How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Rochester: Complete the Pre-Major Courses and Declare a BS or BA After Entry, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Rochester, computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, which offers a Bachelor of Science (BS), a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a minor. Applicants are not admitted by major; you complete the pre-major courses after entry and then declare. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on the University of Rochester’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Getting into computer science: pre-major courses and declaring

• Pre-major (BS): CSC 171 Introduction to Computer Science, MATH 150 Discrete Mathematics, CSC 172 Data Structures and Algorithms, and a calculus sequence (MATH 14x, 16x or 17x, placed by the Department of Mathematics), with a GPA of at least 2.0. Under the University’s basic science sequence rules, you need a C- or better to move from CSC 171 to CSC 172 and from CSC 172 to CSC 173.
• Pre-major (BA): the BA page lists CSC 171, MATH 150 and CSC 172, again with a GPA of at least 2.0, and does not list calculus.
• Declaring: after the pre-major courses, complete a BA, BS or BS-with-concentration planning sheet and email it to the undergraduate program coordinator for review. Undeclared students use the Hajim Intended Major Change Form to switch into or out of computer science. The department’s pages do not mention caps or an extra GPA threshold for declaring.
• Writing requirement, stated two ways: the BS page says the primary writing requirement must be satisfied before declaring, and the advising page says Hajim students must complete it before declaring with a C or better; the BA page says it must be satisfied after declaring. Confirm with the department before you declare.
• AP and IB: AP Computer Science Principles 4 or 5 gives CSC 161; AP Computer Science A 4 or 5 gives CSC 171; IB Computer Science HL 5+ gives CSC 171. A-levels follow the University’s A-level policy.

2. Curriculum

• BS: 128 credits in total. Six core courses: CSC 173 Computation and Formal Systems, CSC 242 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, CSC 252 Computer Organization, CSC 254 Programming Language Design and Implementation, CSC 280 Computer Models and Limitations, and CSC 282 Design and Analysis of Efficient Algorithms. Two more mathematics courses: one of STAT 190, ECON 230 or MATH/STAT 201, and one of MATH 165 or MATH 173. Four advanced 4-credit CSC courses numbered 200 or above; two upper-level writing courses; and at least 12 credits of general electives, used to complete one social science cluster and one humanities cluster.
• Four concentrations (optional, BS): artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, systems and theory. A concentration takes five advanced 200-level courses (one more than the base degree), at least three in the chosen area. BS students can also pursue honors in research.
• BA: students entering fall 2026 and later follow the updated requirements: three core courses (at least one of CSC 173 or CSC 280, at least one of CSC 252 or CSC 254, and a third from those four plus CSC 242 and CSC 282), six 4-credit CSC major electives (no more than one below 171 and no more than two independent studies), two upper-level writing courses, and one humanities and one social science cluster (2.0 average or better). Students entering before fall 2026 follow the retiring requirements of two core courses and seven electives. The department describes the BA as suited to double majors and interdisciplinary interests.
• Outside courses: no more than two core and advanced courses (core and major electives for the BA) may be taken at other institutions, unless taken through the University’s education abroad program.
• No double major with data science: under the course overlap policy, computer science and data science cannot be combined as a double major.
• Outcomes: the department reports that 94% of 2025 graduates secured employment or graduate school places, with an average reported salary of $99,962.

3. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Decision I (binding): 1 November, decisions mid-December, reply within three weeks.
• Priority scholarship deadline: 1 December, decisions late February, reply by 1 May. Rochester says to send all materials by 1 December for the highest scholarship consideration.
• Early Decision II: 5 January, decisions early February.
• Regular Decision: 5 January, decisions 1 April, reply by 1 May.
• The Common App or Coalition application must arrive by the deadline; other materials may follow by 1 December (ED I), 1 February (ED II) or 15 February (RD).
• Application fee: $50, with waivers available.
• Materials: secondary school transcript, one teacher recommendation, school report and counselor recommendation, mid-year report, and the Rochester supplement and essay. An interview is highly recommended.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: not submitting tests is no disadvantage for admission or scholarships. You may also be “test flexible” and submit AP, IB, A-Level or national exam results instead of the SAT/ACT, self-reported at application with official scores before enrolling.
• Gaokao: the list of approved national exams includes the Chinese National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao), with verification available through CHESICC. For Canada, the list names Canadian provincial secondary school qualifications.
• Test timing: ED I and ED II accept October ACT and November SAT scores; Regular Decision accepts December tests.
• English: required for non-native speakers attending secondary or higher education in a non-English-speaking country, via Duolingo, IELTS or TOEFL. Recommended scores:
  • Duolingo 130;
  • IELTS 7.5;
  • TOEFL 100 on the former scale or 5 on the new scale; no MyBest scores or combining sub-scores across sittings.
  Applicants below these ranges are still encouraged to apply; some may be admitted through the two-semester English for Academic Purposes Program (EAPP).
• Waiver: available to native English speakers and to students with at least three years at a high school where English was the primary language of instruction.

5. Costs, aid and scholarships

• 2026-27 costs (US$): tuition 71,750, mandatory fees 1,622, housing 12,822, about 96,022 in total with food and other items. Rochester notes higher travel allowances for international students; textbooks are included in tuition.
• Need-based aid: Rochester commits to meeting the full demonstrated need of all admitted students regardless of citizenship, but financial need is a contributing factor for international applicants, so admission is highly selective for those with need; only a small number qualify.
• Financial documents at application: the International Financial Support Form (IFSF) if you do not need aid, or the CSS Profile if you do (from 1 October; fee waiver requests by 15 January for first-years). Applicants who cannot secure funding cannot be admitted.
• Merit scholarships: all applicants are considered regardless of citizenship, with no extra documents.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall 15 March for priority consideration, with rolling decisions every three to four weeks from late March; spring 15 October. Supplemental materials are due by 15 June for fall.
• Eligibility: you are a transfer once you have eight or more college credits after high school; the most competitive applicants have completed a year of college (24–32 credits). Rochester says transfers average a 3.3+ GPA, with a median college GPA of 3.5 among typical admits, entering as sophomores or juniors.
• Materials: Common App; college transcripts, final high school transcript (waivable after a full year of college), English results or waiver request, and the IFSF or CSS Profile. College work outside the U.S. needs a course-by-course evaluation from WES or ECE.
• Credit: comparable courses with a C or better transfer, all initially as elective credit; course equivalencies come from the relevant department. A transfer credit evaluation comes with the offer.
• Computer science: transfers are not admitted to a major either; you declare after completing the pre-major courses. Every outside course used for the CS major must be approved by the department: send CS syllabi and any AP, IB and A-level scores to the department’s transfer credit address (ugtransfer@cs.rochester.edu), then meet the undergraduate coordinator about your course plan. Courses outside computer science follow the Hajim School’s transfer credit rules. No more than two core and advanced courses may come from other institutions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 November (ED I), 1 December (priority scholarship) or 5 January (ED II or RD)
• Decide whether to submit SAT, ACT, AP or Gaokao results; the Gaokao can be verified via CHESICC
• Duolingo 130, IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL 5 recommended; an interview is highly recommended
• Submit the IFSF or CSS Profile with your application; needing aid affects admission
• After entry, take CSC 171, CSC 172 and discrete mathematics (plus calculus for the BS) with a GPA of 2.0+, then declare

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

• Same deadlines; provincial qualifications can be used for the test-flexible option
• Three years at an English-medium high school qualifies you to request an English waiver

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 15 March; ideally a full year of college and a 3.3+ GPA
• Arrange a WES or ECE evaluation for college work outside the U.S.; send CS syllabi to the department for review

Sources: University of Rochester, Dates and deadlines; First-year students; International students; Testing policies; Transfer students; Computer science undergraduate program; BS in Computer Science; BA in Computer Science; Computer science advising, declaring and credit; Undergraduate tuition and expenses 2026-27. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check the University of Rochester for the latest details.