How to apply to Computer Science at Suffolk University: the CS major in the College of Arts & Sciences, minors and the SANS cybersecurity certificate, flexible English options (including a Gaokao interview), deadlines and merit scholarships, and requirements for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

Suffolk University is in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. The Computer Science major is offered by the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science in the College of Arts & Sciences. This guide is based on the university’s website and is written 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

• What you study: the major page says it blends computer science and math, covering programming languages, computer architecture, databases, operating systems and networks, with individual and team projects, plus a virtual lab that simulates biological and environmental systems.
• Course list: the curriculum link goes to a third-party catalog site that we did not use, so required courses, credits and the degree type (BA or BS) were not checked; use Suffolk’s catalog.
• Accreditation: the pages we read do not mention ABET.
• Minors and double majors that pair well: Big Data & Business Analytics minor, Business Analytics & Information Systems, Cybersecurity minor, Economics, Information Systems minor and Mathematics.
• SANS certificate: through Suffolk’s partnership with the SANS Technology Institute, CS majors can earn the Applied Cybersecurity Certificate (ACS) in their junior and senior years at no additional cost.
• Other opportunities: the Computer Science Club, on-campus work in IT Services and the paid Rosenberg STEP program, projects with the Law School’s LIT Lab, independent study and honors capstones.

2. Choosing the major

• Whether CS has its own admission bar, and the conditions for switching in from another major, are not published; ask the College of Arts & Sciences.

3. First-year application

• Deadlines (no year shown): fall Early Action November 15; fall priority February 15, then rolling; priority fall aid March 1; spring entry December 1.
• Early Action: submit the Common App or Suffolk application by November 15 and send other documents later; files still incomplete by mid-December, or better suited to Regular Decision, move to the regular pool automatically.
• Materials: the Common App or Suffolk application, an application fee (waived if you visit in person or virtually), an essay, the official high school transcript, one recommendation, and SAT or ACT scores. Domestic applicants may apply test optional; non-native English speakers may send TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo instead of SAT/ACT.
• High school courses: four years of English, three of math (Algebra I and II, geometry), two of science (at least one lab), two of a language, one of U.S. history and four other college-prep electives.
• Fee amount: the pages we read do not state it; check the application.

4. International applicants

• Deadlines: fall Early Action November 15; fall priority February 15, then rolling; spring priority November 15. Suffolk warns that applying after November 15 for spring may leave too little time for the visa.
• Materials: the Common App or Suffolk application, the fee (waived with a visit), an essay, an official secondary transcript in English, one recommendation, and one proof of English.
• Transcript evaluation: admissions tries to evaluate transcripts internally; if it cannot, it will ask for an evaluation from a NACES member (CED, WES, TEC or ECE) at the applicant’s cost. Check with your counselor first.

5. English (“test-flexible” policy)

International applicants need one of the following:

• SAT or ACT scores
• TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 105; PTE Academic 54 (TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo must be sent by the testing agency)
• IB HL English predicted scores from your school
• First Language English results in IGCSE, GCSE or AS/A-Level, predicted or actual
• Gaokao: students from mainland China who took the Gaokao with English as one of the three areas can arrange an interview through InitialView or contact admissions
• Students from countries where English is the first and official language are exempt, but submit SAT, ACT or final IGCSE/GCSE, AS/A-Level or IB results; students with only predicted results complete a test waiver form

6. AP, IB and A-Level credit

• AP: most exams earn credit at 3, 4 or 5. AP Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles each earn 4 CS elective credits at 3 or above; English Language and Composition earns 8 credits at 5.
• IB: Computer Science HL 4 earns 8 credits for Computer Science I and II; Computer Science SL 5 earns 4 CS elective credits.
• A-Level: credit may be awarded for subjects with grades of C or higher.
• Entry requirements (2020 page): Suffolk’s 2020 exam policy page says at least five strong IGCSE/GCSE passes count as a high school diploma, and students using A-Levels as proof of graduation need at least three A-Levels at DDD. That page dates from 2020; confirm current requirements with admissions.

7. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: students who took Gaokao English can meet the English requirement with an InitialView interview; how overall Gaokao scores are used is not published, so ask admissions.
• Transcripts: send an official transcript in English; an outside evaluation is only requested if admissions cannot evaluate it.

8. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• English: students from countries where English is the first and official language are exempt, but no country list is published; ask admissions whether Canada counts and whether Quebec is excluded.
• BC grades: no BC grade requirements are published; ask admissions.

9. Transfer students

• Deadlines: spring admission and aid December 1; fall priority June 30, with fall priority aid June 1; later applications depend on space.
• Materials: the Suffolk application or Transfer Common App, the fee (waived with a visit), official transcripts from all colleges and an essay; some students also send a high school transcript (not needed with an associate or bachelor’s degree or 60+ transferable credits). Non-native speakers send TOEFL or IELTS, waived only after the equivalent of College Writing I and II with a B or better.
• Credits: up to 75 credits, with C- or better considered; at least 45 credits, including the final 30, at Suffolk. International coursework may need a professional evaluation.
• Transfer scholarships: merit awards for transfers up to USD 24,000 a year for domestic students and up to USD 22,000 for international students.
• Massachusetts community colleges: an associate degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher guarantees admission and junior standing.

10. Costs and scholarships (2026-27)

• Tuition: full time (12–17 credits a semester) USD 51,340 a year, USD 25,670 a semester, USD 1,510 per credit.
• Cost of attendance: about USD 82,460 for a resident student (tuition, USD 656 fees, USD 19,962 housing, USD 5,900 food, books, transportation and miscellaneous). International students are not listed separately.
• Merit scholarships: all applicants are considered automatically. The international page says merit scholarships for international students cover up to 50 percent of tuition. The merit calculator page says 2025-26 awards for new students ranged from USD 5,000 to 25,000 a year, renewable for four years; the calculator still reflects fall 2025 awards.
• Need-based aid: only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Use the Common App or Suffolk application; aim for Early Action (November 15) or fall priority (February 15); apply by November 15 for spring
• Prove English with one of TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105, PTE 54 or SAT/ACT; Gaokao English takers can book an InitialView interview
• Prepare an English transcript and one recommendation; ask admissions how overall Gaokao scores are used

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

• Ask admissions whether Canada is covered by the English exemption and how BC grades are read

Transfer students:

• Fall priority is June 30 and spring December 1; up to 75 credits transfer, with at least 45 at Suffolk; international transfer scholarships reach USD 22,000 a year

Sources: Suffolk University, Computer Science major; Admission standards and deadlines; Freshmen; International students; Transfer students; Advanced credit; 2020 updates to entry exam policies; Tuition rates 2026-27; Cost of attendance 2026-27; Merit calculator. Costs are for 2026-27; application dates are shown without a year. Check Suffolk’s website for the latest.