How to apply to Computer Science at Marshall University: the 120-credit BS in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, the ACT thresholds for direct entry and Pre-Computer Science, no international application fee, and what students in China, students in Canada and transfer students need

Marshall University is in Huntington, West Virginia. Its BS in Computer Science belongs to the Department of Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences (CECS). This guide summarizes what the university’s website says 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 (2026-27 catalog)

• Accreditation: the program page describes the BS as an ABET-accredited degree program.
• Total: 120 credits, including the general education core, additional university requirements (two writing-intensive courses and one multicultural or international course) and the major.
• Computer science courses: Computer Science I and II, Data Structures and Algorithms, Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms, Programming Languages, Software Engineering I and II, Internetworking, Operating Systems, Automata and Formal Languages, Computer Architecture, Database Engineering, Cyber Security and the Senior Project.
• Math and other required courses: Discrete Structures, Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Applied Probability and Statistics, plus Engineering Economy, Scientific and Technical Writing and Principles of Management.
• Electives: two from Software Quality Assurance, Computer Graphics, High Performance Computing, Computing for Bioinformatics, Computational Intelligence, Cyber Risk, Digital Image Processing, Systems Engineering and special topics; plus three lab sciences (12 credits) from biology, chemistry, geology and physics.
• First year: Computer Science I and Calculus I in the first semester; Computer Science II, Discrete Structures and Calculus II in the second.
• Accelerated master’s: with 90 credit hours, a 3.30 overall GPA and a 3.50 major GPA, students can apply to an accelerated MS in computer science, cybersecurity or data science and take up to 12 graduate credits in the senior year.

2. Getting into the major

• Direct entry for first-time students: an ACT composite of 21 and ACT math of 24. The SAT equivalents differ between pages: the program page gives SAT composite 1090 and SAT math 560 (math section 580); the catalog gives SAT composite 1060 and SAT math 570.
• Pre-Computer Science: students who do not meet these scores may start in Pre-Computer Science. The thresholds also differ: the program page gives ACT composite 19–20 and ACT math 19–23, with an SAT composite of 1090 in one place and 1050 in another and SAT math 460–550 (math section 500–570); the catalog gives ACT composite 19 and ACT math 19–23 (SAT composite 990, SAT math 510–560). Registration for computer science courses is limited until the transfer criteria are met.
• Moving in from Pre-Computer Science or another Marshall major: 15 college credits, a 2.0 overall GPA, a C in ENG 101 and a C in MTH 132 Precalculus (or MTH 127/130 and MTH 132). Once these are met, students move into the major.
• Space: the catalog notes enrollment may be limited and urges early application and contact with an advisor.
• Applying without test scores: the catalog says applicants without scores and with a high school GPA of 3.00 or higher are admitted into the college of their major, provided they meet college and program requirements; those with 2.00–2.99 start in University College and move after 15 credits with a 2.0 GPA. The freshman page says applicants admitted without scores receive general, conditional admission and must submit scores later to be considered for their chosen program. Because Computer Science’s direct-entry rule is written in ACT/SAT scores, ask admissions how test-free applicants enter the major.

3. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• Deadlines (all documents must arrive to guarantee consideration; the page shows no year): spring October 15, summer March 15, fall June 15.
• Application fee: currently waived for international applicants to degree programs; any fee required appears on your checklist.
• GPA: a minimum high school GPA of 2.00, calculated by the international admissions office for coursework outside the U.S.
• Materials: official records and proof of completion for grades 9–12, sent directly by the issuing source; a NACES or AICE evaluation of secondary coursework is optional. ACT/SAT scores are required for direct entry into some programs, including those in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences.

4. English requirements (undergraduate)

• Minimums: TOEFL 61 for tests before January 21, 2026, and 4.0 or 72 after; IELTS 6.0; Duolingo 90; PTE Academic 57; Cambridge English 169; MELAB 79%; SAT Reading and Writing 480; ACT English/Reading 18.
• Exemptions: the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma from an accredited school in a listed country, which includes Canada (English-speaking, outside Quebec) and the United Kingdom; a C or higher in Cambridge IGCSE or O-Level English First Language; or IB English A at HL 4 or SL 5 or higher (not English B).

5. Students at high schools in China

• Records: send all grade 9–12 transcripts, proof of graduation and exam results directly from the school; the international office converts the GPA, with a 2.00 minimum.
• Testing: direct entry to Computer Science requires ACT/SAT scores under the rules above; without them, students may start in Pre-Computer Science or be reviewed under the test-free rules. Ask international admissions.
• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao scores are used.
• A-Level and IB: IB English A and Cambridge IGCSE/O-Level English results can meet the English requirement; credit rules are not published on the pages we read.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• English: the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma from an accredited school in English-speaking Canada (outside Quebec) meets the English requirement.
• BC grades: the website does not give BC grade requirements; the minimum GPA is 2.00 as converted by admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Into Computer Science: the same rule applies to students from within Marshall and from other schools: 15 credits, a 2.0 overall GPA, and C grades in ENG 101 and MTH 132 (or MTH 127/130 and MTH 132). Students short on math follow the Pre-Computer Science route first.
• University requirements: a 2.00 transfer GPA; with 30 or more credits, secondary records may not be required, while those with fewer than 30 must also meet international first-year standards.
• Coursework from outside the U.S.: needs a NACES or AICE course-by-course evaluation that includes a cumulative GPA.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 non-resident, CECS, full-time: tuition USD 9,392, fees USD 827 and the college fee USD 887 per semester, for a total of USD 11,106 per semester, or USD 926.25 per credit hour. The tuition page does not list international students separately.
• Cost of attendance: the cost-of-attendance page currently shows 2024-25 and 2025-26 budgets; a 2026-27 total is not yet published.
• Housing: full-time first-year and second-year students must live on campus.
• International scholarships: the scholarship pages we read do not say which awards international students can receive. Ask international admissions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Complete all documents by June 15 for fall; no application fee at present
• For direct entry to Computer Science: ACT composite 21 and math 24, or the SAT equivalent
• Prepare TOEFL 61 (4.0 or 72 on the new test), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 90
• Ask international admissions how Gaokao scores are used

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

• Confirm the English exemption and how BC grades convert to GPA

Transfer students:

• 15 credits, a 2.0 GPA, and C grades in ENG 101 and MTH 132

Sources: Marshall University, Computer Science BS; Department of Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering; 2026-27 catalog: Computer Science, B.S.; Catalog: Admissions; International admissions deadlines and requirements; Proof of English proficiency; First-time freshman admissions; 2026-27 undergraduate tuition and fees. Courses and tuition are for 2026-27; the international deadline page shows no year. Check Marshall’s website for the latest.