How to apply to Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale: five ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s degrees plus new Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics, with admission, prerequisites and costs for US domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) is a public research university in southern Illinois. Undergraduate engineering is offered by the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics, which has six schools. This guide summarizes SIU’s official information for US domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students. Computer science is also in this college and is not covered here.

1. Engineering degrees

• BS programs accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC): the college page lists Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
  • Mechanical Engineering: the page calls it the largest program in the college; specializations in Aerospace, Energy Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering; 126 credit hours (39 core curriculum, 87 major).
  • Civil Engineering: an Environmental Engineering concentration is available; 127 credit hours (39 core, 88 major).
  • Electrical Engineering: specializations in Medical Devices and in Power and Energy Engineering; 126 credit hours.
  • Computer Engineering: a specialization in Cyber Systems and Security Engineering; 126 credit hours.
  • Biomedical Engineering: a Pre-Medical specialization; 126 credit hours. The college home page says the BS received ABET accreditation.
• Environmental Engineering (BS): marked as a new program. The pages we read do not state its ABET accreditation.
• Electrical Engineering Technology: accredited by the ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission, offered on campus and online; it is a technology degree.
• Industrial Management and Applied Engineering: accredited by ATMAE, offered on campus, off campus and online.
• A new BS in Artificial Intelligence+, Computer Science, Cybersecurity Technology and Information Technology are also in the college and are not covered here.

2. How admission and major entry work

• Choose a major when you apply: first-year and transfer applicants apply to a major; the transfer page says transfer students who qualify are admitted directly to the academic unit that offers their major, and undecided students are advised by Exploratory Student Advisement or the unit. International admissions says international applicants must select a specific major; “Undecided” is not an option.
• Engineering has a screening process: SIU’s page on additional materials lists “College of Engineering” among programs that require a screening process, and the application and transfer pages say direct entry into some programs exceeds university requirements. What the screening involves (GPA, math, limited seats) is not described on the pages we read; ask admissions (admissions@siu.edu) or the college (618-453-4321).
• The college’s basis for admission: the college home page says it is ACT/SAT test optional, and without scores admission is based on high school course pattern, high school math sequence, and both cumulative and math GPAs. The cutoffs are not published.
• Internal transfer into the college: not stated.
• Guaranteed entry: not stated.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• University high school course pattern (first-year students and transfer students with fewer than 12 semester hours): English 4 units, social studies 3, mathematics 3, science 3 (laboratory sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics or earth science; general science is typically not acceptable) and electives 2. Math means Algebra I and II and a proof-based geometry course; a fourth math unit is highly recommended, trigonometry and pre-calculus or statistics depending on your interest.
• Students admitted provisionally with a deficiency can correct it, for example with ACT subscores at the 60th percentile (currently 22 for English, math and science).
• Engineering-specific prerequisites (calculus, physics, chemistry) and math placement: not described on the pages we read; ask the college.
• AP/IB: the transfer page says the 120 hours needed to graduate can include AP, IB, CLEP and similar credit. Which scores replace which engineering courses was not on the pages we read.

4. Timeline and materials

• Deadlines (no year is printed, so check that they apply to fall 2027): the application page gives a preferred application deadline of December 1, and the high school page says all materials due by December 1 go on the priority review list. Applications received after May 1 are reviewed case by case. February 1 is the deadline for most campus-based scholarships.
• Materials: the application, a USD 40 non-refundable fee (waivable for income-eligible students) and official transcripts from each high school and college. The pages we read do not mention an extra engineering essay or recommendation letters.
• Testing: the application page says SAT/ACT scores are no longer required for applicants with a high school GPA of 2.75 or above; the college says it is test optional.
• Automatic admission: applicants on track to complete the course pattern who have a cumulative GPA of 2.75/4.0, rank in the top 10% of their class, or have an ACT 23 or SAT 1130; others get holistic review. The international page prints “ACT 23+, SAT 1140+” for the English waiver, so the two pages differ on the SAT figure; confirm with admissions.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition (2026-27, new and transfer students starting fall 2026): the tuition page lists resident-equivalent undergraduate tuition for students outside the College of Business & Analytics at USD 327.75 per credit hour, plus mandatory fees of USD 131.50 per hour (general student fee, on campus), USD 26 per hour (textbook fee), USD 1,139 per term (student insurance) and USD 3 per term (student-to-student grant). The page lists a differential for the College of Business & Analytics (USD 377.00) but no differential or surcharge for engineering. How in-state and out-of-state domestic undergraduates are charged is not clear on the pages we read; check the tuition calculators or ask admissions.
• Scholarships and aid: admitted students apply for campus scholarships through the Saluki Scholarship Portal; file the FAFSA (the high school page suggests soon after it opens in October); most campus-based scholarship deadlines are February 1. Engineering-specific scholarships are not described on the pages we read.
• Legacy alternate tuition rate: new first-year and transfer students (in-state or out-of-state) whose parent or guardian graduated from SIU Carbondale may qualify.
• Priority or guaranteed admission for state residents: not described.

6. International applicants

• How to apply: undergraduates apply through International Admissions (ia@siu.edu) with a USD 40 non-refundable fee. Not required: personal essays, letters of recommendation, SAT or ACT scores (the page has an asterisk). SIU requires academic transcripts and proof of English.
• Grades: the FAQ gives a minimum high school GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for freshmen. Transcripts must bear the official seal and be translated into English; scanned copies are accepted for admission in 2025-26, but originals are due before or on arrival. Include exit examinations (such as a Secondary School Certificate) if your country requires them.
• English (one of): TOEFL iBT 68, TOEFL paper-based 520, iTEP Academic Plus 3.6, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95, PTE 47, or a Certificate of Completion from SIU’s Center for English as a Second Language (CESL). TOEFL and SAT scores must be sent by the testing agency.
• Waivers: two face-to-face college composition courses with A or B at a US college; more than 48 college credit hours at a US institution; being from a country where English is the primary language (the country-specific page lists them); finishing the last two years at a US high school; or ACT 23+ / SAT 1140+.
• Conditional admission: applicants with qualifying academics but low English may start in CESL first.
• After admission: International Students & Scholars asks for a passport copy, a financial statement and an affidavit of support for the I-20. The international cost table (no year printed) shows totals for the financial statement of USD 29,039 (High Achievers rate) and USD 40,604 (international non-resident rate), each including USD 16,165 for living expenses.
• High Achievers Alternate Tuition Rate: international undergraduates with a 3.5 GPA, ACT 26 or SAT 1240 (freshmen), or a 3.0 GPA and at least 26 credit hours (transfers), can pay in-state tuition.
• Scholarships: the international cost page lists small awards that require an application, such as the Mary Wakeland Scholarship for volunteer service and competitive Tuition Awards filed once a year in person at the Center for International Education. Engineering-specific awards are not described.
• International application deadline: not separately stated on the pages we read; ask International Admissions.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the website does not say whether or how Gaokao scores are used; ask International Admissions (ia@siu.edu).
• English: China is not on the list of countries exempt from the English requirement, so submit a test score from section 6.
• Transcripts and huikao records: the pages we read only say high school transcripts must be sealed and translated into English; there is no China-specific page, interview or evaluation agency.

8. Costs and internships

• Tuition and fees are in sections 5 and 6.
• Internships and co-ops: the Civil Engineering page says an internship or co-op is not required but about 70% of students do one, some for credit and sometimes with a stipend; the Electrical Engineering page lists optional internships, co-ops and externships and a capstone design sequence. A unified paid co-op program is not described.

9. Transfer students

• Requirements: at least 12 transferable semester hours (or 18 quarter hours) with a 2.0/4.0 GPA; with fewer than 12, you must also meet first-year requirements and submit high school transcripts. The page encourages applying a year ahead.
• Credit: credit from regionally accredited institutions (or in candidacy status) is evaluated at admission; remedial, developmental and pre-college courses do not transfer; courses counted toward a major are authorized by the department. There is a Transfer Course Equivalency Guide and an International Course Articulation Guide. Graduation requires 120 semester hours, at least 42 of them at the 300 level or above from a four-year institution.
• Engineering transfer requirements: the minimum GPA and required calculus, physics and chemistry sequences are not published on the pages we read; the transfer page says direct entry into some programs exceeds university requirements, so contact the college.
• Capstone Option: students with an Associate in Engineering Sciences (AES) degree and at least a 2.0/4.0 cumulative GPA on accredited coursework can reduce the university core curriculum from 39 to 30 hours; the Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering pages describe it.
• Transfer scholarship: the Saluki Transfer Commitment covers unpaid tuition and fees for four consecutive semesters for qualified students (see the qualification list). Students from six nearby community colleges get a free application.

Checklist

• US applicants: apply by December 1 with transcripts and the USD 40 fee; three years of math and three of lab science (a fourth math year recommended); ask the college what the engineering screening involves; file the FAFSA and apply for campus scholarships by February 1
• International: choose a specific major; high school GPA 2.75; TOEFL iBT 68, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95; sealed transcripts translated into English
• China: ask International Admissions how Gaokao is used and what the international deadline is
• Transfer: 12 transferable semester hours and a 2.0 GPA; AES holders should ask about the Capstone Option

Sources: Southern Illinois University Carbondale, College home page; College degrees and accreditation; Mechanical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Computer Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Undergraduate application; High school students; Programs requiring additional materials; Transfer students; International admissions; Country-specific guidelines; International cost and aid; Fall 2026 tuition and fees; Alternate tuition rates. Deadlines and the international cost table show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry; tuition is for 2026-27, so check the website for 2027-28 rates.