How to apply to Computer Science at the University of Southern Maine: course areas in the B.S., the required engaged-learning component, the 4+1 pathway, admission without SAT/ACT, the June 1 international fall deadline, no fee and in-state-level tuition for Canadian applicants, with requirements and timelines for students in China, students in Canada and transfer students

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is part of the University of Maine System. Its B.S. in Computer Science is offered by the Department of Computer Science, which its website places in Portland, Maine. This guide summarizes what USM’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

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, offered in person or blended; typical completion time is four years.
• Course areas: the program page says students can choose courses in databases, graphics, artificial intelligence, robotics, operating systems and computer networks, and complete a project-based internship experience.
• Mathematics: the department FAQ says the degree requires several math courses, covering discrete mathematics, linear algebra, calculus, and statistics and probability.
• Languages: the FAQ lists Python, Java, C/C++, Julia or MATLAB, Haskell, JavaScript and SQL, and notes the specific languages may change with the industry.
• Engaged learning: the FAQ says every student must complete the engaged-learning component of the CORE general education program, which is often an internship.
• 4+1 pathway: in the final two undergraduate years students can take up to 12 graduate credits that count toward both degrees, then finish the M.S. in Computer Science in one more year. The page says it admits for fall only, with applications due by February 1.
• Credits and required courses: the program page links to the academic catalog for requirements, which we could not read this time, so total credits and the required-course list are not given here. See the catalog page for the B.S..
• Accreditation: the pages we read do not mention ABET.
• Direct entry and switching in: not published; ask the department.

2. How first-year applicants are reviewed

• Focus: mainly academic background, the rigor of the high school program and grades.
• Testing: SAT and ACT scores do not influence admission decisions and are not required.
• Materials: application, official transcripts, a personal statement (recommended), and a school counselor statement and/or letter of recommendation. Students can use the Common App or the University of Maine System application.
• High school courses: generally 4 units of English, 3 of math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalents), 2 of lab science and 2 of social science. The admissions page lists majors with extra course requirements, and Computer Science is not on that list.

3. Deadlines and application fee

• Rolling admission: applications are accepted and reviewed all year.
• Fall (no year shown on the page):
  • Early action: apply by December 1 with materials in by December 15 for a guaranteed decision by January 15.
  • Apply by February 1 with materials in by February 15 for automatic academic scholarship consideration.
  • International deadline June 1; final deadline for all applicants August 15; enrollment deposit May 1.
• Spring: international deadline October 15; priority deadline December 1.
• Fee: free for in-state, out-of-state and Canadian applicants; USD 50 for international applicants.
• Timing: the admissions page recommends that international students start one year before they plan to enroll. Students already in the U.S. with valid F-1 status may have later deadlines.

4. International materials

• Secondary records: official secondary school transcripts, exam certificates and any college transcripts, with certified English translations.
• Credential evaluation: the page requires a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES or AICE member (Josef Silny is recommended) only for university-level transcripts from abroad, and notes some Canadian universities are exempt.
• Funding: students must show liquid funds for year one (usually a bank statement), and a sponsor form if someone else is paying. We could not read the budget amounts on the international office’s cost-of-attendance page; ask the international office.

5. English requirements

• Direct entry to undergraduate degrees: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105.
• PTE differs between pages: 60 on the undergraduate admissions page and 53 on the international office’s English requirements page.
• Pathway: the international office lists an Admissions Pathway Program for undergraduates at TOEFL 60, IELTS 5.5–6.0, PTE 46 or Duolingo 90.
• Exemption: the admissions page says applicants holding a degree from an institution with English instruction need not submit scores; there is no country exemption list.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Materials: secondary transcripts, exam certificates and English translations. The page requires an agency evaluation only for university transcripts from abroad and does not say whether secondary transcripts need one, so ask admissions.
• Gaokao: USM does not say how Gaokao scores are used; this is not published, so ask admissions.
• A-Level, IB and AP: the admissions page says USM recognizes AP and IB and may grant placement and credit for strong results; ask the Credit for Prior Learning Office. A-Level credit is not published.

7. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Fee and tuition: Canadian applicants pay no application fee, and the tuition table has a separate “Canadian” column equal to Maine in-state tuition.
• Scholarships: the international office has a separate Canadian merit scholarship table (see section 9).
• English: the page says applicants whose first language is not English may need scores; it does not address Canada specifically, so ask admissions.
• BC grades: grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; ask admissions.

8. Transfer students

• Who counts: anyone who has earned college credit after high school.
• GPA: a cumulative college GPA of 2.0 or higher, with more weight on recent work; some majors require more, and Computer Science is not on the admissions page’s transfer requirements table.
• Credits from abroad: a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES or AICE member.
• F-1 students already in the U.S.: complete a transfer form with the international student advisor at the current school and send a copy of the current I-20.

9. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition tier: Computer Science is in the highest tier, Differential Level 3.
• 2026-2027 tuition and fees (30 credits): USD 35,970 out of state (USD 32,580 tuition plus USD 3,390 fees); USD 14,490 for Canadian students; USD 22,770 under the New England tuition break. The table has no separate international column, so confirm which rate applies. New students also pay a one-time USD 200 enrollment fee.
• International merit scholarships (no year shown): international undergraduates who apply by the deadline are considered automatically and learn the result at admission. First-year awards by high school GPA:
  • 2.75–2.99: USD 7,000 a year
  • 3.0–3.49: USD 11,000 a year
  • 3.5 and above: USD 11,000 a year plus a one-time USD 2,000
  Transfer students with a college GPA of 3.5 or higher receive USD 9,000 a year.
• Canadian merit scholarships: first-year awards of USD 1,000 (2.75–2.99), USD 2,000 (3.0–3.49) or USD 4,000 (3.5 and above) a year by high school GPA; transfer students with GPA 3.5 or higher receive USD 1,000 a year.
• Renewal and housing: awards renew while the minimum GPA is kept, up to 4 years for first-year students and 3 for transfers. Students who indicate interest in campus housing when applying get an extra USD 1,000 a year toward housing. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by December 1 for early action, or by February 1 for automatic scholarship consideration; the international fall deadline is June 1
• Pay the USD 50 fee; prepare TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and secondary transcripts and exam certificates with English translations
• Ask admissions how Gaokao scores are used

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

• No application fee and Canadian tuition; confirm the English requirement and how BC grades are read

Transfer students:

• College GPA 2.0 or higher; NACES or AICE course-by-course evaluation for credits from abroad; ask the department about transfer credit and entry to the major

Sources: University of Southern Maine, Computer Science, BS; Department of Computer Science; department FAQ; Computer Science Accelerated Graduate Pathway; Undergraduate Admission; International Students; English language requirements; international undergraduate scholarships; 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition and fees. The admission deadline table shows no year and costs are for 2026-2027. Check USM’s website for the latest information.