How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Missouri: Direct Entry to the College of Engineering BS in Computer Science with the General Admission Standard, the 120-Credit Curriculum and Accelerated BS/MS, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Missouri (Mizzou), undergraduate computer science is the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in the David L. Payne Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on Mizzou’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 students), and transfer students.

1. Getting into the major

• The general admission standard is enough: the College of Engineering catalog says students pursuing its BS degrees (computer science is listed) must meet MU’s general admission standard to be admitted.
• Engineering’s expected coursework: 17 units of approved high school coursework (grades 9–12), including 4 in English, 4 in mathematics and 3 in laboratory science; mathematics should include 2 units of algebra, 1 of plane and solid geometry and half a unit of trigonometry, with additional senior mathematics recommended.
• International core coursework differs: the international requirements page lists 13 units (mathematics 4, algebra or higher; science 3; social studies 3; languages 2; fine arts 1). The two apply to different audiences; both are given here, and engineering applicants are advised to prepare for the Engineering expectation.
• Grades once enrolled: computer science core courses that are prerequisites for other core courses need a C or better; other core courses need a C- or better. Graduation requires a 2.0 overall GPA and a 2.0 GPA in CS or IT courses.

2. Curriculum (2026-27 catalog)

• Total: 120 credits, including university general education.
• Computer science core (42 credits): Introduction to Computer Science (or Introduction to Engineering), Foundations of Engineering, Algorithm Design and Programming I and II, Introduction to Logic Systems, Advanced Algorithm Design, Computer Organization and Assembly Language, Object Oriented Programming, Database Applications and Information Systems, Design and Analysis of Algorithms I, Software Engineering I, Operating Systems I, Computer Networks I, and the two-semester senior capstone.
• Computer science electives (24 credits): at least 18 credits above 4000, one of which must be Theory of Computation I or Principles of Programming Languages; options include big data analytics, cryptography, cloud computing, neural models and machine learning, computer graphics, game development and malware analysis, with up to 3 credits of internship.
• Mathematics (19 credits): the three-semester calculus sequence plus discrete mathematics and mathematical statistics.
• Science (minimum 7 credits): one two-semester sequence, at least one course with a lab, such as physics.
• Technical electives (6 credits) with advisor approval.
• Accelerated BS to MS: students with at least 90 credit hours and a 3.0 cumulative GPA can finish both degrees within five years; up to 15 graduate hours count toward both, and the MS requires 30 graduate hours in total.
• Outcomes: the College of Engineering reports an average starting salary of USD 80,000 for 2024 computer science graduates.

3. International dates and materials

• No deadline: Mizzou says there are no application deadlines for international applicants and recommends applying 6–12 months before you start. Decisions are released from 1 October, sometimes within two weeks of a complete file.
• Fee: USD 65.
• Scholarship deadline: fall applicants must apply and submit all materials by 1 December to be considered; offers are sent by late January.
• Transcripts: from every high school (grades 9–12 or equivalent) and college attended, with originals and English translations where needed. Decisions can often be made on unofficial transcripts; an official final transcript is required after admission.
• Tests: SAT/ACT are not required, but they are preferred for international freshman scholarships.
• Grades (core coursework, one of): GPA 2.5+ on a US 4.0 scale, 3.5+ on a 5.0 scale, an average of 80+ on a 100-point scale, 8+ on a 10-point scale, or IGCSE C or higher in five or more subjects and three A-levels at C or higher; course difficulty and grade distribution are also considered.

4. English requirements (College of Engineering)

• IELTS Academic 6.5 (no section below 6), TOEFL iBT 4.5 (no section below 4.0) on the new scale or 79 (17 sections) on the old scale, Duolingo 110 (100 sections), PTE 59, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180.
• Alternatives: IGCSE English (First Language) at B or higher, or IB English A: Language and Literature (SL or HL) at 5 or higher.
• Not accepted: TOEFL Essentials and IELTS Online.
• Possible exemption for applicants educated in English-speaking countries, including Canada (except Quebec), the UK and Singapore; Mizzou may still require proof from any applicant.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Grades: assessed against an average of 80+ on a 100-point scale or a converted 2.5+ US GPA, with the core coursework completed.
• Gaokao: Mizzou does not mention the Gaokao; how it is used is not published, so check with International Admissions (inter@missouri.edu).
• A-levels: five IGCSE subjects at C or higher plus three A-levels at C or higher meet the grade requirement, and A-level exams at C or higher earn credit.
• IB and AP can earn credit; see Mizzou’s credit pages.
• English: submit a score such as IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 4.5 (new scale).

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

• Grades: a specific BC requirement is not published; the general standards (an average of 80+ or a converted 2.5 GPA) apply.
• English: applicants educated in Canada (except Quebec) may not need English scores.
• Tests: SAT/ACT are not required but are preferred for international scholarships.

7. Transfer students

• Mizzou transfer admission: a 2.5 GPA on college-level credits and a C- or better in a transferable mathematics course (intermediate algebra or higher, or statistics) or English composition; with fewer than 24 credits you must also meet freshman requirements.
• Into Engineering: students who complete a current articulation agreement are admitted to their program; others are admitted at program discretion. Students with 60 or fewer credits who meet general but not program requirements start as Exploring students in the Discovery Center. Transfer students earning an Engineering BS must complete at least 30 upper-level credits on a UM System campus, at least 21 of them upper-level engineering courses.
• International transfer students can apply at any time, ideally six months to a year ahead, and are considered automatically for transfer scholarships: for 2027-28, USD 20,000 a year with a 3.90 GPA and 24+ transferable credits, or USD 10,000 with a 3.00 GPA.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 international estimate: tuition and fees USD 39,688–43,816 a year (three tiers by program; the computer science tier is not published), books USD 918, housing and food USD 12,734, personal expenses USD 3,466, medical insurance USD 2,818; the 12-month total including summer housing is USD 62,124–66,252, plus a one-time USD 300 enrolment fee.
• International freshman scholarships (2027-28): the International Honors Scholarship of USD 20,000 a year and the International Merit Scholarship of USD 10,000 a year, reviewed holistically with SAT/ACT preferred; they apply only to the non-resident portion of tuition and generally cannot be combined.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For scholarships, apply and submit all materials by 1 December 2026; fee USD 65
• Four years of mathematics (including trigonometry) and laboratory science, with an average of 80+
• IELTS 6.5 (6 sections) or TOEFL 4.5 (4.0 sections, new scale); SAT/ACT optional but helpful for scholarships

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

• Submit grade 9–12 transcripts; outside Quebec you may not need English scores

Transfer students:

• A 2.5+ college GPA and a C- or better in mathematics or English composition; Engineering admission is reviewed by the program

Sources: University of Missouri, BS in Computer Science, College of Engineering; 2026-27 Catalog: BS in Computer Science; Catalog: College of Engineering admission; International admission requirements; International application steps; English language requirements; International transfer students; International student scholarships; Costs; Freshman admission requirements; Dates and deadlines; Transfer admission requirements. Costs are 2026-27 estimates and scholarship amounts are for 2027-28. Check Mizzou’s website for the latest.