International students choose Cuyahoga Community College for many reasons:
- Classes are less expensive than at 4-year colleges and universities. Cuyahoga Community College's tuition rate is half of the tuition rate for any other school in the Cleveland area.
- Class size is smaller than at public universities -- at Tri-C average class size is 19 students.
- Classes taken at a community college can be accepted at a 4-year college or university as a part of a Bachelor's degree program.
Requirements
- F-1 (student) visa. The first step in applying for a student visa is to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status, or Form I-20, from the college you wish to attend. The international student application packet must be completed in full before a Form I-20 from Cuyahoga Community College is issued.
- English proficiency -- you must be able to speak and write simple sentences in English. The College does NOT require TOEFL scores. To be admitted to our program, you must be able to speak and write simple sentences in English.
- A handwritten letter outlining your educational goals. It is important that you prepare this letter without help from other people. The letter is used to give the College an idea of your current knowledge of English.
- Placement test -- If English is not your primary language, after you are admitted, you will take a test to determine your placement in English as a Second Language. The test will not have an impact on your admission; it is for placement purposes only. Students who have completed College Composition at another U.S. college or university, and received a grade of C or better, are not required to take this test.
Degrees
Most of our international students pursue advanced studies at Tri-C. An academic adviser can help you choose your courses so that classes you take satisfy degree requirements at another school. Our academic counselors have transfer guides for all area schools, so you can tailor your course selections to meet your needs at the next level of study.
A Bachelor's degree earned in the United States is made up of two basic types of requirements:
- General education requirements -The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are designed to meet the general education requirements of a Bachelor's degree.
- Subject requirements for your area of concentration, or major. Courses in a student's major often do not transfer well between an Associate's degree and a Bachelor's degree. By completing an Associate of Arts or Science degree at Cuyahoga Community College you can complete your general education courses; then when you transfer, you can concentrate on your major courses.
The following web resource may be helpful as you get started with your visa:
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
United States Visas
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
For information about the Cleveland area:
Greater Cleveland Partnership