How to Apply to Computer Science at the University of Maine: BS and BA in Computer Science, ABET Accreditation and Maine-Rate Tuition for Canadian Students, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Maine (main campus in Orono), undergraduate computer science is offered by the School of Computing and Information Science; the program page lists both the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Maine College of Engineering & Computing. 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: accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria; 120 credits, in person. The program page describes it as a comprehensive foundation for industry and graduate study.
• BA in Computer Science: also 120 credits, with more flexibility for coursework outside the major; all BA students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete an approved minor outside the major.
• Grading: all courses required by the program must be taken for a grade; pass/fail courses do not count.
• Course list: the program and school pages do not list the required courses or credit breakdown, and we could not read the catalog (catalog.umaine.edu). Check the Computer Science page in the catalog or ask the school (scis@maine.edu).
• Research: the school has labs in AI and machine learning, data science, privacy and cybersecurity, computer vision, databases and human-centered computing; the university says most routinely include undergraduates, who are often paid or co-author papers.
• The school also offers Computer Science and Business, New Media and Human-Centered Technology Design; this article covers computer science only.

2. Admission

• Holistic review: once an application is complete. First-year applicants send a high school transcript, one school recommendation and transcripts for any college work; an essay is recommended, and some programs have additional requirements.
• Testing: UMaine is test optional for all programs.
• Application fee: the application information page says it is free to apply; use the Common App or the ApplyMaine Application.
• Choosing a program: list a first and second choice, or apply as undecided within a college.
• High school courses: four units of English, three to four of math (at least Algebra I and II and geometry; some programs require advanced math), two to three of lab science, two of foreign language and two to three of social studies; computer science and fine arts are strongly recommended.
• Direct admission or later entry: the website does not say whether computer science has separate entry or change-of-major criteria. Confirm with the school (scis@maine.edu).

3. Deadlines and documents (international)

• Fall (no year stated): December 1 first-year Early Action, with complete applications considered for additional merit scholarships; March 1 regular deadline for first-year and transfer, with scholarships as available. The international admissions page gives the final international deadline as July 15 for students living outside the US and Canada and August 1 for those living in the US or Canada; the international section of the apply page gives only July 15. Later applications are reviewed on a space-available basis and most move to spring.
• Spring: November 1 regular deadline. The international admissions page gives the final international deadline as December 1 for students outside the US and Canada and December 15 for those in the US or Canada; the apply page gives only December 1.
• Fall 2027 scholarships: the scholarship pages say to submit a complete application by December 1, 2026 for maximum consideration.
• Credential evaluation: international undergraduate applicants send all secondary and post-secondary records to a NACES member for evaluation, sent directly to UMaine; first-year applicants may choose a basic or course-by-course evaluation, transfer students must choose course-by-course. IB, American high schools and universities, Canadian high schools and universities and Cambridge International schools are exempt and send transcripts or exam results instead; waivers may also be approved case by case.
• Submitting: transcripts can be uploaded by a school official through the Common App, emailed by the school to edocs@maine.edu from a verifiable address, or mailed.

4. English requirements

• Minimum scores: TOEFL iBT 79 (before January 2026) or 4.5 (after January 2026), MyBest accepted; TOEFL Essentials 8.5; IELTS 6.5; PTE 53; CEFR B2; Duolingo 110.
• Waivers: native English speakers or students whose formal education was in English (examples include Canada, except Quebec); two or more years of study in the US or Canada in a non-ESL track; a C or higher in English composition at a US institution; a transcript or school/ministry letter stating that all subjects (except languages) are taught in English; SAT Reading/Writing 550+; ACT English 24+; and others.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used. Ask international admissions (internationaladm@maine.edu).
• Standard high school records: need a NACES evaluation; documents not in English need a certified translation.
• IB: exempt from the NACES evaluation; credit is available for the IB diploma according to UMaine’s credit table.
• A-Level: Cambridge International schools are exempt from the NACES evaluation; A-Level credit rules were not checked for this article.
• AP: AP credit is available for more than 40 UMaine courses; send official scores.

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

• Maine-rate tuition: the tuition and cost pages use a “Maine and Canadian Resident” category, the same rate as Maine residents.
• Scholarships: first-year merit scholarships also have a “Maine Residents/Canadian Students” category. For fall 2027, applicants by December 1, 2026 are considered for USD 2,000–10,000 a year, and later applicants for USD 2,000–5,000, based on high school GPA and rigor, with no separate application and a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• English: students educated mainly in Canada (except Quebec) are exempt.
• Evaluation: Canadian high schools are exempt from the NACES evaluation; send transcripts.
• Deadlines: for international students living in the US or Canada, the final deadline is August 1 for fall and December 15 for spring (international admissions page).
• Score requirements for the BC curriculum are not published. Ask admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Students with at least a 2.0 cumulative college GPA are encouraged to apply; most programs require 2.0, and some science and engineering programs require 2.3–2.5 (computer science is not listed separately).
• Admissions reviews the rigor of college courses, the final high school transcript and college transcripts; the essay is optional.
• Transfer deadlines: March 1 is the preferred fall date, and applications after July 1 are reviewed on a space-available basis; for spring, applications after January 1 are reviewed on a space-available basis. Transfers admitted by June 1 are considered for merit scholarships.
• International transfer students need a course-by-course NACES evaluation of university records (US and Canadian universities are exempt).

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 Orono undergraduate (30 credits a year): tuition USD 13,230 for Maine and Canadian residents and USD 38,340 for out-of-state and international students; mandatory fees USD 1,070; housing and food USD 14,696; books USD 1,000; travel and miscellaneous USD 2,200. Totals: USD 31,896 for Maine and Canadian residents and USD 57,006 for out-of-state and international students.
• Per credit: the 2026-2027 tuition page gives USD 441 for Maine and Canadian residents and USD 1,278 for non-residents; the program page shows USD 425 and USD 1,229, close to the tuition page’s 2025-2026 figures, so use the tuition page. The tuition page notes that the Maine College of Engineering and Computing differential does not currently apply to Computer Science.
• International students, including Canadian students, must buy or show proof of health insurance.
• International scholarships (fall 2027–spring 2028): awarded at admission on high school GPA and course rigor with no separate application and a minimum 2.5 GPA; complete applications by December 1, 2026 receive maximum consideration, and Early Action applicants may receive an additional USD 3,000 Early Action Award. The page lists three programs: Flagship Match Commitment at USD 16,200 a year; Flagship Leaders Commitment at USD 9,000–12,000 a year; and Global Flagship Match Commitment at USD 25,110 a year.
• The Flagship Match page says Flagship Match is for out-of-state students from listed US states, and Global Flagship Match is for international students who graduate from Maine high schools. Ask admissions which applies to students at high schools in China or Canada.
• Awards renew for up to 8 semesters or 120 credits, with satisfactory progress, the required GPA, and at least 6 graded credits per semester.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For maximum scholarship consideration, complete your application by December 1, 2026
• Prepare TOEFL 79 (4.5 on the new scale) or IELTS 6.5
• Send standard high school records for NACES evaluation; IB and Cambridge students are exempt
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results are used and which international scholarship applies

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

• Pay the Maine and Canadian resident rate; no English test or credential evaluation needed
• Apply by December 1 for the Maine/Canadian student scholarships

Transfer students:

• At least a 2.0 cumulative GPA; international transfers need a course-by-course evaluation

Sources: University of Maine, BS in Computer Science; BA in Computer Science; School of Computing and Information Science; ABET accreditation; International undergraduate admissions; Apply and deadlines; Application information; Transfer admission requirements; International scholarships; Merit scholarships for Maine residents/Canadian students; Flagship Match; Tuition and fees; Cost of attendance. Deadline pages do not state a year; scholarships are for fall 2027–spring 2028 and costs for 2026-2027. Check UMaine’s website for the latest.