How to Apply to Engineering at the University of Idaho: A College of Engineering With Chemical, Biological, Civil, Geological, Electrical, Computer and Mechanical Majors, Rolling Admission by Unweighted High School GPA, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Undergraduate engineering at the University of Idaho (U of I) 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 is also in the college and is not covered here.

1. Engineering degrees in the college

• Departments and degrees: the engineering academics page says the college has six departments; those with engineering bachelor’s degrees are Chemical and Biological Engineering (biological engineering B.S.B.E., chemical engineering B.S.Ch.E.); Civil and Environmental Engineering (civil engineering B.S.C.E., geological engineering B.S.); Electrical and Computer Engineering (electrical engineering B.S.E.E., and computer engineering B.S.Comp.E., which is on the accreditation page); Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.); and Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management (industrial and systems engineering B.S., engineering technology B.S.Tech.; nuclear engineering is listed there only at master’s and doctoral level). Computer Science and Cybersecurity is the sixth department and is outside this guide.
• Locations: the college page says degree programs are offered in Moscow, Coeur d’Alene, Boise and Idaho Falls; Coeur d’Alene is mainly cybersecurity and computer science, and Idaho Falls has engineering and computer science at all degree levels. The department pages say undergraduate engineering is on the Moscow campus, and Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management is in Idaho Falls, on campus and online. For where a given major is taught, filter by location in the university’s Degree Finder.
• ABET (accreditation page): biological engineering B.S., chemical engineering B.S.Ch.E., civil engineering B.S.C.E., computer engineering B.S.Comp.E., electrical engineering B.S.E.E. and mechanical engineering B.S.M.E. are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission; computer science and cybersecurity by the Computing Accreditation Commission; the engineering technology B.S.Tech. by ATMAE. Accreditation for geological engineering and industrial and systems engineering is not listed on that page; not published there, so ask the college.
• Credits and courses: credit totals and course lists for each major are not on the pages read; check the university catalog or the college’s student resource center.
• Internships and co-op: the college page promises “real-world experience” through undergraduate research, labs and paid internship, assistantship and fellowship programs, and a Senior Capstone Design program. The transfer page also mentions internship and co-op programs. The pages read have no dedicated paid co-op program description; ask the college.

2. Admission: you apply to the university; major-entry conditions are not published

• How to apply: use the U of I application or the Common App; Idaho residents may also use Apply Idaho. The application asks for intended program, student type, campus and start term, and the site says that if you are unsure you can apply as undecided and choose or change your major later.
• Direct admission to a specific engineering major versus a first-year engineering year, GPA gates, limited seats, and conditions for moving into the College of Engineering: the admissions, college and department pages read do not say. Not published; contact the college’s student resource center (Micron Student Center, 208-885-6470, engr@uidaho.edu). The site says its advisors help you learn about degree options, choose a major, identify required and elective courses and plan toward graduation.
• University-level admission: first-year applicants are reviewed on cumulative unweighted high school GPA (section 4); the site does not separate the College of Engineering from other colleges for first-year applicants.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school courses: the pages read do not list high school math, physics or chemistry needed for engineering. Not published.
• Math placement test: not on the pages read. Not published.
• AP credit (registrar page, minimum score 3): Calculus AB gives MATH 1170 (4 credits); Calculus BC gives MATH 1170 and 1750 (8); Precalculus gives MATH 1143 and 1144 (4); Chemistry gives CHEM 1111 and 1120 (without labs, 6); Physics C mechanics gives PHYS 2110 (without lab, 3) and Physics C electricity and magnetism gives PHYS 2120 (without lab, 3); Computer Science A gives CS 1112 (4). Physics 1, 2 and B map to the algebra-based PHYS 1111/1112. The page does not say whether credit replaces a particular engineering major’s required course; confirm with the department.
• IB credit (same page): Chemistry (SL or HL) with 5 gives CHEM 1111 and 1112 (9 credits); Mathematics HL with 4 gives MATH 1143 (3); Physics (SL or HL) with 4 gives PHYS 1111 and 1112 (lecture only, 6). CLEP, A-Level and Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) tables are also on the page.

4. Deadlines, materials and fees (fall 2027 entry)

• Rolling admission (dates and deadlines page): the fall 2027 application opened in August 2026, and the university admits students and awards scholarships and financial aid on a rolling basis as applications are received; there is no single hard deadline.
• First-year standards (the first-year page shows two tiers, no year printed): for “spring (January) 2027 start”, a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.00–4.00 is automatic admission with no test scores; 2.60–2.99 needs an ACT of 15 / SAT of 740 or above, or opting into the Vandal Gateway Program; 2.30–2.59 are admitted through the Vandal Gateway Program. For “summer (May) 2027 start and beyond”, a GPA of 2.6 or higher is automatic admission (Idaho residents scoring 3 or higher on both ISAT math and literacy also qualify), 2.30–2.59 are admitted through the Vandal Gateway Program, and below 2.30 can appeal to the Admissions Committee; that tier asks for no test scores. Which tier applies to fall 2027 should be confirmed with admissions. The details of the Vandal Gateway Program were not read; not published here.
• Materials: the application; a $50 non-refundable fee (waived for Idaho residents, with a fee-waiver option); an official high school transcript showing the graduation date (emailed copies can support a decision, official ones are needed to finalize); college transcripts if applicable. School codes: SAT 4843, ACT 0928.
• Essay and recommendations: not required for regular first-year applicants. The scholarship section of the application is optional short notes on activities, honors and work, which the site says may be considered by up to 60 scholarship committees for more than 1,600 scholarships. GED, home-schooled and non-accredited-school applicants submit three letters and a statement (waived with ACT 26 or SAT 1260).
• Testing: as above. The site does not say the College of Engineering has a separate test requirement.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Admission: see section 4; Idaho residents have the extra route of scoring 3 or higher on both ISAT math and literacy.
• Costs (2026–2027, cost-of-attendance page): full-time undergraduate tuition and fees are $9,824 for Idaho residents, $29,300 out-of-state, and $13,538 for WUE or Invitation to Idaho recipients; housing and meals $12,995; books and supplies $1,260; transportation $2,874; miscellaneous $3,838; totals $30,791, $50,267 and $34,505. The page says final amounts are set by the State Board of Education each year in late spring. It lists an extra program fee only for the College of Art and Architecture and none for the College of Engineering; whether engineering has a fee is not published.
• Idaho residents — Go Idaho!: guaranteed minimum scholarships for Idaho high school first-year students by unweighted GPA, up to four years: 3.9–4.0 $7,500 a year; 3.75–3.899 $5,000; 3.4–3.749 $4,000; 3.0–3.39 $1,000; keep a 2.5 cumulative U of I GPA. The merit scholarship stays with you if you change majors. The state’s Idaho LAUNCH program gives Idaho high school graduates up to $8,000 ($4,000 a year) toward programs in in-demand careers; the Fall 2026 incoming-freshman list on the page includes biological, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, geological and mechanical engineering (B.S.); check the 2027 list.
• Out-of-state — WUE: new first-year and transfer students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are considered automatically with no separate application; keep a 2.5 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment. Worth nearly $16,000 a year for first-year students, plus $1,000 at a 3.0–3.749 GPA, $2,000 at 3.75–3.899 and $3,000 at 3.9 or higher.
• Out-of-state — Invitation to Idaho: for students from non-WUE states and international students, worth nearly $16,000 a year; requires admission as a first-year or first-time transfer student, full-time enrollment (12–18 credits) and an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher; no separate application; renewable up to four years with a 2.5 cumulative U of I GPA; cannot be combined with WUE.
• College of Engineering scholarships: the student success page points to college scholarship resources but the page read gives no amounts or conditions; not published. The college page says it awards the most scholarships among Idaho’s four-year public engineering colleges, and the Chemical and Biological Engineering department page says over 80% of engineering students receive additional scholarships.
• Resident priority or guaranteed admission: see above; the site does not describe a separate guarantee for the College of Engineering.

6. International applicants

• Application and fee (international admissions page): a $50 application fee paid by credit or debit card in the application portal. First-year applicants need a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale from secondary school and must meet the criteria for university-level study in the home country; the admissions office converts grades to the U.S. 4.0 scale.
• English: TOEFL (tests before January 21, 2026: minimum 70; after: minimum 4.0); Duolingo 100; IELTS 6.0; PTE Academic 48; SAT evidence-based reading and writing 550; completion of U of I’s American Language and Culture Program; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency pass; O Level pass and several language-center programs. Tests must be within two years of the semester. Waivers: a previous degree at an accredited U.S. institution; passed English classes at U.S. institutions at the admissions office’s judgement; and applicants from the countries the site lists (including Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland, Ghana, Nigeria and the Philippines; a few, such as Canada and South Africa, require English as the medium of instruction for all secondary or postsecondary education, shown by an official school letter). China is not on the list, so applicants from China need an English test unless another waiver applies.
• Credentials: the international page does not list the secondary documents required (transcripts, certificates, evaluation services). Not published; contact admissions@uidaho.edu.
• Proof of funds: a Certificate of Financial Responsibility signed by the student (and the sponsor if sponsored), an original bank statement or bank-letterhead letter from the student or sponsor showing the minimum funds, and a copy of the passport.
• Deadlines: rolling, no hard deadline; apply at least three months before the start date. Last day to apply: fall (August to December) May 1; spring (January to May) October 1; summer (starts mid-May) March 1. An I-20 must be issued before you can register and apply for a student visa.
• Costs: on top of out-of-state tuition, housing, meals, books and personal costs, international students pay an international student fee (the page says currently $380 per semester) and required health insurance (typically around $2,412 a year, varying by year).
• Scholarships: new international undergraduates who qualify are considered for Invitation to Idaho; the international scholarship page says it reduces the annual international tuition from $29,016 to $13,294, while the cost page shows $29,300 and $13,538 for 2026–2027 — the figures differ and the site does not explain why, so use the latest page. The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship is renewable up to four years and covers up to 50% of tuition for admitted first-year international degree students; it needs a 500–1,000-word essay or a 2–5 minute video, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 12 credits a semester and community cultural-engagement hours, and it cannot be combined with Invitation to Idaho. Its priority deadlines printed on the page are October 20, 2025 (spring 2026) and April 13, 2026 (fall 2026), which are last cycle’s dates; check the fall 2027 date. The out-of-state scholarship page states a 3.0 incoming GPA for Invitation to Idaho, while the international scholarship page says eligible new international undergraduates are considered automatically; confirm the threshold with admissions.
• Federal aid: international students need not file the FAFSA and cannot qualify for U.S. federal funding.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read have no China page and do not say how Gaokao results are used. Not published; contact admissions (admissions@uidaho.edu, 208-885-6326).
• Transcripts and exam records: the pages do not say how Chinese high school transcripts, academic proficiency exam records or evaluation services are handled. Not published. What is stated: the admissions office converts grades to a 4.0 scale and requires a 2.5 GPA.
• English: China is not on the English-waiver country list, so one of the tests above is needed.
• Interview: not published on the pages read.

8. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer student: someone pursuing a first bachelor’s degree with 14 or more semester credits (21 quarter credits) of college coursework after high school graduation; college credit earned in high school (dual credit or concurrent enrollment) does not count, and those students apply as first-year. Applicants with fewer than 14 transferable credits must also meet first-year requirements.
• Standard: a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in transferable college coursework; transfers from an out-of-state college into any College of Engineering program need a cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher; some programs have additional requirements, so check with the department. International transfers use the same 2.0 and the 2.8 for the College of Engineering.
• Calculus, physics and chemistry sequence: the transfer page does not name the required sequence for engineering; not published. The I Transfer tool previews how coursework counts, and the university has transfer pathways with the College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, North Idaho College and Treasure Valley Community College; the pathways were not read.
• Materials: the application; $50 fee (waived for Idaho residents); official transcripts from every college attended; valid government-issued photo ID; high school records are not required but recommended for scholarship selection.
• Scholarships: Go Idaho! for Idaho-resident transfers: GPA 3.8–4.0 $3,000 a year, 3.6–3.799 $2,000, 3.0–3.599 $1,000; WUE transfer awards add $500 (3.8–4.0) or $250 (3.0–3.79) to the roughly $16,000 a year.
• Deadlines: rolling; the transfer page gives no hard deadline; international transfers use the same last day to apply as international first-year students.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply with the U of I application, Common App or Apply Idaho (residents); rolling admission; official high school transcript; $50 fee (waived for residents)
• A GPA of 2.6 or higher is automatic admission on the summer 2027 and later tier (ask admissions which tier fall 2027 uses); Idaho residents can look at Go Idaho!, WUE-state students at WUE
• Ask engr@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6470 about engineering major entry conditions

International applicants (including China):

• $50 fee; secondary GPA of 2.5; English test (TOEFL new scale 4.0, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 100 and so on); Certificate of Financial Responsibility, bank statement and passport copy
• Fall last day to apply May 1, three months ahead recommended; look at Invitation to Idaho and #YouAreWelcomeHere; ask admissions about Gaokao use and transcript requirements

Transfer students:

• Cumulative GPA 2.0; 2.8 for out-of-state transfers into engineering; official transcripts from all colleges; preview credits with I Transfer

Sources: University of Idaho, College of Engineering; Engineering academics; Accreditation; Chemical and Biological Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Nuclear Engineering and Industrial Management; Student success; First-year students; Transfer students; Dates and deadlines; International admissions; International scholarships; Cost of attendance; Idaho resident scholarships; Out-of-state scholarships; Credit for prior learning. Where the site shows no year (scholarship deadlines, costs), confirm they apply to fall 2027 entry.