How to Apply to Computer Science at Michigan State University: Admission to the University First, Then Secondary Admission to the College of Engineering, the B.S. Curriculum and Five Concentrations, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Michigan State University (MSU), undergraduate computer science is the B.S. in Computer Science offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Enrollment was 1,527 in fall 2025. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on MSU’s official website, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students) and transfer students.

1. Admission: the university first, then secondary admission to Engineering

• First-years apply to the university: the College of Engineering says that when you first apply to MSU you apply to the university in general, not to a specific college or program, and MSU lets all incoming students declare the major they wish. Once enrolled, each college has its own requirements for admission to its programs.
• Secondary admission criteria: current students with an Engineering Preference major must meet these criteria and apply during the semester in which they expect to complete them:
  • at least 28 credits earned after matriculation at MSU;
  • MTH 132 and 133 with at least 2.0 in each, and a 2.0 average in all mathematics courses;
  • PHY 183; CSE 231 Introduction to Programming I for Computer Science; EGR 100 Introduction to Engineering Design;
  • CEM 141 or 151, which Computer Science majors are not required to complete;
  • a combo GPA of 3.0 for Computer Science, the average of the cumulative GPA and the technical GPA. MSU notes that reaching 2.9 means earning mostly 3.0 or better.
• Time limit: Engineering Preference students must be admitted before reaching 56 credits (junior standing), or they must change to a major outside the college and reapply in the semester they meet the criteria. Students already in one engineering major who want another must also apply.
• Application window: the application opens on the sixth day of class, and decisions arrive by confidential message after the semester ends.
• Whether meeting the minimum criteria guarantees admission is not stated on MSU’s website.

2. The B.S. in Computer Science curriculum

These requirements apply to students admitted to the major from spring 2027; the degree requires 120 credits:

• University requirements (20 credits): writing and integrative studies in the humanities and social sciences.
• College requirements (25 credits): CSE 231, EGR 100, MTH 132, 133 and 234, and PHY 183 and 184; the marked ones are the secondary admission courses.
• Major requirements (65–67 credits):
  • bioscience: one course and one lab (4–6 credits);
  • 13 required courses (44 credits): CSE 232, 235, 260 Discrete Structures, 300 Social, Ethical and Professional Issues, 320 Computer Organization and Architecture, 325 Computer Systems, 331 Algorithms and Data Structures, 335 and 336 Software Engineering, 345 Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence, 380 Data Management and the Cloud, 498 Collaborative Design, and STT 351 Probability and Statistics; at least 2.0 is required in each of CSE 300 to 380;
  • one linear algebra course (MTH 314 or 317H);
  • five 400-level electives (15 credits), such as machine learning, operating systems, parallel programming, networks, security, autonomous vehicles, AI agents, compilers, computability, graphics, human-computer interaction and databases.
• Five optional concentrations: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Systems, Cybersecurity, Multimedia and Graphics, and Theory. They are not required, students may choose at most one, completion is noted on the transcript, and a concentration may take more than 120 credits.
• First year: all incoming engineering students take EGR 100, a team-based design course.

3. Dates and admission criteria

• The fall 2027 first-year application is open.
• Early action (non-binding): submit the application and all materials by 1 November and select early action for an initial decision by 15 January and maximum scholarship consideration.
• Regular decision: 1 April (priority 1 February). Complete applications by 1 February are guaranteed an initial decision by 31 March; those received between 1 February and 1 April are reviewed on a rolling basis. MSU says qualified applicants have exceeded space in recent years and advises applying by 1 November.
• Accepting: accept and pay the acceptance fee by 1 May.
• Criteria: admission is competitive but MSU states there are no minimum requirements. It considers high school performance, curriculum strength, recent trends, English proficiency (for non-US citizens or residents whose first language is not English), and leadership, talents, conduct and diversity of experience. The middle 50% high school GPA of enrolled fall 2026 first-years was 3.5–4.0.
• Essay: one essay of 250–650 words from MSU’s prompts.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: international applicants may apply without SAT or ACT scores and choose on the application whether scores are considered; test-optional applicants are still considered for scholarships. MSU uses the highest total or composite and does not combine subscores across sittings. International students without SAT or ACT scores need another English proficiency score.
• English minimums for regular admission:
  • TOEFL iBT: 79 with no subscore below 17 if taken before 21 January 2026; 4 with no section below 4 (3.5 allowed for speaking) from 21 January 2026;
  • IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 110; PTE 53 (subscores at least 48);
  • SAT EBRW 510 with a composite of 1110 or higher, or ACT English 18 with a composite of 23 or higher; AP English Language 4 or higher; AS- or A-level English B or higher (official results from the board or school are required).
• Provisional admission is possible with scores such as TOEFL 60–78 (old scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95–105.
• Exemptions: three consecutive years of full-time US high school from grade 9 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and no English learner classes. The page lists no separate exemption for Canadian high school students.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Transcripts: current students send official transcripts for grades 10–12 (completed and in-progress courses) in Chinese and English plus an official study certificate; graduates send the final transcript and diploma in Chinese and English.
• Gaokao: MSU publishes no Gaokao policy or score requirement.
• A-levels, IB and AP: send official external exam results. Strong AP, IB and A-level scores may earn course waivers or credit; scores must come directly from the testing agency.

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

• MSU lists transcript requirements by country, and the list read for this guide has no separate entry for Canada; BC grade requirements are not published, so check with the admissions office. The general rule is official grade 9–12 transcripts sent directly by the school.
• Non-US citizens or residents whose first language is not English must submit English proficiency.

7. Transfer students

• How: transfer applicants use only the MSU application, with no early or regular rounds; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, decisions take about 8–12 weeks after materials arrive, and MSU recommends applying at least six months ahead. The international transfer application fee is US$75.
• Dates: the fall 2026 transfer application closed on 1 May 2026; the fall 2027 transfer application opened on 1 August 2026, with no closing date shown on the page; the spring 2027 application opened on 1 June 2026. International transfers cannot start in summer.
• Choosing a major: students with 42 or more credits must select a major; applicants to restricted majors must list two alternates.
• Engineering transfers: most decisions are made in late January and February, with priority to early applicants. Depending on credits, prerequisites may include equivalents of WRA 101, CSE 231, MTH 132, 133 and 234, and PHY 183 and 184 (Computer Science majors are exempt from chemistry). Transfers with junior standing who enter MSU outside engineering must complete at least 12 MSU credits and are then reviewed under the internal criteria.
• Scholarships: international transfer applicants are not eligible for MSU scholarships.

8. Costs and aid

• Estimated 2025-26 cost for international first-years (US$): tuition 44,300, fees and taxes 1,958, food and housing 13,443, books 1,420, personal 3,930, medical 3,054, travel 2,620, total 70,725. MSU finalizes the next year’s costs each July; the page has not yet been updated for 2026-27.
• Whether Computer Science or Engineering carries extra charges is not stated on the cost page; MSU’s tuition calculator estimates costs by program.
• Aid: in 2024-25, 59% of international first-years received gift aid averaging US$14,084, and the average international tuition, food and housing cost after aid was about US$45,617. The specific international scholarships were not readable on the page used for this guide.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 November and select early action; list computer science as your intended major
• Send Grade 10–12 transcripts in Chinese and English with a study certificate; IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79 (new scale 4) or Duolingo 110
• After enrolling, complete the secondary admission courses (calculus, physics, CSE 231 and EGR 100) with a combo GPA of 3.0 and apply to Engineering before reaching 56 credits

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

• Same dates; confirm BC requirements with the admissions office; prepare English scores if English is not your first language

Transfer students:

• Apply at least six months ahead on the MSU application, with equivalents of calculus, physics and programming completed
• International transfers receive no MSU scholarships, so prepare proof of funds

Sources: Michigan State University, Computer Science and Engineering programs; B.S. in Computer Science; College of Engineering undergraduate admissions (secondary admission); First-Year Engineering CoRe; International admission criteria; International dates and deadlines; English proficiency; Test-optional policy; Transcript requirements; Advanced credits; International transfer applicants; Cost and aid; International scholarships. Costs are 2025-26 rates; later figures are not yet on that page. Check MSU’s website for the latest.