How to Apply to Computer Science at Loyola University Chicago: The B.S. in Computer Science Among Five Computing Majors, the AI Track and the 6-Credit Practicum, No Application Fee and Test-Optional Admission, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Loyola University Chicago, undergraduate computer science is offered by the Department of Computer Science, listed in the academic catalog under the College of Arts and Sciences, as the B.S. in Computer Science. Here is what you need to know, based on Loyola’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 major and curriculum

• Five undergraduate majors: the department offers Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Software Engineering and Data Science. This guide covers the B.S. in Computer Science.
• B.S. in Computer Science: the department describes a balance of theoretical foundations and applied practice, including algorithms, programming languages, systems and software design; students also study machine learning, deep learning and data science. Ethics and responsible computing are required for every student.
• Artificial intelligence: there is an AI track within the major, and the department offers three AI-focused minors, including an interdisciplinary option developed with the Department of Philosophy.
• Practicum requirement: the Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Software Engineering B.S. degrees include a 6-credit practicum, which can be met through courses such as the Open Source Software Practicum, Hands-On Security and Privacy, a STEM service-learning course, an internship or independent study; these courses also meet the University Core engaged learning requirement.
• Detailed requirements: the academic catalog site returned a verification page, so credit totals and required courses were not read for this guide; see the Computer Science B.S. page in Loyola’s catalog.
• Accelerated Masters Pathway (AMP): academically successful Loyola undergraduates can begin the M.S. in Computer Science while completing the B.S., in five years; eligibility criteria are not stated on the page.
• Minors: Computer Science, Computer Crime and Forensics (with Criminal Justice), Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence.
• Getting into the major: the pages read for this guide do not say whether applications are reviewed by major or whether there are requirements for changing into computer science; ask the department or admissions.

2. Dates and materials (international applicants)

• How to apply: the Common App or Loyola’s online application, with no application fee.
• Fall entry (no entry year stated): applications open August 1, the priority deadline is December 1, and the enrollment deposit is due May 1; Loyola admits students after December 1 as long as space is available.
• Spring entry: applications open August 1, the priority deadline is November 1, and the deposit is due January 1.
• Materials: official transcripts from every high school attended (students in their final year send the previous three years), with English translations if needed; English test scores; and one letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, sent directly by the recommender.
• Optional: SAT or ACT scores (Loyola is test-optional and superscores), a resume and an essay.
• Rome Start: international students can begin at Loyola in Chicago or at the Rome campus.
• Visa: the I-20 request comes after admission, with a passport and proof of funds; these are not needed for the admission decision.

3. English requirements (international applicants)

• Minimums: TOEFL 4.5 (the page says for tests taken after January 1, 2026; 79 before that date), IELTS 6.5, PTE 53 or Duolingo 110.
• No waivers by country or language of instruction: Loyola says it does not waive English proficiency based on country of origin or medium of instruction; students in AP or IB classes can have their transcripts reviewed for a possible waiver, and SAT or ACT scores can also be used as proof of English proficiency.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: Loyola does not say how Gaokao results are used or what score is needed; email internationaladmission@luc.edu.
• High school record: submit three years of high school transcripts (Senior 3 students send the previous three years), with English translations.
• A-levels, IB and AP: results can be submitted for credit in the summer after admission, and AP or IB students can ask for an English waiver review. Score requirements and credit rules were not checked for this guide.

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

• English: Loyola does not waive English by country, so Canadian students also need English scores as in section 3, SAT or ACT scores, or an AP/IB waiver review.
• Admission: no Canadian or BC requirements are given on the pages read for this guide.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: June 1 is the fall priority deadline for scholarship consideration and December 1 for spring; Loyola admits students afterwards as space allows.
• Materials: official transcripts from all colleges attended; applicants with fewer than 12 college credits also send high school transcripts and a letter of recommendation.
• International credit: international transfer applicants submit a Course-by-Course or Catalog Match evaluation, and enrolling students must submit a Catalog Match evaluation to receive credit for courses taken abroad.
• English: international transfer applicants may be asked for TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, PTE 53, Duolingo 110, SAT or ACT scores, or English Composition I and II at a U.S. institution with a B or higher.
• Computer science: the 3.0 GPA and prerequisite requirements on the transfer page are for engineering; whether computer science has additional transfer requirements is not published.

7. Costs and scholarships

• 2026–27: tuition $56,930, average room and board $18,572 and estimated fees $1,580, for an estimated $77,082 in direct expenses (excluding transportation, books and personal costs).
• Scholarships: applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, which the first-year and scholarship pages put at $20,000 to $34,000 a year, announced in the acceptance letter; scholarships needing separate applications are posted in the student portal from early January. The international page says applicants are considered automatically but gives no separate amount for international students.
• For reference: the 2025 first-year class received an average aid award of $37,247, and 99% received financial assistance (all first-year students, not shown separately for international students).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by December 1 for fall (no application fee), and aim to finish before the priority deadline for scholarship consideration
• TOEFL 4.5 (new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110; AP or IB students can ask for a waiver review
• Three years of transcripts with translations and one teacher recommendation; tests and essays are optional

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

• Submit English scores or SAT/ACT scores; apply by December 1

Transfer students:

• Apply by June 1 for fall; get a Course-by-Course or Catalog Match evaluation for courses abroad
• With fewer than 12 college credits, add high school transcripts and a recommendation

Sources: Loyola University Chicago, Computer Science majors; Computer Science (BS); Undergraduate practicum requirement; Accelerated Masters Pathway; Minors; International students; First-year students; Transfer students; Tuition and fees; Scholarships and financial aid. The academic catalog (Computer Science BS) could not be read for this guide, the deadline pages do not state an entry year, and costs are for 2026–27. Check Loyola’s website for the latest.