How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Iowa: Declaring the BA or BS in Computer Science on Admission, the Engineering BSE in Computer Science and Engineering, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Iowa (Iowa City), computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as a BA or BS in Computer Science. The department also runs a BSE in Computer Science and Engineering jointly with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on Iowa’s 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

• Declare on admission: the 2026-2027 General Catalog says students may declare a computer science major when they are admitted to the university or afterward. They may choose the BA or BS; if no preference is given, the BA is assigned, and students may switch to the BS at any time. The pages we read describe no separate application or grade threshold for declaring.
• Grades to graduate: a GPA of at least 2.00 in all major courses, in all UI major courses and overall; major courses may not be taken pass/nonpass. Many major courses require a C-minus or better in prerequisites.
• Intro programming: CS:1210 Computer Science I: Fundamentals is taught in Python. Its prerequisites are a level of mathematics, such as a C-minus or better in MATH:1020 or MATH:1460, an ALEKS score of 75 or higher, or an Advanced Math Placement Test score of 9 or higher.
• Restrictions: computer science majors may not also major or minor in computer science and engineering, data science or informatics.
• Advising: students are advised at the Academic Advising Center until they complete 30 semester hours, then assigned a departmental advisor.

2. Curriculum

• BS: at least 120 semester hours. The catalog gives at least 62 s.h. for the major; the department site gives at least 63 (63 to 67 across categories). Check with the department. The major includes:
  • CS core: CS:1210, CS:1500 Computing, Ethics, and Society, CS:2210 Discrete Structures, CS:2230 Data Structures, CS:2820 Introduction to Software Development, CS:3330 Algorithms, CS:3420 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, CS:3820 Programming Language Concepts, plus computer organization (CS:2630 or ECE:3350);
  • mathematics core: Calculus I and MATH:2220 Discrete Probability and Linear Algebra;
  • CS electives: one from each pair of operating systems or networks, theory of computation or logic, and databases or human-computer interaction (9 s.h.);
  • at least 9 s.h. of advanced technical electives;
  • a natural sciences sequence of at least 6 s.h. in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science or physics.
• BS residency: at least seven specified upper-level CS courses (21 s.h.) must be completed at Iowa.
• BA: at least 120 semester hours with at least 41 s.h. in the major: 27-28 in CS core, 11-12 in mathematics core and 3 in an advanced CS elective. The department describes the BA as flexible and suited to combining with another major.
• BSE in Computer Science and Engineering: at least 129 semester hours, including engineering core, mathematics and science, required program courses, a theory elective and a 15 s.h. elective focus area (such as bioinformatics, business, medical imaging, embedded systems or software engineering, or a custom plan), with a two-semester senior capstone.
• Five-year bachelor’s/master’s: BA or BS students can combine with the Master of Computer Science in 140 s.h., counting up to four courses (12 s.h.) toward both. Applicants need coursework through CS:3330 and a UI cumulative GPA and CS major GPA of at least 3.25, and usually apply in their third year.
• Honors: a UI GPA of 3.33, a major GPA of 3.50 and an honors thesis or project.

3. The engineering route

• Direct admission: the BSE in Computer Science and Engineering is in the College of Engineering. Direct admission requires meeting the high school course requirements, with the cumulative GPA reviewed and emphasis on mathematics and science grades. International applicants are assessed on high school courses, GPA and English proficiency; ACT/SAT are optional.
• High school courses: international applicants to Engineering need 4 years of mathematics (including 1 year of higher mathematics such as trigonometry or calculus) and 3 years of science (including 1 year each of chemistry and physics); applicants to Liberal Arts and Sciences need 3 years of mathematics and 3 years of science (a full year in two of biology, chemistry and physics). Both need 4 years of native language and 2 years of one world language.
• If not admitted directly: students are admitted to Liberal Arts and Sciences as Engineering Interest majors and may apply to Engineering after completing prerequisite coursework.

4. Deadlines and applying

• International first-years: fall early action 2 November (documents by 9 November) and regular deadline 1 February (documents by 8 February); applicants after 1 February are not eligible for merit scholarships and are admitted only on a space-available basis. The fall acceptance deadline is 3 May. The page does not state which entry year these dates apply to.
• How: the University of Iowa application or the Common App (fall only); the fee is USD 80, and decisions are rolling from mid-September.
• Testing: Iowa is test-optional for general admission, and international applicants who completed secondary school outside the US do not need the SAT/ACT; scores are required for academic scholarships or the Honors Program. Iowa says applicants at or above ACT 26 or SAT 1230 have more opportunities for larger merit scholarships.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Basics: completed secondary school (generally 12-13 years), transcripts showing a graduation date or a diploma, the high school course requirements and English proficiency.
• Chinese high schools: the final credential is the high school graduation certificate; a core-course average of 80/100 where D grades exist, or 75/100 where they do not. How Gaokao results are used is not published.
• IB: an average of 5/7 in core subjects; predicted IB scores are not used. A-levels: the UK page lists GCSE/IGCSE requirements; separate A-level requirements are not published.
• AP Computer Science credit: the catalog says the AP CS exam may be used to satisfy requirements and links to the department’s policy, but that page currently shows as unavailable. Check scores with the department.
• English: TOEFL iBT 80 (all subscores 17+; for tests after January 2026, 4.0 with all subscores 3.5+) or IELTS 6.5 (all subscores 6.0+). Students below TOEFL 100 enroll in ESL courses but may test out on arrival.

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

• BC: a Dogwood Diploma with a core-course average of B or 73%; Ontario: an OSSD average of 70%.
• English: the country requirements list does not require English scores for Canadian credentials, and Canadian citizens whose first language is English are exempt. Non-citizens should check with admissions.
• Applicants to Engineering must also meet the mathematics and science course requirements above.

7. Transfer students

• Liberal Arts and Sciences: a GPA of 2.50 on 24 semester hours, or an Iowa community college AA/AS with a GPA of 2.00, among other routes; those with fewer than 24 hours are reviewed on high school and college grades plus ACT/SAT.
• CS course credit: the catalog says transfer students who completed a course approved as equivalent to a required CS course are exempt from it, and transfer grades count in the CS GPA.
• Deadlines: international transfers 15 July (fall) and 15 November (spring).

8. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 international estimates (fall and spring):
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences (CS BA/BS): tuition and fees USD 35,442, living expenses 14,022, health insurance 2,628, books 950, total USD 53,042;
  • Engineering: tuition and fees USD 37,030, total USD 54,630; second- to fourth-year international engineering students pay USD 38,547 tuition.
• Aid: international students do not qualify for need-based scholarships, grants or loans; international merit scholarships are competitive, and many are renewable for four years.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to Liberal Arts and Sciences with computer science as your intended major (or to Engineering for the CSE BSE)
• Core average of 80 (where D grades exist); TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; submit SAT/ACT if you want scholarship consideration
• Early action 2 November, final deadline 1 February
• Prepare for the math placement test to meet the CS:1210 prerequisite

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

• BC core average of B or 73%; Engineering applicants need 4 years of mathematics plus chemistry and physics

Transfer students:

• GPA 2.50 on 24 semester hours; bring syllabi of CS courses taken elsewhere for equivalency review
• International transfer deadlines: 15 July (fall), 15 November (spring)

Sources: The University of Iowa, Computer Science undergraduate programs; BS in Computer Science; BA in Computer Science; BSE in Computer Science and Engineering; BA/MCS and BS/MCS U2G; 2026-2027 General Catalog: Computer Science BS; International application process; International first-year requirements; High school course requirements for international applicants; College of Engineering first-year admission; Academic requirements by country; English proficiency; International estimated costs. The deadlines page does not state a year, and costs are 2026-27 estimates. Check the University of Iowa for the latest details.