How to Apply to Computer Science at Louisiana Tech University: the College of Engineering and Science BS in Computer Science with Four Optional Concentrations and a Quarter Calendar, International Admission and the Bulldog Out-of-State Scholarship, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, undergraduate computer science is offered by the College of Engineering and Science. 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.

Note: the curriculum on the program page is pulled from the catalog by a third-party script, and the catalog website blocked our access, so we could not read the total credits or required courses. The information below comes from the university’s web pages; check the current catalog for course details.

1. The program

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The program page says it is accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.
• Optional concentrations: Cloud Computing and Big Data (CCBD), Computer Engineering (CMPE), Cyber Security (CSEC), and Graphics and Game Design (GAME); students can also choose no concentration. A computer science minor is offered too.
• Quarters: the university runs on fall, winter and spring quarters, and international funding is calculated over these three quarters (nine months).
• Capstone: all College of Engineering and Science seniors present projects at the year-end Design and Research Conference, a required capstone before graduation.
• The program page cites more than USD 18 million in faculty-led research grants, with research and internship opportunities for students.

2. Getting into the major

• The program page and the college pages we read list no separate admission or progression requirements for computer science; not published. For program questions, contact the COES Undergraduate Office (coesUGS@LATech.edu, 318.257.2842).
• Requirements for changing into the major are not published.

3. How international freshmen apply

• Materials: the online application; high school transcripts with a 2.5 GPA (converted to the US scale by the admissions coordinator); and proof of English proficiency. Documents can be emailed as PDFs to the Office of International Affairs (international@latech.edu); send a PDF even when official scores come from the testing agency.
• Application fee: the international undergraduate admissions page we read does not give a fee; not published.
• Deadlines: the international undergraduate admissions page does not list deadlines; not published, so confirm with the Office of International Affairs.
• SAT/ACT: the first-year student page says test scores are not required for the initial admission decision but are required for merit-based scholarships, and may be used when the GPA is not strong. International students can also use the SAT or ACT for the Bulldog Out-of-State Scholarship (see below).
• Placement: students must meet one English and one math placement option. For math: a converted GPA of 3.0, SAT Math 510 or Math Accuplacer 250 (the GPA option places students in the lowest level, and a placement test may be needed to place higher). The English placement options are similar to the proficiency options.
• Deferral: applications stay on file for up to two quarters. To defer one quarter, contact admissions; to start two or more quarters later, reapply and pay the fee again.
• I-20: I-20s are issued only to admitted students and require a bank statement or scholarship letter covering each academic year (fall, winter and spring), no older than six months when the I-20 is issued.

4. English requirements

• One of the following:
  • a high school curriculum taught in English;
  • SAT EBRW 500 or higher;
  • English Accuplacer 250 or higher;
  • TOEFL iBT 4.5 (79 for tests before 2026), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100 or PTE 50 (PTE is not currently accepted for the Bulldog Scholarship).

5. Students at high schools in China

• Apply as an international freshman; the admissions office converts your high school GPA to the US 4.0 scale, and 2.5 is required.
• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao scores are used; this is not published, so confirm with the Office of International Affairs (international@latech.edu).
• A-Level, IB and AP: a high school curriculum taught in English meets the English requirement. We did not find the AP, IB or A-Level credit rules; check the catalog and the university’s testing and advanced placement pages.
• Merit-based freshman scholarships require US citizenship, so Chinese students should look at the Bulldog Out-of-State Scholarship (see below).

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

• Canadian students without a US permanent resident card apply as international students (the admissions FAQ says applicants still waiting for their card must also apply as international students).
• English: a high school curriculum taught in English meets the requirement; the international admissions page does not list Canada separately, so otherwise use the English score options above.
• Grade requirements for BC courses are not published; the admissions office converts the GPA, so confirm with the Office of International Affairs.

7. Transfer students

• International transfers: the online application; a 2.25 GPA (converted by the admissions coordinator); high school transcripts if you have fewer than 24 credit hours; and transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended.
• English: a passing grade in a university-level English class in the US, or one of SAT EBRW 500, English Accuplacer 250, TOEFL 4.5 (79 old), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 100 or PTE 50. For math placement, a passing grade in university-level math in the US counts.
• Domestic transfers (transfer page, for US students and permanent residents): 24 or more hours with a 2.25 GPA and college-level English and math; with fewer than 24 hours, also meet freshman standards; or an associate degree or higher. Up to 68 semester hours from a junior or community college can count toward a bachelor’s degree.
• Transfer credit is evaluated by the department of your intended major; whether entering computer science has extra requirements is not published.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Nine-month international estimate (international admissions page, no academic year stated): tuition and fees USD 23,418, living expenses USD 5,370, books and insurance USD 1,900, total USD 30,688. With the Bulldog Scholarship, tuition and fees are USD 12,369 and the total is USD 19,639.
• Tuition table: College of Engineering and Science undergraduates taking 12 or more hours per quarter pay USD 7,781 out-of-state or USD 4,098 in-state (excluding the USD 10 per hour energy surcharge). The 2026-2027 at-a-glance table on the same page shows an average of USD 7,808 per quarter for non-resident undergraduates at 12 or more hours, with the final cost set by major.
• Bulldog Out-of-State Scholarship: an out-of-state fee waiver that removes roughly 50% of total tuition, so students pay the in-state rate. International freshmen need:
  • a 2.5 GPA on the US scale (assessed by the admissions coordinator);
  • one admission test: TOEFL 4.5 (79 old), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105, PTE 58, SAT 1130 or ACT 23;
  • one English and one math option. English: the scores above, SAT English 500, ACT 23, English Accuplacer 250, or a converted high school GPA of 3.0 (the page says “as of Fall 2024 only”). Math: SAT Math 510, Math Accuplacer 250 or a converted high school GPA of 3.0.
  Students accept the scholarship in their application portal and upload the signed terms, and must keep a quarterly GPA of 2.0. International transfer students need 12 hours from Louisiana Tech or an accredited school, a 2.75 GPA and no need for remedial courses.
• Merit-based freshman scholarships: USD 1,000 to 9,500 a year, but they require US citizenship, so international students are not eligible.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Confirm the application deadline and fee with the Office of International Affairs
• Prepare TOEFL 4.5 (79 old), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 105 (to also qualify for the Bulldog Scholarship), plus a math placement score such as SAT Math 510
• Have a converted high school GPA of 2.5 or higher

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

• Apply as an international student; an English-taught high school meets the English requirement; the Bulldog Scholarship also needs a test score

Transfer students:

• International transfers need a 2.25 GPA; the Bulldog Scholarship needs 12 hours and a 2.75 GPA

Sources: Louisiana Tech University, Computer Science (BS); College of Engineering and Science incoming students; International undergraduate admissions; First-time, first-year students; Transfer students; Admissions FAQ; Tuition and fees; Freshman scholarships. The international cost estimate does not state an academic year; check the Louisiana Tech website and catalog for the latest information.