How to Apply to Computer Science at Cal Poly Pomona: An Impacted Major in the College of Science, the November 30 Deadline and Declaring a Major on Cal State Apply, with Requirements and Timelines for Students in China, Canadian High Schools and Transfer Students

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona or CPP) is part of the California State University (CSU) system. Its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Science. This guide sets out the curriculum, how admission works and the requirements for different applicants, based on CPP’s website.

1. The degree and curriculum

• Accreditation: the BS has been accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET since 1994.
• Courses: the program page says the curriculum builds foundations in programming, computer architecture and operating systems, with courses in software design, data structures and computational theory, and electives in AI, mobile apps, web security, data analytics and cloud systems.
• Electives by interest: the department lists suggested courses by area, for example:
  • Software engineering: CS 2450 User Interfaces Design & Programming, CS 4350 Database Systems, CS 4750 Mobile Application Development, CS 4810 Software Engineering Practice
  • Data science: CS 2410 Fundamentals of Data Science, CS 4200 Artificial Intelligence, CS 4210 Machine Learning and its Applications, and others
  • Game development: CS 2990 Foundations of Game Development, CS 4450 Computer Graphics, CS 4700 Game Development, and others
  • Artificial intelligence: CS 3520 Symbolic Programming, CS 4200, CS 4210, CS 4990 AI in Games
  • Cybersecurity: CS 3800 Computer Networks, CS 4600 Cryptography and Information Security, CS 4640 Network and Web Security, and others
• Units and required courses: the full requirements are in the CPP catalog (catalog.cpp.edu), which could not be read for this guide, so units and the required-course list were not checked. See the catalog or the College of Science advising center.
• Related minors: computer science, data science and cybersecurity.

2. Impaction and how admission works

• Impacted major: CPP is not impacted at the campus level for freshmen or transfers, but 19 programs are impacted, and computer science is on both the freshman and transfer lists. Admission is competitive and meeting CSU minimums does not guarantee a place.
• Declaring a major: international applicants must declare a major. CPP considers the alternate major if space is available but cannot guarantee it, and gives priority to alternates within the same college.
• Multifactor admission (MFA): after CSU eligibility, CPP looks at high school GPA plus its own criteria: GPA in all completed math courses, local-area priority, and experiences such as first-generation status, work experience, activities, leadership and work related to the major.
• GPA: in the 15 A-G courses, 2.50 for California residents and 3.00 for non-residents, with no grade below C-; non-residents with 2.47–2.99 are evaluated under the MFA model. The GPA uses A-G courses after grade 9; up to eight semesters of approved honors, IB and AP courses in grades 10–12 earn extra points.
• Tests: the freshman requirements page says the CSU no longer uses SAT/ACT for admission; scores may be used for placement after admission. The international FAQ still carries the older “suspended for 2021-2022” wording; go by the requirements page.

3. Timeline (fall 2027)

• Filing period: August 1 to November 30, 2026, on Cal State Apply. International applicants to non-impacted majors have until March 1; computer science is impacted, so November 30 applies.
• Spring: spring 2027 is open to transfers only (July 1 to August 31, 2026).
• Application fee: USD 70, non-refundable.
• Decisions: CPP decides on self-reported application information; admitted students submit official transcripts to verify.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Course requirements (non-US high schools): 2 years of history or social science (3 preferred), 3 years of math (4 preferred) and 2 years of science (4 preferred), at a US-equivalent C- or better.
• Transcripts: students at schools outside the US do not enter coursework on the application; after applying, CPP asks for transcripts since grade 9 with English translations and converts them to a US 4.0 GPA.
• A-Level and IB: IGCSE/O-Level needs at least five subjects at C (4 on the new scale) or higher, including English, math, social science, one biology and one physical science; A-Level or AS subjects can replace them. IB students need at least six subjects at 4 or higher, including math and lab sciences.
• English: TOEFL 71 (old scale) or 4 (new scale, for tests from January 21, 2026), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95. Three years of full-time study at a secondary school taught mainly in English also qualifies.
• Gaokao: CPP does not say how Gaokao results are used; ask the Office of Admissions.

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

• English: Canada (except Québec) is on the list of English-speaking countries; three years of full-time study at an English-medium secondary school waives the English test.
• Grades: CPP does not publish BC grade requirements; foreign grades are converted to a US GPA, and the stated GPA minimum for non-California residents is 3.00. Ask the Office of Admissions how BC grades are converted.

6. Transfer students

• Basic requirements: at least 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units), 30 of them in general education; a 2.00 GPA in transferable work; and C- or better in each of the “Golden Four” GE courses.
• Computer science supplemental courses: from fall 2027, MAT 1140 Calculus I is required; MAT 1150 Calculus II, PHY 1510/L Introduction to Newtonian Mechanics and CS 1300 Discrete Structures are recommended, and each one completed earns extra consideration. Required supplemental courses need a C or higher.
• International transfers: those who completed the 60 units and Golden Four at a US institution meet the English requirement; those who completed some at a foreign institution must submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores.
• ADT: students who complete an Associate Degree for Transfer in a similar major have the supplemental courses waived and earn extra points.

7. Costs (US$)

• 2026-2027: full-time (7+ units) tuition 3,419 and campus fees 863.97 per semester, total 4,282.97; non-California residents add 471 per unit.
• Total cost: the pages read for this guide do not give an annual total for international students; see the cost of attendance page from CPP’s Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
• Scholarships: the department lists endowed scholarships for CS majors, such as the James Lebowitz Memorial Computer Science Endowed Scholarship; no scholarship for international students was found on the pages read.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit on Cal State Apply by November 30, declaring computer science and choosing an alternate major
• A 3.0 GPA or higher, with strong math grades; TOEFL 71 (4 new scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results are used

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

• English waiver applies (except Québec); ask admissions how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• 60 units, a 2.00 GPA and the Golden Four; from fall 2027, Calculus I first, ideally also Calculus II, physics and discrete structures

Sources: Cal Poly Pomona, BS in Computer Science; Computer science career interests and electives; Freshman requirements; Freshman impacted majors; International freshmen; International application filing period; International application checklist; International admission FAQ; International transfers; Transfer requirements; Transfer impacted majors and supplemental courses; Undergraduate tuition and fees. The timeline is for fall 2027 entry and tuition is for 2026-2027. Check Cal Poly Pomona’s website for the latest.