How to apply to Computer Science at the University of South Alabama: the ABET-accredited BS in the School of Computing, its course areas and four-year sample plan, the 2+2 program with Fuzhou University Zhicheng College, international GPA and English requirements, deadlines, tuition and international scholarships, and requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer applicants

The University of South Alabama (South, or USA) is in Mobile, Alabama. Its BS in Computer Science is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the School of Computing. 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 BS in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The department home page also notes that the NSA and DHS have designated the university a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance / Cyber Defense.
• Core areas (undergraduate program page): programming and data structures, software engineering, networking, operating systems, distributed computing, formal language theory and computer architecture, with electives in cybersecurity, information assurance, big data, computer graphics, video game development and robotics.
• Possible four-year schedule (department PDF, 13–18 hours a semester): year one includes MA 125, MA 126, EH 101, EH 102, CSC 108, CSC 120, CSC 231 and CA 275; year two MA 267, CSC 228, CSC 331, CSC 322, CSC 320, CSC 311, two natural science electives and a math elective; year three CSC 332, CSC 440, CSC 333, CSC 434, CYB 399, ST 315, CIS 300 plus history and literature; year four CIS 497, CIS 498, EH 372 and CSC electives. The PDF lists course codes only.
• Credits and full requirements: the program page links the degree requirements to the bulletin (bulletin.southalabama.edu), which we could not read this time, so total credits and the full required list are not covered here; check the bulletin.
• Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM): in Computer Science or Cybersecurity. It requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA, at least 101 credit hours toward the CS degree and at least 30 hours at USA; 6 graduate hours count toward both degrees, and students usually finish the master’s within a year of the bachelor’s.
• The department also offers an Artificial Intelligence certificate, and students take part in programming contests, cybersecurity competitions, internships and faculty-directed research.

2. How admission works

• The department’s undergraduate admissions page simply says to apply through the university’s undergraduate admissions website. The pages we read do not describe a separate entry requirement for Computer Science or how to switch into it after enrolling; ask the department (csadmiss@southalabama.edu).
• International first-year: a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5, as calculated by the Office of International Admissions and Student Programs.
• The US freshman admissions page says spring, summer and fall 2027 applicants have a test-optional path: a high school GPA of 3.4 or higher means automatic admission, applicants below 3.4 are reviewed and may be asked for more materials, and students with ACT 21 or SAT 1060 or higher are encouraged to submit scores. That page does not say whether it applies to international applicants.

3. Deadlines and materials

• International undergraduate priority deadlines (no year shown): applicants outside the US, April 1 for fall, October 1 for spring and March 1 for summer; applicants inside the US, July 15, December 1 and April 1. Files completed after the deadline are considered for the next session.
• Application fee: USD 35 online (USD 45 on paper), payable through a US bank; applications without the fee are not reviewed.
• Academic records: they must list subjects by year, weekly lecture and lab hours, year-end marks and copies of diplomas; consolidated mark sheets are not accepted, and non-English records need a certified translation. Unofficial copies are accepted for admission, but official records are due by first-semester check-in.
• After admission: a non-refundable USD 500 deposit (applied to first-semester tuition) and proof of one year of funding are required before an I-20 is issued.

4. English requirements

• Undergraduate minimums (one of): Duolingo 95, TOEFL 61 (3.5 on the new scale), IELTS 5.5, iTEP 3.6, PTE 44, or an A, B or C on a UK A-Level English examination. Unofficial scores are accepted for admission; official scores are needed before enrollment.
• Exemption: citizens of, or students who completed secondary education in, a listed country are exempt. Canada is on the list (no Quebec exception is mentioned); China is not.

5. Students at high schools in China

• The School of Computing’s international page describes a 2+2 program with Fuzhou University Zhicheng College: students spend two years at Zhicheng College and the final two years in the School of Computing, earning a South Alabama computing degree. Check the program materials on that page or ask the school about entry conditions.
• How the Gaokao is used and score requirements for Chinese high school grades are not published; first-year applicants are reviewed against the 2.5 GPA calculated by international admissions. Ask internationaladmissions@southalabama.edu.
• A-Level: an A, B or C in A-Level English meets the English requirement. Which A-Level, IB or AP results earn course credit is not stated 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 through international admissions.
• Canada is on the English-exempt country list.
• Score requirements for BC courses are not published; ask international admissions how BC grades are converted.

7. Transfer students

• International transfer: a 2.0 cumulative GPA as calculated by international admissions, and the same USD 35 fee. Applicants with fewer than 30 transfer hours send both secondary and postsecondary records; those with more than 30 send postsecondary records only.
• English: in addition to the tests above, the equivalent of EH 101 at a US institution with a C or better is accepted.
• Credit evaluation: for transcripts from outside the US, the university encourages a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES or AICE member, at the student’s cost.
• Conditions for entering Computer Science as a transfer are not published; ask the department.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition: the tuition page is titled 2025-2026, while the table is headed 2026-2027. In that table, undergraduate School of Computing courses cost USD 401 per credit hour in state and USD 802 out of state; undergraduates taking fewer than 15 hours in fall or spring pay a USD 150 registration fee.
• Cost of attendance (financial aid, 2026-2027): out-of-state students living on campus total USD 40,978 with JagPack course materials or USD 42,134 without, including USD 22,030 of tuition and fees. The table has no separate international column.
• The international office’s annual estimate is still for 2023-2024: undergraduate tuition and fees USD 21,540, living expenses USD 9,000, books USD 1,100 and medical insurance USD 2,315, totaling USD 33,955. Check for current figures.
• Global Freshman Scholars Talent and Ability Scholarship (from fall 2026): for international freshmen on F-1, H-4 or L-2 visas with a 3.0 high school GPA. It is competitive and limited; recipients pay in-state tuition for up to four years and must keep a 3.0 GPA each year. Fall priority deadlines are January 15 and May 1: students must be fully admitted by then and then apply in JagSPOT. Government-sponsored students are not eligible.
• International transfers: the Global Transfer Scholars award requires a 3.0 transfer GPA, likewise charges in-state tuition, lasts up to two years and has the same deadlines. Several endowed international scholarships are also applied for in JagSPOT.
• The scholarship office lists February 15 as the priority deadline for fall 2027 freshman admission scholarships. The School of Computing’s own freshman scholarships are based on ACT composite scores (for example, students with ACT 29 or higher who apply by December 1 are considered automatically for awards of USD 2,500–5,000); the page does not say whether international students are eligible.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare TOEFL 61, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 95 or another accepted score
• For fall, apply and complete your file by April 1 and pay the USD 35 fee
• Prepare transcripts listing subjects and hours by year, with an English translation
• After admission, apply for the Global Freshman Scholars award in JagSPOT (January 15 or May 1)
• Ask international admissions whether the Gaokao is considered

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

• Apply as an international student; no English test is needed
• Ask international admissions how BC grades are converted

Transfer students:

• A 2.0 transfer GPA is required; with fewer than 30 hours, also send your high school transcript
• Arrange a course-by-course evaluation for university work outside the US
• Ask the department about entering Computer Science

Sources: University of South Alabama, Department of Computer Science; Undergraduate program; Possible 4-year schedule; Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s; School of Computing international students; School of Computing scholarships; International admission requirements and deadlines; International application; International cost estimate; Tuition schedule; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Freshman admissions; Transfer admissions; Scholarships; International student scholarships. Check the University of South Alabama’s website for the latest information.