How to Apply to Engineering at Kennesaw State University: Eight Engineering BS Degrees in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, a 2.7 Engineering Standing GPA for Upper-Division Courses, with Admission Rules and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Undergraduate engineering at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Georgia is offered by the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET), mainly on the Marietta campus. The college’s page describes about 6,700 students across 18 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and calls it Georgia’s second-largest engineering program. This guide, based on KSU’s website, covers domestic students, international students (including a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Computer science and software engineering belong to a different college and computer science has its own article on this site, so they are not covered here.

1. Degrees and majors

• Eight engineering BS degrees (degree pages say face-to-face with fall, spring and summer entry on the Marietta campus; the Aerospace page leaves its format and entry-term lines blank): Aerospace Engineering, 120 credit hours; Civil Engineering, 124; Environmental Engineering, 123; Electrical Engineering, 124; Computer Engineering, 124; Industrial and Systems Engineering, 121; Mechanical Engineering, 125; and Mechatronics Engineering, 124.
• ABET: department pages say the Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Computer, Industrial and Systems, and Mechatronics Engineering BS programs are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). The Aerospace page and the college page read do not mention ABET accreditation. This is not published; ask the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Aerospace tracks: Aerospace Engineering has Aeronautics and Astronautics concentrations and a year-long senior capstone. The college’s degree list adds that Industrial and Systems Engineering offers an option to specialize in Industrial or Systems Engineering.
• Departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Engineering Technology (BS degrees in electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering technology, which are not the engineering majors covered here).
• Course lists: the full list of courses and credits is in the KSU catalog (catalog.kennesaw.edu), which this guide did not read. The Mechanical Engineering page links to a Degree Pathway; whether the other pages do was not checked. Check the website for current requirements.
• Double Owl Pathway: the Mechanical Engineering page mentions a pathway to the Mechanical Engineering MS; conditions are not given on that page.

2. How admission works and when you can take upper-division courses

• Choose a major on the application: the pages read do not describe a “first-year engineering” track with sorting into majors later; the degree pages’ application links are major-specific.
• Engineering Standing: the degree pages for Mechanical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, Computer, Industrial and Systems, and Mechatronics Engineering say engineering majors must earn Engineering Standing before taking upper-division courses, with a minimum 2.7 GPA in selected math, science and engineering courses. The Mechanical Engineering standing page says to see SPCEET Advising (SPCEETadvising@kennesaw.edu) for the course list, which this guide did not read.
• How to apply for it: download the Engineering Standing application for your major, fill in completed courses and grades, and send it to your academic advisor for processing. The Mechanical Engineering FAQ adds that courses in progress can be listed as “to be completed prior to the first semester in Engineering Standing” and missing courses as deficiency courses to finish in the first semester. Whether standing is guaranteed or limited by seats is not published.
• Non-engineering majors: the Mechanical Engineering standing page says students outside engineering who want upper-level engineering courses for a minor or dual major need a 2.7 GPA in foundation courses (English composition, physics, chemistry, calculus) plus 12 credit hours from SPCEET courses or courses with CHEM, CS, CSE, IT, MATH, PHYS or STAT prefixes. Conditions for moving into an engineering major from another KSU major are not published; ask SPCEET advising.

3. First-year requirements and prerequisites

• GPA: a minimum of 3.0 from fall 2027; spring and summer 2027 applicants are admitted under the current 2.5 minimum. KSU recalculates your GPA from the 17 units of the Required High School Curriculum (RHSC).
• High school courses: 4 English, 4 math, 4 science, 3 social science, and 2 units of the same foreign language (or 2 of American Sign Language or 2 of USG-approved computer science). The pages read set no separate calculus or physics minimum for engineering.
• Tests are required: KSU is not test-optional, and engineering has no separate test requirement. Minimums are SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 500 and Math 490, or ACT English or Reading 18 and Math 18; from fall 2027 the CLT is also accepted (Verbal 39, Math 16). SAT code 5359, ACT code 0833. KSU takes your highest section scores within each test but does not combine SAT and ACT. Architecture has higher requirements, but it is not an engineering major.
• Math placement: the Mechanical Engineering FAQ says that unless you are placed into Calculus I by the MAPT test, you must first take MATH 1112 (Trigonometry) or MATH 1113 (Precalculus), then MATH 1190 (Calculus I). The pages read for other majors do not say whether the same applies.
• AP credit: the transfer page says AP and CLEP scores must be sent electronically from College Board. The pages read do not say which engineering courses AP scores replace; check the catalog or ask the college.

4. How and when to apply (2027 entry)

• Application: high school students, and graduates of less than five years with fewer than 30 college credit hours, use the Common App. The fee is $40.
• First-year deadlines: spring 2027, application November 16, 2026 and documents December 1; summer 2027, May 3, 2027 for both; fall 2027 priority, application November 2, 2026 and documents November 16; fall 2027 regular, July 1, 2027 for both. Applying by the priority deadline gives early access to on-campus housing and orientation sign-ups.
• Engineering essay or recommendations: the pages read do not mention any extra engineering essay or recommendation. This is not published.

5. Domestic students

• Tests and GPA: SAT or ACT scores are required, and from fall 2027 the minimum high school GPA is 3.0. KSU lists entering-class (university-wide) averages of 3.5 GPA, SAT 1111.3 and ACT 22.4.
• Georgia residents: for 2026-2027, 15 credit hours cost $2,880 in tuition plus $594 in student fees, $3,474 per semester. The pages read do not mention priority or guaranteed admission for Georgia residents. This is not published.
• Out-of-state students: Flight to Excellence: an out-of-state tuition waiver for out-of-state and international students, who then pay in-state tuition plus all fees. Admitted students are considered automatically with no separate application. First-year students need a KSU-calculated high school GPA of 3.5 and an SAT of 1050, ACT of 20 or CLT of 68; meeting the minimums does not guarantee a waiver. Priority dates are November 2, 2026 for fall 2027 freshmen and November 16, 2026 for spring 2027. It lasts up to eight semesters and renews with a 2.5 GPA and 12 hours each fall and spring.
• College scholarships: the college pages read do not list engineering scholarships. This is not published; ask the college or the financial aid office.

6. International students

• Documents: foreign transcripts must be evaluated in English by a NACES or AICE member; your high school transcript needs a document-by-document evaluation that includes your GPA, and the GPA must appear on the evaluation. You also send SAT or ACT scores and proof of English.
• International deadlines: spring 2027, application November 16, 2026 and documents December 1; summer 2027, May 3, 2027; fall 2027 priority, application November 2, 2026 and documents November 16; fall 2027 regular, July 1, 2027.
• English minimums: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before January 21, 2026) or 4 on the new 1–6 scale; IELTS 6.0; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 500 or ACT English or Reading 18; Duolingo 115 (Writing section); PTE Academic 58; Cambridge CAE 177 or CPE 180; EIKEN Pre-1; MET 77. A B or better in a UK GCE A-Level English exam or in Cambridge or Edexcel IGCSE/O-Level English, or a C or better in English Composition I at a US college, also counts. The chart has no country-based exemptions.
• Conditional admission: if you have not met the English requirement, you can enroll in KSU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) on a Language Training I-20 and apply for conditional admission; full admission is reviewed after you complete the highest IEP level.
• Proof of funds: the pages read do not state financial documentation requirements. This is not published; ask admissions.
• 2026-2027 tuition for international undergraduates: $743 per credit hour. At 15 hours per semester, tuition is $11,145 plus $594 in student fees, for $11,739 per semester (the rate table goes up to 15 hours). The fee table and pages read list no engineering differential or surcharge; rely on your KSU bill.
• Scholarships: international new students can be considered for Flight to Excellence (see above). The pages read list no other international scholarships.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: KSU does not say whether Gaokao results are used or what score is needed. This is not published; check with international admissions.
• Transcripts and evaluation: your high school transcript needs a document-by-document evaluation from a NACES or AICE member, with GPA on the report (the site names IEE and The Evaluation Company as examples). Whether huikao (academic proficiency test) records are needed is not published.
• Tests and English: first-year applicants must submit the SAT or ACT; English requirements are in the previous section. A-Level or IGCSE English at B or better can also show English proficiency. No A-Level or IB admission scores are published.
• Country page and interview: the pages read have no China-specific document list or country page, and no interview requirement.
• Contacts: the international page lists an international recruiter (Catherine Shamanski, cshamans@kennesaw.edu) and the admissions office at 470-578-4636.

8. Transfer students

• Which application: with 30 semester (or 50 quarter) hours of transferable credit you apply as a transfer student; with fewer, you apply as a transfer freshman and send high school records and SAT/ACT scores.
• Requirements: a 2.0 college GPA as recalculated by KSU and good standing at your previous school. Applicants are encouraged to complete courses equivalent to ENGL 1101 and MATH 1101 with a C or better. The transfer page does not list a required calculus, physics or chemistry sequence or grades for engineering; ask SPCEET advising. After transfer you still need Engineering Standing (2.7 in selected math, science and engineering courses).
• Deadlines (transfer page): spring 2027, application December 1 and documents December 11; summer, May 3; fall 2027, July 16. International transfer applicants follow the international deadlines above. The Flight to Excellence page gives April 1, 2027 as the fall 2027 priority date for transfers.
• Credit transfer: KSU offers a transfer credit search engine. Credit from colleges outside the US needs a course-by-course evaluation with GPA showing at least 30 semester hours of US university-level work.
• Engineering transfer paths: the college lists the Regents’ Engineering Pathway (REP): two or more years of pre-engineering courses at participating University System of Georgia institutions, then transfer to Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, KSU, Mercer or the University of Georgia. The page says KSU’s requirement is completing the courses for your engineering major with a cumulative 2.7 GPA. There are also Dual Degree articulations (attend a partner such as Berry College, Oglethorpe University, Piedmont University, the University of North Georgia or the University of West Georgia for about three years, then transfer, with no special application, just a Dual Degree box on the general application), and Technical College System of Georgia AAS graduates (Engineering Technology, ET33) can transfer into the electrical, industrial or mechanical engineering technology BS programs.

9. Costs and co-ops

• 2026-2027 per semester at 15 credit hours (tuition table): in-state tuition $2,880, out-of-state $10,830 and international $11,145; the student fee is $594 in every case (it covers activity, athletic, health, parking, recreation center, sports and recreation parks, technology, transportation and wellness fees). Per credit hour: $192 in-state, $722 out-of-state, $743 international.
• Cost of attendance (2026-2027, fall and spring, on campus): $29,077 in-state and $44,977 out-of-state, including housing $9,332, food $5,016, books and supplies $1,500, personal expenses $3,995, transportation $2,222 and fees $1,188. The estimate does not list international students separately.
• Internships and co-ops: the other seven degree pages (not Aerospace) have an “Internships and Co-ops” link; the Industrial and Systems Engineering FAQ says the department and the university’s career planning office work with industry on internships and co-ops and points to careers.kennesaw.edu/steam (not accessed for this guide). Whether positions are paid or how to register is not stated in the pages read.
• Licensure support: the college’s Student Success Center runs FE exam review sessions and tutoring, and the Civil Engineering FAQ notes that its civil and environmental programs are ABET-accredited, which it ties to professional engineer licensure.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Take 4 math and 4 science courses, keep at least a 3.0 GPA (from fall 2027), and submit the SAT (500/490) or ACT (18/18)
• For fall 2027, apply by the November 2, 2026 priority deadline; out-of-state students should also aim for Flight to Excellence
• After enrolling, keep a 2.7 in the selected math, science and engineering courses and apply for Engineering Standing

International students (including applicants from China):

• Get a NACES/AICE document-by-document evaluation with GPA; submit the SAT or ACT; prepare IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79
• Apply by November 2, 2026 for fall 2027, and ask admissions about Gaokao use and proof of funds
• Plan for Engineering Standing (2.7) after enrolling

Transfer students:

• Have 30 hours and a 2.0 GPA; get a course-by-course evaluation for foreign credit; look at the REP and Dual Degree paths

Sources: Kennesaw State University, Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology; Bachelor’s engineering degrees; Mechanical Engineering; Aerospace Engineering; Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Computer Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Mechatronics Engineering; Engineering Standing; Mechanical Engineering FAQ; Transfer programs; Freshman requirements; International students; Transfer students; Deadlines; Flight to Excellence Scholarship; 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition; Cost of attendance. Dates are for spring, summer and fall 2027 entry, and costs are 2026-2027 rates. Check Kennesaw State for the latest details.