How to Apply to Computer Science at Northern Arizona University: Curriculum and ABET Accreditation for the BSCS in the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, and New Non-Resident Tuition from Fall 2027, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Northern Arizona University (NAU), undergraduate computer science is offered by the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems in the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, on the Flagstaff campus only. 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. Degree and courses (2026-2027 catalog)

• BSCS in Computer Science: accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission. The catalog says some online or blended coursework is required; the honors program and an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s plan are optional.
• Units: at least 120 to graduate; the major requires 95–96 units, with 33–34 in preprofessional requirements and 62 in professional requirements, and electives fill the rest to 120. Up to 9 units of major-prefix courses may also count toward general studies.
• Science (7–8 units): one block of biology, chemistry or physics, each with labs.
• Mathematics and analysis (17 units): Calculus I, Calculus II and Discrete Mathematics; one of Engineering Analysis, Applied Statistics or Statistical Analysis; and Linear Algebra or Numerical Analysis.
• Technical electives (9 units): 200-level or above courses from disciplines including AI and machine learning, biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics and physics.
• Core (37 units): Computing Tools I–III, Computer Science I and II (with labs), Computer Organization, Web Programming I, Data Structures, Automata Theory, Software Engineering, Principles of Languages, Algorithms, Requirements Engineering and Operating Systems.
• Also: the capstone (4 units); Technology and Society for the junior-level writing requirement (3 units); and 18 units of CS electives at the 300 level or above.
• Grades: a C or better in all CS core courses and the capstone; no more than one D in professional and technical electives.
• Accelerated bachelor’s/master’s: Flagstaff students can start the MS in Computer Science or MS in Informatics (non-thesis) while finishing the BSCS, sharing 12 units; the master’s requires a separate, competitive application.

2. Admission

• First-year admission: the first-year application steps page offers guaranteed admission to students who have completed their junior year, are on track to graduate and have a core GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. That page does not separate domestic and international students, and the international pages do not give a minimum GPA.
• Core courses: at least 14 core courses, including four years of English, four of math and three of lab science, plus social science and fine arts or CTE (ACT/SAT subject scores or college courses can substitute). A second language is not required but can be used; students with up to two deficiencies may still be admitted.
• Entering or changing into the major: the catalog does not list separate entry criteria for computer science; criteria for changing into the major are not published. Confirm with the school or admissions (admissions@nau.edu).
• Math start: Computer Science I requires MAT 125 as a prerequisite or corequisite (or a qualifying placement score); Calculus I requires a C in MAT 125 or a qualifying placement score.

3. Deadlines and documents (international)

• Applying: through NAU’s international portal, with a USD 50 undergraduate fee paid while you complete the application; it typically takes 30–45 minutes.
• Timing: most undergraduate programs use rolling admission; the international pages recommend applying at least 4–6 months before your start date. Visa processing starts after you are admitted and submit proof of financial support, and can take weeks to months; required onboarding is 1–2 weeks before classes begin.
• After admission: accept your offer and pay the enrollment fee (USD 325 for first-year undergraduates) to unlock housing, onboarding and visa documents. The deadlines page currently shows fall 2026 dates (enrollment fee May 1, final transcripts July 1) and refers international students to the Center for International Education for priority deadlines.
• Documents: official transcripts from every school attended (certified translations if not in English, sent by the school from a verifiable email to studynau@nau.edu or by mail); English scores; a passport copy; a bank statement and financial sponsor form for the I-20.

4. English requirements

• TOEFL iBT or Home Edition 70 (MyBest accepted); IELTS 6; Duolingo 95; PTE 56; ACT English and Reading 21; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 350.
• IB English A: 5 at HL or 6 at SL; IB English B: 7 at both HL and SL.
• Graduates of English-taught high schools who passed four years of English (composition and literature), with school verification that all courses were taught in English.
• Citizens of English-speaking countries need no additional proof, but the page does not list the countries.
• Students who do not meet the requirement may need to take a placement test on arrival or enroll in the Program in Intensive English.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used. Ask admissions (admissions@nau.edu).
• Transcripts: official transcripts for all high school years, with certified English translations.
• A-Level and AP: credit rules were not checked for this article; an AP second-language score of 3 or higher can count toward the core-course requirement.
• IB: IB English A at HL 5 or SL 6 meets the English requirement. The freshman scholarship page lists the President’s IB award (USD 5,000 a year for IB diploma holders) for Arizona residents and non-residents (including WUE students); ask admissions whether international students are eligible.

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

• Citizens of English-speaking countries need no additional proof of English, but the page does not list the countries; Canadian students should ask admissions whether they are exempt.
• Score requirements for the BC curriculum are not published. Ask admissions.

7. Transfer students

• You apply as a transfer student if you have 12 or more college credits after high school (not including dual enrollment).
• You are eligible if you meet one of these: an AGEC or IGETC with a 2.5+ cumulative GPA; an associate degree with a 2.0+ GPA; 24+ transferable credits with a 2.0+ GPA; or 12–23 transferable credits with a 2.0+ college GPA and a 2.0+ core high school GPA.
• The transfer enrollment fee is USD 250; one passed three-credit English composition course at a US college meets the English requirement.
• Transfer scholarships are available for eligible non-resident students.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027, Flagstaff campus: international tuition USD 30,000 and fees USD 1,622, for USD 31,622 in tuition and fees; estimated total cost USD 53,326 living on campus and USD 56,676 off campus.
• From fall 2027: eligible non-resident undergraduates pay the Flagstaff Advantage Rate of USD 16,000 a year (USD 30,000 in 2026-2027); the basic eligibility is being a non-resident of Arizona, an undergraduate, and attending the Flagstaff campus. The page does not say whether international students qualify, so ask admissions.
• Fall 2027 first-year merit tuition scholarships (out-of-state/WUE/FAR students): automatic by high school core GPA—3.75–4.00 USD 6,500 a year, 3.50–3.74 USD 6,000, 3.00–3.49 USD 5,000, and admitted to 2.99 USD 2,500. A first-year NAU Campus Living experience with a meal plan is required, and renewal needs a 2.0 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment. The scholarship page does not list international students separately; the international admissions page says complete international applications are automatically considered for scholarships.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply at least 4–6 months before your start date to leave time for the visa
• Prepare TOEFL 70 or IELTS 6.0
• Build strong math; the major requires calculus, discrete math and linear algebra
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results are used and whether the 2027 tuition and scholarships apply to international students

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

• Ask admissions whether you are exempt from English testing and how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• 24+ transferable credits with a 2.0+ GPA qualifies you; CS core courses need a C or better

Sources: Northern Arizona University, 2026-2027 catalog: BSCS in Computer Science; International admissions; International application overview; International application steps; First-year application steps; Transfer application steps; Important dates and deadlines; Undergraduate tuition; Flagstaff Advantage Rate; Freshman tuition scholarships. Courses follow the 2026-2027 catalog and costs the 2026-2027 year; non-resident tuition changes from fall 2027. Check NAU’s website for the latest.