How to Apply to Physics at Beloit College: No Admission by Major, No Minimum GPA, an 11-Unit Physics Major With a BA or BS Option and a 3-2 Engineering Pathway, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Wisconsin, and physics is offered by the Department of Physics & Astronomy. This guide follows the department pages and the admission, financial aid and registrar pages, for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry and computer science are not covered here; engineering is mentioned only where it crosses with physics in the 3-2 and 4-2 programs.

1. Degrees and tracks in physics

• Degree: the major page calls it a BA or BS in Physics, with the degree field listing the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.); the department page says physics majors may choose the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) instead by completing at least 4 units in biology, chemistry, computer science, geology and/or mathematics.
• Physics major (11 units, 44 semester hours): seven departmental units: Physics 101, 102 and 210; at least 4 units chosen from 330, 335, 340, 345 or 350; one additional unit from physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, geology or mathematics with the advisor’s prior consent; and 3 supporting units of mathematics: Mathematics 110, 115 and 290. Majors planning graduate school in physics are “strongly urged” to take all five core 300-level courses (330, 335, 340, 345, 350) and Mathematics 275 and 201.
• Physics minor (6 units): four departmental units including Physics 101, three more physics electives (one at the 200 level or above), and Mathematics 110 and 115; no more than 1 total unit of Physics 300, 390 and 395.
• Astronomy: the department page says aspiring astronomers learn to apply physics to observations, using telescopes at partner institutions or studying images of Saturn’s rings and moons from the Cassini spacecraft; the courses include PHYS 130 Introduction to Astronomy and PHYS 200 Topics in Astronomy. The catalog pages we read do not list a separate astrophysics major.
• Engineering (one sentence only): future engineers can choose a 3-2 program (a Beloit B.S. plus an engineering B.S. at another institution) or a 4-2 program (a Beloit major, which can be physics, then two years of engineering). See the prerequisites section below.
• Applied physics, biophysics, physics education and similar tracks: not listed on the pages we read.

2. Admission: no admission by major

• You do not choose a major when applying: the review-process page says “We don’t admit students by major, so auditions and portfolios are not required”; optional creative work can be shared. No extra physics test or portfolio is requested.
• Declaring the physics major: the department and graduation requirements pages we read do not say when to declare, whether a prerequisite grade or GPA is needed, or whether places are limited; ask the department or an advisor. The graduation requirements page says courses in the major need a cumulative GPA of at least C (2.000), and graduation needs 31 units with a 2.000 GPA across all Beloit courses.
• Moving in from another major: not described on the pages we read.

3. Prerequisites, course planning and research

• Prerequisites: the catalog lists high-school mathematics including trigonometry as the prerequisite of PHYS 101, and says students planning more physics should take Mathematics 110 concurrently with it. PHYS 102 requires Physics 101 and Mathematics 110 or 115; PHYS 210 requires Physics 101 and Mathematics 115, with 102 recommended. The admission page tells applicants: “Most applicants have taken four years of English, three years of a foreign language, three years of mathematics, three years of laboratory science, and four years of history or social science. However, we will consider your application regardless of your course of study.” It does not require high school physics or calculus.
• AP credit (registrar): AP scores of 4 and 5 guarantee 1 unit of credit and placement; Calculus AB gives credit for MATH 110 and Calculus BC for MATH 115; Physics C: Mechanics gives credit for PHYS 101, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism for PHYS 102, and Physics 1 for PHYS 101; credit for Physics 2 does not substitute for an introductory or major course and counts only toward the 31 units for graduation. At most 8 units may come from AP, IB and GCE A-Level combined, and none may satisfy the 5 domain or 5 skill requirements.
• IB and A-Level: one unit for each IB higher-level score of 4–7 and each standard-level score of 6 or 7; one unit for each passing A-Level grade (A, B or C). The page says to consult the department for placement and does not map them to a specific physics course.
• Labs: PHYS 101 has four hours of classroom work and two hours of lab each week; PHYS 345 Advanced Experimental Physics is one of the core 300-level courses.
• Thesis and research: PHYS 385 Senior Thesis is “required to be considered for honors in physics” (half a unit); the pages we read do not say it is required of all majors. PHYS 300 is a supervised research course (consent of supervisor and chair). The department page encourages all physics majors to do an internship or independent research, often a paid summer REU, and lists McNair Scholars, faculty-mentored research during the year or summer, off-campus study, Girls and Women in Science and other activities, plus conferences where students present. Graduation also requires the Experience requirement and a capstone experience; see the graduation requirements page.
• Study away: the department strongly encourages a semester of off-campus study or study abroad and says many international opportunities include upper-level physics courses.
• Competitions: a photo caption on the resources page mentions students participating in the Physics Olympiad, but the pages we read do not say how competitions are viewed in admission, so nothing is claimed.
• Physics in the 3-2 and 4-2 engineering programs: the engineering core (at least 10 units, at least a C average) includes Physics 101 and 102, Mathematics 110, 115, 201 and 290, two units of chemistry and two of computer science; Physics 210 is required by some engineering programs, Physics 220 by some electrical engineering programs, and Physics 330 is recommended for civil and mechanical. The 3-2 major needs 23 Beloit units (at least 16 in residence) plus an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited institution; the 4-2 route needs a non-engineering Beloit major and the minimum 31 units first. Students ordinarily choose 3-2 or 4-2 by the end of the sophomore year. Financial aid does not transfer to the engineering college. The partner engineering schools are not listed on the pages we read; ask the engineering advisor.

4. Rounds and dates

• Rounds: Early Action I, Early Action II and Regular Decision. Beloit says it offers no binding or restrictive options, and no round confers an advantage in review or in scholarship consideration.
• Date table (the page shows no year; confirm it is for fall 2027 entry): Early Action I complete by November 1, decision by December 1, reply May 1; Early Action II December 1, decision by January 1; Regular Decision January 15, rolling from mid-February; FAFSA priority dates in the same table are November 1, December 1 and January 15 for those rounds. The tuition and aid page instead gives a FAFSA priority deadline of January 1, 2027, which differs from the January 15 in the table; check the latest on the website.
• All-In Pricing Guarantee date: for 2027-28 the guarantee requires a complete application (with an unofficial transcript) and an aid application by January 15, 2027 (see below).
• Application fee: the POWER application is described as fast and free; the pages we read give no fee for the Common Application or Beloit application.
• Which application: first-year students may use the POWER Application, the Common Application or the Beloit College Application; the international requirements page lists only the Common Application and the Beloit College Application for first-year students.
• Essay and recommendations: the review page says it reads the story you choose to tell, the originality of your ideas and your interests; recommendations are not required but at least one is strongly encouraged and up to three are read, mostly from core academic teachers; it does not say a science teacher is needed. Interviews are not required, but a one-on-one meeting with an admissions counselor is available.
• Testing: Beloit is test-optional for admission and for merit scholarship consideration (SAT code 1059, ACT code 4564); if you send scores, it considers the highest subscores across test dates.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• Academic profile: the review page says most admitted students have grades in the A- to B+ range, but there is no minimum GPA; it looks at the overall record, the rigor of courses relative to your school’s offerings and performance over time.
• 2027-28 costs (cost of attendance page, direct costs): tuition $65,578, student activity fee $280, housing (double occupancy) $7,158, food (full meal plan, required the first year) $7,262 and health/wellness fees $264, for total direct costs of $80,542; indirect costs: health insurance $2,900 (required for international students, optional for domestic students with comparable coverage), books and supplies about $1,222 and personal expenses about $1,738, for $5,860; transportation $300 to $2,600 a year depending on distance. The tuition and aid page separately shows a “comprehensive cost” of $77,532 (tuition and fees $64,336, housing and meal plan $13,196) with no year, which does not match the cost page; use the cost page and confirm with the financial aid office. No in-state/out-of-state split is shown.
• All-In Pricing Guarantee: Beloit guarantees that no accepted student who applies for admission and financial aid by January 15, 2027 will be asked to pay more than $30,000 in direct costs (tuition, housing, meals and fees) for 2027-28, and some will pay less; all new full-time undergraduates (domestic and international, first-year and transfer) are eligible. Domestic students file the FAFSA and share it with Beloit (code 003835). It is based on a double room (a single is $800 a year more), excludes health insurance (budget about $2,500 a year if relying on the college’s plan), optional summer courses and studying away through non tuition-exchange partners, and excludes indirect costs such as transportation, books and miscellaneous expenses; it is met entirely with gift aid, not loans or work-study. Beloit guarantees its scholarships and grants for eight semesters for fall 2027 entrants, reevaluates federal and state aid annually, and suggests budgeting 2-5% annual tuition increases.
• Scholarships: all applicants are automatically considered for academic merit scholarships, based primarily on unweighted reported GPA: Presidential $46,000-50,000 a year (GPA 3.5-4.0), Eaton $39,000-45,000 (3.0-3.49), Deans’ Award $34,000-38,000 (below 3.0); the scholarships page says “up to $55,000 per year”. The table shows no year; check it. Performing and Applied Arts scholarships of up to $5,000 a year require a separate application.
• FAFSA and visit grants: filing the FAFSA on time earns a $2,000 FAFSA Filing Grant (renewable each year the FAFSA is filed on time); students applying for fall 2027 who make an official campus visit between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 and are accepted receive a $1,000 Visit Grant (tuition only, renewable up to four years). The FAFSA opens October 1, 2026.
• Department scholarships: not described on the department pages we read. The resources page mentions research and internship opportunities and a way to submit a proposal for student conference travel support.
• Outcomes: the major page says physics graduates “are well-equipped to contribute industry expertise ranging from aerospace and data science to energy, computation, and advanced manufacturing”, and lists career areas such as astronomy and astrophysics, data analytics, electrical and computer systems, engineering design, laboratory science and materials science. It also prints salary ranges without naming a source; we do not quote them.
• In-state preference: not stated on the pages we read (a “Regional Admission Program” page exists and was not read).

6. International applicants

• Entry: international students may apply as first-year or transfer applicants for the fall (August) or spring (January) term. Those without university-level coursework apply as first-year students; those with at least one semester of university courses apply as transfers. Applications for a second bachelor’s degree are not accepted.
• Transcripts and credentials: official or attested secondary school records and any national or provincial exam results, including grades from the past three years and any final-year results (predicted or otherwise); records must be in English and submitted through the application or by the school, exam board or a certified translator, with the original non-translated documents included; transcripts need the school’s original seal or stamp, and electronic copies must be color PDFs. External exams (O-Levels, A-Levels, IGCSE, IB, AP and so on) must be certified by the administering organization.
• English proficiency: applicants whose first language is not English, or whose main language of school instruction is not English, submit one of these (official scores sent by the issuing organization; minimum scores may apply): Duolingo English Test minimum 115; TOEFL (institution code 1059) iBT minimum 80 for tests taken before January 21, 2026, and for tests taken after January 21, 2026 the page says “minimum score: 4.0, no subscores below 4.0”; TOEFL Essentials is accepted; IELTS minimum band 6.5; or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 580 or ACT English/Writing 24. A waiver can be requested if English is the first language or the primary language of instruction, with at least 3 years of school instruction.
• Proof of funds: financial documentation is required whether or not you apply for need-based aid. Without aid: the Beloit College Declaration of Finances Form or the International Student Certification of Finances, with supporting documents. With aid: the Beloit International Student Financial Aid Application, the CSS Profile or the ACAC International Student Financial Aid Application, with documents. Examples: bank statements, sponsor or agency documentation, an employer salary letter, tax returns. Beloit does not provide fee waivers for the CSS Profile.
• Need-aware: Beloit practices a need-aware admission policy: demonstrated financial need is reviewed as part of the evaluation, and need-based aid becomes more competitive as need increases. All applicants are considered for merit scholarships.
• International aid: the aid page says 95% of international students receive aid and the average scholarship is $35,000 a year; merit scholarships total “up to $50,000 per year” (the scholarships page says up to $55,000; the pages do not explain the difference); a limited number of full-tuition scholarships are awarded each year on need and merit; Beloit does not offer full-ride scholarships; students with remaining need may be offered college loans; all international students can work on campus. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents should not file the FAFSA. The All-In Pricing Guarantee also applies to international students.
• Other: Beloit does not contract with outside agencies to recruit internationally and asks you to contact its counselors directly; International Student Services helps new students settle in.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: none of the international pages we read mention the Gaokao, and there is no China-specific page. Whether it is considered or how to submit it is not published on those pages; email the international admission office (intadmis@beloit.edu).
• Transcripts and exam records: the pages give the general international rules above: secondary school records plus national or provincial exam results, in English or with certified translation, with the school’s seal. Whether a Chinese academic proficiency test (huikao) counts as such an exam is not stated; ask admissions.
• English: see the options above (Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT/ACT English scores).
• Interview: optional; a one-on-one meeting with a counselor, or a pre-recorded interview from partners InitialView or Vericant.
• Aid: same as other international applicants, above.

8. Transfer students

• Who applies as a transfer: anyone who has completed high school or equivalent, enrolled at a college or university and will have credit by matriculation must apply as a transfer student by federal requirement; transfer students entering with fewer than 12 semester hours are placed in first-year advising.
• Materials: a completed application (POWER, Transfer Common Application or Beloit application) and official transcripts from all colleges attended; a high school transcript is also required if fewer than 24-36 credit hours (two semesters of full-time study) have been completed. Optional: recommendations (ideally from a recent college instructor), SAT/ACT, AP or IB results, syllabi. International transfer students also need proof of English proficiency, an official evaluation of university credits earned outside the U.S. (WES or Scholaro recommended, at the applicant’s expense; the international requirements page says a NACES member such as WES) and financial documentation.
• Deadlines: spring semester December 15, fall semester July 15, reviewed on a rolling basis (the table shows no year; confirm for fall 2027).
• Credit rules (registrar): up to 15 units (60 semester hours) from accredited institutions, grade C or better, of which at most 8 units may be AP, IB or GCE A-Level; transfer grades are not recorded on the Beloit transcript or in the Beloit GPA; normally at least half of the courses used toward a major or minor must be completed at Beloit, and the department chair decides, with the registrar, how much transfer credit counts toward the major; no more than two units may be transferred during the senior year without committee approval. An A.A. or A.S. degree automatically fulfills the domain and skill requirements.
• Transfer scholarships: all transfer applicants are considered automatically for the Trustee Transfer Scholarship, $34,000-50,000 a year by college GPA (3.5-4.0: $46,000-50,000; 3.0-3.49: $39,000-45,000; below 3.0: $34,000-38,000); two-year college Phi Theta Kappa members may receive up to $3,000 a year more; transfers are also eligible for the All-In Pricing Guarantee, the FAFSA Filing Grant and the Visit Grant.
• Prerequisite sequence for physics: the pages we read do not say which calculus or physics sequence a transfer student needs before entering the physics major. Judging from the major requirements, the courses involved are Physics 101, 102 and 210 and Mathematics 110, 115 and 290; the registrar’s transfer credit evaluation says exactly what counts.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply with POWER, the Common Application or the Beloit application; the date table lists November 1, December 1 and January 15 (confirm fall 2027 entry); for the All-In Pricing Guarantee, submit a complete application and file the FAFSA by January 15, 2027
• AP Physics C: Mechanics and C: Electricity and Magnetism (scores of 4 or 5) are credited as PHYS 101 and 102; you do not choose a major or send physics work when applying

International applicants (including China):

• Apply with the Common Application or the Beloit application; send secondary school records and national or provincial exam results, English proof (Duolingo 115, TOEFL, IELTS 6.5, SAT 580 or ACT 24, or a waiver request) and financial documents
• How the Gaokao is used is not published on the pages we read; email the international admission office

Transfer students:

• Spring December 15, fall July 15; official transcripts and application; international transfers need a credit evaluation
• At least half of the major’s courses must be taken at Beloit

Sources: Beloit College, BA or BS in Physics; Physics & Astronomy; Department: requirements; Department: courses; Department: resources and opportunities; 3-2 and 4-2 engineering programs; Apply; Application deadlines; Our review process; International applicants; International requirements; English proficiency; International student aid; Tuition and aid; All-In Pricing Guarantee; Scholarships; Cost of attendance; Transfer applicants; Transfer requirements; Registrar: transfer, AP, GCE and IB credit; Graduation requirements. Some pages show no year (for example the deadline table), and the text says so; the cost of attendance and All-In pages are labeled 2027-28.