How to Apply to Computer Science at Kent State: Four Optional Concentrations in the BS in Computer Science, Courses and the International Global Scholarship, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Kent State University, undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Sciences and Humanities. Here is what you need to know, based on the university’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. Degrees and concentrations

• BS in Computer Science: accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission. Optional concentrations are Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, Game Programming and Robotics and Embedded Systems; you can also declare no concentration and plan your own upper-division electives. Each concentration (or the no-concentration electives) is 19 credit hours.
• Major requirements: Computer Science I (programming and problem solving), Computer Science II (data structures), discrete structures, human interface computing, databases, programming languages, operating systems, software engineering, computer organization, networks, Computer Science III (programming patterns) and algorithms; math includes Calculus I, Brief Calculus II, decision-making under uncertainty and applied linear algebra.
• Other requirements: 6–7 hours of science electives (with one lab); BS students in the College of Sciences and Humanities complete 8 hours of foreign language (Elementary I and II of one language), and students with prior study can place higher; plus Kent Core courses.
• Hours and grades: at least 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division hours; a minimum 2.000 major GPA and overall GPA; and a C or better in Computer Science I and II.
• BA in Computer Science: a liberal-arts version with 10–16 hours of foreign language. The department notes that many CS electives need a math background, so fewer are open to BA students, and advises talking to an advisor first.
• Combined bachelor’s/master’s: BS students can apply early to the MS in Computer Science and count 9 graduate credit hours toward both degrees.

2. Admission

• Kent Campus: first-year admission is selective, based on cumulative GPA, the strength of the college-prep curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be referred to one of seven regional campuses.
• International first-year: a minimum 2.5 GPA on a U.S. 4.0 scale with holistic review; students who do not meet a program’s requirements may be considered for the pre-major.
• Program criteria: the first-year requirements page lists majors with extra requirements (such as aerospace, cybersecurity and mechatronics engineering); computer science is not on the list.
• High school courses: the first-year page lists Ohio’s recommended college-prep curriculum, including 4 units of math (at least through Algebra II), 4 of English, 3 of social studies and 2 of foreign language.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are not required for first-year or transfer applicants.
• Changing into computer science: no separate entry criteria are listed; the program page says any progression requirements appear on its coursework tab. Confirm with the department (ugradinfo@cs.kent.edu).

3. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• Application: Kent State’s online application with a non-refundable USD 70 fee; out-of-state U.S. students can use the Kent State Application or the Common App with a USD 50 fee.
• Deadlines (no year stated): June 1 for fall and October 1 for spring. Late applications are accepted, but applying early leaves time for visa preparation.
• Materials: passport biographical page; secondary school certificate and transcripts (original language plus certified English translation); English scores; and financial documents only after admission, with an affidavit if you have a sponsor. Scans are accepted for review; admitted students bring final official documents to International Admissions within the first semester.

4. English requirements

• Minimums: TOEFL iBT 71 (including Home Edition; MyBest not accepted); revised paper TOEFL 18; IELTS 6.0; SAT EBRW 510; ACT English 21; or completion of Kent State ESL Center Level 8 (3.75 GPA) or ELS Level 112.
• Academically qualified students below the English minimum can be admitted conditionally and take English classes at the ESL Center first.
• Waivers: applicants primarily educated in listed countries (including Canada, except Quebec); IB English A with 5 at HL or 6 at SL; A, B or C in Cambridge O-Level, A-Level, GCSE or IGCSE English Language (First Language); or three years of full-time study at a U.S. secondary school, among others. Waiver requests go in writing to International Admissions.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used. This is not published; ask International Admissions (intladm@kent.edu).
• Records: graduation certificate and transcripts in the original language with certified English translations; country-specific documents are listed on the international transcript page.
• A-Level: A–C in Cambridge English Language (First Language) waives English testing.
• IB: IB English A with 5 at HL or 6 at SL waives English testing and may earn credit.
• AP: AP credit rules are not checked here.

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

• Students primarily educated in Canada (except Quebec) are exempt from English testing.
• Grade expectations for BC curriculum are not published; the international first-year minimum of a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale applies.

7. Transfer students

• Anyone who attended a post-secondary institution after high school applies as a transfer, with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• Applicants with fewer than 12 semester hours of college coursework (excluding credit earned in high school) also send a high school transcript.
• The transfer page lists majors with extra conditions (for example, aerospace and cybersecurity engineering need 12 hours and a 3.2 GPA); computer science is not listed separately.
• Transfer students can also receive the Global Scholarship, for a number of semesters that depends on credits transferred.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 international undergraduate: tuition USD 24,298 (12–18 credits per semester) and food and housing USD 14,360. For insurance, books and supplies, the tuition page gives USD 3,704 for a total of USD 42,362, while the international aid page (also used for I-20s) gives USD 3,935 for a total of USD 42,593; the two differ. International students also pay a USD 20 activity fee each semester, and program and course fees are extra.
• Global Scholarship: automatic on admission if you are admitted by July 1 for fall (November 1 for spring). By GPA: 3.70+ USD 12,000 a year; 3.6–3.69 USD 10,000; 3.5–3.59 USD 7,000; 3.49 and below USD 4,300; Honors College admits receive USD 15,000 plus a USD 2,000 Honors Scholarship. First-year students can hold it for up to eight semesters with continuous full-time, in-person enrollment on the Kent Campus and good academic standing.
• The university says combined scholarships can reach up to USD 68,000 over four years for an international undergraduate; international scholarships are partial and do not cover full tuition.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by June 1 for fall; to receive the Global Scholarship, be admitted by July 1
• Prepare TOEFL 71 or IELTS 6.0
• Build strong math; the major requires calculus and linear algebra
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results are used

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

• English testing is waived; a converted GPA of at least 2.5

Transfer students:

• At least a 2.0 cumulative GPA; send a high school transcript if you have fewer than 12 hours

Sources: Kent State University, BS in Computer Science; BA in Computer Science; International first-year requirements; English requirement waivers; First-year requirements; Transfer requirements; Tuition; International student aid and tuition; International scholarships. International deadlines do not state a year; costs are for 2026-2027. Check Kent State’s website for the latest.