How to Apply to Computer Science at Drexel University: Choose Computer Science on the Application, Four Years of High School Math Including Calculus, the Co-op BSCS, and Requirements and Timelines for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Drexel University in Philadelphia runs on a quarter system and is known for its co-op program. Undergraduate computer science is taught by the School of Computer and Information Sciences (SCIS) in the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing, and the degree is the BS in Computer Science (BSCS). Here is what you need to know, based on Drexel’s official information, 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. Getting into Computer Science as a first-year

• Choose your major on the application: on the Common App or Coalition App (Scoir), Drexel encourages you to choose two different programs as your first and second choice, and you can indicate interest in First-Year Exploratory Studies (undeclared). The catalog says admission requirements for the BSCS are the same as Drexel’s admission requirements; there is no separate threshold.
• High school prerequisites: Computer Science and Software Engineering require four years of mathematics (algebra I and II, geometry/trigonometry, and calculus) and two years of lab science (biology, chemistry or physics). Other computing and information programs need three years of math and one year of lab science.
• Other bachelor’s degrees in the school: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Computing & Security Technology, Data Science, Economics and Data Science, Information, and Software Engineering. This guide covers Computer Science only.
• No programming background required: Drexel does not list programming experience as an admission requirement.
• Changing major later: Drexel does not publish the conditions for moving into Computer Science from another major; ask SCIS (cciinfo@drexel.edu) or admissions (enroll@drexel.edu).

2. Curriculum and co-op

• Credits: at least 120.
• Core: Computer Science I and II (CS 1030, 1031), Data Structures, Theory of Computation, Systems Architecture, Systems Foundations, and Modern Software Production (SE 3210).
• Electives: two from Operating Systems, Computer Networks, Programming Language Concepts, Concurrent Programming, Computer Graphics, Principles of Artificial Intelligence, Software Security, and Software Verification and Validation; plus four more CS or SE courses at the 3000–4999 level, one of which may come from another area such as Information Science with department approval.
• Mathematics: Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra I, Discrete Mathematics, and Probability and Statistics I.
• Science: at least 6 credits from biology, chemistry, physics, or earth and environmental science.
• College requirements: the first-year design course CIS 1010 and the two-quarter senior project CIS 4998 and 4999. The program page describes the senior project as a year-long team project proposed by a corporate sponsor, with industry mentors. There are also free electives and three writing-intensive courses (two in the major).
• Co-op: three, two, one or no co-op. Drexel co-op alternates classroom study with full-time work, for 6 to 18 months of experience in total; the school page mentions more than 1,700 employers in 35 states and 45 international locations.
• Other: you can add a minor, and SCIS hosts the Codefest hackathon every spring.

3. First-year deadlines and materials

• Early Decision (binding): 15 November, decisions mid-December; CSS Profile by 25 November (for institutional need-based aid); deposit by 15 January.
• Early Action: 15 November, decisions mid-December; CSS Profile by 25 November; deposit by 1 May.
• Regular Decision: 15 January, decisions by 1 April; CSS Profile by 1 February.
• Winter entry: 1 October, decisions by 1 November.
• The deadlines page does not show a year, so check again before you submit.
• Materials: USD 65 fee; 250–650-word essay; official high school transcript; one counselor recommendation.
• Testing (Drexel’s pages differ): one sentence on the first-year instructions page says Drexel “requires all first-year applicants to submit standardized test scores” with flexibility in which tests; the same page and the testing policy page describe No Harm Test-Optional admission, where scores are not required, never count against you, and opting out does not affect merit scholarships. Both statements are on the site, so confirm with admissions.
• Proof of funds: international students submit bank statements, scholarship letters or similar documents for the I-20.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Transcripts: current students send junior school year 3 and senior school years 1 and 2; graduates also send final senior year 3 results and the graduation certificate, with certified English translations.
• Gaokao: Drexel does not say whether or how the Gaokao is used. Email enroll@drexel.edu to confirm.
• A-levels: current students send GCSE or IGCSE results and AS results or predicted A-level grades; graduates send official GCSE/IGCSE and AS results. No A-level grade requirement for Computer Science is published.
• IB: send grade 9–11 transcripts and then IB exam results. This guide has not checked which computer science courses AP or other exam credit can replace.
• Mathematics: you must meet the four-year math requirement including calculus in section 1.
• English: non-native speakers without three full years at an English-medium high school must submit TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or Cambridge C1/C2. No minimum scores are published.
• Exemptions: three full years at an English-medium high school, or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 600+ or ACT English 27+.

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

• Transcripts: current students send grades 9–11; graduates send final grades 9–12 and proof of graduation.
• Drexel does not publish grade requirements for Canadian curricula or say which BC courses meet the “four years of math including calculus” requirement; confirm with admissions.
• Three full years at an English-medium high school exempts you from English testing.

6. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 tuition: four- and five-year programs cost USD 21,026 tuition plus a USD 790 general fee per quarter (the fee is also billed during co-op), plus a USD 300 first-year program fee. First-year students attend fall, winter and spring quarters.
• International estimate: for three full-time quarters, tuition and fees USD 65,798, living expenses USD 19,398 and other costs USD 3,200, about USD 88,396 in total. 2027-28 costs have not been published.
• Aid: international students must submit the CSS Profile by the deadline to be considered for need-based institutional aid.

7. Transfer students

• Prerequisite: Computer Science and Software Engineering require college Calculus I (completed or in progress); an AP Calculus score of 4 or 5 from the past five years may substitute.
• Deadlines: only 2026-27 transfer dates are published. Fall priority deadline 15 April, then rolling; international applicants living outside the US are encouraged to apply and confirm by 14 June for the I-20, with 15 July the last date. Winter entry 15 October (I-20 by 1 November recommended); spring entry 15 January (I-20 by 24 January recommended). Dates for fall 2027 have not been published.
• Housing: on-campus housing is not guaranteed for transfer students.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 15 November (ED or EA) or 15 January (RD) with Computer Science as your first choice
• Four years of high school math including calculus, and two years of lab science
• Send junior year 3 to senior year 3 transcripts and an English score; prepare proof of funds; submit the CSS Profile on time if you need aid

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

• Send grade 9–12 transcripts and confirm your math courses with admissions; three years at an English-medium school exempts you from English testing

Transfer students:

• Complete college Calculus I (or AP Calculus 4+); watch for fall 2027 transfer dates (last year’s priority deadline was 15 April)

Sources: Drexel University, BS in Computer Science; 2027-2028 Catalog: Computer Science BSCS; Undergraduate co-op; First-year instructions; First-year deadlines; Admission prerequisites; Standardized testing policies; International transcript requirements; Transfer deadlines; Transfer prerequisites; Undergraduate tuition; International cost estimates. Degree requirements follow the 2027-2028 catalog and costs are 2026-27 rates; the first-year deadlines page shows no year and transfer dates are for 2026-27. Check Drexel for the latest details.