How to apply to Engineering at Loyola Marymount University: four BSE programs in civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering at the Seaver College, a shared General Engineering first year with room to switch between engineering majors, and requirements for US domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a Jesuit university in Los Angeles. Engineering is taught in the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering. The undergraduate engineering degree in the bulletin is the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.), in Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Computer science (B.S.) is in the same college, has its own guide on this site and is not covered here. This guide covers fall 2027 entry from LMU's website for US domestic applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and how you enter a major

• Four majors: the bulletin states ABET accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission for the civil, mechanical and electrical engineering programs. The computer engineering page I read does not mention accreditation; ask the department.
• General Engineering first: the college offers a General Engineering curriculum in the first two semesters in which requirements are nearly identical across majors. The page says students can switch to any engineering major at any time during those two semesters without losing time or credit, and may be classified as General Engineering or choose civil, computer, electrical or mechanical. First-year engineering faculty advisors advise everyone during the first two semesters.
• When to commit: unless circumstances suggest otherwise, a commitment to a major should be made before the second semester of the sophomore year, after which students get a faculty advisor in the major.
• What to choose on the application: the first-year application page I read does not say whether engineering applicants choose a specific major or General Engineering; ask admissions.
• Switching into engineering from another LMU major: students must complete a semester of calculus (MATH 122 or MATH 131) and a semester of general chemistry with at least a C (2.0) in each; a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is preferred, and the associate dean and the department chair evaluate the request. Meeting the minimums may not be enough. Majors add requirements: mechanical engineering asks for a C or better in CHEM 1140, Statics (ENGR 2001), Calculus I and II and Introduction to Mechanics (PHYS 1100); civil engineering asks for the same statics, calculus and physics, and its chemistry course numbers display as "Not Found" on the page, so confirm them with the department; electrical and computer engineering ask for a C or better in CHEM 1140, Calculus I and II and PHYS 1100, with final approval by the department chair.

2. What you study

• General Engineering year: fall has Introduction to Engineering, Engineering Seminar, General Chemistry and Lab for Engineers (CHEM 1140), Calculus I and University Core; spring has Computational Engineering, Engineering Visualization, Calculus II and Introduction to Mechanics (PHYS 1100). CHEM 1140 can be satisfied by an AP Chemistry score of 4+ or an IB Higher Level Chemistry score of 5+.
• Mechanical Engineering: 98–104 semester hours listed on the program page depending on the concentration; five concentrations: Aerospace, Biomedical, Robotics and Mechatronics, Design and Innovation, and General Mechanical Engineering (the default). The program stresses hands-on learning, with three lab courses and a year-long team capstone (Capstone Design I and II). A concentration is declared before registering for the spring of the junior year.
• Civil Engineering: 99 semester hours listed on the program page and at least 126 semester hours to graduate, including taking the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Concentrations: Environmental, Geotechnical, Structural and Water Resources. Design is integrated from the first year through the last semester of the senior year; the page I read does not describe a year-long capstone.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering: 95 semester hours listed on each program page and at least 125 semester hours to graduate, a junior-level lab sequence shared by the two programs and a year-long senior capstone. The computer engineering page says the program intersects electrical engineering and computer science, with upper-division courses in both.
• University Core: engineering majors complete 30 semester hours of core.
• Internships and accelerated master's: a paid co-op program is not described on the pages I read; the mechanical engineering page mentions internships, design competitions and research. The mechanical, electrical and computer engineering sections of the bulletin each list an accelerated M.S.E. program; admission conditions are not covered here, so check the bulletin.

3. Preparation expected

• High school courses: LMU recommends English 4, foreign language 3, math 3, lab science 2, social sciences 3 and one academic elective. For engineering, science, computer science and mathematics applicants it recommends four years of math and one year each of biology, chemistry and physics, and expects Seaver College students to be ready for calculus in the first year.
• Minimums: there is no minimum GPA or test score, but admission is selective and looks at academic achievement, preparation and potential.
• Testing: SAT/ACT scores are optional.
• Math placement test: not described on the pages I read.
• Credit: of the pages I read, only CHEM 1140 states an AP/IB exemption (AP Chemistry 4+ or IB HL Chemistry 5+); for other engineering requirements, check LMU's AP and IB credit pages. For A-Levels, LMU gives 6 semester units per non-science exam and 8 per science exam with a lab; no credit for AS levels.

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

• Deadlines:
  • Early Decision I (binding): 1 November, decisions in mid-December.
  • Early Action (non-binding): 1 November. The deadlines table says decisions come in mid-December; the text says late December. Reply by 1 May.
  • Early Decision II (binding): 8 January, decisions in mid-February.
  • Regular Decision: 15 January. The table says decisions come in early March; the text says no later than 1 April. Applications after 15 January are considered on a space-available basis.
  • Spring (January) admission: 15 October.
  These pages do not print a year; confirm the dates are for fall 2027.
• Application: the Common App with the LMU supplement, the Coalition Application or the LMU Application; the fee is $75. An engineering-specific supplement is not described on the pages I read.
• Recommendations: at least one, from an official at your school; a teacher and a counselor or principal are recommended.
• Transcripts: grades on the application or an unofficial transcript upload; final official transcripts before enrolling.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs: 2026-27 tuition and fees are $68,939; the cost page lists one rate, with no in-state/out-of-state split and no separate engineering differential. Estimated total cost is $99,289 on campus (housing and food average $23,602), $102,255 off campus and $88,638 living with parents or relatives.
• Scholarships and aid: every first-year applicant is considered automatically for academic scholarships with no extra application. Aid requires the FAFSA (or California Dream Act Application) by 1 February for first-years; Early Decision I applicants file by 1 November and Early Decision II and Early Action applicants by 10 January.
• Priority or guaranteed admission for state residents: not published.

6. International applicants

• Testing: the SAT and ACT are not required. Applicants who don't submit them are expected to show strength through IB, AP, A-Levels or rigorous national examinations.
• Transcripts: English transcripts from every secondary school attended, with full records for each school year, showing all work in detail, and certified English translations for any document not in English.
• Recommendation: one letter from an official at your last school, preferably a counselor, teacher or principal.
• English (one of the following):
  • TOEFL: iBT 90 for tests taken before 21 January 2026; 4.5 on the new 1–6 scale for tests taken after that date.
  • IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 120; PTE 56 on the international first-year and international transfer pages, 53 on the transfer site.
  • Students in the IB Diploma Programme or taking A-Level exams do not have to submit English results.
• Interview: LMU recommends an InitialView or Vericant interview but does not require one.
• Finances: non-citizens and non-permanent residents must show at least $71,000 to cover tuition and housing for one academic year, submitted through MyStatus for the I-20.
• Scholarships: merit-based on academic achievement and test scores, no separate application, $2,000 to $30,000 a year. No need-based aid for international students.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: LMU does not say whether or how the Gaokao is considered. The international first-year page only says applicants without SAT/ACT can show strength through rigorous national examinations. Ask the international admission office (international@lmu.edu) how to submit results.
• Transcripts and huikao records: send English transcripts with certified translations as above; huikao materials are not mentioned. LMU may grant advanced standing for some foreign exams and diplomas; the international examinations page lists rules for GCE A-Levels, German Abitur, French Baccalauréat, Italian Maturità and Swiss Maturity certificates but no Chinese exams.
• China-specific guidance: no China country page or credential-evaluation agency requirement is published; the interview is recommended, not required.
• English, finances and scholarships are as in the previous section.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall priority 1 February and spring priority 1 October (the international transfer page and the transfer site agree).
• GPA: a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 for all majors; incoming transfer students average 3.5.
• Engineering prerequisites: for the Seaver College the transfer site only says to see each program's recommended courses, and the pages I read do not list required courses for transfers from other colleges. The internal-transfer courses above (calculus I–II, chemistry, physics, plus statics for civil and mechanical) are written for LMU students, not outside transfers. Check "Recommended Courses by Major" and the transfer agreements on the transfer site.
• Credit: a transfer course pairs with its direct LMU equivalent when there is one; otherwise it pairs with a -XX or -XXX course that may satisfy degree or major requirements or count as an elective. Official evaluations happen after admission.
• International transfer: English can be shown with a US college English Composition course at C or better (not online) or a test: TOEFL 90 (before 21 January 2026) or 4.5 (after), IELTS 6.5, PTE 56 (international transfer page) or 53 (transfer site), Duolingo 120 (international transfer page) or 110 (transfer site). Coursework from outside the US is evaluated by the Registrar. LMU will not consider applicants who attended more than two US colleges at once in a term.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Common App (or Coalition / LMU Application) by 1 November (EA / ED I), 8 January (ED II) or 15 January (RD); $75 fee
• Four years of math and a year each of biology, chemistry and physics; tests optional; at least one recommendation

International applicants (including China):

• English transcripts with certified translations, one recommendation, Gaokao or other national exam results as supporting evidence
• IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL (90, or 4.5 on the new scale) or equivalent; financial proof after admission

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 1 February; cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
• Confirm engineering prerequisites with the transfer office

Sources: Loyola Marymount University, Bulletin: Seaver College of Science and Engineering; General Engineering; Mechanical Engineering, BSE; Civil Engineering, BSE; Electrical Engineering, BSE; Computer Engineering, BSE; First-year applicants and deadlines; International first-year admission; International transfer admission; Credit for international examinations; Transfer requirements; Undergraduate cost of attendance. Information is a guide for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 estimates; the deadline pages do not print a year, so confirm the dates are for fall 2027). Check LMU for the latest details.