How to apply to Computer Science at Lamar University: the BS in the College of Arts and Sciences, its course structure and ABET accreditation, the 2.5 GPA for international freshmen and conflicting test statements, SAT/ACT-based freshman scholarships, and what students in China, students in Canada and transfer students need

Lamar University is in Beaumont, Texas. Its BS in Computer Science belongs to the Department of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. 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

• Undergraduate programs: the department offers the B.S. in Computer Science, B.S. in Computer Information Sciences, B.S. in Game Development and B.S. in Cybersecurity, plus minors and certificates.
• Accreditation: the B.S. in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Computer Science.
• Course structure (program page): 48 hours of computer science, 20 hours of mathematics, 12 hours of laboratory science, 3 hours of free electives and 3 hours of electrical engineering, plus the university’s general requirements. Students take the ETS computer science field exam in their graduating semester.
• Areas covered: programming languages, data structures, information systems, theory of programming languages, software engineering, networking, databases, multimedia and computer architecture; concentrations are available in bioinformatics and game development.
• Total credits and full course list: the degree plan linked from the program page is on the catalog site, which we could not read (see the note at the end). Total credits are not published on the pages we read; check the catalog or ask the department.

2. Getting into Computer Science

• The department and admissions pages we read do not describe a separate admission threshold for Computer Science or requirements for switching in. This is not published; ask the department.

3. International freshman applications and timing

• Requirement: international students who have never enrolled at a college or university must submit all documents and show a cumulative secondary GPA of at least 2.5.
• Application and fee: apply through ApplyTexas and pay a non-refundable USD 75 fee.
• Deadlines (no year shown):
  • Fall (August): priority April 15, final July 1
  • Spring (January): priority September 1, final December 1
  • Summer (June): priority January 1, final April 15
• Transcripts: all secondary and post-secondary work needs a course-by-course evaluation sent directly by the evaluating agency. Lamar does not evaluate internally, and you do not need to send official transcripts to admissions.
• Testing, conflicting statements: the international undergraduate page says international freshman and transfer applicants “should” have SAT and/or ACT scores sent directly by the testing agency; the freshman page and the test-optional policy page say applicants do not have to submit SAT/ACT scores. Confirm with international admissions.
• I-20: after admission, submit the financial statement form and bank verification through the I-20 request form. The pages we read do not state the required amount.
• After admission: students at Texas public universities take the TSI assessment unless exempt; F and J students must buy health insurance through the university.

4. English requirements (undergraduate)

• TOEFL iBT 71 (or 4 on the 1–6 scale), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105 or PTE 59.
• Waivers: students from a listed country (including Canada (except Quebec), the United Kingdom and Singapore); students who completed 48 credits of secondary or post-secondary school in a listed country or taught in English; students who completed level 112 of Intensive English at a U.S. institution; or students with a B or better in English Composition I and II at an accredited U.S. institution. Waivers are requested through an online form. China is not on the list.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Your high school record needs a course-by-course evaluation and a GPA of at least 2.5.
• Freshman scholarships require SAT or ACT scores (see below).
• How Gaokao scores are used and whether A-Level or IB earns credit are not published; ask international admissions.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Canada (except Quebec) is on the English waiver list.
• Canadian students without U.S. status apply as international students, and their records also need a course-by-course evaluation.
• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; ask admissions.

7. Transfer students

• International transfer (currently at an accredited U.S. college): under 48 credit hours, a 2.5 cumulative GPA; more than 48 hours, a 2.0 GPA.
• General transfer page: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and eligibility to re-enter previous schools; students with fewer than 18 hours also submit high school transcripts and must meet freshman criteria. The transfer page lists fall 2027 deadlines of July 27 (application) and August 3 (documents); the spring 2027 application deadline is printed as “December 39”; confirm with admissions. The transfer page gives a USD 25 fee, while the international undergraduate page gives USD 75; ask admissions which applies to international transfers.
• For whether computer science credits transfer and how to enter the major, check the transfer equivalency guide and then ask the department.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Estimated cost of attendance (non-resident, full-time, on campus; no year shown and no separate international figure): tuition and fees USD 11,867 per semester, about USD 20,604 per semester in total, or about USD 41,208 per year.
• Freshman scholarships (the page says international students submit SAT/ACT scores to be considered; totals over four years):
  • Cardinal Elite: USD 40,000 (SAT 1330+ or ACT 29+), including USD 2,000 a year toward on-campus housing
  • Academic Excellence: USD 32,000 (SAT 1200–1320; ACT 25–28 for domestic students, printed as “25-18” in the international line, so confirm with the scholarship office)
  • Distinguished: USD 20,000 (SAT 1080–1190 or ACT 21–24)
  • University Scholars: USD 8,000 (ACT 19–21; SAT 1010–1070 for domestic students and 1010–1170 in the international line, which differ)
  • Presidential: a full ride (tuition, fees, room, board and books); international students need SAT 1330 or ACT 29+, plus a letter of interest, résumé, essay and interview, and must join the Honors College.
• Scholarship deadlines: the scholarships page gives March 1 as the priority date for most scholarships; the freshman scholarship page says endowed scholarships are awarded after the January 15 priority deadline. Confirm with the scholarship office.
• Department scholarships: Crawford/Lewis (about USD 1,200, GPA 3.0), Nylin (about USD 900), Waldron (about USD 700; SAT 1000+, three years of high school math and two of physical science) and Nelson (about USD 630), all through myScholarships before March 1. The page does not say whether international students are eligible.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through ApplyTexas by April 15 for fall (final July 1) and pay the USD 75 fee
• Get a course-by-course evaluation; GPA at least 2.5
• Prepare TOEFL 71 (4 on the new test), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105
• Prepare SAT or ACT scores: freshman scholarships require them from international students, and the international undergraduate page says they should be sent

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

• Confirm the English waiver (outside Quebec)
• Ask admissions how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• GPA 2.5 under 48 hours, 2.0 above 48 hours
• With fewer than 18 hours, also submit high school transcripts

Note

Lamar’s catalog site blocked our access, so we did not read it. This guide therefore does not list the full required courses or total credits; check the catalog.

Sources: Lamar University, Department of Computer Science; B.S. Computer Science; ABET accreditation; Department scholarships; International admissions; International undergraduate admission; English language proficiency requirements; SEVIS and the I-20; Freshmen; Test-optional admissions; Transfer; Incoming freshmen scholarships; Scholarships; Estimated cost of attendance. The international deadline and cost pages show no year. Check Lamar’s website for the latest.