How to Apply to Computer Science at Stony Brook University: A Limited-Enrollment Major in Engineering and Applied Sciences, Direct Admission or Pre-Major Entry, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Stony Brook University (SBU), part of the State University of New York, offers computer science through the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS). The degree is a B.S. in Computer Science, accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET; the department also offers B.S. degrees in Information Systems and Data Science. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Stony Brook’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

• A limited-enrollment major: the admissions office lists the CEAS majors as restricted majors with additional requirements; applicants who do not specify a major are considered for admission to the University only. The CEAS Undergraduate Student Office says all CEAS programs currently limit enrollment, and admission to the University does not guarantee immediate or future acceptance into the major.
• Indicate your interest when you apply: qualified first-year and transfer applicants who indicate interest in CEAS programs are considered for direct admission to the major or entry as a pre-major (Area of Interest, AOI).
• Pre-major to major: complete the major entry requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog for the term you entered, then apply through the CEAS Major/Minor Declaration form. Applications are reviewed twice a year, with deadlines of 5 January for spring and 5 June for fall; students finishing requirements in the current term or intersession must still apply by the deadline, and decisions arrive within one to two weeks.
• Guaranteed or not, stated two ways: one part of the page says AOI students are guaranteed acceptance to their pre-major program as long as they meet the admission requirements in the catalog for their entry term; the FAQ says admission to CEAS majors is competitive and not guaranteed. Denials are final, cannot be appealed and cannot be followed by a later reapplication.
• Students outside CEAS: students in other colleges who want computer science as a primary or second major must also complete the catalog’s entry criteria, and admission is competitive and not guaranteed.
• Specific entry criteria: prerequisite courses and grade requirements appear only in the Undergraduate Catalog, not on the department or CEAS pages. The catalog site could not be read for this guide; confirm with the CEAS Undergraduate Student Office.

2. Program and specializations

• Five specializations: Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Game Programming, Security and Privacy, and Systems Software Development.
• Course requirements: the official courses and credits are in the Undergraduate Catalog and were not checked for this guide.
• Honors in Computer Science: smaller classes, close mentorship and a two-semester research project. There is no application for incoming first-years; eligible students are invited, and continuing CS majors may also apply.
• Accelerated BS/MS: for high-achieving CS majors, who are encouraged to apply in junior year and may apply up to one semester before graduation. Up to three graduate courses (9 credits) taken as an undergraduate count toward both degrees, including as BS technical electives; the move to the MS requires at least two graduate courses with a C or better and a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

3. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Action: 1 November (a completion deadline: all materials must arrive by then), with decisions on 11 December or 29 January; complete applications by 1 November are guaranteed a decision by 29 January.
• Regular Decision: 15 January, with decisions on 26 February or 26 March.
• Spring entry: 1 November for spring 2027.
• Honors programs (Honors College, WISE, University Scholars): fall entry only, with a priority deadline of 1 November and a final deadline of 15 January. General admission decisions come first; admitted students are then considered for honors, usually hearing in mid to late March.

4. Application materials and testing

• Application: international students use the Common App or the SUNY Application; the fee is $50. There is no separate international application.
• Essay and recommendation: one essay on a topic of your choice and one recommendation from a teacher or counselor (two teacher letters for honors programs).
• Transcripts: grades for your three most recently completed years (which may include middle school), in English, sent directly by your school; graduates send their last four years.
• Test optional: SBU is test optional and reviews applications holistically on grades, curriculum strength and personal factors.

5. English requirements

• Exemptions: applicants from native English-speaking countries and international applicants attending an English-medium school do not need to submit English scores.
• Otherwise, one of the following (minimums):
  • TOEFL 80 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4 on the new scale after;
  • IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 105; PTE Academic 53;
  • ACT English 19; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480;
  • IB English HL 5; AP English Language or Literature 3; A-Level English C;
  • Gaokao English 125 out of 150.
• Below the requirement: you may be considered for conditional admission.

6. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimates for out-of-state students (US$, estimated as of 20 February 2026): tuition 31,050, fees 3,860, housing 12,291 and meal plan 7,450, for direct on-campus costs of 54,651; with books, transportation and personal expenses the total is about 58,799. Full-time students are also billed for health insurance, which can be waived with proof of coverage. SUNY usually sets tuition around June.
• Financial documentation: admitted international students must show they can cover one year of educational and living expenses before SBU issues an I-20.
• Scholarships: all incoming first-year students are considered for merit scholarships, most with no separate application. SBU does not say whether international students can receive need-based aid.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: 1 May for fall 2027 and 1 November for spring 2027; fall decisions start in mid-February and spring decisions in mid-November.
• Requirements: typically at least 24 college credits and a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher; with fewer than 24 credits, send your final high school transcript. Testing is optional. Transfers with more than 56 credits must indicate a major on the application to be eligible for financial aid.
• English: the same requirements apply; a college writing course at a US college with a C or better also waives the test.
• Credit: use SBU’s Transfer Equivalency Database to check course equivalents. For courses marked as needing department evaluation, submit syllabi as the department requests.
• Computer science: CEAS says qualified transfer applicants who indicate interest are likewise considered for direct admission to the major or pre-major entry, with pre-majors later applying under the catalog criteria. The specific transfer entry criteria are not on the web pages read; see the Undergraduate Catalog.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the Common App or SUNY Application by 1 November (EA) or 15 January (RD), with all materials in by the deadline
• English: TOEFL 4 (new scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105, or Gaokao English of 125 or higher
• Three most recent years of transcripts in English; testing optional
• Indicate computer science on your application to be considered for direct admission or pre-major entry
• For honors programs, submit the honors application and two teacher recommendations by 1 November

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

• Same deadlines; students at English-medium schools are exempt from English tests
• SBU publishes no BC-specific grade requirements

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 May; typically 24+ credits and a GPA of 2.8 or higher
• Indicate computer science on the application; keep syllabi of completed courses for credit evaluation

Sources: Stony Brook University, First-year applicants; International first-year students; Transfer applicants; International transfer students; 2026-27 estimated costs; Scholarships; B.S. in Computer Science; Computer science undergraduate admissions; CEAS major admission; Honors in Computer Science; Accelerated BS/MS in Computer Science. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 estimates). Check Stony Brook for the latest details.