Computer Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is taught through the university's School of Computing, which offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science alongside related undergraduate degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Cybersecurity Technology. For international applicants, the appeal is a genuinely high admit rate, small class sizes at a Research 1 (Carnegie "Very High Research Activity") university, a graduate CS program that U.S. News & World Report ranks third among Illinois public universities, and total costs well below most flagship state schools' computer science programs.
This guide covers acceptance rate, fees, admission requirements, how to get in, English proficiency rules, and career outcomes specifically for SIU's Computer Science program.
Acceptance Rate
SIU does not publish a program-specific acceptance rate for Computer Science. What is verifiable:
- SIU's overall undergraduate acceptance rate is commonly reported by third-party aggregators (Niche, AcceptanceRate.com) in the high-80s to mid-90s percent range; SIU itself does not publish a single official year-over-year admit-rate figure, so treat any specific number as a third-party estimate.
- Undergraduate CS admission follows the university-wide model: a minimum GPA and completed documentation rather than a comparative review, so well-prepared applicants with a solid record are admitted at a high rate.
- The Computer Science graduate program (MS and Ph.D.) is decentralized from the rest of the university's admissions and sets its own bar. The Ph.D. specifically requires a master's degree with a minimum 3.25/4.0 GPA in most cases, which is a meaningfully more selective threshold than SIU's undergraduate admission.
Because the School of Computing highlights "small class sizes" as a distinguishing feature, cohort sizes (particularly at the graduate level) are smaller than at large flagship CS departments, even though the admission process itself is not run as a low-acceptance, comparative review the way it is at elite private universities.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Computer Science is billed at SIU's standard international student rate; the School of Computing does not carry a separate, higher tuition band. Based on SIU's own International Admissions cost figures:
| Cost item | Undergraduate (International) | Graduate (International) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | ~$24,439/year | ~$25,566/year |
| Living expenses (food, books, transportation, personal) | ~$16,165/year | ~$12,174/year |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | ~$40,604/year | ~$37,740/year |
These are the minimum amounts SIU requires international applicants to document for visa/I-20 purposes; SIU notes they are estimates subject to change. High-achieving international students may qualify for reduced tuition rates comparable to in-state resident rates on a case-by-case basis. Graduate CS students, particularly in the Ph.D. program, can often access graduate research or teaching assistantships that combine a stipend with a tuition waiver, though availability and competitiveness vary by year and should be confirmed directly with the School of Computing.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate
- Completed online application and $40 nonrefundable application fee
- Official secondary school transcripts, translated into English if not originally issued in English
- Minimum 2.75 GPA (4.0 scale) for freshman applicants; minimum 2.0 GPA for transfer applicants
- Evidence of English proficiency, or eligibility for the CESL conditional admission pathway (see below)
- Financial documentation sufficient to meet SIU's published minimum cost-of-attendance figures, required for I-20/visa processing
- SAT/ACT scores are not required (test-optional)
Graduate (MS and Ph.D.)
- Online application through SIU's Graduate School, with a $65 (domestic) or $75 (international) application fee
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- English proficiency scores (unless exempt)
- GRE general test scores, required for the Computer Science graduate program; a CS subject-area score is recommended but not always required
- For the Ph.D. specifically: a master's degree with a minimum 3.25/4.0 GPA in most cases
Because policy can shift between admission cycles, confirm the current GRE and document requirements directly with the School of Computing before applying.
How to Get Into SIU's Computer Science Program
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Build a solid, complete academic record before applying. SIU's undergraduate CS admission leans on GPA and documentation rather than essays or portfolio review, so a clean, translated transcript meeting the 2.75 GPA minimum is the highest-leverage step.
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For the Ph.D., treat the 3.25 GPA threshold as a real bar, not a formality. Unlike undergraduate admission, the Computer Science Ph.D. is meaningfully more selective and typically expects a strong master's-level academic record plus demonstrated research readiness (a relevant thesis, publications, or substantial project work).
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Prepare a strong GRE general score, since it's required for the graduate program. Because SIU's graduate CS admission explicitly requires the GRE general test (with the subject test recommended for some cases), applicants should not skip this step even though many US CS master's programs have moved away from requiring it.
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Use the CESL conditional admission pathway if your English score isn't there yet. If you meet SIU's academic requirements but haven't reached the required IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo/PTE score, SIU can admit you conditionally into its Center for English as a Second Language, then move you into your CS degree program on completion, without a new application.
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Reach out to faculty directly for research fit, especially for the Ph.D. Because the School of Computing keeps class sizes small, expressing specific familiarity with a faculty member's research area in your statement of purpose carries real weight in a smaller department.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
SIU's Computer Science program follows the university-wide English proficiency thresholds; there is no separate, higher bar specific to CS.
| Test | Undergraduate minimum | Graduate minimum |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 68 (520 PBT) | 80 (4.5 on the redesigned scale for tests taken on/after January 21, 2026) |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 64 |
| Duolingo English Test | 95 | 115 |
Applicants who fall short of these minimums but meet SIU's academic requirements can be admitted conditionally into the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), complete coursework, and move into their degree program without a new application. For the full breakdown of SIU's testing policy and the CESL pathway, see Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Acceptance Rate, Fees, IELTS/TOEFL Requirements, and How to Get In.
Career Outcomes
SIU does not publish a single, prominently displayed program-specific employment rate, average starting salary, or named-employer list for Computer Science graduates; that data lives with SIU's Career Development Center and NACE's First Destination surveys and is best confirmed directly for current class-year figures. What is verifiable:
- SIU's Computer Science program is accredited by ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission, which matters for the credibility of the degree with US employers.
- The graduate Computer Science program ranks #3 among public Illinois universities and around #128 among national public universities (U.S. News & World Report), reflecting a research-active department relative to its size.
- The School of Computing emphasizes lab-based instruction, a real-world capstone design sequence, and internship/co-op opportunities as part of the standard curriculum, which gives graduates applied project experience beyond coursework.
- As a STEM-designated degree, SIU's CS graduates qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month Optional Practical Training period, giving up to three years of US work authorization after graduation without immediately needing an H-1B.
- SIU runs a Global Career Accelerator, an online, credit-bearing program connecting international students to real-world projects with companies including Intel and The Grammys, aimed at giving international students US-facing work experience before graduation.
- The program's stated career paths include software development, cybersecurity, data science, IT management, and machine learning, though specific placement rates and starting salaries by track were not available in a single published source at the time of writing.
If OPT-related placement outcomes are central to your decision, confirm current figures directly with SIU's Career Development Center or the School of Computing.
FAQ
Does SIU publish a separate acceptance rate for Computer Science? No. SIU does not release a program-specific acceptance rate for CS. Undergraduate admission follows the university's high-admit, GPA-based model; the Ph.D. is more selective, requiring a master's degree with a minimum 3.25/4.0 GPA in most cases.
Is the GRE required for SIU's Computer Science graduate program? Yes, the GRE general test is required for SIU's Computer Science graduate program, with a CS subject-area score recommended but not always required. Confirm current policy with the School of Computing before applying, since requirements can shift between cycles.
Is SIU's Computer Science program ABET-accredited? Yes, it is accredited by ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for SIU Computer Science? The university-wide thresholds apply: IELTS 6.0 (undergraduate) or 6.5 (graduate); TOEFL iBT 68 (undergraduate) or 80 (graduate). Students who fall short can use the CESL conditional admission pathway instead of retaking the test immediately.
How much does a Computer Science degree cost at SIU for international students? Total estimated cost of attendance is roughly $40,604/year for undergraduates and $37,740/year for graduate students, covering SIU's standard international tuition and fee rate plus its published living-expense estimate.
Do SIU Computer Science graduates qualify for STEM OPT? Yes. As a STEM-designated degree, SIU Computer Science graduates qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT period.