International Students

You are invited to join our College community.

Cincinnati State welcomes international students to our diverse college community.

If you are a non-U.S. citizen who has been granted the status of immigrant, permanent resident, or refugee by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, you may be admitted to Cincinnati State on the same basis as U.S. citizens. You may follow the admission process for first-time students, returning students, transfer students, or lifelong learning, depending on your interest and situation.

If you have not been granted the status of immigrant, permanent resident, or refugee by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and you wish to attend Cincinnati State, begin the application process very early. You must complete the following no later than two months before you intend to begin classes at Cincinnati State:

1. Submit an online Application for Admission. There is no application fee. A $10 nonrefundable admission fee will be billed at your first registration. Remember—apply early!
2. Provide a copy of your high school diploma equivalency in its original language and translated into English.
3. If you wish to transfer college/university coursework from abroad, have your transcript(s) translated and evaluated by an official credential evaluation service. Here is more information about transcript credentialing services. (Transcript Credentialing Services)
4. Provide proof of proficiency with the English language with a minimum TOEFL score of 500 (paper), 173 (computer), or 61 (TOEFL IBT) sent directly from the Educational Testing Service. Cincinnati State’s school code is 1984.
   
   International students must also take the COMPASS placement test administered at the College in order to register for classes. COMPASS tests cover areas of writing, reading, mathematics, and keyboarding. Click here for more information about COMPASS testing.
5. Provide proof of adequate financial support. You must submit a signed, official Confidential Declaration and Certification of Finances to the International Student Advisor at Cincinnati State to verify the availability of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your education at Cincinnati State. Financial requirements for an international student are a minimum of $17,542 per year for tuition, books, living, and miscellaneous expenses. Immigration regulations prevent students from earning a substantial portion of this amount. There are no scholarships or educational loans available for international students.
6. When you have submitted all the above documentation and have received a letter offering you admission to Cincinnati State, you must submit an advance tuition deposit fee of $3,500 to the cashier’s office at Cincinnati State. This amount is credited to your account and used for payment of tuition and fees. This advance deposit fee covers approximately one-and-a-half terms of tuition. Students must provide for all other expenses, including room, board, books, transportation, and incidentals. Cincinnati State does not provide housing, but the campus is located in an area where a large number of apartments and houses are available to rent. Contact the International Student Office for more information about housing. For more information about Cincinnati State’s tuition costs and other fees, click here.
7. When all these steps are completed, an I-20 form will be issued.
8. The U.S Department of Homeland Security requires F, M, and J visa applicants to pay a one time fee of $200 prior to applying for your student visa. This fee supplements the administration and maintenance costs of the Student Exchange Information System (SEVIS).
   
   The SEVIS fee can be paid to the Department of Homeland Security by mail, online, or via Western Union. It can be paid by you or a third party, inside or outside the United States. The fee must accompany form I-901.
   
   The procedure for filing form I-901 and more details can be found here.
   
   It is important you pay the SEVIS fee as soon as you receive your I-20 form.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the U.S. and to Cincinnati State!

Do you have any questions?

Please take a minute or two to check out the Admissions FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), particularly the section for International Students. If you still have questions, contact us. We’re here to help.