How to Apply to Computer Science at Sacramento State: Starting as Pre-Computer Science and Moving into the BS with a 2.7 GPA in Seven Courses, the May 15, 2027 International Deadline, and Requirements and Timelines for Students in China, Canadian High Schools and Transfer Students

California State University, Sacramento (Sac State) is part of the California State University (CSU) system and sits in California’s capital. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which says it serves about 1,600 majors. Below are the courses, how students enter the major and the requirements for different applicants, based on Sac State’s official pages.

1. Degree and courses (2026-2027 Catalog)

• Accreditation: the BS in Computer Science is accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC).
• Units: the catalog states 78 units for the major and 120 for the degree. The major course list totals 78–81 units and the four-year road map totals 123–148 units; the figures differ, so follow your advisor’s guidance.
• Grades: C- or better in every course applied to the major.
• Lower-division requirements (15 units): CSC 15 and CSC 20 Programming Concepts and Methodology I and II, CSC 28 Discrete Structures, CSC 35 Introduction to Computer Architecture, and CSC 60 Introduction to Systems Programming in UNIX.
• Math and science (21–24 units): MATH 30 and MATH 31 Calculus I and II and PHYS 11A Mechanics; one statistics course (STAT 50 or ENGR 115); one of linear algebra, combinatorics, number theory, numerical analysis, logic and similar (the catalog says CS students should normally choose MATH 100 Applied Linear Algebra); and one biology, chemistry or physics course.
• Upper-division requirements (33 units): data structures and algorithm analysis, software engineering, object-oriented graphics programming, database management systems, computability and formal languages, computer organization, networking fundamentals, operating system principles, a two-semester senior project (CSC 190 and 191) and business and computer ethics, plus 2 units from career planning, web programming, fieldwork and similar options.
• Electives (9 units): CSC courses numbered 140 or above; students with a 3.0 GPA may take graduate courses with approval.
• Certificates: majors can add a 9–12 unit undergraduate certificate such as Cyber Defense and Operations, Game Engineering, Information Assurance and Security, Software Engineering or Systems Software.
• Other: BS Computer Science majors are exempt from the university’s foreign language graduation requirement.
• First year: the four-year road map has CSC 15 and MATH 30 Calculus I in the first semester and CSC 20 and MATH 31 in the second.

2. Pre-major first, then the full major

• Admission status: the department says all students are admitted as pre-Computer Science majors.
• Moving into the major: complete the seven pre-major courses (CSC 15, CSC 20, CSC 28, CSC 35, MATH 30, MATH 31 and PHYS 11A); the catalog requires a GPA of at least 2.7 in these courses. Then submit a Change of Major form and transcripts to the department office (cscreg@csus.edu).
• Course access: CSC courses numbered 133 and above are restricted to Computer Science and Computer Engineering majors; others need the chair’s approval.
• Switching into pre-Computer Science from another major: complete or be enrolled in MATH 30, with a Sacramento State and overall GPA of at least 2.5.
• Impaction: the impaction page lists Business Administration, Graphic Design, Nursing and Psychology; Computer Science is not among them.
• Tests: the CSU no longer uses the SAT or ACT for admission eligibility; scores can be used for math and writing placement after admission.

3. Timeline (fall 2027 entry)

• International applicants (first-year and transfer): admitted for fall and spring. The fall 2027 filing period is October 1 to May 15, with documents due May 30, 2027; the spring 2027 filing period is July 1 to October 4, with documents due October 18, 2026.
• Application fee: US$70, non-refundable, by credit or debit card or PayPal; checks are not accepted.
• Documents: upload everything as scanned PDFs. Sac State recommends sending unofficial transcripts and scores first for a faster decision; official documents are requested at enrollment.
• Late-application appeals: for fall entry, appeals are accepted through June 15.
• Domestic first-year applicants: the fall 2027 filing period is August 1 to December 15, 2026.

4. Students at high schools in China

• GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or an 80% average, with the high school diploma attached.
• Credential evaluation: Sac State evaluates foreign credentials in house and does not require or recommend an outside evaluation; if you submit one, only WES, ACEI and ECE are accepted.
• English: TOEFL 3.5 on the new scale for tests after January 21, 2026 or 64 before that (MyBest scores not accepted), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95 or PTE 50.
• Gaokao: Sac State does not publish how Gaokao results are used; ask International Admissions (intlinfo@csus.edu).
• Funding: financial documents are not needed for the admission review, but Sac State encourages submitting the financial affidavit with your documents to avoid I-20 delays.

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

• English: Sac State’s list of countries where the TOEFL is waived (2021 update) includes Canada (except Quebec).
• GPA: international first-year applicants need 3.0 or an 80% average. Sac State does not publish specific BC grade requirements; ask International Admissions how BC grades are converted.

6. Transfer students

• International transfer: a college GPA of at least 2.4; applicants with under 60 units also submit high school transcripts with a 3.0 GPA or 80% average.
• Unit limit: International Admissions accepts lower-division transfers; upper-division applicants with more than 90 semester units are generally not eligible but can email for a pre-evaluation (this does not apply to students who completed 70 units at a California community college).
• English: a transferable CSU 1A English course at B or better replaces the test; otherwise TOEFL 64, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95 or PTE 50.
• Computer Science: the catalog includes a two-year road map. Whether transfers are treated differently under the seven-course, 2.7 GPA requirement for the full major is not published; ask the department.

7. Costs (US$, 2026-2027)

• Undergraduate tuition and fees: 4,828 a semester for 6.1 units or more (tuition 3,419 and campus fees 1,409).
• Non-residents, including international students: add 471 per unit.
• International estimate for a year: the financial affidavit (spring 2027 version) lists 20,960 for two semesters of undergraduate tuition and fees, 25,548 for living expenses and 3,206 for insurance and books, a total of 49,714.
• Scholarships: scholarships open to international students are not published on the pages read.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• A 3.0 GPA or 80% average; TOEFL 3.5 (new scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95; apply by May 15, 2027 and submit documents by May 30
• The four-year road map starts Calculus I in the first semester; ask International Admissions whether Gaokao results are used

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

• Canada (except Quebec) is on the TOEFL waiver list; ask International Admissions how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• A college GPA of 2.4 or higher; ask the department whether completing the seven pre-major courses (CSC 15, 20, 28 and 35, Calculus I and II, Mechanics) before transferring lets you enter the full major directly

Sources: Sacramento State, 2026-2027 Catalog: BS in Computer Science; Computer Science degree programs; Computer Science accreditation; International undergraduate applicants; Countries where the TOEFL is waived; Impaction; Freshman application process; Tuition and living costs; Affidavit of financial support for international students. The timeline is for fall 2027 entry and costs are for 2026-2027. Check Sacramento State’s website for the latest.