How to apply to Computer Science at Chapman University: the BS in the Fowler School of Engineering, first- and second-choice majors and engineering scholarships, with requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

Chapman University is a private university in Orange, in southern California. Computer science is taught in the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering, and the degree is the BS in Computer Science. This guide covers fall 2027 entry from Chapman's website for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including British Columbia and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. The program

• School and degree: BS in Computer Science in the Fowler School of Engineering, alongside BS degrees in Computer Engineering, Data Science, Electrical Engineering and Software Engineering.
• What you study: Chapman describes a computing and math core covering data structures, algorithms, hardware and software, with depth in areas such as software development, cybersecurity and bioinformatics. The Grand Challenges Initiative is a research project built into the curriculum from the start.
• Courses and credits: required courses, math requirements and total credits are in the course catalog (catalog.chapman.edu), which we could not read. Check the Fowler School of Engineering section of the 2026-2027 undergraduate catalog.
• Integrated bachelor's and master's: Chapman's integrated programs add one year of coursework for a master's; options suggested for CS students are the MS in Behavioral and Computational Economics and the MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
• First- and second-choice majors: the first-year page says ED applicants must enroll only if admitted to their first-choice major, not their second choice. Whether admission is directly into CS, and the rules for switching in later, are not published; confirm with admissions.

2. Deadlines (fall 2027 entry)

• Early Action (non-binding) and Early Decision I (binding): 1 November 2026, with decisions mid-December for most programs.
• Early Decision II (binding) and Regular Decision: 15 January 2027; RD decisions mid-March. For ED II, the first-year page's description says late January, while its timeline and the early options page say early to mid-February; follow what admissions tells you.
• Spring entry: spring 2027 applications are due 15 October 2026, then as space allows.
• For need-based aid, the FAFSA and CSS Profile are due 15 November (EA and ED I) or 1 February (ED II and RD).

3. Students at high schools in China

• Application: the Common App plus Chapman's short Panther Profile. The fee is $70 and non-refundable; Common App fee waivers are available, including to international students.
• Recommendations: at least one teacher letter, up to two reviewed; your counselor submits the Common App School Report.
• Academics: upload a transcript copy when you apply, plus external exam results or predictions (examples include predicted IB results, GCSE/IGCSE and predicted A-Levels) and graduation certificates. Chapman does not say how the Gaokao is used.
• Recommended courses: English 4 years, math 3–4, science 2–3 (at least two lab sciences); for science or engineering majors, aim for four years of math through at least pre-calculus and 3–4 years of science. These are recommendations, not requirements.
• Testing: optional, with superscoring. Admitted fall 2025 students who submitted scores averaged SAT 1350 and ACT 30, with an average high school GPA of 3.78.
• English: two versions appear.
  • The international first-year page and international FAQ: TOEFL 4.5 (tests from 21 January 2026; 80 with balanced subscores before that), IELTS 6.5 with balanced subscores, Duolingo 120, or SAT English 600 / ACT English 24.
  • The first-year page: TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115.
  Prepare for the higher standard or ask admissions. Chapman does not offer conditional English admission.
• English waivers: graduates of English-medium secondary schools, and students in IB or Cambridge curricula (the FAQ also lists American-patterned curricula), can submit a waiver request in the applicant portal.
• AP, IB and A-Level credit: Chapman grants credit for AP, IB and Cambridge A-Level exams; equivalency tables are on separate pages, and A-Level questions go to admission@chapman.edu.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• English: graduates of English-medium secondary schools can request a waiver; approval depends on review.
• BC curriculum: Chapman does not publish BC grade requirements; ask admissions.
• Deadlines and materials are the same as above.

5. Costs and scholarships

• International estimate: tuition and fees $67,874, on-campus room and board $18,438, mandatory health insurance $2,321, and books, supplies and personal costs $5,600, for $94,233, which is also the minimum to verify for an I-20. The page does not label the year and refers to a 2025-2026 breakdown, so check current figures.
• Merit scholarships: all admitted students are reviewed automatically, mainly on high school achievement and overall strength. The first-year maximum differs: the international cost page says up to $40,000 a year, while the international FAQ and affordability page say up to $42,000.
• Need-based aid: limited aid of up to $15,000 a year for international applicants.
• Engineering scholarships: all CS applicants are considered for Fowler engineering scholarships from $3,000 to 100 percent of tuition and fees, in merit, need-based and human-centered categories, usually combinable with other aid; you must apply to a Fowler major. Admitted engineering students can also apply to the Laptop Assistance Program.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: priority 15 February for fall and 15 October for spring, then as space allows.
• Recommended prerequisites: for CS, CPSC 230 Computer Science I and MATH 110 Single Variable Calculus I (or equivalents at your school); all transfers should complete a transferable college English composition course.
• English: international transfers need TOEFL 4.5 (or 80 before 2026), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120; waivers are available for graduates of English-medium secondary schools or those with at least 24 transferable semester hours at a US college.
• Scholarships: the transfer merit maximum is $15,000 a year on the cost page and $16,000 in the FAQ.
• A minimum transfer GPA is not published; transfer advising is available at transfers@chapman.edu.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Common App and Panther Profile by 1 November 2026 (EA / ED I) or 15 January 2027 (ED II / RD)
• TOEFL 4.5 (or 80), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120; take math through at least pre-calculus
• One teacher recommendation; prepare proof of funds of about $94,233

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

• Graduates of English-medium schools submit the English waiver request; same deadlines

Transfer students:

• Fall priority deadline 15 February; take Computer Science I and Calculus I
• Complete a transferable college English composition course

Sources: Chapman University, BS in Computer Science; Engineering undergraduate scholarships; First-year application; Early application options; Test-optional details; International first-year steps; International costs and financial aid; International FAQs; Transfer application; Transfer recommended prerequisites; International transfer steps. Deadlines are for fall 2027 entry; the international cost page does not state an academic year. Check Chapman University for the latest details.