How to Apply to Engineering at the University of South Alabama: Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (ABET-Accredited) Plus Aerospace Engineering, New in Fall 2024, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Undergraduate engineering at the University of South Alabama (also called South Alabama or USA, in Mobile, Alabama) is offered by the College of Engineering. This guide follows the University’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computer science belongs to the School of Computing, not the College of Engineering, and has its own guide on this site; computer engineering is in the College of Engineering.

1. Engineering degrees at South Alabama

• Degrees: all are Bachelor of Science. The academic programs page lists chemical, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering. The prospective students page says the College offers “five undergraduate Bachelor of Science degrees” and describes the first five only, so the two pages do not fully agree. The mechanical, aerospace and biomedical department page says the department offers both a mechanical and an aerospace BS; mechanical engineering offers aerospace or biomedical concentrations (prospective students page); electrical and chemical engineering also have pre-med curriculum charts.
• ABET: the accreditation page says the BS programs in chemical, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission. Aerospace engineering began in fall 2024 and is not currently ABET-accredited; the program plans to be reviewed after its first class graduates and, if successful, to seek retroactive accreditation covering the two preceding years of graduates. Another page (academic programs) says “all undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering are EAC-ABET accredited” and that graduates may sit the FE exam in all 50 states; that conflicts with the accreditation page on aerospace, so ask the College.
• Credits: department pages state 127 credits for mechanical and for aerospace engineering, 126 for chemical engineering and a 131-hour program for civil engineering. The electrical and computer engineering pages give no total, which is not published there; check the curriculum (the University bulletin at bulletin.southalabama.edu was not read for this guide).
• FE exam: department pages say students take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before graduation; the electrical page says a pass is not required and the civil page says a good-faith effort to pass. Check your department.
• Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM): every undergraduate program has one. Mechanical engineering requires junior or senior standing and both engineering and institutional GPAs of 3.4 or higher; electrical, computer, civil and chemical engineering require being within two semesters of graduation with a 3.0 cumulative GPA at South Alabama (at least 30 credit hours taken there).

2. Admission and choosing a major

• The admission application is university-wide: the “Apply Now” on the College’s prospective students page links to the admissions office’s application page (not read for this guide). The pages read for this guide do not say whether the application requires you to choose a specific engineering major; ask admissions (admiss@southalabama.edu).
• No field chosen: the advising page says students who have not selected a field of engineering are “Engineering General Studies” students, advised by the Associate Dean or the Director of Academic Advising.
• Advising path: undergraduates with fewer than 30 completed credit hours and/or not enrolled in MA 126 (Calculus 2) are advised by Academic Advising and Transfer Services; engineering students enrolled in MA 126 go to the College’s Director of Academic Advising; after completing MA 126 they are assigned a faculty advisor in their department. All new students, including transfers, attend orientation, where an engineering faculty member advises them and they register on site.
• Conditions for entering a major: the pages read for this guide do not list a GPA threshold, required course grades or limited places for entering a particular engineering major, nor conditions for moving into the College from elsewhere in the University. This is not published there; ask the College (engineering@southalabama.edu, 251-460-6140). Apart from entering a major, the GPA rules the pages do state are: a GPA below 2.0 triggers an academic probation hold that only the Associate Dean or the Director of Academic Advising can lift, and graduation requires a GPA of at least 2.00 in courses in the major department (electrical and computer engineering page).

3. Prerequisites and credit

• University high school core (freshman admission page): 4 years of English; 3 of social science; 3 of math including Algebra I and two higher-level courses (for example Algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry or pre-calculus); 3 of science with at least two including labs; 3 of advanced electives (which may include a foreign language). This is the University-wide requirement; the College of Engineering pages read for this guide name no separate calculus, physics or chemistry requirement for high school.
• Math placement (table on the Math Bridge page): math ACT 27 or higher, SAT 640 or higher, or placement exam (MPE) 90–100 places into MA 125 (Calculus 1); ACT 24 or higher, SAT 580 or higher or MPE 80–89 into MA 113 (the page also names MA 115); ACT 22 or higher, SAT 540 or higher or MPE 70–79 into MA 112; ACT 18 or higher, SAT 500 or higher or MPE 60–69 into MA 112 and MTH 100; below ACT 18, SAT 500 or MPE 60 into MA 110 (each tier applies to those who miss the tier above). Students with neither ACT scores nor math credit take the MPE, which is free (proctoring fees may apply) and can be taken once.
• Engineering Math Bridge: a one-week algebra and trigonometry review for engineering freshmen placed in MA 110, MTH 100, MA 112, MA 113 or MA 125; on the last day students may retake the MPE. The cost is USD 200 (housing separate). The page describes August 10–14, 2026 and shows registration closed; the page does not give 2027 dates.
• AP, IB and A-Level credit (Registrar page, revised February 20, 2025): AP Calculus AB with a 3 earns MA 125 (4 hours); Calculus BC with a 3 earns MA 125 and MA 126 (8 hours); Precalculus with a 3 earns MA 115; Chemistry with a 4 earns CH 131 (4 hours) and with a 5 earns CH 131 and CH 132 (8 hours); Physics 1 with a 4 earns PH 114 (5 hours); Physics 2 with a 5 earns PH 115; Physics C Mechanics with a 4 earns PH 201 and Physics C Electricity and Magnetism with a 4 earns PH 202 (4 hours each). IB Mathematics (SL and HL) maps to MA 112 (score 4), MA 115 (4–5) and MA 125 (6); IB Physics with a 5 earns PH 104 (4 hours); IB Chemistry SL with a 5 earns CH 101 or CH 131 (4 hours) and HL with a 5 earns CH 131 and CH 132 (8 hours). A-Level Mathematics (grades A–E) earns MA 125 and AS Mathematics MA 115; A-Level Physics earns PH 114 and PH 115 (10 hours); A-Level Chemistry earns CH 131 plus a 100-level chemistry elective (8 hours). Credit by examination is capped at 25% of the credits required for the degree. Whether this credit satisfies required courses in a given engineering major depends on the curriculum, which was not read for this guide; check the bulletin and your department.

4. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Domestic deadlines (the same for freshmen and transfers): fall July 15, spring December 1, summer May 1, all priority deadlines. The freshman page also describes a path for “spring, summer and fall 2027” applicants.
• Application fee: USD 35 online, USD 45 on paper.
• Testing: for spring, summer and fall 2027 applicants the University offers a test-optional path: a high school GPA of 3.4 or higher is automatically admitted; those below 3.4 enter a review and could be asked for more materials (the test-optional section names an essay and a letter of recommendation). Test-optional students are still eligible for scholarships, awarded on strength of curriculum, grades and other factors. The University recommends submitting scores of ACT 21 or SAT 1060 or higher. The general requirement (no year printed) is a high school GPA of at least 2.50 plus an ACT superscore of at least 19 or an SAT (evidence-based reading and writing plus math) of at least 990.
• Essay and recommendations: the standard route does not list any; no extra College of Engineering essay or test requirement appears on the pages read for this guide, and this is not published there.
• Co-op and internships: the College runs an Engineering Cooperative Education Program in which students alternate classroom time with paid, full-time career-related work in industry or government; summer internships are usually full-time for 10–12 weeks. Postings come through the Career Development Office’s platform, which requires a résumé and unofficial transcripts.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Tuition: in the tuition table (titled 2025-2026 but headed 2026-2027), College of Engineering undergraduate courses cost USD 416 per credit hour in state and USD 832 out of state (other undergraduate colleges are listed at USD 386 to 435 per credit hour). Undergraduates taking fewer than 15 hours in fall or spring pay a USD 150 registration fee. The 2026-2027 cost-of-attendance page is not broken down by major: on campus, about USD 30,986 (or 32,052 without the course-materials package) in state and USD 40,978 (or 42,134) out of state.
• Freshman admission scholarships: reviewed automatically after admission; the priority deadline for fall 2027 is February 15. Eligibility: U.S. citizen, permanent resident or student at a U.S. high school with a qualifying visa status, and at least a 3.0 high school GPA. Amounts depend on GPA and ACT/SAT: from USD 2,500 a year (3.0–3.49 GPA, GPA-only row) up to full tuition (at the published College of Arts and Sciences rate, up to 30 hours a year), renewable over four years. Out-of-state students given an academic admission scholarship pay in-state tuition.
• College of Engineering scholarships: the College awards its own scholarships to incoming students, in addition to University academic scholarships; the page gives January 31 as the application deadline (University scholarships are applied for in the JagSPOT portal). A USD 1,500 summer undergraduate research stipend is awarded on ACT scores and high school GPA with no application, for students admitted by January 1 of their senior year.
• In-state priority or guaranteed admission: not on the pages read for this guide. The Alabama High School Diploma with Advanced Endorsement meets the University’s core requirements.

6. International applicants

• Requirements: the international application with the USD 35 fee (payable through a US bank), secondary records with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 as calculated by the Office of International Admissions, and proof of English proficiency. The requirement list does not mention the SAT or ACT.
• English (freshman and transfer alike): Duolingo 95; TOEFL 61 (or 3.5 on the 6-point scale); IELTS 5.5; iTEP 3.6; Pearson Academic 44; an A, B or C on UK Advanced-level English; or citizenship of, or secondary schooling in, an exempt country on the University’s list. Unofficial scores are accepted for admission; official scores are required before enrollment.
• Deadlines (applicants outside the US; priority deadlines, no year printed): fall April 1, spring October 1, summer March 1. For applicants already in the US: fall July 15, spring December 1, summer April 1. Applications completed after a deadline are considered for the next session.
• Academic records: submit all secondary (and postsecondary) records. Unofficial copies are accepted for admission, but official copies must arrive before first-semester check-in and orientation or the admission and immigration document may be revoked. Official records bear the original stamp or seal and signature of a government or school official; notarized copies are not accepted. Records should list subjects studied by year, weekly lecture and laboratory hours, grades or marks from year-end examinations, and copies of diplomas or certificates; consolidated mark sheets are not accepted; records not in English need a certified translation.
• Funding proof: a non-refundable USD 500 deposit (applied to first-semester tuition) is required before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, and F-1 applicants must show they can fund tuition, living costs and fees for at least one year; the deposit and bank statements are part of that showing. The deposit is valid for one year; after a first visa denial you may defer, and after a second you may request a refund. The international students’ cost page is still the 2023-2024 estimate: tuition and fees USD 21,540, living expenses 9,000, books 1,100 and medical insurance 2,315, totalling USD 33,955, and it says to use the current expense worksheet.
• Which tuition rate international students pay: the tuition table has no international column and the pages read for this guide do not state it; the international scholarship page says award recipients are charged in-state tuition and that international students are not considered in-state residents by the Registrar.
• International scholarships: the Global Freshman Scholars Talent and Ability Scholarship (from fall 2026) is for international freshmen on F-1, H-4 or L-2 visas with a 3.0 high school GPA. It is competitive and limited, renewable for up to four years (or until a first bachelor’s degree); recipients pay in-state tuition and need a 3.0 GPA each year. Apply in JagSPOT after admission; the fall priority deadlines are January 15 and May 1. It is not available to government-sponsored students or those seeking a second bachelor’s degree. Several endowed international scholarships are also applied for in JagSPOT.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international admissions pages read for this guide do not mention the gaokao and there is no China-specific country page. This is not published there; ask international admissions (internationaladmissions@southalabama.edu, 251-460-6050) whether and how it is considered.
• Transcripts: the academic-records rules above apply to Chinese high schools: subjects by year, weekly lecture and laboratory hours, year-end examination results and diploma copies; no consolidated mark sheets; certified English translation of Chinese documents. The pages do not say whether the provincial academic proficiency exam results are needed.
• English: China is not on the exempt-country list, so submit TOEFL 61, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 95 or another accepted score.
• International curricula: A-Level English grades are accepted as proof of English; credit rules for A-Level, AP and IB are in section 3.

8. Transfer students

• Eligibility (transfer page): 12 or more credit hours earned at another college after high school; a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (as computed by South Alabama admissions); eligibility to re-enroll at the last institution. Applicants with fewer than 30 semester hours must also satisfy freshman requirements and send a high school transcript, and ACT or SAT scores if they graduated fewer than five years ago or are under 23. Any extra GPA or calculus/physics/chemistry requirements for entering an engineering major as a transfer are not published on the pages read for this guide.
• Deadlines and fee: the same as for freshmen (priority: fall July 15, spring December 1, summer May 1); USD 35, valid for one year.
• Credit transfer: coursework from regionally accredited institutions is evaluated; the Transfer Evaluation System (TES) gives an unofficial estimate, and official determination follows admission and receipt of all official transcripts. At most half of the credits required for a degree may come from a community college; at least 25% of the required credits must be South Alabama upper-division (300–400 level) work; the electrical and computer engineering page adds that transfer students complete at least 32 hours at South Alabama, at least 16 of them upper-level in the major department.
• International transfer: a 2.0 cumulative GPA as calculated by international admissions, and the same USD 35 fee. English can also be shown by the equivalent of EH 101 at a US institution with a C or better. Applicants with more than 30 transfer hours send postsecondary records only; those with fewer send both secondary and postsecondary records. For transcripts from outside the US the University encourages a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES or AICE member, at the student’s cost. The Global Transfer Scholars award requires a 3.0 transfer GPA, charges in-state tuition and lasts up to two years.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply by July 15 for fall (USD 35); to be considered for freshman scholarships, be admitted by February 15
• Take 3 years of math and 3 of science; with a GPA of 3.4 or higher, the test-optional path gives automatic admission
• Prepare math placement (ACT/SAT or MPE); consider the Math Bridge Program
• Apply for College of Engineering scholarships by January 31

International applicants (including those from China):

• Apply from outside the US by the April 1 fall priority deadline (check that it applies to 2027)
• Prepare TOEFL 61, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 95 or another accepted English score
• Transcripts by year with subjects and hours, with a certified translation; send official copies before the first semester
• After admission, pay the USD 500 deposit with bank statements for the I-20; apply for the Global Freshman Scholars award in JagSPOT by January 15 or May 1
• Ask international admissions whether the gaokao is considered

Transfer students:

• 12 or more hours and a 2.0 GPA; estimate credits with TES
• Ask the College of Engineering about the requirements for entering a specific engineering major
• International transfers: arrange a course-by-course evaluation for work outside the US

Sources: University of South Alabama, College of Engineering; Prospective students; Academic programs; Accreditation; Math Bridge Program; College scholarships; Co-op and internships; Advising; Mechanical and aerospace; Electrical and computer; Civil; Chemical; Freshman admission; Transfer admission; International requirements and deadlines; International application; International cost estimate; Tuition table; Cost of attendance; Scholarship services; Freshman scholarships; International scholarships; AP, IB and A-Level credit. Several pages show no year (for example the international deadlines, and the Math Bridge page describes 2026), so check that they apply to fall 2027. The University’s current website is authoritative.