How to Apply for Computer Science at North Dakota State University: the College of Engineering’s B.S. with four tracks and B.A., the C-or-better rule for computer science courses and the accelerated master’s, rolling international admission with a USD 35 fee and automatic GPA-based international scholarships, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer students

North Dakota State University (NDSU) is in Fargo, North Dakota. Its computer science degrees are offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering. 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. Degrees and courses

• Two degrees: a B.S. and a B.A. in Computer Science, both on campus, each requiring at least 120 credits, including 39 of general education and at least 36 at the 300 level or above. Every CSCI course needs a C or better.
• B.S. major (73 to 77 credits): CSCI 160 Computer Science I (or CSCI 227 and 228 in Python), CSCI 161 Computer Science II, CSCI 213, CSCI 222 Discrete Mathematics, CSCI 277 Introduction to UNIX, CSCI 313 Software Development with Frameworks, CSCI 336 Theoretical Computer Science, CSCI 366 Database Systems, CSCI 372 Comparative Programming Languages, CSCI 374 Computer Organization and Architecture, CSCI 455 Networking and Parallel Computation, CSCI 467 Algorithm Analysis, CSCI 474 Operating Systems Concepts, and the capstone pair CSCI 445 and CSCI 489 (Social Implications of Computers); plus Calculus I and II, Probability (STAT 367) and Statistics (STAT 368, or STAT 330 and 331).
• B.S. tracks (12 credits, choose one):
  • Standard: one of Basic Linear Algebra, Principles of Cybersecurity, Networking or Principles of Software Engineering, plus three 300–400 level CSCI courses.
  • Cybersecurity: Principles of Cybersecurity and Networking, plus two from defensive cybersecurity, ethical hacking, malware analysis, cybersecurity law and policy, forensics, secure software development, network security and others.
  • Data Science: Basic Linear Algebra, plus three from data science, data engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational intelligence, cloud computing and others.
  • Software Engineering: Principles of Software Engineering, plus three from mobile software engineering, software architecture, software testing, data engineering, cloud computing, human-computer interaction and others.
• B.A. major (63 to 65 credits): 13 core computer science courses (including web scripting, human-computer interaction and the capstone), web design and development, Applied Calculus I or Calculus I, statistics and regression, and 7 more credits in science, engineering, math or statistics, plus second-year proficiency in a modern foreign language.
• Capstone: CSCI 489 is typically taken in the last fall and CSCI 445 in the last spring. The program page describes an industry-led senior capstone tied to real-world problems, alongside co-op and internship opportunities.
• Accelerated master’s: B.S. students with 60 credits, a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a C or higher in at least five of CSCI 213, 222, 313, 366, 372 and MATH 166 can apply; up to 15 graduate credits also count toward the bachelor’s, finishing both degrees in about five years.

2. Admission

• Entering the major: no separate entry threshold for computer science is published; whether students enter the major directly, and conditions for switching in, are not published, so ask the department or the College of Engineering.
• International first-year applicants: a U.S.-equivalent GPA of 2.75 or higher, with secondary transcripts evaluated in-house.
• U.S. first-year applicants: a recommended 2.75 cumulative GPA and 14 core courses (4 years of English, 3 of math at Algebra 1 or above, 3 of lab science, 3 of social science, 1 more core or world language); test-optional, with scores used for math and English placement. Applicants below the guidelines can still be considered, and some are referred to the Pathway Program with North Dakota State College of Science.

3. Deadlines and materials (international undergraduates)

• Rolling admission: documents are evaluated as they arrive.
• Recommended dates, stated differently on two pages: the international admission page recommends applying by May 15 for fall 2026 (August start) and by November 1 for spring 2027 (January start); the FAQ says fall applications are due June 1 and spring November 1, with no summer admission. Check the latest dates for fall 2027.
• Fee: USD 35 for each term applied to, including deferrals; no waivers.
• Materials: upload unofficial secondary transcripts and the passport biography page with the online application; official transcripts are mailed in a sealed envelope from the school after admission. English scores must be sent directly to NDSU and are valid for two years.

4. English

• Minimums: any one of TOEFL 4.0 (71 for tests before January 21, 2026), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105, PTE 50, ACT English 18 or SAT EBRW 480.
• Country exemptions: applicants from listed countries, including Canada (except Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, do not submit scores.
• Other exemptions: two years in good standing at a U.S. high school or accredited U.S. college, or English Composition 1 and 2 with grades of B or higher (for those with less than two years of college), among others.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Grades: a U.S.-equivalent GPA of 2.75 or higher; secondary transcripts are evaluated in-house (external credential evaluations are required for post-secondary records).
• English: TOEFL 4.0 (71 prior scale), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105 or PTE 50, or SAT EBRW 480 or ACT English 18.
• Gaokao: the international admission page does not mention it, and how Gaokao results are used is not published; ask International Admissions (ndsu.intl.admissions@ndsu.edu).
• A-Level, IB, AP: credit rules are not given on the pages read for this guide; ask admissions.

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

• English: Canada (except Quebec) is on the exempt-country list.
• Process: the international page says undergraduates who hold or will require F or J status follow the international process; confirm with admissions which process Canadian students use.
• Tuition: the tuition chart lists Manitoba and Saskatchewan among “contiguous states and provinces” with a lower rate; BC is not among them, and the international chart reads “International (excluding Manitoba & Saskatchewan)”.
• BC: grade conversion for the BC diploma is not published; ask International Admissions.

7. Transfer students

• International transfer: USD 35 fee and a U.S.-equivalent college GPA of 2.0 or higher; coursework from outside the U.S. needs a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES member (such as WES, ECE or SpanTran), sent electronically to NDSU.
• U.S. transfer: a 2.0 cumulative GPA from all colleges; with fewer than 24 transferable credits, high school records are also reviewed. Domestic deadlines: spring 2027 December 1, summer July 1, fall 2027 August 1.
• Credit: graduates must take at least 30 credits at NDSU, including 15 at the 300 level or above and 15 in the major.
• Entering computer science: extra conditions are not published; ask the department.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Engineering tuition: the tuition chart says engineering differential tuition applies to students in College of Engineering programs and names computer science among the examples. International students (excluding Manitoba and Saskatchewan) pay USD 828.92 per credit at the engineering rate (base rate 753.32); contiguous states and provinces, including Manitoba and Saskatchewan, pay USD 568.42 per credit. Student fees are USD 71.70 per credit, and tuition is capped at 13 or more credits per semester. All new undergraduates pay a one-time USD 200 new student fee in their first semester.
• International annual estimate (year not stated; 12 credits per semester): engineering tuition and fees USD 21,862 and housing 4,885, totaling USD 36,124; Manitoba and Saskatchewan residents pay tuition and fees of USD 14,273, totaling USD 26,345.
• International undergraduate scholarship: new first-year and transfer students receive it automatically at admission based on U.S.-equivalent cumulative GPA, for up to 8 semesters: 3.5 to 4.0 USD 12,000 (1,500 a semester) and 3.0 to 3.49 USD 8,000 (1,000 a semester). Students must be admitted by July 1 for August entry or January 1 for January entry. NDSU does not offer full scholarships, and I-20 financial documents must cover the full amount without counting scholarships.
• Department scholarships: the Doosan and Bobcat Company Scholarship is for incoming freshmen with a 3.50 GPA, with preference for computer science and related majors, due February 1; most other department awards are for enrolled students, due March 1, with varying amounts.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply early: for fall, before mid-May (application page) or June 1 (FAQ), and be admitted by July 1 to receive the international scholarship
• Prepare TOEFL 4.0 (71 prior scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105; a converted GPA of 3.5 earns the top scholarship tier
• Ask International Admissions how Gaokao, A-Level, IB and AP results are used

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

• English testing is waived outside Quebec; confirm the application process and how BC grades are evaluated
• Only Manitoba and Saskatchewan are listed as contiguous provinces with the lower rate; BC is not

Transfer students:

• Keep a 2.0 college GPA; get a NACES course-by-course evaluation for foreign coursework; ask the department which courses transfer and how to enter the major

Sources: North Dakota State University, Computer Science program; 2026-2027 catalog: Computer Science Major (B.S.); 2026-2027 catalog: Computer Science Major (B.A.); Accelerated Master’s; Computer Science scholarships; International admission; International undergraduate scholarships; International tuition cost information; International admission FAQ; First-year students; Transfer students; Undergraduate tuition. Courses follow the 2026-2027 catalog. Check NDSU’s website for the latest.