How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Direct Admission Only to the Grainger Engineering BS in Computer Science, CS + X Blended Degrees, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), undergraduate computer science comes in two main forms: the B.S. in Computer Science offered by the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering, and the CS + X blended degrees that combine computer science with another field. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on official Illinois information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Which degree

• B.S. in Computer Science (Engineering): awarded by The Grainger College of Engineering and accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Illinois describes it as a rigorous, technical and highly competitive program for students primarily focused on computer science, with an admit rate of less than 7%; admitted students’ high school GPAs and test scores are typically at the high end of Grainger’s published ranges.
• CS + X blended degrees: the same CS core curriculum blended with the core of another field. Each is a single major and a single bachelor’s degree (not a dual degree), awarded by the college that admitted you. Options listed include Mathematics & CS, Statistics & CS, and CS + Advertising, Animal Sciences, Anthropology, Astronomy, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Crop Sciences, Economics, Education (Learning Sciences or Secondary Education), Geography & GIS, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy and Physics. One page says “17+” blended degrees; the FAQ says Illinois offers “over twenty” computing and data science degree programs.
• Related options: blended Data Science degrees (X + DS), Computer Engineering (in Electrical and Computer Engineering, focused on hardware) and the CS minor.
• Illinois says all CS and DS undergraduate programs are very competitive, and that the blended degrees suit students genuinely interested in the partner field.

2. Direct admission only; no transfer in after enrolling

• No second choice: CS in Engineering is not available as a second-choice major, and neither are the blended CS majors.
• Closed to on-campus transfer: first-year students admitted from fall 2022 onwards to B.S. Computer Science, CS + Physics and CS + Bioengineering in Grainger are direct admit only and closed to on-campus transfer. Illinois also states that all Grainger majors are closed to transfer once students are admitted.
• Some blended degrees are open: Mathematics & CS, Statistics & CS and some other CS + X majors follow their own colleges’ intercollegiate or interdepartmental transfer procedures, with varying requirements. Students can also add the CS minor, though it gives no registration advantage in CS courses.
• Second bachelor’s degree: CS programs prioritise students seeking their first bachelor’s degree and take very few second-degree candidates.

3. The curriculum

• Hours: at least 128 hours to graduate, including at least 40 hours of 300- or 400-level coursework.
• Mathematics and science: Calculus I, II and III; one linear algebra course from three options; University Physics: Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism.
• CS technical core: Introduction to Computer Science I and II, Discrete Structures, Software Design Lab, Data Structures, Computer Architecture, System Programming, Numerical Methods I, Probability & Statistics for Computer Science, Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation, and Programming Languages & Compilers. Core courses are taught in Java (Kotlin), C++, C, Python and assembly.
• Technical electives: at least six 400-level CS courses (at least 18 hours), including at least one team project course and at least three from a single focus area. Focus areas: Software Foundations; Algorithms and Models of Computation; Intelligence and Big Data; Human and Social Impact; Media; Scientific, Parallel, and High Performance Computing; Distributed Systems, Networking, and Security; and Machines.
• Fifth-year master’s: only students in Computer Science in Grainger are eligible for the Grainger Engineering Fifth-Year Master’s program.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Math: all CS + X majors and all Grainger majors require at least 3.5 years of math, including trigonometry or higher (most other majors need 3 or 3.5 years). Applied business math, computer processing and IT courses do not count.
• Other courses: 4 years of English; at least 2 years each of social studies and lab science.
• How to apply: apply through the Common App, then enter grades 9–12 in the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR); official transcripts are not required at application. Illinois does not explain how Gaokao results are used.
• SAT/ACT optional.
• English: unless you completed grades 10–12 in an English-speaking country on Illinois’s list, you must submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or SAT/ACT; first-year minimum scores are not published.
• No agents: Illinois does not work with recruitment agents.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• English: Canada (except Quebec) is on the list of English-speaking countries; if you completed grades 10–12 there, you do not need an English test.
• Coursework: in the SRAR choose the “Other” grading scale and enter the grade ranges; mark grade 12 courses as in progress (IP).
• Math: the same 3.5-year requirement applies. Illinois does not publish grade requirements for the BC curriculum.

6. Fall 2027 timeline

• Application opens 1 September;
• Early Action (EA) closes 1 November, non-binding, with materials due by 7 November;
• Regular closes 5 January, with materials due by 11 January;
• confirm enrollment by 1 May.

Admit rates: in 2026 the overall first-year admit rate was 38.1%, and Grainger’s first-choice admit rate was 23.3%. For CS alone, see the “less than 7%” figure above.

7. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 international estimate (full-time, before aid): tuition and fees USD 42,248 to 53,078 (varies by major), housing and dining 15,858, books 1,200, other 2,840; total 62,146 to 72,976. Computer science tuition is not listed on a static page; use the university’s Cost Calculator.
• Tuition guarantee: tuition stays the same for four years of continuous enrollment.
• Aid for international students: there is no need-based aid for international undergraduates; plan to fund the full period of study.

8. Transfer students

• Apply directly at transfer: to study any Grainger major (including a dual degree), you must apply and be admitted directly to Grainger when you transfer. Students entering other colleges cannot later transfer into Grainger.
• GPA: a minimum of 3.0 (A = 4.0) is expected.
• Required courses (completed before the term you apply, B or better in each): General Chemistry I with lab, Intro to Computer Science I (CS 124), Calculus I, II and III, and University Physics: Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism. Illinois advises having at least one semester with four technical courses and 15+ hours completed before applying.
• Programming: formal coursework in at least two of Python, Java and C++.
• Recommended: Intro to Computer Science II, Discrete Structures, Data Structures and Linear Algebra.
• Graduation: at least 45 hours at Illinois, at least 21 of them at the 300 or 400 level.
• Applicants without the math and science foundation courses are encouraged to consider CS + X options outside Grainger. See the transfer dates page for deadlines.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Choose your first-choice major carefully: CS in Engineering is direct admit only, not available as a second choice, and closed to transfer after admission
• At least 3.5 years of high school math, including trigonometry or higher
• Apply Early Action by 1 November or Regular by 5 January; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo required; SAT/ACT optional
• Plan to self-fund the full cost

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• No English test if you completed grades 10–12 outside Quebec
• Same 3.5-year math requirement; report grades accurately in the SRAR

Transfer students:

• GPA of at least 3.0; CS 124, Calculus I–III, two physics courses and chemistry, each with a B or better
• Coursework in at least two of Python, Java and C++

Sources: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Siebel School undergraduate admissions; Degree and program options; BS in Computer Science; CS + X degrees; FAQ for CS and DS degree options; Transfer students; Catalog: Computer Science, BS; First-year dates; First-year requirements; International requirements; China application help; Canada application help; Admit rates; Tuition and costs; Financial aid; Transfer dates; Computer Science transfer handbook. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Illinois for the latest details.