How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Denver: The BS and BA in Computer Science at the Ritchie School, Two Concentrations and Quarter Credits, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Denver (DU), undergraduate computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, as a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer Science. Here is what you need to know, based on DU’s website and the 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin, 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. Programs and curriculum (2026-2027 Bulletin)

• Quarter system: DU’s academic year has fall, winter and spring quarters, and credits are quarter credits.
• Majors in the department: the Bulletin lists majors in computer science, game development and applied computing; the BS in Computer Science can include a concentration in artificial intelligence or cybersecurity.
• BS: 183 credits for the degree, including 59 credits of COMP courses:
  • 35 core credits: Introduction to Computer Science I–III (COMP 1201–1203, taken in parallel with Introduction to Programming I–II and Introduction to Data Structures & Algorithms I, COMP 1351–1353), Discrete Structures (COMP 2300), Data Structures & Algorithms II (COMP 2370), Systems I and II (COMP 2361, 2362) and Object-Oriented Software Development (COMP 2381);
  • 24 breadth credits of 3000-level COMP courses, with at least one course in each of ethics/DEIA, systems, theory and programming languages; Internship/Co-Op (COMP 3904) does not count.
  A 12-credit math cognate at Calculus I (MATH 1951) or higher is also required and may count toward a math minor.
• AI concentration (20 credits): linear algebra and probability, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Foundations of Machine Learning, plus three electives such as machine learning, computer vision, deep learning and machine learning operations.
• Cybersecurity concentration (20 credits): computer networking, computer security, network security and ethical hacking, plus one of secure software engineering, digital forensics, or human-centered data security and privacy.
• BA: the same 59 COMP credits with the same core and breadth requirements, but without the math cognate.

2. Getting into the major

• Whether you can apply directly to computer science, and how to declare or change into it after enrolling, could not be checked: the Ritchie School website (ritchieschool.du.edu) returned 403 to this guide, and the admissions pages do not say. Ask the department (info@cs.du.edu) or admissions.
• Admissions says there are no specific subject requirements but recommends 4 years of English, 3–4 of mathematics, 3–4 of science (at least 2 with labs), 3–4 of social studies and 3–4 of foreign language.

3. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• Deadlines: 1 November for Early Decision I and Early Action; 15 January for Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Early Decision is binding. The page does not state an entry year.
• Application: the Common Application, with an essay; the fee is $65.
• Tests: optional; submitted scores are considered for admission and merit scholarships, and DU superscores.
• Recommendation: one letter from a teacher or counselor, ideally with class rank; additional letters are optional.
• Interview: optional, through Vericant or InitialView after submitting a qualifying English score.
• Admitted student profile (fall 2025): average GPA 3.76, middle 50% 3.58–4.0 weighted and 3.4–3.9 unweighted; average SAT 1310 (middle 50% 1230–1410) and ACT 30.15 (28–33); about 67% applied test-optional. There is no minimum GPA.

4. English proficiency

• Competitive scores: TOEFL taken before 21 January 2026, 80 total with 18 in each section; on or after that date, 4 total with 4 in each section. IELTS 6.5 with no band below 5.5. Duolingo 115, with Literacy and Comprehension at least 105 and Conversation and Production at least 115. Cambridge C1 Advanced grade C or higher.
• All scores must come from one sitting; superscores (including TOEFL MyBest) are not accepted. Scores are valid for two years.
• Possible exemptions (not guaranteed): completing the final three years and graduating from an English-medium high school; SAT EBRW 600 or higher; ACT English 25 or higher.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Documents: current students send transcripts for grades 10–11; graduates send grades 10–12 and the graduation certificate. Transcripts in another language need certified English translations.
• Gaokao: DU does not say how Gaokao results are used.
• DU reviews grades in the context of your home country’s system; English is shown through IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo or Cambridge.

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

• Documents: BC students still in school send transcripts for grades 10–11; graduates send grades 10–12 and Ministry of Education results. Alberta, Manitoba and other provinces are the same.
• English: completing the final three years at an English-medium high school may qualify you for an exemption (not guaranteed).
• No BC score requirements are published.

7. Transfer students

• Intake: about 200 transfer students a year, including international students, applying through the Transfer Common App.
• Deadlines: rolling review with set dates for each quarter: fall, 1 April priority and 1 June final (later applications as space allows); winter, 17 October; spring, 1 February (limited space); summer, 1 May.
• GPA: around 3.0 (B average) or better is the usual expectation and is also competitive for merit scholarships.
• Credit: courses must reasonably match DU courses, with a C- (1.7) or better; semester hours are converted to quarter hours. Applicants with fewer than 30 semester (45 quarter) credits also send high school transcripts.
• English: 30 semester credits at an English-medium university, or a C or better in English 121 and 122, exempts you from testing.
• Whether there are extra conditions for entering computer science is not published.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 international estimate (three quarters): tuition $63,720, student fees $1,584, housing $11,283, food $7,532 and health insurance $3,998, for direct costs of $88,117; with books, personal and transportation costs, the total is about $91,526.
• Aid: there is no need-based aid for international students, and DU is need-aware.
• Merit scholarships: automatic consideration with no extra application; $15,000–$40,000 a year for first-year students and $12,000–$25,000 for transfers, mostly renewable, and DU notes that almost none cover the full cost. Sending SAT/ACT scores and class rank can help.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the Common App by 1 November (ED I/EA) or 15 January (ED II/RD); the fee is $65
• Send transcripts with certified translations and one recommendation; testing is optional
• English: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 5.5), TOEFL 4 (new scale) or Duolingo 115, in one sitting; optional interview
• Ask the department whether you can apply directly to computer science

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

• Send grades 10–12 transcripts (to grade 11 if still in school) and provincial results; three final years in English may qualify you for an exemption

Transfer students:

• Fall: 1 April priority, 1 June final; a GPA around 3.0; C- or better for transfer credit

Sources: University of Denver, 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin: Computer Science; International first-year applicants; Admission standards and English proficiency; Academic credentials by country; International tuition and scholarships; International transfer applicants; Transfer admission standards. The deadline page does not state an entry year; costs are 2026-2027 estimates. Check DU’s website for the latest.