How to Apply to Computer Science at Oregon State University: Direct Admission to Engineering with Pre-Calculus, the Computer Systems, Cybersecurity and Specialized Options, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Oregon State University (OSU), undergraduate computer science is offered by the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) in the College of Engineering as a BA or BS in Computer Science (Honors College students can earn the honors versions). OSU runs on a quarter system. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on OSU’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Getting into the College of Engineering

• Direct admission: the catalog says that from fall 2024, applicants who show they have completed or will complete pre-calculus (or equivalent) and meet OSU admission requirements are admitted directly into an engineering degree. Ways to qualify: a C- or better in pre-calculus or calculus; being registered for or planning to take pre-calculus or calculus; or scoring 90% or higher on the free Schoolhouse.world pre-calculus certification test. The policy also applies to transfer students.
• If you do not qualify: engineering applicants who do not meet the pre-calculus requirement enter the University Exploratory Studies Program (UESP), can take the first-year engineering courses, and are guaranteed admission to Engineering after earning a C or better in MTH 112Z and declaring an engineering major.
• Extra requirements for Computer Science: the catalog pages read do not list any Computer Science requirement beyond College of Engineering admission; whether other conditions apply is not published.
• Academic standards: all technical, writing and communication courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a C or better is passing. A term or cumulative GPA below 2.5, or a completion rate below 65%, triggers the college’s warning, probation or suspension process; suspended students are moved to UESP.

2. Curriculum and options

• Total: 180 credits, including 80 option credits.
• First-year engineering core: ENGR 110 and 115 (or ENGR 310), ENGR 102 Design Engineering and Problem Solving, and ENGR 103 Engineering Computation and Algorithmic Thinking.
• Major core: MTH 231 discrete maths, MTH 251Z and 252Z calculus; CS 162 Introduction to Computer Science II, CS 261 Data Structures, CS 325 Analysis of Algorithms, CS 340 Databases, CS 361 and 362 Software Engineering, and CS 391 Social and Ethical Issues in Computer Science (or an equivalent); plus communication and writing courses.
• Three options (catalog):
  • Computer Systems: Corvallis only, ABET-accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission, covering operating systems, networks, computer architecture, translators, security and theory of computation; suited to systems software, embedded systems or graduate study;
  • Cybersecurity: Corvallis and Ecampus, including introduction to security, enterprise defence and cryptography;
  • Specialized Computer Science: Corvallis, Ecampus and OSU-Cascades; students combine computer science electives with a specialised programme in another field, approved by the curriculum committee, and may use an existing minor.
• Conflicting information: the catalog lists the three options above, while the EECS advising page’s sample plans also include an “Applied option” (Corvallis and Ecampus) and split Cybersecurity into Security Ops and Security tracks. In the catalog, “Computer Science - Applied” is a major only for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. Check with EECS advising before applying.
• High school preparation: the catalog recommends four years of maths, science and English, and says high school programming or computer applications courses should not replace other college preparatory courses.

3. Deadlines and testing (Corvallis campus, fall 2027)

• Early Action: 2 November 2026; complete applicants hear by mid-December.
• Priority deadline: 1 February 2027 for full admission consideration and the widest scholarship opportunities; later applications are considered as space and funds allow. Applicants by 1 February must send transcripts and other documents by 12 February.
• The final Ecampus deadline is 25 August 2027. Deadlines also apply to changes of term, major and campus.
• Test-optional: OSU does not require the SAT or ACT, and submitted scores are never the sole or primary reason for a decision.
• Maths: at least three years (C- or better), four encouraged; direct entry to Engineering requires the pre-calculus standard.

4. International requirements

• Academic: direct undergraduate admission needs a 3.0 high school GPA, an IB Diploma of 26, or five IGCSE subjects averaging 3.0 on the NCAA scale (including maths, English, science and two electives).
• English: TOEFL iBT 70, IELTS 6.0, PTE 48, Duolingo 100, or OSU Academic English Level 5; scores must be under two years old at the start term. SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 560, ACT English 21, IGCSE or A-Level English at C or better, IB English A Language and Literature HL 5, or AP English Language and Composition 3 also qualify.
• Pathway: applicants below direct-entry standards may be offered International Year One (IYO) with INTO OSU, with lower academic and English thresholds (for example a 2.5 GPA and IELTS 5.0 to 5.5); its credits count toward the degree.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: OSU does not say how Gaokao results are used; applicants are assessed on high school grades (GPA 3.0).
• A-level, IB and AP: an IB Diploma of 26 qualifies for direct admission; no computing-specific A-level or AP scores are published. AP and IB scores can meet subject requirements and earn credit.
• Submit official high school transcripts; OSU advises applicants educated abroad to apply early, as international review can take about two extra weeks.

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

• OSU publishes no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirement; applicants are assessed against the international 3.0 GPA standard.
• English: OSU says applicants who completed a significant amount of their education outside the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, English-speaking Canada or New Zealand may be asked for English test scores; English-speaking Canada is on that list. Students from French-speaking Canada should check with international admissions.

7. Transfer

• Who is a transfer: students with at least 24 quarter (16 semester) graded transferable credits; current high school students apply as first-years even with college credit.
• Basics: a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher and college-level maths equivalent to MTH 111z or MTH 105 with a C- or higher. From summer 2025, transfers seeking direct admission to Engineering must also be ready for calculus (MTH 251 or higher) in their first OSU term.
• International transfers: a college GPA of 2.25 to 2.49 with college maths, or 2.50 without; English of TOEFL 80 (16+ in each section), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110.
• Deadlines: for fall 2027, the priority (scholarship) deadline is 20 March 2027 and the final deadline 25 August; winter 8 December 2026 and spring 3 March 2027.
• Engineering publishes transfer guides for Oregon and Hawaii community colleges; others can use OSU’s course equivalency tools.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 non-resident undergraduate estimate (US$, three terms): tuition and fees 42,459 (15 credits a term), food and housing 18,066, books, personal and transportation 4,488; total about 65,013. Tuition varies by programme, credits and residency.
• International programme prices (2025-26): first-year undergraduate tuition and fees 41,110 for three terms, housing and meals 15,840, insurance 2,880.
• Scholarships (2025-26): the Provost’s Scholarship for Excellence is US$6,000 a year for up to four years with no separate application, for first-years with a 3.5+ GPA (or IB 30+, or A-levels of two Bs and a C) and transfers with a 3.25+ college GPA; it cannot be combined with regional awards. Regional awards are automatic by country of residence, and the regions listed do not include mainland China or Canada.
• Conflicting information: the scholarship page uses annual tuition of US$37,000, while the international programme price page lists first-year tuition and fees of US$41,110; the two use different bases.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 2 November 2026 (Early Action) or 1 February 2027 (priority) for the Corvallis campus
• A high school GPA of 3.0+ (or IB 26), with pre-calculus completed or in progress for direct entry to Engineering
• TOEFL 70, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 100; testing optional

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

• Same deadlines; see section 6 for English requirements if you studied in English-speaking Canada

Transfer students:

• Apply by 20 March 2027 for priority; GPA 2.25+, college maths completed, and ready for calculus in your first term

Sources: Oregon State University, College of Engineering: Computer Science; Catalog: Computer Science major; Computer Systems option; Cybersecurity option; Specialized Computer Science option; Catalog: College of Engineering admission and standards; EECS undergraduate advising; First-year admission requirements; Admission deadlines; International first-year requirements; International transfer requirements; Transfer requirements; Engineering transfer; Cost of attendance; International programme prices; International undergraduate scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 estimates; international programme prices and scholarships are for 2025-26); check Oregon State University for the latest details.