How to Apply to Computer Science at San Diego State University: Choosing a Major on Cal State Apply, Starting as a Pre-Major, and the 30 November and 1 April International Deadlines, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

San Diego State University (SDSU) is part of the California State University (CSU) system. Undergraduate computer science is the B.S. in Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on SDSU’s website, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. The degree and curriculum

• Accreditation: the B.S. in Computer Science is accredited by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission.
• Content: the department says the curriculum covers algorithms, data structures, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with hands-on projects and internships.
• Course plan: the department points to the catalog at catalog.sdsu.edu for requirements and the major academic plan. Our request to the catalog was blocked, so we have not checked the courses or units; look up “B.S. in Computer Science” there.

2. Cal State Apply and impaction

• Application: through the CSU’s Cal State Apply, with a nonrefundable US$70 fee.
• Choosing a major: all majors are impacted. Besides all college-prep coursework, SDSU looks at performance and units in courses most relevant to your intended major; for Computer Science and Engineering, preference goes to applicants with strong grades in science and maths. First-year applicants may choose an alternate major, considered if space is available.
• Pre-major first: admitted students are placed in the pre-major and must meet department criteria (such as a minimum GPA, prerequisite courses and units) to move into the major. The Computer Science criteria are in the my.SDSU degree evaluation and the catalog; we could not read them.
• No SAT/ACT: in line with the CSU, SDSU does not use SAT or ACT scores for admission; they may be used for maths and writing placement after admission.
• Reference: the average high school GPA of admitted students is 3.9. CSU minimum GPAs are 2.5 for California residents and graduates of California high schools, and 3.0 for non-residents and graduates of non-California high schools.

3. First-year and international first-year timeline (fall 2027)

• US first-year applicants: the application opens on 1 August 2026, with submission from 1 October to 30 November; no late applications.
• International first-year applicants: early consideration deadline 30 November (complete files hear by early spring); regular deadline 1 April, with rolling decisions. SDSU has no spring admission.
• Who is a first-year: anyone who has not taken college courses after high school graduation; anyone with college credit after graduation applies as a transfer.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Academic requirement: completion of secondary school with a US-equivalent GPA of 3.00 or higher (B or 80%). How the Gaokao is used is not published.
• Documents: the China entry asks for transcripts (成绩单) for each year (9th–12th or 10th–12th grade) and a certified copy of the graduation certificate (毕业证书) if earned, with certified English translations, in sealed envelopes.
• English (if your school’s primary language of instruction is not English), any one of: TOEFL 80 (4 for tests from 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105, PTE 58, within two years; or ACT English 22, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550, IB Higher Level English 4–7, AP English Language or Literature 3+; or the required level at SDSU’s American Language Institute (ALI).
• A-levels: the UK entry lists documents only, with no grade requirement.

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

• Students graduating outside the US are reviewed on a US-equivalent GPA of 3.00 or higher. The Canada entry asks for official transcripts in sealed envelopes from the school or ministry, in English or the original language (such as French), with certified translations if needed. No BC-specific grade requirement is published.
• If your school’s primary language of instruction is English, no English test is needed.

6. Transfer students

• Upper-division only: 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units) by the end of spring 2027 (summer 2027 does not count); no lower-division transfers.
• Golden Four: oral communication, English composition, critical thinking, and mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning, each C- or better, within at least 30 units of general education.
• Major preparation: complete all major preparation courses listed in the catalog (we have not checked the Computer Science list).
• GPA: the minimum cumulative GPA for Computer Science for fall 2027 is 2.00; space is limited and applicants above the minimum get priority.
• Pathways: Computer Science accepts the California community college Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway, which gives priority and allows a GPA within 0.1 of the requirement; it does not use TAG; the general pathway is also open.
• Dates: submit between 1 October and 30 November 2026; SDSU is not open for spring 2027 transfers.
• International coursework: a course-by-course evaluation from an approved service (such as WES or IERF) is required, and the Golden Four must be taken at a US regionally accredited institution. International students whose coursework is entirely outside the US should contact transfer admissions before applying.

7. Costs (US$)

• 2026-27 non-resident undergraduate estimate: CSU basic tuition 6,838, campus fees 2,942, non-resident tuition 14,130 (15 units per semester at 471 per unit) and an out-of-state and international student fee of 3,000, plus books, food, housing, transportation and personal costs: 53,562 living in university housing, 53,366 off campus.
• Health insurance: required for international undergraduates, about 1,866 a year, not included in the totals.
• Under the CSU’s 2024 tuition plan, tuition rises 6% a year for five years. We have not checked scholarships for international students.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit Cal State Apply from 1 October 2026, choosing Computer Science; complete your file by 30 November for an earlier decision, 1 April at the latest
• US-equivalent GPA 3.00+, with strong maths and science; IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 4 (new scale)
• Transcripts for each year and a certified graduation certificate, with English translations

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

• US-equivalent GPA 3.00+; official transcripts sent sealed by your school

Transfer students:

• 60 units, the Golden Four and all Computer Science major preparation courses, GPA 2.00+
• Use the ADT pathway if you have a California community college ADT; submit by 30 November 2026

Sources: San Diego State University, Computer Science degree programs; First-year students; International first-year students; Requirements by country; Impacted majors; Transfer students; Transfer minimum requirements; Transfer GPA requirements; Transfer pathways; International transfer students; Undergraduate non-resident cost of attendance; Cal State Apply. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs for 2026-27). Check SDSU’s website for the latest.