How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Louisville: Admission Standards for the Speed School’s BS in Computer Science and Engineering and BA in Computer Science, Three Paid Co-op Semesters and International Scholarships, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Louisville (UofL), undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. 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 courses

• BS in Computer Science and Engineering: the catalog states it is accredited by both ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) and its Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC). The 2026-2027 catalog requires at least 124 hours: 31 general education, 35 school core, 68 major and 9 supporting (some courses count toward more than one requirement).
• Major courses: introduction to C/C++, object-oriented program design with Java, computer systems and organization, data structures, discrete structures, databases, software engineering, embedded systems, algorithms, operating systems design, automata theory, computer communications and networks, microcomputer design, Python and data analytics, introduction to machine learning and a capstone, plus 12 hours of CSE electives (artificial intelligence, deep learning, cryptography, software security, computer forensics, compilers, game design and more). Supporting courses are logic design, probability and statistics for engineers, and linear algebra for engineering.
• School core: Engineering Analysis I–III (mathematics), differential equations for engineering, engineering methods and practice, general chemistry, physics (mechanics), and English writing and public speaking. First-year students start in Engineering Fundamentals, which covers mathematics, introductory engineering and graphics.
• Co-op: required for the BS, three semesters in total between the sophomore and senior years (CSE 289, 389, 489), 1 credit each. To qualify you must be admitted into a major department, be in good standing (GPA 2.25 or higher) and first take a 0-credit co-op seminar.
• Graduation: a university GPA of at least 2.25 and at least 2.25 in all courses used for the degree.
• BA in Computer Science: also in the Speed School, focused on software and applications in other fields, with no required hardware courses. It is 121 hours; the page breaks this down as 31 general education, 15 Speed School core, 57 computer science and 30 in another area of study (which can form a minor), while the same page’s figures panel says 60 hours of computer science. Tracks are Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Data Science, with two required internships (CSE 299, CSE 399) and a capstone (CSE 496); GPA 2.25 and 52 hours at the 300 level or above.

2. Admission

• Choose a major when applying: all international applicants must specify an intended major on the application.
• Engineering freshman admission (program-specific criteria page): automatic admission with weighted GPA and test scores has two tiers: GPA 3.0 with SAT 1200 (or ACT 25) and SAT Math 590 (or ACT Math 25); or GPA 3.5 with SAT 1160 (or ACT 24) and SAT Math 580 (or ACT Math 24).
• Without test scores: the program-specific criteria page requires an unweighted GPA of 3.5, plus dual-credit College Algebra or higher (completed or in progress, with all As and Bs in prior math) or completed AP/IB Pre-Calculus or Calculus (score of 3 or higher), and completion of or enrollment in high school calculus or pre-calculus and chemistry. High school chemistry is not required for the BA in Computer Science.
• Pages differ: the catalog’s BS page and the department’s BA page give the second tier as SAT Math 570 (the admissions page says 580), and give the test-free route as a high school GPA of 3.0 with a comprehensive transcript evaluation and a resume (the admissions page says unweighted 3.5 plus the math conditions above). Both are listed here; confirm with admissions.
• If your test score falls short: Engineering applicants who meet the GPA but not the test score can show readiness through the Accuplacer.
• High school courses: the catalog says that in addition to the Kentucky Pre-College Curriculum, the Speed School requires high school calculus or pre-calculus, and chemistry.
• Changing major: the pages we read do not state the conditions for moving into the Speed School from another UofL college; contact Speed School admissions (speedao@louisville.edu).

3. Dates and materials

• Application: UofL’s Take Flight Application or the Common App; non-refundable fee USD 30. The freshman page says no essays or recommendation letters are required.
• Dates: the freshman page says the 2027 application is open with a priority deadline of February 15, 2027. The international page does not list a separate deadline.
• Materials: official transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended; transcripts from outside the US need a notarized, ATA-certified translation; proof of English proficiency. After admission, the International Center will ask for a passport copy and financial statement to issue the I-20.

4. English requirements

• TOEFL iBT: 79 for tests before January 2026; for tests on the new scale from January 21, 2026, 4.0 overall with at least 4.0 in each skill. TOEFL Essentials 8.5; IELTS Academic 6.5; Duolingo 105; PTE 55 (no sub-score below 53).
• Other evidence: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 490; ACT English 18; AP English Language and Composition 4; IB English Language and Literature 5.
• Exemption: two consecutive years of full-time high school in the US or at any high school where English is the primary language of instruction, with a C or higher in English, based on official transcripts only.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used; contact international admissions (intladm@louisville.edu).
• Transcripts: official transcripts with a notarized, ATA-certified English translation.
• A-Level: the website does not give A-Level admission requirements.
• IB: IB English Language and Literature 5 or higher counts as English proof; for test-free Engineering applicants, completed IB Pre-Calculus or Calculus (score of 3 or higher) meets the math condition.
• AP: AP English Language and Composition 4 counts as English proof; AP Pre-Calculus or Calculus 3 or higher meets the math condition for test-free applicants.

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

• The website does not list exempt countries; the exemption is two consecutive years of full-time study at a high school where English is the primary language of instruction, with a C or higher in English. Confirm with admissions that your school qualifies.
• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; applications are reviewed against the GPA and test-score standards above.

7. Transfer students

• Into the Engineering BS: with fewer than 12 transferable hours you are reviewed like a freshman and also need a 2.8 college GPA; with 12–23 hours, a 2.8 college GPA (including UofL), ACT Reading 20 or completion of ENGL 101, and B-minus or better in Pre-Calculus (MATH 190/ENGR 100 or equivalent) and Intro to Chemistry (CHEM 101 or equivalent); with 24 or more hours, a 2.8 GPA and B-minus or better in Pre-Calculus and Intro to Chemistry. The catalog recommends completing Physics I before transferring.
• Into the BA in Computer Science: the same hour bands and 2.8 GPA, with B-minus or better in College Algebra (MATH 111 or equivalent) instead.
• Foreign college transcripts: a course-by-course evaluation is required; WES or ECE are recommended, and any NACES member is accepted.
• Credit: Engineering accepts transferred courses with a D or higher; at least 25% of the degree hours, and 30 of the last 36 hours, must be completed at UofL.

8. Costs and scholarships

• International students, 2026-2027 (on campus): tuition and fees USD 29,960, international student fees USD 150, mandatory health insurance USD 3,290 and nine months of living expenses USD 13,250, for a total of USD 46,650; books about USD 980 extra.
• Engineering differential course fee: charged per credit hour on most Speed School courses, USD 40 in 2026-2027 and USD 60 in 2027-2028; ENGR courses, first-year experience courses and co-op courses are exempt.
• Global Cardinal Scholarship (international freshmen): applied automatically on admission, by cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale: USD 5,000 a year for 3.25–3.49, USD 6,500 for 3.5–3.74 and USD 8,000 for 3.75 and above.
• Global Transfer Scholarship (international transfers): USD 5,000 a year for a 3.0+ college GPA, applied automatically, for up to six semesters while keeping a 2.5 GPA.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by the February 15, 2027 priority deadline and specify your intended major
• Prepare IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79 (4.0 on the new scale)
• For the BS, take calculus or pre-calculus and chemistry in high school; test-free applicants need an unweighted 3.5 GPA and the math conditions
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results can be used

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

• Confirm whether two years at an English-medium high school exempts you from English tests; prepare for the GPA and test-score tiers

Transfer students:

• A 2.8 college GPA; B-minus or better in Pre-Calculus and Intro to Chemistry for the BS, or in College Algebra for the BA

Sources: University of Louisville, BS in Computer Science and Engineering (catalog); BA in Computer Science; Speed School undergraduate admissions; Program-specific admissions criteria; First-time freshman applicants; Undergraduate international application requirements; Transferring to Speed School; Cooperative education; Engineering differential course fees; Tuition and fees; International scholarships. The catalog is for 2026-2027 and costs are for 2026-2027; check the University of Louisville website for the latest.