Case Western Reserve University Admissions Requirements
Case Western Reserve University’s online engineering graduate programs accept students on a rolling basis. With three starts per year, you can begin when it’s most convenient for you. Review the engineering degree requirements for your desired program below.
Are you ready to transform your engineering career with coursework that prepares you to launch into leadership? Start your application today.
More Than $24K Scholarship Opportunity
We are delighted to share a scholarship* to offset the cost of tuition for our online graduate programs. To be eligible, you must begin classes in 2023 or 2024. Visit our tuition page to learn more.
Attention Case School of Engineering alumni: You are eligible for an additional $3,900 scholarship if you complete your application and enroll in the spring or fall 2023 term! Learn more about our exclusive CSE alumni scholarship.
Admissions Deadlines
Admissions Requirements
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited or international college or university will be considered for admission.
- Applicants with a non-engineering degree must have completed the following with a grade of B or above
- Chemistry I and II
- Physics I and II
- Calculus I through III
- Differential Equations Submit all application materials through the application portal at applygrad.case.edu.
Required Materials for All Applicants
- A personal statement outlining your interests, goals and relevant experience
- Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you’ve attended*
- Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources
Unique requirements for international applicants and the ME and MS programs are highlighted below. Please see the School of Graduate Studies Admission FAQs for additional information.
Requirements for International Applicants
- An international student who did not complete their post-secondary degree work in English must submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores
- An English translation must accompany transcripts or degree certifications in languages other than English See our International Applicants section for more information.
Requirements for MS Applicants
GRE scores or waivers are typically required for MS applicants. Due to COVID-19 concerns, this requirement has been temporarily suspended through Summer 2023 for MS applicants.
Requirements for ME Applicants
An online Master of Engineering program applicant must identify first and second technical area choices in their personal statement. The options include:
- Biomedical Engineering (EBME)
- Engineering Innovation, Management and Leadership (EIML)
- Mechanical Engineering (EMAE)
- Systems and Control Engineering (SCS)
*Official transcripts will be required once you have been accepted into the program.
How Are Admissions Decisions Made?
Admissions are granted on a rolling basis. Students are evaluated for admission into the program by a committee composed of faculty representatives from the participating departments in the Case School of Engineering as well as the program faculty director. The programs are highly competitive, and we encourage you to apply early!
Transcripts
Once you are officially admitted to Case Western Reserve University, you must submit official transcripts from all past universities attended. These transcripts must be emailed or mailed directly from the college or university to the following address:
Case Western Reserve University
School of Graduate Studies
Tomlinson Hall 203
10900 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44106-7027
Official electronic transcripts may be emailed to: gradtranscripts@case.edu
International Applicants
We define an “international applicant” as a prospective student who is a citizen or permanent resident of a country other than the United States.
IMPORTANT: Since these graduate engineering programs are 100 percent online, international applicants would not qualify for an I-20 visa.
In some cases, candidates may already have a visa, and they will be allowed to apply for the degree; however, they may be required to provide copies of their documents.
U.S. citizen or permanent resident candidates whose degree is from a country other than the United States will be considered domestic applicants. These applicants may have to provide further documentation for their academic achievements.
Requirements for International Applicants
Language Scores: Minimum scores (all of these scores are valid for two years from the date of testing):
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based: 90 (80 if applying to a Course Focused Engineering program). Some programs require higher scores, see note below.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based: 577
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 7.0
- Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic): 61
Note: The Biomedical Engineering department requires scores of 100 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS and 68 on the PTE Academic.
The School of Graduate Studies does not accept the TOEFL MyBest Scores. Applicants must achieve a minimum of 90 on one exam date; exams will not be superscored.
The School of Graduate Studies does not offer conditional admission without official language scores meeting the minimum requirements outlined below.
The language test requirement will be waived if you have completed a bachelors or master's degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
Note: To be considered official, test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency, either electronically or delivered in an unopened envelope that has been sealed by the testing agency. TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date.
Submitting Transcripts and Degree Certification: Transcripts or degree certifications in languages other than English must be accompanied by an English translation. If accepted, the School of Graduate Studies will need official copies of both the English and original language version submitted, not just the English version. Scanned copies sent by email or PDF are not considered official; official copies must be in a sealed envelope from the university or come via encrypted email directly from the university.
All transcripts, degree certifications and translations will become the property of the School of Graduate Studies. Do not send official transcripts until you have been formally accepted.
WES Evaluations: On occasion, applicants may need to have their transcripts evaluated and we suggest using World Education Services (WES). Common reasons to have your transcripts evaluated include degree or GPA equivalency, English translation, or authentification of the documents. Their Course-by-Course Evaluation costs around $160. Their highly trained experts will work with you to create an evaluation that you can later submit to jobs or colleges.
Financial Aid
All U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. may be considered for federally funded programs. International students may be eligible for financial support from the government of their home country or other agencies; however, they are not eligible for funding from the U.S. federal government.
For U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S., the first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA eligibility is based on U.S. Department of Education criteria and is determined from data submitted on the FAFSA application.
The Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering FAFSA code is E00680. By completing the FAFSA, you will be considered for available aid at Case Western Reserve University and through federal sources. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen and be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of instruction.
Veterans and Military
Case Western Reserve University recognizes and honors the experiences of our veterans and members of the military. For specific questions, please visit our Veterans Education Benefits page.
Case Western Reserve University is a proud participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon program is designed to close the gap between the cost of your program and the in-state tuition rate covered by the GI Bill. You may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program if you are an out-of-state student who also qualifies 100 percent through the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
It is important to keep in mind that any veterans education benefits you receive must be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have specific questions, please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office toll-free at 1-800-827-1000 or visit the VA website.
*Scholarship funds are not payable directly to recipient. $24,570 of the scholarship will be applied in a prorated manner over the duration of the student’s program of study. The remaining scholarship amount corresponds to a charge of $0 for taking and passing the last required course in the curriculum and will be applied after the final drop/add period for this concluding course. If a student receives other forms of financial assistance, then the student’s financial assistance may require modification to account for the scholarship by preventing any ‘over-award,’ such that the total financial assistance received does not exceed the cost of attendance, as defined and determined by the Office of Financial Aid of Case Western Reserve University. Recipients of the scholarship must remain continuously enrolled in the program through completion. Exceptions may be granted for students who obtain a university-approved leave of absence. Students receiving the scholarship must maintain satisfactory academic progress at all times for the scholarship to remain in effect. This scholarship offer may be revised, rescinded or terminated at any time. All admissions and scholarship decisions of Case Western Reserve University are final.
Offer details: Scholarship offer available only to qualified new (first-time) enrollees for one of the online engineering master’s programs, not current or returning students to the program. To utilize this scholarship offer, the prospective student must identify the offer and request that it be applied. Scholarship funds not payable directly to recipient. If student receives other forms of financial assistance, the student’s financial assistance may require modification to account for the scholarship by preventing any “over-award,” such that the total financial assistance received does not exceed the cost of attendance, as defined and determined by the Office of Financial Aid of Case Western Reserve University. Recipients of the scholarship must remain continuously enrolled in the program through completion. Exceptions may be granted for students who obtain a university-approved leave of absence. Students receiving the scholarship must maintain satisfactory academic progress at all times for scholarship to remain in effect. This scholarship offer may be revised, rescinded or terminated at any time. All admissions and scholarship decisions of Case Western Reserve University are final.