How to Apply to Physics at Stevens Institute of Technology: the B.S. in Physics in the Schaefer School’s Department of Physics, with Astrophysics, Photonics and Quantum Engineering concentrations and an optics and quantum-information research focus; how US domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer students are admitted, and what to study first

At Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, undergraduate physics is taught by the Department of Physics in the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, and leads to a Bachelor of Science in Physics. This guide draws on Stevens’ admissions website and the department’s website, for US domestic students, international students (including those from China) and transfer students. This site has separate articles on mathematics, computer science and engineering, which are not covered here.

1. What the program offers

• Degree and concentrations: the program page lists a Bachelor of Science taught on campus in the Schaefer School’s Department of Physics, accredited by the Middle States Accreditation Board, with three concentrations: Astrophysics, Photonics and Quantum Engineering. The course requirements for each are in the course catalog, hosted on a third-party site that this article did not visit, so they are not given here.
• Character of the program: the program page says it immerses you in applied physics research and quantum information sciences, with hands-on research in one of several research laboratories, early work in optics and quantum information, and a six-semester design sequence called SKIL (Science Knowledge Integration Ladder) in which you work on projects under a faculty advisor. The department’s undergraduate page lists research areas of experimental AMO physics, theoretical quantum physics, quantum optics and information, the gravity-quantum interface, and photonics and quantum materials (the research section also lists atmospheric physics).
• Course structure: the physics study plan for fall 2026 entry and later (a PDF) shows, in the first term, Introduction to Computer Science (CS 115), Mechanics (PEP 111), a physics seminar (PEP 187), calculus (MA 121 and 122) and a writing course; in the second, General Chemistry I with lab, Electricity and Magnetism (PEP 112), Vectors and Matrices and Multivariable Calculus I; in terms three and four, Differential Equations, Physics Lab I and II, Modern Physics, an introduction to thermal and statistical physics, Fundamentals of Optics, Introduction to Quantum Physics and SKIL I; in terms five and six, SKIL II and III, Mathematical Methods, an introduction to mechanics and Electromagnetism; and in terms seven and eight, Quantum Mechanics and Engineering Applications (PEP 553) and several technical electives, defined as 3-credit physics department courses at the 300 level or above that are not already required. Humanities, general electives and the SUCCESS core curriculum are also included. The study plan lists three SKIL courses (I, II and III) while the program page says “six-semester design sequence”; both wordings stand, so check with the department.
• Capstone: the program page describes a senior research capstone (team or individual, on real research problems, possibly with a company); the department page says senior projects culminate at the annual Innovation Expo.
• Related options: minors in physics, photonics and astronomy (requirements are in the third-party catalog, not read); the Accelerated Master’s Program lets undergraduate credits count toward a master’s so you can earn both degrees in five years; double majors and minors; and cooperative education, which the department page says about 30% of undergraduate engineering students use (that figure is for engineering, not physics). The department page also mentions the Accelerated Doctoral Program, which a physics graduate entered. The pages read do not list applied physics, biophysics or physics education tracks; the older study plans (2017 to 2020 entry) on the study-plan page include an “Engineering Physics” plan that the current physics program page does not list, so ask the department.

2. How you get into the physics major

• You can apply directly to Physics: applicants use the Common App or Coalition App. The Schaefer School’s list of undergraduate programs includes Physics alongside Mathematics and the other science majors, plus “Undecided”.
• Undecided Science: the website says incoming first-year students in the Schaefer School do not have to declare a major when applying; if you want to wait, choose Undecided Science. You then name two programs of interest before classes begin, have two semesters to decide, and must choose a major before the start of the third semester, with a faculty advisor from one of your top-choice departments. The site adds that anyone considering computer science or cybersecurity should apply directly to those programs.
• Threshold for Physics: whether applying to Physics has its own admission bar, and the conditions (grades, seats) for moving into Physics after enrolling, are not stated on the pages read; ask Undergraduate Admissions (201-216-5194) or the department.
• Honors: the physics pages read do not describe an honors physics sequence.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school coursework: Admissions gives recommendations in three groups (engineering, computer science and the applied sciences; business; humanities, arts and social sciences) and does not name which group physics belongs to. For “Engineering, Computer Science and the Applied Sciences” it recommends four years of English; four years of mathematics (one each of algebra, geometry, pre-calculus and calculus); and three years of lab science (biology, chemistry and physics). The physics program and department pages do not set separate high school requirements. For students planning a secondary concentration in math or science, Admissions suggests more preparation in math and lab science.
• Placement: the physics pages read do not mention a math or physics placement test; this is not published on the website, so ask the department.
• AP, IB and calculus credit (AP, IB and Transfer Credit Guide; first-year students can receive up to 30 credits from AP, IB, A-Level or college courses taken in high school): AP Physics C: Mechanics (4 or 5) earns PEP 111 (3 credits) and AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism (4 or 5) earns PEP 112 (3 credits). AP Physics 1 and 2 (4 or 5) map to PEP 123 and 124, but the page labels those equivalents as for business and humanities majors and does not say how they apply to physics. AP Calculus BC (4 or 5) earns MA 121 and MA 122 (4 credits) for School of Engineering and Science majors; AP Calculus AB (4 or 5) gives the same credit, with a note that Stevens does not accept the Calculus AB subscore. IB Physics HL (6 or 7) maps to PEP 123 and 124 (6 credits) for business and humanities majors, with nothing stated for physics; IB Mathematical Analysis and Approaches HL (6 or 7) maps to MA 121/122 (4 credits). AP scores must be sent by the College Board (school code 2819).
• Competitions: Admissions does not say how physics competitions are viewed. The department’s navigation has a “Physics Olympiad” page, which this article did not read.

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

• First-year materials: Common App or Coalition App; an official high school transcript; an essay; two letters of recommendation (a teacher or counselor preferred; the international page says ideally one of each); a $75 fee. Transcripts and letters must be submitted electronically by the institutions, not by students. An interview is optional for all applicants, and a campus visit is recommended. The website does not say the recommenders must be science teachers.
• Plans: Early Decision I and II (binding), Early Action (non-binding) and Regular Decision (non-binding). An ED admit pays a non-refundable $500 deposit; the listed ED benefits include priority scholarship consideration, priority access to housing and course registration, and $200 in campus spending credit.
• Timeline (the page shows no year; check that it applies to fall 2027): ED I application November 15, decision by December 15, deposit by January 10; EA December 1, decision by February 1, deposit by May 1; ED II January 5, decision by February 15, deposit by March 1; RD January 5, decision by April 1, deposit by May 1. CSS Profile and FAFSA are due November 15 (ED I), December 15 (EA) and January 5 (ED II and RD). The page says tests need to be taken a month before the application deadline.
• Testing: the first-year page says test-optional for first-year applicants entering through fall 2029, with scores self-reportable in the portal; the international page says test-optional “through Fall 2026 first year applicants”. The two pages differ, so confirm with admissions. Accelerated Pre-Medicine and Pre-Law applicants must still submit scores.
• Profile: no minimum GPA or test score; recent incoming classes averaged a 3.8 GPA (out of 4.0) with SAT scores of 1380 to 1505.
• For aid, submit the CSS Profile (code 2819) and FAFSA (code 002639).

5. What each type of applicant should note

US domestic students

• Costs: for 2026-27, full-time undergraduate tuition and fees are $68,230; the cost page gives a total cost of attendance of $91,294 living on campus (housing and meals $20,744, books and supplies $1,200, miscellaneous $1,050, loan fees $70), $91,644 living off campus and $73,320 commuting. Stevens is private, and the pages read show no in-state versus out-of-state difference.
• Aid: Stevens says more than 90% of students receive some form of support; students with particularly strong records may receive a merit scholarship on admission, and students with need may qualify for a Stevens Grant. Early Decision admits may receive a guaranteed Priority Early Decision Scholarship plus other aid; Stevens notes merit awards are not guaranteed.
• The Stevens Investment: beginning with the fall 2026 class, Stevens covers full tuition with grants and scholarships for first-time, first-year, full-time students who are US citizens or permanent residents with family income of $75,000 or less and typical assets, who meet the other requirements; there is no separate application (admission application, FAFSA and CSS Profile by the deadlines), students live on campus the first year, and it applies to all majors. Stevens says criteria may change and the program may be modified or discontinued for later entering classes, so check the terms for 2027 entry.
• New Jersey residents may qualify for state grants based on exceptional financial need. Priority or guaranteed admission for residents is not stated on the pages read.

International students

• Materials: Common App, an official high school transcript (with a certified translation if not in English), essay, two recommendations, a $75 fee, and English proficiency if English is not your first language. An interview (in person, phone or Zoom, or an InitialView interview) is strongly recommended.
• English: the first-year page lists TOEFL iBT minimum 80 (old scale) or 4 (new scale), IELTS 6.0 overall, Duolingo 105, PTE Academic 53 and SAT EBRW 550; the international page’s list does not include PTE. Waivers may be granted case by case for students who have studied in the US for at least three years; contact admissions after applying.
• Funds: supplying financial documents with the application is strongly recommended. If you pay entirely from personal funds, a recent official bank statement is enough; with a sponsor, you and the sponsor complete the Stevens Financial Verification Form and upload it with a bank statement. The amount required is not stated on the pages read.
• Aid: international students are not eligible for federal funding; Stevens awards a limited number of merit scholarships (the Global Scholarship, for exceptional academic achievement). To be considered, submit the CSS Profile (code 2819). Award amounts are not stated on the pages read. The Stevens Investment is not available to non-US citizens and non-permanent residents.
• After admission, Stevens issues the I-20 for an F-1 visa. Approved recruitment agencies listed are University Study Inc., Four Dozen (Vietnam), IDP Connect and GSM.

Applicants from China

• Whether the Gaokao is considered and how is “not published on the website”; ask Undergraduate Admissions (201-216-5194).
• No China-specific guidance for Chinese transcripts or school-leaving exam materials appears on the pages read; follow the international requirements above: official transcripts with certified translation, English proficiency and proof of funds.

6. Beyond cost: research and outcomes

• Undergraduate research: the Schaefer School’s undergraduate research page says every department offers summer research with a faculty member of your choice, simply by contacting a faculty member whose research matches your interests, and the University has an interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Program. Scholarships specifically for physics majors are not described on the pages read.
• The department: the department page says classes are small enough to feel like a community yet large enough to offer research, career and commercial opportunities; there are student organizations such as the Society of Physics Students; and a Quantum Space learning and testing facility is open to all students.
• Outcomes: the program page says graduates find careers in industries such as telecommunications, optics, finance, medical technology or the military, and that those who continue are accepted into some of the best graduate programs in the country; potential hiring organizations named include Genesis Research, Thorlabs, Picatinny Arsenal, MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Mezocliq. The department page, citing Stevens Careers Reports, shows “100% finalized outcomes six months after graduation” (2025 report, department average) and “80% attending graduate school” (2024 report); how these are counted is not on the pages read. The program page also quotes American Institute of Physics national data for new physics bachelor’s (the linked AIP report address names the classes of 2019 and 2020 combined): 59% in the private sector, of whom 35% entered engineering, 24% computer software and 4% physics or astronomy. That is national data, not Stevens data.

7. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer: anyone who has enrolled in a college or university after high school (or the equivalent); you may apply for fall or spring.
• Process: the Common App for transfer and a $75 fee; a Transfer Credit Evaluation Form and supporting documents in the student portal; CSS Profile and FAFSA if you want aid; test scores optional (the page says Stevens is currently test-optional); English proficiency scores if English is not your first language; official transcripts sent directly from each prior institution; AP/IB scores sent by the College Board.
• Deadlines (no year shown; check): spring entry, application and CSS/FAFSA November 1, rolling review through December 15, deposit by December 15; fall entry, application June 15, CSS/FAFSA February 14, decision by June 27, deposit within four weeks of notification.
• Credit: a grade of C or higher; Pass/Fail courses are not accepted; credits earned five years or more before enrollment are reviewed case by case and need a syllabus; foreign language credits have no direct equivalent but may count as a general elective if approved; at most 50% of the graduation credits can transfer, and at least 50% must be completed at Stevens. Evaluation typically takes two to three weeks after the documents are in, and admitted students can see results before the deposit deadline; you can check the Stevens Transfer Database first.
• International transfers: non-US college transcripts must be translated and accompanied by a credential evaluation from WES, ECE, TEC or another NACES member; a detailed English syllabus is required for every course. English can be shown with TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105, PTE 53, SAT EBRW 550, or three years of English-only instruction.
• GPA, calculus and physics sequence requirements for transfer into Physics are not stated on the pages read; ask the department. The Stevens Investment does not apply to transfer students.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Common App or Coalition App; official transcript; essay; two recommendations; $75 fee; testing optional
• ED I (November 15), EA (December 1), ED II or RD (January 5); CSS Profile and FAFSA if you want aid
• Apply directly to Physics, or enter as Undecided Science and choose before the third semester; take calculus and physics in high school if you can

International applicants (including China):

• TOEFL (new scale 4) or IELTS 6.0 and so on (or a waiver); translated transcript; bank statement and sponsor form; CSS Profile for scholarships
• Ask admissions how the Gaokao is used and which years the test-optional policy covers

After entry:

• Check AP Physics C and calculus credit; note the SKIL sequence and the senior research capstone; check the catalog for the concentration you want

Transfer students:

• Spring November 1, fall June 15; Transfer Credit Evaluation Form and syllabi; grade of C or higher

Sources: Stevens Institute of Technology, Physics bachelor’s; Physics: undergraduate studies; Physics: undergraduate programs; Academic study plans; Physics study plan for 2026-27 entry (PDF); Schaefer School: undergraduate programs; Undergraduate Undecided; Schaefer School: undergraduate research; First-year applicants; First-year application plans; Admissions timeline; International students; Transfer application process; Transfer FAQs; Transfer credits; AP, IB and Transfer Credit Guide; 2026-27 undergraduate costs; Scholarships and aid; The Stevens Investment. The timeline page shows no year, so check that it applies to fall 2027 entry; costs are for 2026-27. The formal course catalog for physics is on a third-party catalog site that this article did not visit. See Stevens’ website for the latest.