Transfer Admissions
The Grainger College of Engineering admits qualified transfer students from community colleges and other four-year institutions. To best prepare for transfer admission, you will need to successfully complete the appropriate technical courses. Transfer Programs staff is here to assist you with course selection and planning for the transfer admission process.
Review the Transfer Admissions Requirements Contact Transfer Programs
Transfer Application Process
At Grainger Engineering, you apply directly to your engineering major of interest. Early planning it is important to make your application competitive and to ensure you make adequate progress toward degree requirements. Reach out to Transfer Programs for assistance with course planning as early as your first semester.
Dates and Deadlines
Application Filing Period: December 15 – March 1
Notification: By March/April
All engineering transfer applications are submitted through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transfer applicants apply to UIUC through myIllini.
Any transfer student interested in completing a major, including a dual degree, in The Grainger College of Engineering must apply and be admitted directly into the college at time of transfer. Transfer students entering other colleges on campus are not eligible for later admission/on-campus transfer to the Pre-Engineering Program (PREP) or Grainger Engineering. No exceptions will be granted.
Transfer Applications will open Dec. 15, 2023 .
- Select a program of study that best fits your skills, interests, and goals.
- Review and gather all application requirements to prepare for each stage of the application process.
- Complete the online application through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
- Check your application status. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will notify you via email when your application decision is ready.
Transfer Admissions Requirements
To be considered for transfer admission to The Grainger College of Engineering, all applicants must have transfer coursework equivalent to the following UIUC courses prior to application:
- CHEM 102 and 103, General Chemistry I
- CHEM 104 and 105, General Chemistry II*
- MATH 220, Calculus, or MATH 221, Calculus I
- MATH 231, Calculus II
- MATH 241, Calculus III
- PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
- PHYS 212, University Physics: Elec & Mag
- One of the following, as recommend by the program of study (see Transfer Handbook chart):
- CS 101, Intro Computing: Engineering & Science, or
- CS 124, Intro to Computer Science I, or
- CS 125, Intro to Computer Science, or
- ECE 110, Introduction to Electronics, or
- MCB 150, Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life, or
- SE 101, Engineering Graphics and Design, or
- ME 170, Computer-Aided Design
*Specifically required only for the following Programs of Study: Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, and Materials Science and Engineering. A full year of chemistry may be required, regardless of major, depending on course transferability from your current institution. Please note, AP Chemistry awards credit for the lecture only. Applicants are responsible for completing the full lecture and lab sequence(s).
Students are highly encouraged to complete additional courses that will transfer to your desired program of study in order to have the most competitive application for admission.
How We Review
The Grainger College of Engineering is home to some of the most innovative problem solvers and creative thinkers in engineering. Accordingly, we review all applications holistically, taking a wide variety of factors into consideration during the admission process to ensure all admitted students are best fit for success in the Grainger community.
Overall and Technical GPA
It is generally expected that applicants will have a minimum of 3.00 (A = 4.00) overall GPA, but admission to specific majors may be significantly more competitive during any given admission cycle. For fall 2022, the average transfer GPA for admitted students was 3.86 with the middle 50% of GPAs ranging from 3.78–4.00.
Applicants should demonstrate mastery of subject matter by earning a B or better (3.00/4.00) in all prerequisite courses.
Technical Coursework and Academic Rigor
All applicants should complete as many of the technical courses listed in the Transfer Handbook as possible. Schedule planning is important. Successful applicants will demonstrate course progression and rigor consistent with the suggested sequences for the major(s) selected. This includes ensuring prerequisite courses are completed in the appropriate terms and taking a minimum number of technical courses (3-4) and credit hours (15+) each semester. Applicants should have all required coursework and at least one semester with 4 technical courses and 15+ credit hours completed prior to applying.
If an applicant is not able to complete a listed course or maintain a full-time schedule, this should be addressed in the Other Academic Information – Academic Challenges section of the application.
Essay(s)
The transfer Admissions team seeks students who will take advantage of Grainger Engineering’s cutting-edge resources and add their unique talents to our tight-knit community. Accordingly, we place great importance on the essay portion of the application. We look at how you tie your academic interest to your desired major and how you showcase that passion in your life.
Transfer Admissions Essay Questions
Activities and Work Experience
We look for students who seek opportunities outside the classroom to expand on their personal strengths and skills. Extracurricular activities, work, volunteer experience, and other involvement can help to tell your story.
High School transcript and ACT/SAT Scores (if applicable)
If you're applying with fewer than 30 graded hours, we'll review your high school and college-level coursework; we'll also use your ACT and/or SAT scores if you choose to submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there someone who can assist me with schedule planning?
Yes! It is recommended that potential applicants work with a Transfer Programs advisor in Grainger Engineering for schedule planning, including selection of general education coursework. Admission is competitive; students are welcome and encouraged to contact us as early in their college careers as possible to discuss transfer requirements and preparation. Navigating the transfer process can be challenging; our program staff are here to help. For the quickest response, please email engineeringtransfers@illinois.edu and include the name of your current college/university, major(s) of interest, intended transfer semester (fall terms only), and attach an unofficial transcript of any college coursework completed or in progress.
Is there a limit to how many credit hours I can transfer?
Grainger Engineering does not limit the number of credit hours a student may transfer nor does a high number of credit hours earned negatively impact the transfer admissions process – please note, this policy varies by college. Regardless of number of credit hours transferred, all students are required to complete the campus residency requirement, which specifies that each candidate for a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign must earn at least 60 semester hours of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign credit, of which 21 hours must be 300 or 400 level courses.
As a transfer student, am I eligible for the James Scholar Honors Program?
Transfer students may apply to the James Scholar Honors Program after completing an initial full-time semester on campus (fall or spring). Current requirements for admission are an Illinois GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Can I change majors after being admitted as a transfer student to Grainger Engineering?
It depends. Major change requests within the college must be approved by Transfer Programs staff. Due to space constraints, no dual-degree petitions or major change requests to Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering are permitted. A student admitted to Electrical or Computer Engineering, with limited exposure to the introductory courses at their previous institution (e.g. ECE 110, 120, 210, 220), may be considered for a major change within the department. Requests for all other majors will be evaluated on a case-by -case basis. Questions about declaring a major outside of Grainger Engineering should be directed to the respective college or department.
I already earned a bachelor’s degree. Am I eligible to apply for a second bachelor’s degree?
Grainger Engineering does accept second bachelor’s degree applications for consideration; however, applicants seeking a first bachelor’s degree receive priority in limited-capacity majors. Regarding the application: If the first bachelor’s degree was earned from another institution, then proceed as a transfer applicant through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If the first bachelor’s degree was earned from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, please contact Transfer Programs in Grainger Engineering for additional information on how to proceed. The guidelines and course requirements established in the Transfer Handbook apply to all applicants, as do the transfer admissions dates and deadlines.
Can I use test-based credit (AP, IB, etc.) to fulfill transfer requirements?
All students are subject to the test-based credit policies in effect at time of matriculation to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For incoming students, these policies are not finalized until after the admissions cycle is complete. Test-based credit policies can and do change. As such, transfer students are strongly encouraged to fulfill admissions requirements by earning graded, transferable credit.
Engineering Pathways
Engineering Pathways is a cohort-based experience offering students interested in beginning their college education at a partner community college a streamlined transfer experience and guaranteed admission to The Grainger College of Engineering upon completion of program requirements. All 14 Grainger Engineering majors are available through the program.
Contact the Grainger Engineering Transfer Admissions Team
Email: engineeringtransfers@illinois.edu
Call: 217-333-2280