How to Apply for Computer Science at East Tennessee State University: the ABET-accredited B.S. in Computer Science (math minor required) and accelerated B.S. to M.S., a 2.3 GPA for international freshmen, the USD 35 fee, automatic merit awards of USD 5,000–9,000 a year and the in-state-rate STEM scholarship, for students in China, Canada and transfer students

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is in Johnson City, Tennessee. Its computer science degree is offered by the Department of Computing in the College of Business and Technology. 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. The program page says it is accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) under the General Criteria and the Computer Science program criteria; the department’s accreditation page names it the “B.S. in Computing with a Concentration in Computer Science.”
• Content: the program page says the focus is systems-level software, including distributed applications and real-time graphics simulations, with courses in data structures, algorithms, computer systems and operating systems, plus the calculus sequence required of mathematics majors and one additional lab science. The department’s undergraduate page adds that the B.S. in Computer Science requires a minor in mathematics and covers object-oriented programming and design, computer networks, artificial intelligence, and computation and complexity theory.
• Other degrees in the department: the B.S. in Computing (Cybersecurity and Modern Networks, or Information Technology concentrations) and the B.S. in Information Systems. They share a set of common computing courses. The university’s program page says students can start in any of the department’s ABET-accredited programs and transfer “without losing credits.”
• Credits and course list: the pages we read do not list total credits or required courses; see the computer science page in the catalog (catalog.etsu.edu) or ask the department’s undergraduate advisors.
• Accelerated B.S. to M.S.: students can request admission after 75 credits (including dual enrollment and AP credit) with an ETSU undergraduate GPA of 3.25; transfer students must first complete two semesters at ETSU. Up to 12 graduate credits in the final year count toward both degrees, need a B or better, and are charged at the undergraduate rate.

2. Admission to the major

• The department pages we read do not describe a separate entry requirement for computer science or the conditions for changing into it from another major (not published). Ask the department’s undergraduate advisors (two advisors split by last name; contact details are on the program page).

3. First-year application

• Admission standard (freshman requirements page): applicants under 21 must meet one of these: a 2.3 high school GPA (4.0 scale), or ACT composite 17 / SAT 920.
• Testing: SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission but are required for scholarships and used for advising; ETSU superscores.
• Deadlines (admission deadlines page, domestic students): fall 2027 closes August 19, 2027, and spring 2027 closes January 14, 2027. International deadlines are different; see the next section.

4. International application

• Fee: USD 35. The FAQ says application fee waivers are not currently available for international students.
• GPA: international freshmen need a 2.3 high school GPA (4.0 scale).
• Transcripts: high school transcripts must come directly from the school (by mail or school email), not from the student, and all documents need English translations. Credential evaluations are optional; reports from WES, The Evaluation Company, IEE, Josef Silny or ECE are accepted but do not replace original transcripts.
• Deadlines (no year shown): fall applications by July 1 and I-20 requests by July 15; spring applications by November 1 and I-20 requests by November 15.

5. English requirements

• Undergraduate minimums: TOEFL iBT 3.5 (tests from January 21, 2026) or 61 (earlier tests), IELTS 5.5, PTE 43, Duolingo 95, Oxford ELLT 6; also ACT Reading and English 19, SAT Evidence-Based Reading 500, and GTEC, ESOL B2 or iTEP 3.6, among others.
• Exemptions: applicants from countries where English is the official language (the list includes Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia), applicants with a year as an exchange student at, or graduation from, a U.S. high school, or applicants with two semesters of U.S. college English composition that transfer as ENGL 1010 and 1020 with a C or better.

6. Students at high schools in China

• China is not on the exemption list, so English scores are required.
• How the Gaokao is used is not published; email International Admissions (international@etsu.edu).
• Credit for A-Level, IB and AP is not described on the pages we read; check the catalog or ask Admissions.

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

• The English requirements page lists Canada among exempt countries and does not mention a Quebec exception.
• Grade requirements and conversion for BC courses are not published. International freshmen are reviewed against a 2.3 GPA; confirm how BC grades are converted with Admissions.

8. Transfer students

• International transfer GPA (4.0 scale): 1.4 for 1–29 credits, 1.7 for 29–45 credits, 1.9 for 45–60 credits and 2.0 for 60+ credits (credit bands as shown on the page).
• Official transcripts from every college attended are required.
• Any extra requirement for entering computer science is not published; ask the department’s advisors.

9. Costs and scholarships

• International cost of attendance (F-1/J-1, 15 credits per semester):
  • 2026-2027: tuition and fees USD 30,686, housing 5,000, food 4,320, books 1,300, health insurance 1,614 and miscellaneous 5,240, totaling USD 48,160.
  • 2027-2028: tuition and fees USD 31,760, totaling USD 49,994.
• A second set of figures: the international estimated costs page shows USD 15,343 tuition and USD 4,660 housing and meals per semester for 2026-2027, or USD 40,006 a year. That page covers only tuition, housing and meals, while the cost-of-attendance page adds books, insurance and other expenses, so the totals differ.
• International Merit Scholarships: new international degree-seeking students are considered automatically when they apply, with no separate application. A high school GPA above 3.0 earns USD 5,000 a year, above 3.5 USD 7,000 and above 3.75 USD 9,000, for up to 8 semesters; students must keep a 2.75 GPA each semester. They cannot be combined with other awards that cover out-of-state tuition.
• STEM Community Outreach Scholarship: for new undergraduates majoring in computing, geosciences, mathematics or physics, including international students; recipients pay in-state tuition, typically for 8 semesters. First-time freshmen need a 3.2 high school GPA, ACT Math 25 and ACT English 21 (the international scholarships page also lists SAT Math 590); transfers need a 3.0 college GPA. Recipients must take at least 15 credits a semester, live on campus, buy a meal plan in the first year, work 40 hours a semester for PASTA (refurbishing computers for local schools) and keep a 2.5 GPA.

10. Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by July 1 for fall and submit the I-20 request by July 15
• Prepare TOEFL 61 (3.5 on the new scale), IELTS 5.5 or Duolingo 95
• For the STEM scholarship, prepare ACT scores (Math 25, English 21)
• Ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

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

• Confirm the English exemption and how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• Check your GPA against your credit band, and confirm computer science entry requirements and transfer credit with the department’s advisors

Sources: East Tennessee State University, Computing Undergraduate Programs; Computer Science; Accreditation; Accelerated B.S. to M.S.; Computing Scholarships; B.S. in Computer Science; International Undergraduate Application; English Proficiency Requirements; International Cost of Attendance; International Estimated Costs; International Scholarships; International Merit Scholarships; International FAQ; Freshman Requirements; Admission Deadlines. For the course list, see the catalog. Check ETSU’s website for the latest.