How to apply to Computer Science at Salisbury University: the Henson School major with three focuses, small classes and internship credit, international deadlines, English requirements, 2026-27 costs and merit scholarships, and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer applicants

Salisbury University is in Salisbury, Maryland. Its Computer Science major is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology. 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. The major and courses

• Three focuses (program page):
  • Computer Network and Cyber Security: preparation for network and systems engineering and cybersecurity roles.
  • Foundations, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence: theory and algorithm development, plus graphics, high-performance computing, machine learning and AI.
  • Software Engineering: development methods, tools and the design and implementation of database systems.
• Course areas: programming languages, systems programming, operating systems, database design, software engineering, AI, data visualization, networks and security, robotics and architecture, high-performance computing, graphics and object-oriented design.
• Credits and course list: the program page loads its requirements and four-year curriculum guide from the catalog (catalog.salisbury.edu), which we could not read this time; check the catalog for required courses, total credits and focus requirements.
• Accreditation: the program and department pages we read do not mention ABET accreditation.
• Small classes and advising: every computer science class has fewer than 25 students, and each student has a faculty advisor who meets with them at least once a semester.
• Hands-on work:
  • Internships: apply online for COSC 380 before starting an internship to earn credit. Past hosts include NASA Wallops, the NSA, the Department of Defense, the Naval Research Lab, NIST, Lockheed Martin and JP Morgan.
  • Undergraduate research: with approval, COSC 390 gives credit for research with a professor; the department also hosts an NSF REU program.
  • Directed Consulting: a four-credit course solving real problems for a client.
  • Facilities: a high-performance computing lab with 34 Linux stations, teaching labs, an off-campus robotics and drone lab and a cybersecurity lab.
• Outcomes (department page): 100% of recent graduates are in graduate school or employed full time, with an average full-time starting salary of USD 78,300.

2. How admission works

• Holistic review: curriculum, grades, test scores where applicable, essay, recommendations, leadership, service and activities, with the academic record weighed most. The FAQ says about half of applicants are admitted.
• GPA: Salisbury uses the unweighted 4.0 GPA and adds weight for honors and AP courses; other scales are converted to 4.0.
• Testing: Salisbury is test-optional for everyone, and merit scholarships do not require scores. The international first-year page says scores are not required but are encouraged for admission and scholarship consideration. (The first-year plans page lists official SAT or ACT scores among the materials for ED, EA and RD, which reads differently from the test-optional policy; if you are not sending scores, select test-optional on your application.)
• The pages we read do not describe a separate admission threshold for Computer Science or conditions for switching into it after enrollment; ask the Department of Computer Science.

3. Dates and materials (international freshmen)

• International deadlines (online application page, no year shown): July 1 for fall and December 1 for spring, for first-year, transfer and graduate applicants.
• U.S. first-year plans (first-year application page): Early Decision (binding) November 15 with decisions by December 15; Early Action December 1 with decisions by January 15; Regular Decision recommended by January 15 with decisions by March 15. Apply by January 15 for priority merit scholarship consideration.
• Application and fee: the international first-year page says to use the Salisbury University Application with a USD 50 fee; the international online application page says a limited-time fee waiver is available to all international undergraduates through the International Undergraduate Application. Check the page when you apply.
• Materials: official transcripts, diplomas and mark sheets (sent sealed by the school, exam board or university, or emailed directly to admissions); proof of English proficiency; one letter of recommendation and a personal statement (required on the international page); SAT/ACT optional.
• After admission: first-year students have a two-year on-campus residency requirement.

4. English requirements

• International applicants from non-English-speaking countries must prove English proficiency with scores from the last three years sent directly by the testing agency. One of: TOEFL iBT 79; IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each band; SAT Critical Reading 550; ACT English 21; A–C in GCE/GCSE/IGCSE First-Language English; EIKEN Pre-1; or completion of Salisbury’s English Language Institute or an approved partner.
• Waiver: undergraduates with at least three years of education in a listed English-speaking country may be exempt; the list includes Canada (except Quebec), and China is not on it. Admissions may still ask for more information.

5. Students at high schools in China

• How the Gaokao is used and what grades are expected from Chinese high schools are not published; ask international admissions (international@salisbury.edu).
• Exam credit (credit by exam page): IB scores of 4 or above generally earn college credit; AP scores of 3 or above generally do; A-Level and AS-Level results can also earn credit, so contact admissions for details.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents apply as international students; the fall deadline is July 1.
• Three years of school in Canada outside Quebec waives the English requirement.
• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; ask international admissions.

7. Transfer students

• Requirements (transfer page): a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, at least 12 transferable semester hours, and good academic and disciplinary standing at the last institution. Applicants with fewer than 30 transferable hours are also reviewed under the competitive freshman policy. Review is rolling while space is available.
• International transfers: USD 50 fee; credentials from non-U.S. institutions need a course-by-course evaluation with a GPA calculation from WES or another NACES member, sent directly to admissions. English requirements are the same as for freshmen.
• Conditions for entering Computer Science as a transfer are not published; ask the Department of Computer Science.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimated cost of attendance (full-time on-campus undergraduates, out-of-state): tuition and mandatory fees USD 23,590, housing 8,150 and food 6,368, for direct costs of USD 38,108; with books, personal and transportation costs the total is USD 43,620. The international tuition page points to the undergraduate tuition page, and the cost page lists Maryland and out-of-state residents only.
• International scholarships (international financial aid page):
  • SU Merit Scholarship (incoming freshmen only): determined during financial aid packaging after admission; USD 6,000 to 8,500 a year for non-Maryland residents, based on academic level at admission.
  • Transfer Merit Scholarship: USD 6,000 to 7,500 a year for non-Maryland residents, based on transfer GPA.
  • Academic Works donor scholarships: available after admission; the database opens each December 1 and most deadlines fall in the spring.
  • The Sea Gull Nation Scholarship has been discontinued and will not be awarded after 2025-26.
• The international page lists private lenders that work with international students; some require a U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5 (5.5 per band) or another accepted option
• Apply by July 1 for fall with official transcripts and diploma, one recommendation and a personal statement
• Consider sending SAT or ACT scores if you are aiming for merit scholarships
• Ask international admissions whether the Gaokao is considered

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

• Apply as an international student; three years of school in Canada outside Quebec waives the English requirement
• Ask international admissions how BC grades are reviewed

Transfer students:

• A 2.0 cumulative GPA and at least 12 transferable credits; non-U.S. college work needs a course-by-course evaluation
• Ask the Department of Computer Science about entering the major

Sources: Salisbury University, Computer Science major; Department of Computer Science; Internships; International first-time application; International transfer application; International admission financial aid; Credit by exam; International online application and deadlines; First-year application process; Application evaluation criteria; First-year FAQs; Transfer admission requirements; 2026-27 cost of attendance. Costs are 2026-27 estimates; check Salisbury’s website for the latest.