How to Apply to Computer Science at Rutgers–New Brunswick: Apply to Arts and Sciences, Declare After Five Courses With a C or Better, a New Introductory Sequence From 2027, and Requirements for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Rutgers University–New Brunswick, computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), on the Busch campus, and you can earn a B.S. or a B.A. You apply to SAS and declare computer science after completing the required courses. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Rutgers’ official websites, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. How to get into the major

• Apply to SAS: Rutgers–New Brunswick admits by school, and computer science is in the School of Arts and Sciences.
• Declaring the major (Admission to the Major page): earn a C or better in these five courses:
  • 01:640:151 and 152, Calculus I and II for Physical Science Majors;
  • 01:198:111, Introduction to Computer Science;
  • 01:198:112, Data Structures;
  • 01:198:205, Introduction to Discrete Structures I.
  SAS students who meet this can declare online. The page does not mention an extra GPA threshold or a cap.
• Transfer equivalents: if you received credit for courses equivalent to 111, 112 or 205, you must complete at least two courses in the New Brunswick Department of Computer Science (01:198:xxx) before being admitted to the major.
• Students in other schools: Engineering, Business and SEBS students can add computer science as a second major or minor through separate forms.

2. New introductory sequence from 2027

• What changes: the department will stop offering CS111 from spring 2027 and CS112 from fall 2027, replacing them with three new courses:
  • CS120 Introduction to Programming (4 credits; no CS major credit);
  • CS121 Introduction to Computer Science (4 credits);
  • CS122 Data Structures (4 credits).
  Courses that required CS112 will require CS122. The department says the courses use mastery-based grading, so a C or better requires mastering key learning goals, and that there will be no weed-out courses.
• The pages differ: the Admission to the Major page still lists 111 and 112, while the new sequence page says they are being replaced by 121 and 122. Check with the department which set applies to fall 2027 entrants.
• Placement and AP: students without an AP Computer Science A score of 4 or higher who want to start in CS120 or CS121 must take the department’s online placement exam (up to two attempts per admission cycle; for fall registration, between March and September). The department expects many first-year students to place out of CS120. AP CSA 4 counts as CS120 (eligible for CS121, no CS credit); AP CSA 5 counts as CS121 (credit awarded, eligible for CS122); AP CS Principles 4 or 5 counts as CS110.
• Transfers entering fall 2027 or later: credit for CS111 becomes CS121, and credit for CS112 becomes CS122.

3. Curriculum

• B.S.: six required CS courses (111, 112, 205, 206, 211 Computer Architecture, 344 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms); three mathematics courses (640:151, 152, 250); seven electives, at least five in the New Brunswick department and at least two at the 300 level or above; plus a physics or chemistry sequence. Rutgers says this totals 68–71 credits.
• B.A.: the same six CS and three mathematics courses, plus five electives (at least three in the department, at least two at 300 level or above), with no physics or chemistry requirement; 53–55 credits.
• Common rules: no more than one D in courses applied to the major; at least seven major courses must be taken in the New Brunswick department; CS electives must be completed within 10 years of the degree.
• Tracks: the department lists tracks such as Computing Concepts and Themes, Computer and Software Systems, Computer Security, Software Engineering and Information Management, Graphics and Vision, and Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science, as guides for combining electives. Tracks are not mutually exclusive.
• There is also an honors program and a computer science minor.

4. Admission and deadlines (New Brunswick, fall 2027)

• Early Action (non-binding): due 1 November 2026, decisions by 31 January 2027, reply by 1 May.
• Regular Decision: due 1 December 2026, decisions by 28 February 2027.
• Apply by 1 December to be considered for honors programs and merit scholarships; after the deadlines, rolling admission continues while schools remain open. The application fee is $70.
• What counts: mainly academic potential, including required high school subjects, rigour, grades and trends, weighted GPA, rank (if available), SAT/ACT (optional) and English scores; also the essay and activities. Recommendation letters are not used.
• High school subjects (SAS): 4 years of English, 2 of the same foreign language, 3 of mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II), 2 of science and 5 more academic courses, 16 in total.
• Admissions profile (SAS overall, not computer science alone): the middle 50% of fall 2026 admits had SAT 1380–1520, ACT 30–34 and a high school GPA of 3.7–4.2; SAS received 51,155 first-year applications for fall 2025 and enrolled 4,168.
• Maximum Admission Consideration: applicants not admitted to their chosen school are automatically considered for other Rutgers schools or campuses.

5. Students at high schools in China

• English is required (New Brunswick minimums): TOEFL 79 for tests on or before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new scale from 22 January; IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, PTE 53; or SAT Reading and Writing 550 or ACT English 21. Scores must be within two years and sent by the testing agency.
• Records: report courses, grades, GPA and rank in STARS, and submit official documents on enrolment; non-English documents need professional translations.
• Gaokao: the admissions office does not publish a Gaokao policy.
• Testing: SAT and ACT are optional.

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

• Same deadlines, test-optional; Rutgers does not publish requirements for Canadian or BC curricula, so check against the 16-course requirement above.
• Students at English-medium schools can email international admissions to request an English waiver, reviewed case by case.

7. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer: applicants who have earned more than 12 college credits at an accredited institution after high school.
• Deadlines: fall, 1 February 2027 (decisions by 15 April); spring, 1 October. F-1 visa holders can transfer into SAS for fall.
• Review: rigour, grade trends, cumulative GPA, credits completed and English scores; the middle 50% college GPA of transfers admitted to SAS for fall 2026 was 3.4–3.9. Applicants with fewer than 24 college credits must send high school transcripts.
• Transferring CS courses: first check the department’s list of pre-evaluated courses; otherwise submit a syllabus with the course name, university, instructor contact, learning objectives and weekly schedule. Skills-based technology courses (such as digital logic design, Linux administration, database administration, web design, mobile app development and UI/UX design) do not transfer. New Jersey community college courses follow njtransfer.org evaluations.
• Credit limits: up to 60 credits from two-year colleges and 90 from four-year institutions; at least seven major courses must still be taken in the department.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27, New Brunswick, non-New Jersey residents (USD): tuition 36,831, fees 4,008, food and housing 21,943, for an on-campus total of 62,782.
• F-1 and J-1 students also pay at least $500 in SEVIS administration, health insurance and health service fees.
• International scholarships: admitted international students are automatically considered; awards are limited, so apply by 1 December at the latest.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to SAS by 1 November (Early Action) or 1 December (Regular); apply by 1 December for scholarships
• TOEFL 4.5 (new scale) or 79 (old), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115; SAT/ACT optional
• Without AP Computer Science A at 4 or higher, take the department’s placement exam before registering for CS120 or CS121
• Take calculus and introductory CS first, and declare once all five courses have a C or better

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

• Same deadlines; check the 16 academic courses, and request an English waiver if your school teaches in English

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 February for fall; take calculus and introductory CS first, and keep syllabi for credit evaluation

Sources: Rutgers University, Computer Science prospective students; Admission to the major; B.S. requirements; B.A. requirements; Undergraduate program tracks; New introductory course sequence; Transferring CS courses; First-year applicants; Required credentials for international applicants; Rutgers–New Brunswick dates and deadlines; How we make decisions and admissions profile; 2026-27 tuition and fees; Scholarships; Transfer applicants. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 rates). Check Rutgers for the latest details.