fall deadline April 1, after checking the 2027 dates

Sources: University of New Hampshire, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences; ABET accreditation; College scholarships; College: admitted students; Apply overview; First-year; International; Transfer; Test-optional policy; Changing majors and competitive majors; Tuition and aid; International students; International scholarship; 2026–27 tuition and fees; 2026–27 cost of attendance; International estimate of expenses. Most dates on these pages carry no year, and the transfer page mentions “Fall 2026”; check UNH for fall 2027 deadlines and prices.