How to apply to Computer Science at Eastern Kentucky University: the ABET-accredited BS with 120 credits, three concentrations and a first-year schedule, free application, grade and English requirements for international students, 2026-27 tuition, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer applicants

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is in Richmond, Kentucky. Its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is offered on campus by the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This guide summarizes the official requirements 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

• Accreditation: the program page says the BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
• Credits (2026-2027 catalog): 120 credits, including 30 credits of Essential Education and GSD 101 Foundations of Learning (3); at least 39 credits must be upper-division (300 level or above), spread across major, supporting, Essential Education and elective courses.
• Core courses: CSC 185 Discrete Structures I, CSC 190 Object-Oriented Programming I, CSC 191 Object-Oriented Programming II, CSC 195 Discrete Structures II, CSC 308 Mobile App Development for Apple iOS, CSC 310 Data Structures, CSC 313 Database Systems, CSC 338 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity, CSC 340 Ethics & Software Engineering, CSC 499 CS Career Preparation, EET 252 Digital Electronics, MAT 239 Linear Algebra and Matrices, MAT 244 Calculus II and STA 270 Applied Statistics; every concentration also requires MAT 234 Calculus I.
• Programming start: the catalog notes that students without a 25 ACT or 590 SAT will be advised to take CSC 170 Intro to Game Programming before CSC 185 and CSC 190.
• Three concentrations (catalog; choose one):
  • Artificial Intelligence in Data Science (37 credits; 2 credits of free electives): Algorithms I and II, Theory of Database Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data and Data Visualization, plus statistics courses in regression, sampling, nonparametric methods, SAS and R/data mining.
  • Computer Science (General) (27–29 credits; 10–12 credits of free electives): Algorithms I and II, Computer Organization & Architecture, Operating Systems, Applied Software Engineering, Computer Network & System Administration, Software Testing and Theory of Database Systems, plus two science courses with different prefixes.
  • Interactive Multimedia (27–30 credits; 9–12 credits of free electives): Introduction to Computer Game Design, 3D Modeling, 3D Game Engine Design, Graphics Programming, Multimedia Systems and a Game Design Capstone, plus supporting courses such as Exploring Virtual Worlds, Music for Visual Media and University Physics I.
  Each concentration includes one credit from Innovative Problem Solving, Independent Work or Senior Seminar.
• Inconsistent count: the program page twice says there are “four” concentrations, but both the page and the catalog list only the three above. Go by the catalog and confirm with the department.
• First year (catalog sample plan): first semester GSD 101, CSC 185, CSC 190, STA 270 and MAT 234 Calculus I; second semester CSC 191, CSC 195, MAT 244 Calculus II, ENG 101 and an Essential Education course.
• The program page also mentions co-op and internship opportunities, project-based learning and fast-track options for students with 80 or more credit hours.

2. Admission

• International applicants must indicate their intended major for an I-20 to be issued.
• The program page says “certain degree programs have special admission requirements” and that admission to the university does not mean automatic admission to all programs. Whether Computer Science has its own threshold, and how to switch into it after enrolling, are not on the pages we read; ask the college’s enrollment counselor (cstem.recruitment@eku.edu).

3. Deadlines and documents

• Deadlines (program page; no year shown): the application and all documents must arrive by August 1 for fall, December 1 for spring and May 1 for summer. The international page does not list separate international deadlines.
• Application fee: the online application is free.
• International first-year documents:
  • A copy of your valid passport.
  • Secondary school records with a cumulative grade of 75% (2.5 GPA equivalent) or higher. Transcripts not in English or not on a 4.00 scale need an official evaluation and translation; ECE, WES, The Evaluation Company or Josef Silny can do both.
  • An official copy of your high school diploma or graduation certificate (if applicable).
  • A declaration of finances verifying at least USD 28,614; documents are valid for six months, and the I-20 is issued only after financial verification.
  • Proof of English proficiency.
• Students who have attempted any college-level coursework must apply as transfer students.

4. English requirements

• Standard admission (any one): TOEFL iBT 71 with no band below 16, IELTS 6.0 with 5.0 or above in every band, Duolingo 95, ACT English 18 and Reading 20, SAT EBRW 510, English 101 and 102 with a C or better at an accredited US institution, or completion of ELS Level 112 in the US.
• Exempt countries: the list includes Canada (except Quebec); China is not on it.
• Students who meet every requirement except English can apply through an ELS center and receive a Conditional Letter of Admission.

5. Students at high schools in China

• You need a cumulative grade of 75% (GPA 2.5) or higher, and Chinese transcripts need an official evaluation and translation.
• How the Gaokao is used is not published; ask admissions (admissions@eku.edu).
• Credit for AP, IB or A-Level is not covered on the pages we read.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents apply as international students.
• Canada (except Quebec) is on the English exemption list.
• You need a cumulative grade of 75% (GPA 2.5) or higher; how BC courses are converted is not published, so ask admissions.

7. Transfer students

• International transfers: 24 semester credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; with fewer than 24 hours you must also submit a complete secondary school record. Coursework from outside the US must go to ECE, The Evaluation Company or Josef Silny for a course-by-course evaluation. English and financial requirements are the same as for first-year applicants.
• Transfer credit (program page): up to 90 hours can transfer, and at least 30 credit hours of the degree must be completed at EKU; prior credits are reviewed after admission.
• Conditions for entering the Computer Science major are not published; ask the college’s transfer enrollment advisor.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 tuition (tuition page, on-campus out-of-state and international students): a flat USD 6,120 per semester for 12 to 15 credits and USD 408 per credit above 15. Per-semester fees include a USD 150 special use fee, a USD 150 asset preservation fee, a USD 255 Eastern Experience fee and a USD 153 student health fee; textbooks are USD 26 per credit. The page also estimates housing and food at USD 6,331, personal costs at USD 1,104 and transportation at USD 1,340 per semester.
• Proof of funds: at least USD 28,614 for international students (a minimum estimate of tuition, books, room and meals, health insurance and incidentals).
• Merit scholarships (Eastern Experience awards of USD 1,000 to 9,000 a year by unweighted GPA): the page says they are for in-state, on-campus, first-time freshmen only. Scholarships for international students are not covered on the pages we read.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare TOEFL 71 (16 per band), IELTS 6.0 (5.0 per band) or Duolingo 95
• Get your transcripts evaluated and translated; you need 75% (GPA 2.5) or higher
• Submit everything by August 1 for fall and list Computer Science as your major
• Prepare proof of at least USD 28,614

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

• Apply as an international student; English scores are waived (except Quebec)
• Ask admissions how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• 24 credits and GPA 2.0 or higher; get a course-by-course evaluation for coursework outside the US
• Up to 90 credits transfer; at least 30 must be earned at EKU

Sources: Eastern Kentucky University, BS in Computer Science; 2026-2027 Catalog: Computer Science, BS; International students; Tuition and costs; Merit scholarships. Tuition is the 2026-27 rate; check EKU’s website for the latest.