How to Apply for Computer Science at the University of North Dakota: the 124-credit, ABET-accredited B.S. in Computer Science offered on campus or online with an accelerated B.S./M.S., separate deadlines for international and Canadian students, a USD 35 fee and English requirements, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer students

The University of North Dakota (UND) is in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Its B.S. in Computer Science is offered by the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS). This guide summarizes what the university publishes 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

• Degree: B.S. in Computer Science, accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET. It requires 124 credits, at least 36 numbered 300 or above; the program page estimates 4 to 5 years. It can be completed on campus or fully online, with every online course available asynchronously.
• Required computer science courses (60 credits): CSCI 160 Computer Science I, CSCI 161 Computer Science II, CSCI 166 Tools and Techniques of Computing Practice, CSCI 242 Algorithms and Data Structures, CSCI 265 Introduction to Programming Languages, CSCI 280 Object Oriented Programming, CSCI 289 Social Implications of Computer Technology, CSCI 327 Data Communications, CSCI 330 Systems Programming, CSCI 363 User Interface Design, CSCI 364 Concurrent and Distributed Programming, CSCI 365 Organization of Programming Languages, CSCI 370 Computer Architecture, CSCI 435 Formal Languages and Automata, CSCI 451 Operating Systems I, CSCI 455 Database Management Systems, CSCI 463 Software Engineering, and CSCI 492 and 493 Senior Project I and II.
• Grades and residency: CSCI 161, 242, 265, 330 and 365 need a C or higher; CSCI 370, 435, 451, 492 and 493 must be taken at UND.
• Electives: 12 credits of computer science electives; up to 6 combined credits from Cooperative Education (EECS 397), Topics (CSCI 399) and Special Projects (CSCI 494) can count, and the rest must be UND computer science lecture courses at the 300 level or above. The program page names AI-focused technical electives (Artificial Intelligence, Applied Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Machine Learning and Computational Intelligence) and also mentions cybersecurity, big data, and games and animation as areas students can develop.
• Mathematics and science (24 credits): Calculus I, Calculus II, Introduction to Linear Algebra (2 credits), Discrete Mathematics, two approved laboratory science courses (8 credits) and an approved probability/statistics elective. The College of Engineering and Mines requirement is EE 201 with its lab (4 credits).
• Accelerated B.S./M.S.: 138 to 144 credits over about five years. Students apply to UND as undergraduates, apply to the School of Graduate Studies after 60 credits, start graduate courses in the fourth year and can begin thesis research as juniors.

2. Admission

• Entering the major: the requirements page lists only degree courses and gives no separate entry threshold for computer science; the transfer page asks applicants to check program pages for additional requirements. Whether students enter the major directly, and conditions for switching in, are not published; ask SEECS.
• International first-year applicants (outside Canada): a cumulative secondary GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4-point scale is expected, with records covering all of secondary school.
• U.S. and Canadian first-year applicants: 14 high school core units (English 4, math 3 at Algebra I or above, lab science 3, social studies 3, plus 1 more from these or a world language), a recommended cumulative GPA of 2.75, and no ACT/SAT requirement (scores can help with scholarships and math and English placement). Applicants below the guidelines are reviewed holistically, and UND runs the LAUNCH! pathway with Lake Region State College.

3. Deadlines and materials

• International deadlines (outside Canada): fall June 15, spring November 15, summer March 15, by which all documents must be submitted and verified.
• Canadian students and international students transferring from U.S. institutions: fall July 15, spring December 15, summer April 15.
• U.S. students: fall priority February 1 and final August 15, spring December 15, summer May 1.
• Fee: USD 35, non-refundable and not waived for any reason.
• Materials: online application (completed in English), records from all secondary schools (non-English records translated by the Ministry of Education or a certified translator), passport copy and English scores; after admission, financial documents are required for the I-20.

4. English

• Minimums: TOEFL 3.5 (tests from January 21, 2026; 71 for earlier tests), IELTS 6.0 (within three years), PTE 50, Duolingo 105, or completion of ELS Level 112.
• Who must test: the international page says any student whose first language is not English must take a test.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Grades: a cumulative secondary GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4-point scale; Chinese-language records must be translated by the Ministry of Education or a certified translator.
• English: TOEFL 3.5 (71 on the prior scale), IELTS 6.0, PTE 50 or Duolingo 105.
• Gaokao: undergraduate requirements do not mention it, and how Gaokao results are used is not published; ask admissions.
• A-Level, IB, AP: the freshman pages include an advanced coursework section, but the pages read for this guide give no credit rules; this is not published, so ask admissions.

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

• U.S. requirements: Canadian students use the same online application and admission requirements as U.S. students and pay the same USD 35 fee; deadlines follow the Canadian column in section 3.
• Immigration: no visa is needed, but an I-20 is. After admission, students complete the International Admissions Statement of Financial Responsibility, the International Center mails the I-20, and it is presented at the border. Students must take at least 12 credits each fall and spring and may work up to 20 hours a week on campus.
• BC: grade conversion for the BC diploma is not published; ask admissions.
• English: the Canadian students page does not mention English tests, while the international page requires them for anyone whose first language is not English; confirm with admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Requirements: with 24 or more transferable credits, a 2.0 cumulative GPA and good standing; with fewer than 24, freshman criteria as well.
• Coursework outside the U.S.: requires a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES member such as WES.
• Credit rules: only college-level credit with a D or above transfers; pass/fail and remedial courses, among others, do not. Graduates must take at least 30 credits at UND, including 15 in the major; five computer science courses must be taken at UND (see section 1).
• Deadlines: domestic transfers fall August 15, spring December 15, summer May 1; international transfers follow international deadlines, and those from U.S. institutions use fall July 15, spring December 15 and summer April 15.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 tuition: UND’s tuition table places computer science under “Engineering (including Computer Science & Geology)”. On-campus tuition per credit is USD 961.49 for international students and USD 721.12 for Canadian (non-resident) students; the table notes that on-campus students can take more than 12 credits per semester at no additional cost. Online tuition is USD 623.99 per credit regardless of residency.
• I-20 funding (year not stated; undergraduate, 12 credits per semester):
  • International: tuition and fees USD 22,612, housing and food 12,026, books 1,000, health insurance 2,250, personal expenses 3,400 and international student fee 200. The page lists a total of USD 40,488, although the items add up to 41,488; confirm with UND.
  • Residents of Canada: tuition and fees USD 17,424 with the other items the same, totaling USD 36,300.
• Automatic freshman scholarships: applicants who complete their application and transcripts by the February 1 priority deadline receive an award by unweighted high school GPA: 3.90 or higher (or ACT 30 / SAT 1370 with a 3.00 GPA, official scores required) USD 14,000 total (3,500 a year for up to 4 years); 3.70 to 3.89 USD 11,000 (2,750 a year); 3.50 to 3.69 a one-time USD 1,500. Whether international and Canadian students qualify is not published; the international page says some scholarships are open to international and Canadian students and points to One-Stop Student Services and Scholarship Central.
• Transfer scholarships: automatic for complete applications by the deadline: USD 2,000 for a 3.90 to 4.00 transfer GPA and USD 1,000 for 3.50 to 3.89; students transferring more than 120 credits do not qualify.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For fall, have every document submitted and verified by June 15
• Prepare TOEFL 3.5 (71 prior scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105; keep a 2.75 secondary GPA and arrange English translations
• Ask admissions how Gaokao, A-Level, IB and AP results are used, and which scholarships international students can receive

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

• Complete the 14 U.S. core units and submit everything by July 15 for fall
• Confirm how BC grades are evaluated and whether English scores are needed; arrange the I-20 after admission

Transfer students:

• Keep a 2.0 cumulative GPA; get a WES or similar course-by-course evaluation for foreign coursework; ask SEECS about entering the major and which computer science courses transfer

Sources: University of North Dakota, Computer Science (B.S.); Computer Science (B.S.) requirements; Computer Science (B.S.) cost; Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Computer Science; International requirements and application; Canadian students; Freshman admissions; Transfer admissions; Transfer credits; Scholarships; International Center: Certificate of Finances. Degree requirements come from UND’s academic catalog and tuition is for 2026-2027. Check UND’s website for the latest.