How to apply to Engineering at the University of the Pacific: seven ABET-accredited engineering BS programs in the School of Engineering and Computer Science with paid cooperative education built into the curriculum, and requirements for US domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants

The University of the Pacific is a private university in California whose main campus is in Stockton. Engineering is taught in the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SOECS), which offers engineering BS degrees in Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Engineering Physics and Mechanical Engineering. Computer science, data science and other programs in the school are not covered here. This guide covers fall 2027 entry from the university's website for US domestic applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and how you enter a major

• Seven engineering BS degrees: the bioengineering, civil, computer, electrical, engineering management, engineering physics and mechanical engineering pages each state ABET accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission. Bioengineering has a pathway for pre-health and pre-medical students; the engineering management page says 30% of the curriculum is electives; the engineering physics page says it goes deeper in math and physics than other engineering majors and that all students complete a senior design project.
• How admission works: the pages I read do not say whether engineering applicants are admitted directly to a specific major or start in a common first-year engineering program and are placed later, and they do not give GPA cutoffs, course grades or limits for entering a major. Ask undergraduate admission or the school. The international FAQ says students admitted to an "Exploratory" or undecided program are not eligible for F-1 visas, so international applicants should confirm they are admitted to a specific major.
• Switching into the school from another major: not published; ask the school.
• Four-year guarantee: the university says students in most majors are guaranteed to graduate in four years if they, among other things, are admitted to the major at the appropriate time, keep a 2.00 major and institutional GPA and complete at least 32 semester hours a year; it adds that a few programs with internships or overseas-study requirements may take longer. The page does not say whether engineering is covered or whether CO-OP extends the schedule; ask the school.
• Curriculum: required courses are in the university catalog and the curriculum overview PDFs linked from each program page, which I did not read.

2. Cooperative education (CO-OP)

• The school page says most SOECS students take part in CO-OP, an experiential internship program for juniors and seniors: full-time, paid positions of 6-8 months with academic units earned toward the degree, with 200+ industry partners.
• Students take ENGR 25 the semester before to prepare a resume, apply and interview; positions are posted on Handshake and employers interview and select. Placements from January to August are searched for starting in August/September of the previous year, and May to December placements starting in January/February.
• The engineering transfer page says students complete two academic terms of paid work.
• Work authorization for international students on CO-OP is not described on the pages I read; ask the international student office.

3. Preparation expected

• High school courses: the university recommends 4 years of English, 3 (or 4) of math, 2 (or 3) of lab science, 2 of the same foreign language, 1 of US history and 1 of fine or performing arts. This is general advice for undergraduate applicants; engineering-specific math, physics and chemistry expectations are not on the pages I read, so ask the school.
• Math placement test: not described on the pages I read.
• Testing: SAT/ACT scores are optional. First-year applicants must send transcripts and a personal statement; a recommendation and test scores are optional.
• AP/IB credit: AP scores of 4 or 5 and IB higher-level scores of 5 to 7 can earn 4 units per exam, up to 28 units from AP and IB combined. Which scores replace which engineering courses is handled through the ROAR articulation tool, which I did not read.

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

• Early Action (non-binding): 15 November. The deadlines page says decisions come on 20 December, the Early Action page says mid-January and the international FAQ says the end of January.
• Regular Decision: 15 January (later applications are considered on a space-available basis), decisions on 31 March. 1 May is the fall enrollment confirmation deadline, and the deposit is non-refundable after that date.
• Spring admission: 15 November, decisions 1 December.
• Application: the Pacific Application and the Common App are both offered; the Pacific Application opens 1 July. The application fee amount is not on the pages I read, and neither is an engineering-specific essay.
• These pages do not print a year; confirm the dates are for fall 2027.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs: the cost page (no academic year stated) lists full-time tuition of $59,560 and fees of $1,200; with housing of $9,876 and food of $7,900, direct costs billed by the university are $78,536 on campus and $60,760 off campus. The page says tuition can vary between programs but does not list an engineering differential or an in-state/out-of-state split.
• Merit scholarships: first-year merit scholarships range from $10,000 to $30,000 a year, 100% of students are considered automatically, no FAFSA or separate application is needed (except the Community Involvement Program and Forensic scholarships), and awards renew for up to four years.
• Engineering Innovation Scholars: the civil engineering page says incoming first-year civil engineering students can apply; the scholarships page says civil engineering and engineering management students. It provides $15,000 a year (renewable up to four years), two paid summer internships on top of CO-OP and a professional engineer mentor.
• School scholarships: current students apply through the Tiger Scholarships platform, which lists conditional awards such as one for engineering students with a 3.0 GPA and a need-based award for women engineering students; see the program pages.
• Priority or guaranteed admission for state residents: not published.

6. International applicants

• Materials: personal statement, official records of study, proof of English proficiency, an academic recommendation, certification of finances and a clear copy of the passport photo page. International and domestic applicants use the same application. Records must be official or certified copies, with official translations if not in English, and originals are inspected before registration.
• English: you can skip an English test if you meet any of these:
  • completed secondary or post-secondary study at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, with a letter from the institution confirming it;
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 570+ or ACT composite 22+ (submission is optional); A-Level English B or higher; AP English 4+; IB English 5+; two US college English composition courses with B or higher;
  • citizens of Australia, Canada, Ghana, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa or the United Kingdom (who may submit the SAT or ACT instead of an English test).
  Otherwise submit one test: TOEFL 80 (0-120 scale) or 4.5 (1-6 scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE 53. The international FAQ lists only TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo. Students who need ESL first can get conditional admission through UOP International.
• Finances: F-1 applicants must show funds for one academic year of estimated costs, using family bank statements, sponsor documents, aid or scholarship letters or an employer letter showing salary, converted to US dollars. No I-20 is issued until the certification of finances arrives.
• Tuition: the same tuition and fees as domestic students; semester charges should be on deposit before registration.
• Scholarships: international applicants are considered automatically for international student merit scholarships. The university does not offer full-ride, full-cost or full-tuition scholarships, so international students are generally expected to cover the rest. International students can also apply for the Powell Scholarship ($43,000) with a separate application; the international FAQ gives a 1 December deadline and the deadlines page gives 15 January as the final deadline.
• International deadline: the international FAQ gives 1 June as the final fall deadline for all international students.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: not published. The official records page asks for official or certified academic records and official or certified results of public or external examinations (sent by the examining authority where possible). Ask undergraduate admission (admission@pacific.edu) how to submit Gaokao results.
• Transcripts and huikao records: send official or certified academic records listing subjects and marks, with copies of diplomas or certificates; huikao materials are not mentioned.
• China-specific guidance: no China country page, interview or credential-evaluation requirement is published on the pages I read; check the international undergraduate page or write to the office.
• English, finances and scholarships are as in the previous section.

8. Transfer students

• When you can transfer: the engineering school page says community college students can transfer at any point and need not finish the freshman and sophomore curriculum first; the university transfer page says there are no IGETC or minimum unit requirements. With fewer than 30 transferable units you also send a high school transcript.
• Guaranteed-admission pipelines: agreements with Modesto Junior College and San Joaquin Delta College guarantee admission (subject to a satisfactory application) when engineering students complete Calculus III or Ordinary Differential Equations with a C or better in each math course and keep a 2.75 GPA at the community college; computer science has separate conditions not covered here. Course and GPA requirements for transfers from other colleges are not on the pages I read; use the ROAR articulation tool and school advisors.
• Deadlines: fall priority 15 February and 21 June for international applicants; the transfer page also lists 1 August for final official transcripts. For spring, it lists 1 December (other programs) and 23 December as deadlines; confirm with admission.
• Materials: transcripts (unofficial for review, official before the term); a personal statement, an academic recommendation and AP/IB/CLEP scores are optional, with scores sent by the testing agency. The application fee amount is not on the pages I read.
• Scholarships: eligible transfer students (domestic and international) can receive Transfer Academic Excellence scholarships of $20,000 to $30,000 a year, with no separate application, generally renewable for up to three years.
• International transfer credit: coursework from outside the US needs a course-by-course evaluation and official course descriptions through a four-step process; international transfer students with more than 30 transferable units do not need the SAT or ACT.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Pacific Application or Common App by 15 November (EA) or 15 January (RD); transcripts and personal statement required
• At least 3 years of math and 2 of lab science; tests optional; ask the school about program-specific prerequisites

International applicants (including China):

• Official records (including Gaokao or other external exam results), personal statement, academic recommendation, passport copy
• TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 or another accepted option (or a waiver); certification of finances for the F-1 visa

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 15 February; check the Modesto and Delta pipelines or ROAR
• Pipeline: Calculus III or differential equations with a C or better and a 2.75 GPA

Sources: University of the Pacific, School of Engineering and Computer Science; Bioengineering; Civil Engineering; Computer Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Engineering Management; Engineering Physics; Mechanical Engineering; Cooperative Education (CO-OP); Transferring to the engineering school; Undergraduate admission and deadlines; Preparatory coursework; English language proficiency; AP/IB credit; Certification of finances; Official records of study; Early Action; International undergraduate applicants; International students FAQ; Transfer admission; Four-year guarantee; Undergraduate cost; Scholarships. The cost page does not state its academic year; the deadline pages do not print a year, so confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry. Check the University of the Pacific for the latest details.