How to apply to Computer Science at Jacksonville State University: the ABET-accredited BS with five concentrations and a 120-hour General plan, the fall 2027 international application window, English requirements, 2026-27 tuition and the International Merit Scholarship, and requirements for students in China, Canada and transfer applicants

Jacksonville State University (Jax State or JSU) is in Jacksonville, Alabama. Its BS in Computer Science is offered by the Department of Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences (MCIS) in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. 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 department’s accreditation page says the Computer Science and Computer Information Systems programs are accredited by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC); the program page also lists ABET accreditation.
• Five concentrations: the department’s program list and the 2026-2027 catalog list five Computer Science BS concentrations: General, Data Science, Game Development, Information Assurance and Web Development. The courses below follow the catalog’s General concentration; see the catalog for the others.
• General concentration (2026-2027 catalog): the catalog says the major emphasizes the development of large software systems.
  • 41 hours of Jax MIX general education.
  • Prescriptive courses: Fundamentals of Computing (CS 230), Computer Programming I and II (CS 231, 232), Discrete Computational Structures, Technical Writing for Computer Science, Software Engineering I and II, Data Structures and Algorithms, Computer Organization and Architecture, Fundamentals of Computer Operating Systems, Computer Networking, Ethics and Legal Issues, and Database Systems.
  • Plus 6 hours of approved 300+ and 6 hours of approved 400+ computer science electives.
  • Support courses: Calculus I, Calculus II, Applied Probability and Statistics, and Linear Algebra.
  • Courses in the major may not be taken until all prerequisites are completed with a C or better.
• Four-year plan: the catalog’s plan totals 120 hours. The first year includes Introduction to Information Technology (CS 201), Fundamentals of Computing, Programming I and Discrete Computational Structures, and Calculus I starts in the second year. The catalog notes the plan assumes students begin with Calculus I; freshmen needing more preparation are placed in algebra or precalculus, so see an advisor.
• Class size: the international FAQ says classes average about 18 students, with larger introductory classes and smaller major courses.
• A Computer Science minor is also offered; the department also has a BS in Computer Information Systems and two master’s programs.

2. How admission works

• The international undergraduate page lists university-wide materials and academic requirements and does not give a separate threshold for computer science; the FAQ says program-specific requirements are on each department’s page. The program page links to the change-of-major form, but the pages we read do not state conditions for switching into computer science, so this is not published; check with MCIS or an advisor.
• Testing: the freshman page says Jax State is test-optional for freshman admission and admits on high school GPA, though scores can be used for admission to specific programs, course placement and some scholarships. The international page says SAT and ACT scores are accepted only from the testing agency.
• First-year and transfer students who have not completed their first required math or English course must complete JSU’s EdReady math and English placement exams.

3. Dates and materials

• Application periods: spring 2027 (classes begin January 6, 2027) runs June 1 to November 1, 2026; fall 2027 (classes begin August 18, 2027) runs August 10, 2026 to June 1, 2027. There is no summer intake for undergraduate international students. The section is headed “Important Deadlines for 2025-2026” but lists 2027 dates, so check the latest notice.
• Application fee: the international undergraduate page and FAQ say USD 50 for undergraduates, non-refundable; the miscellaneous fee table on the tuition and fees page lists the international application fee as USD 35. Check the application system. Students working with an approved recruitment agency may have a promo code.
• Materials: the online application; high school documents per the country requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (US equivalency), translated by the school or an approved translation service if not in English; a passport copy; English scores (unless from an exempt country); and, from spring 2026, a financial statement showing at least USD 37,500. Documents must be uploaded through the application portal; emailed documents are not processed.
• Deposit: the FAQ says admitted F-1 students pay a USD 200 deposit before the I-20 is issued; the deposit page says it was discontinued in fall 2026 and is no longer required from spring 2027 applicants. Follow the deposit page and the university’s notices.
• Housing: the FAQ says undergraduates aged 21 or younger must live on campus for at least one year.

4. English requirements

• Undergraduate minimums: TOEFL 61 for tests before January 21, 2026 or 3.5 for tests on or after; IELTS 5.5; PTE 45; iTEP 3.7; Duolingo 85; ACT composite 18 (English subscore at least 14); SAT 960 (reading subscore at least 19); or completion of ELI Level 4.
• Exempt countries: the list includes Canada (except Quebec), the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, among others, but not China; transfer students with at least 24 hours from accredited US institutions may request a waiver.

5. Students at high schools in China

• The documents page asks students from China for the Upper Middle School Graduation Certificate or High School Graduate Diploma; the GPA is evaluated from a US equivalency table with a minimum of 2.00, and one English test requirement must be met. Third-party evaluations from NACES members are accepted.
• How the Gaokao is used is not published; ask international admissions (intladmissions@jsu.edu).
• IB: an IB transcript is required with at least 6 subjects and 24 points (essay points are not counted in the GPA); IB HL courses may earn college credit with a WES course-by-course evaluation.
• A-Levels: the UK and GCSE/IGCSE entries list only the credentials needed for entry and say nothing about A-Level credit, so this is not published.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• The international admissions page defines international students as those who are not US citizens, permanent residents or eligible immigrants/DACA students and who need a student visa to study in the US.
• The documents page asks BC students for the Secondary School Graduation Diploma, with GPA evaluated from a US equivalency table; Quebec students must meet an English test requirement. How BC grades are converted is not published; ask international admissions.
• Canada (except Quebec) is on the English exempt-country list.

7. Transfer students

• With college work in the US: a college GPA of 2.0 as computed by JSU; transcripts sent directly from every institution; high school documents (GPA 2.0) if transferring fewer than 24 hours; eligibility to re-enter all previous institutions; and the transfer clearance form.
• With college work outside the US: a 2.0 GPA for both high school and college; a course-by-course evaluation sent directly by a NACES member for any international college coursework; and English scores sent directly by the testing center.
• The (domestic) transfer page says students with fewer than 24 transferable hours and no associate degree must meet freshman admission requirements.
• Conditions for entering computer science are not published; check with the department.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition: international undergraduates pay USD 720 per hour for 1–11 hours, a flat USD 10,800 for 12–18 hours, and USD 10,800 plus 720 per additional hour above 18; the page says students are charged the same rate for 12 to 18 hours in the fall and spring semesters. Tuition excludes program and course fees; computer science courses carry a USD 10 course/lab fee each.
• Fees: the undergraduate general university fee is USD 760 a semester for 6 or more hours, plus athletics and digital instruction fees; the international student fee is USD 150 a semester.
• Cost of attendance: the 2026-2027 undergraduate on-campus estimate totals USD 29,476 (tuition 10,800, fees 2,860, books 1,056, housing 6,104, food 4,290, transport 2,106, miscellaneous 2,260); the table does not list international students separately.
• International Merit Scholarship (2027-2028): all admitted international freshmen receive USD 5,000 a year, USD 20,000 over four years. The page says freshmen are considered automatically on admission; renewal requires 24 institutional hours per year and the GPA in the scholarship contract, at least 12 hours each semester, and awards are paid in fall and spring only.
• The page says out-of-state students receiving a merit scholarship pay their remaining tuition at the in-state rate; it does not say whether this applies to international students, so ask the scholarship office (scholarships@jsu.edu).
• The FAQ says international students are not eligible for federal financial aid but can apply for many scholarships; competitive scholarships should be applied for by February 1 each year.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare TOEFL 61 (3.5 on the new scale), IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 85 or another accepted score
• For fall 2027, apply between August 10, 2026 and June 1, 2027 and upload the diploma, transcripts (with translation), passport and financial statement through the portal
• Ask international admissions whether the Gaokao is considered

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

• Prepare the BC Secondary School Graduation Diploma and transcripts; English tests are waived outside Quebec
• Ask how BC grades are converted to a GPA

Transfer students:

• For college work abroad, arrange a NACES course-by-course evaluation; the minimum GPA is 2.0
• Ask MCIS about entry to the major and transfer credit

Sources: Jacksonville State University, Computer Science degree; 2026-2027 catalog (Computer Science – General); Department of Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences; Accreditation; Programs and concentrations; Undergraduate international admissions; English proficiency; Required documents by country; International students FAQ; International admissions; International application deposit; 2026-2027 tuition and fees; Freshman merit scholarships; First-time freshmen; Transfer admissions. Tuition is for 2026-2027 and scholarships for 2027-2028; check Jax State’s website for the latest.