How to Apply for Computer Science at the University of North Florida: selective admission (C or better in Programming I and Calculus I before declaring), the 120-credit B.S. and one-repeat rule, required SAT/ACT/CLT, the USD 30 fee and out-of-state tuition waivers, and requirements for students in China, Canada and transfer students

The University of North Florida (UNF) is in Jacksonville, Florida. Its computer science degree is offered by the School of Computing in the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction. 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 ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Science. The program page says it focuses on system-level design and programming, such as compilers, operating systems, algorithm analysis and design and artificial intelligence, with a significant math and science component.
• Credits: under the 2026-2027 catalog, the degree requires 120 credits, including at least 48 upper-level (3000-4000) credits.
• Prerequisites (25 credits): COP2220 Programming I, MAC2311 Calculus I, MAC2312 Calculus II, PHY2048 and PHY2049 calculus-based physics with labs, and two additional science courses for science majors (6 credits).
• Requisite (3 credits): any public speaking course; SPC4064 is recommended.
• Computing common core (18 credits): COT3100 Computational Structures, COP3503 Programming II, COP3530 Data Structures, CIS3253 Legal and Ethical Issues in Computing, COP3703 Introduction to Databases and CNT4504 Computer Networks.
• Major requirements (32 credits): CDA3100 Computer Architecture and Organization, COT3210 Theory of Computation, COP3404 Systems Programming, CEN4010 Software Engineering, COP4610 Operating Systems, COP4620 Construction of Language Translators, CAP4630 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, COT4400 Algorithms, MAS3105 Linear Algebra and STA3032 Probability and Statistics for Engineers.
• Major electives (9 credits): any three upper-level computing courses. Students admitted to the accelerated BS-MS program may use two graduate courses for up to 6 of these credits.
• Exit requirements: proficiency in a high-level programming language, and oral presentations in upper-level computing courses; if the first is satisfactory, the second is waived.

2. Grades and the repeat rule

• Grades: the catalog says all courses must be completed with a C or better unless noted otherwise.
• One repeat: for School of Computing prerequisite and core courses, a student who earns a D, F, W, WP or WF on the first attempt gets one chance to repeat; a student who fails the second attempt is blocked from School of Computing courses in future semesters. This applies whether or not the student has declared a computing major.
• Completing at UNF: once enrolled, all remaining prerequisites and major requirements must be completed at UNF.

3. Admission: selective admission

• Two courses before declaring: the catalog lists Computer Science as a selective-admission program. Students who want to declare it must first complete COP2220 Programming I and MAC2311 Calculus I with a C or better.
• First-time college students: work with a first-year advisor to meet these criteria, ideally within the first 30 college credits; those who do not complete them cannot declare a computing major and must declare another UNF major.
• Transfer students: should meet the criteria before applying to UNF, in no more than two attempts per course. These are minimums and do not guarantee admission to the School; provisional admission may be given to students who do not meet them.
• Current UNF students: must have met the criteria when requesting the change of major; the change may need additional approvals and is not guaranteed, particularly with more than 90 credits or if it would lead to excess hours.
• University admission: Florida’s minimum freshman standard for state universities is a 2.5 recalculated GPA plus minimum test scores. The admissions page notes that these minimums only show potential eligibility for the university, not for a particular program.

4. First-year application (summer and fall 2027)

• Application: the UNF application (opened July 1, 2026) or the Common App; the fee is USD 30.
• Deadlines (deadlines page):
  • Priority: application and materials by November 18, 2026, decisions December 9, 2026.
  • Standard: December 16, 2026, decisions January 13, 2027.
  • Final: application April 1, 2027 and materials April 15, 2027, with rolling decisions.
  The freshman page’s calendar also lists a September 2 non-binding early application deadline, which the deadlines page does not list.
• Other dates: priority scholarship deadline January 15; admission deposit May 1.
• Testing: first-time-in-college applicants must submit SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores; UNF superscores and does not require the essay section.
• High school courses: 4 units of English, 4 of math (Algebra 1 or higher), 3 of natural science, 3 of social science, 2 of sequential foreign language and 2 academic electives. Grades of C or higher get 0.5 extra points in honors courses and 1 point in IB, AICE, AP and dual enrollment courses.
• Admitted students: the middle 50% of fall 2026 admitted freshmen had GPAs of 3.96 to 4.51, SAT 1090 to 1280 and ACT 23 to 29; students outside these ranges were also admitted.
• Credit by exam: up to 45 credits from AP, IB, AICE and CLEP; these scores do not affect the admission decision and are sent after admission.

5. International application

• Suggested deadlines (set by the International Center for immigration documents; no year shown): fall April 1, spring October 1, summer February 1. Specialized and selective-access majors may have separate deadlines.
• Application fee: USD 30, with no waivers for international students.
• Documents: transcripts and exam results for all secondary work, with certified English translations if not in English (translations signed by a notary or another person with no educational affiliation are not accepted). IB students send an official transcript directly from the IB Organization. First-year applicants also submit SAT or ACT scores.
• No conditional admission for English: the FAQ says all international students must meet the English requirement to be admitted. Students can first study in UNF’s English Language Program; completing the Pre-University level with a 3.0 average meets the requirement.

6. English requirements

• Test scores (one of): TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110, PTE 53; or ACT Reading 19 and English 17, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 490, CLT 38, or AP International English Language 3.
• Other ways: being from an English-speaking country; graduating from a high school taught in English (shown on the school website, transcript or a medium-of-instruction certificate); or an American diploma or IB from a U.S.-accredited English-medium international school overseas.
• Canada: the English page’s list of English-speaking countries includes “Canada, except Quebec”; the catalog says only applicants from countries where English is the only official language are exempt. The two differ, so confirm with Admissions.

7. Students at high schools in China

• Documents: all secondary transcripts and exam results with certified English translations, SAT or ACT scores, and TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or another accepted proof such as graduation from an English-medium high school.
• Gaokao: the international admissions page does not mention the Gaokao; how it is used is not published. Ask Admissions (admissions@unf.edu).
• A-Level, IB, AP: credit by exam is capped at 45 credits in total; for course equivalents, see UNF’s Accelerated Credit page or ask Admissions.
• Computer science: after enrolling, complete Programming I and Calculus I with a C before declaring the major.

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

• English: the English page lists Canada (except Quebec) as English-speaking, so TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo is not required; the catalog’s wording differs (see section 6).
• Testing: international first-year applicants also submit SAT or ACT scores.
• BC: grade requirements and GPA conversion for the BC graduation diploma are not published; ask Admissions.

9. Transfer students

• University requirements (catalog):
  • 12 to 29 transferable credits: cumulative college GPA 2.25.
  • 30 to 59 credits: a C or higher in English Composition and college-level math, and GPA 2.25.
  • 60 or more credits: GPA 2.25, or 2.0 with an A.A. from a Florida College System or State University System institution.
• Deadlines: fall 2027 July 1, 2027 (materials July 15); spring 2027 November 1, 2026 (materials November 15). International students should apply early using the dates in section 5.
• International transfer: coursework from outside the U.S. generally needs a course-by-course evaluation by an approved agency; applicants with fewer than 60 transferable credits also submit high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores.
• Computer science: complete Programming I and Calculus I (no more than two attempts each) before transferring. The School of Computing recommends taking Calculus I and II, Programming I, both calculus-based physics courses with labs, and two science courses at the current school.

10. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition (fall 2026 to summer 2027): USD 765.14 per credit for non-Florida residents, including differential tuition.
• 2026-2027 cost of attendance (non-Florida resident on campus, 15 credits per semester): tuition and fees USD 20,790, total USD 39,241.
• Out-of-state tuition waivers (new students starting summer or fall 2027): non-Florida residents and international students may be eligible based on GPA and test scores, with no separate application; priority goes to students admitted by January 15:
  • First Coast: about USD 14,000, GPA 3.9, SAT 1300 / ACT 28 / CLT 92;
  • Atlantic: about USD 10,000, GPA 3.7, SAT 1230 / ACT 26 / CLT 86;
  • Sunshine: about USD 6,000, GPA 3.5, SAT 1160 / ACT 24 / CLT 79.
  Amounts are yearly, based on 30 credits; they waive part of the out-of-state tuition and cannot be combined with other UNF scholarships. The page’s cost example shows a First Coast waiver value of USD 13,718, which differs from the table’s USD 14,000.
• Transfer tuition waivers: USD 6,000, 8,000 or 10,000 a year for transfer GPAs of 3.2, 3.5 or 3.8; lower-level transfers (12 to 29 credits) also need a 3.0 high school GPA. Priority goes to students admitted by April 15.
• International Center: the Non-Florida Tuition Waiver is for F-1 students who have completed one full-time academic year at UNF, with an application each term and limited awards. International students are not eligible for any scholarship that requires the FAFSA.

11. Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For fall, apply by the suggested April 1 date; for the tuition waivers, priority goes to students admitted by January 15
• Prepare SAT or ACT scores and TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110
• After enrolling, complete Programming I and Calculus I with a C early; prerequisite and core courses can be repeated only once
• Ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

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

• Prepare SAT or ACT scores; confirm the English exemption (the two pages differ) and how BC grades are evaluated

Transfer students:

• Keep a college GPA of 2.25 or higher; finish Programming I and Calculus I (two attempts at most) before transferring, ideally also Calculus II, physics and two science courses

Sources: University of North Florida, Computer Science Program; School of Computing Selective Admission; School of Computing Transfer Students; 2026-2027 catalog: Computer Science (B.S.); Catalog: Specialized & Selective Admission Programs; Catalog: Transfer Student Admission; Catalog: International Students Admission; Freshman Admissions; Admission Deadlines; International Admissions; Required English Language Proficiency; International Center FAQ; International Center Scholarships and Funding; Undergraduate Tuition & Fees; Cost of Attendance; Scholarship Programs. Courses follow the 2026-2027 catalog. Check UNF’s website for the latest.