How to Apply to Computer Science at UMass Lowell: The Four Options and Curriculum of the B.S. in Computer Science at the Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell), undergraduate computer science is offered by the Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences in the Kennedy College of Sciences, leading to a B.S. in Computer Science. Here is what you need to know, based on UMass Lowell’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. The degree and curriculum

• Four options: General, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Bio-Cheminformatics. The school also offers a B.S. in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; this guide covers Computer Science only.
• Credits: the four-year degree pathways require at least 120 credits; the Bio-Cheminformatics option requires 121.
• Main courses (General option pathway, for students entering fall 2020 and beyond): Computing I–IV, Assembly Language Programming, Logic Design, Discrete Structures I and II, Probability & Statistics I, Foundations of Computer Science, Computer Architecture, Organization of Programming Languages, Operating Systems and Analysis of Algorithms, with two project courses and CS electives in the senior year.
• Mathematics and science: Calculus I and II in the first year, with your starting math course set by your ALEKS placement score and/or AP courses. You also need at least 12 credits of natural science (the faculty recommends three 4-credit courses with labs) and 6 credits of technical electives.
• Internships and Bachelor's-to-Master's: the department lists internships and co-ops with regional and national partners. UMass Lowell has a Bachelor's-to-Master's program; this guide has not checked its conditions for computer science.

2. Admission and admitted profile

• Separate thresholds: the pages read do not say whether computer science has its own cap or cut-off, or how current students change into it. This is not published; ask Admissions or the Miner School.
• Admitted profile (fall 2026 first-year class, university-wide): average GPA 3.795, average SAT 1316, average ACT 27; 69% applied without test scores.
• Standards: first-year applicants are evaluated against standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the university; applicants who do not meet them but seem a good match are reviewed individually.

3. High school course requirements

• English 4; mathematics 4 (algebra I and II and geometry or trigonometry, or comparable), including math in the final year; science 3, all with labs; social sciences 2; one foreign language 2; electives 2.
• UMass Lowell strongly recommends four years of science for students interested in math, science or engineering.

4. How and when to apply

• Application: international first-year and transfer applicants use the UMass Lowell Application or the Common Application; the fee is $70.
• Materials: official secondary school records including leaving examination results (sent directly by the school or Ministry of Education, with professional notarized translations); SAT or ACT scores, or the No Test option; one essay (250–650 words); one letter of recommendation; English test results.
• U.S. first-year deadlines: Early Action I November 5, Early Action II January 15, Regular Decision February 15. The first-year page says “Apply for Spring or Fall 2027”; the deadline page does not state a year.
• International first-year deadlines: fall July 25. For spring, the two pages differ: the international undergraduate page says December 1 and the deadlines page says December 12, so aim for the earlier date.
• I-20 deadlines (applicants outside the U.S., who must be admitted before then): fall August 2, spring December 15. UMass Lowell advises undergraduates to start at least 12 months before enrollment.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the international page asks for secondary records and leaving examination results but gives no Gaokao score requirement. This is not published; check with Admissions.
• English minimums: Duolingo 110, IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, PTE 61 for first-year (56 for transfer), LanguageCert Academic 70–74, ASC English level 6.
• English waivers: your school verifies in writing that instruction is in English; you are in an IB curriculum; you attend an American school; or you are in a Cambridge International curriculum (IGCSE/O-Level and A-level).
• A-level, IB and AP: Cambridge A-level students may waive English tests. IB Higher Level exams and qualifying AP scores can earn credit, up to 30 credits from external exams. No A-level or IB admission scores are published.

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

• English: citizens of Canada (except Quebec) do not need an English test.
• Grades: no grade requirements are published for Canadian or BC curricula. Prepare to the course requirements above and check with Admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: international transfer fall July 25. For spring, the international undergraduate page says January 7 and the deadlines page says December 12.
• Materials: official transcripts from all institutions. International transcripts need a WES course-by-course evaluation, and course descriptions (translated and notarized) are required for all coursework. If you have fewer than 24 college credits, you also send your high school transcript.
• English: completing College Writing I and II in a U.S. college (C- or better in each) meets the English requirement.
• Credit: each department decides on transfer credit, and credit is not guaranteed.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 estimate for international students: tuition $36,610, mandatory fees $5,467 (activity, technology, international and health insurance fees), housing $11,402 and food $6,080, for a total of $59,559. These are estimates subject to change by the Board of Trustees.
• Scholarships: new undergraduate merit scholarships are decided at admission with no separate application, and eligible students are notified with their acceptance. International students cannot receive U.S. federal aid and should not file the FAFSA. Current students can apply for endowed scholarships by February 1 each year.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Take 4 years of math (including the final year) and 3 lab sciences; four years of science is recommended for computer science
• Prepare IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79 or Duolingo 110; IB or A-level students may be exempt
• Complete your application by July 25 for fall; SAT/ACT are optional

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

• Citizens of Canada (except Quebec) are exempt from English tests; confirm grade expectations with Admissions

Transfer students:

• Get a WES course-by-course evaluation and course descriptions; departments assess transfer credit

Sources: UMass Lowell, B.S. in Computer Science; International undergraduate requirements and deadlines; First-year applicants; Deadlines and fees; Academic requirements and admitted profile; Transfer application package; Undergraduate tuition and fees; International student scholarships. Deadline pages do not state a year, and costs are 2026-2027 estimates. Check UMass Lowell for the latest details.