Application Requirement Checklist for F-1 International Students

In order to study as an F-1 student visa holder at Tri-C, you will need to meet the requirements below.

F-1 applicants cannot apply online. No electronic copies or scanned documents will be accepted.

***During the COVID-19 pandemic, application documents can be accepted via email.  Please email the coordinator at the campus most convenient to your desired location.

Submit the required documents by the deadline, by mailing them to the campus you wish to attend, or make an appointment with a coordinator if you are already residing in the U.S.

Application processing, and the subsequent issue of an acceptance letter, may take up to three weeks. Students applying from overseas for an F-1 student visa are not permitted to start in the summer semester.

View our current academic calendar, where you can find dates for spring, summer, and fall semesters.

Deadlines to submit your completed application:

DEADLINE to apply for Spring 2023:

New Overseas students - Nov. 30, 2022 *Change of Status applicants – Nov. 30,  2022 *Click here for change of status information

Transfer students – Jan. 4, 2023

International student applicants seeking a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) must complete and submit the following information:

Download the application requirements checklist here.

Complete the application form here.

Only complete this form if you are currently attending another institution in the U.S. and submit it along with the other requirements for admission. Please also submit a copy of your current I-20.

Submit official scores dated within the past two years from one of the tests below. English language proficiency testing is required for both F-1 academic admission and for the English as a Second Language program. To find the required tests and minimum score requirements for English language proficiency, click here. 

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Click here to view testing center locations.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test. Click here to view testing center locations.
• ACT/SAT Standardized Tests
• Tri-C English as a Second Language (ESL) placement test. (Only if students are already in the U.S. Click here for required test preparation guide.)
• Transfer credit in College-level English with a grade of "C" or better from an accredited U.S. college or university. 

Photocopies and scans that you make yourself are not acceptable. Submit a clear, legible original or certified copy of your high school transcript in the original language including all courses taken and grades received and a clear, legible original or certified copy of your high school diploma or certificate in the original language. Please submit a completed Foreign High School Form along with your high school documents.

All transcripts and diplomas or certificates MUST be translated into English by an authorized, certifying official at an official translation service. The English translation must be prepared on official business letterhead and be notarized.

• U.S. college transcripts: ONLY submit if you are a transferring student on an F-1 visa currently studying at a U.S. college or university. Official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from a college or university and provided along with the application requirements. An unofficial transcript or photocopies you make yourself are not acceptable. If you choose to send your transcripts electronically, have them sent to the coordinator’s email address. 

• Foreign transcripts (optional): ONLY for students who have completed university studies outside of the U.S. wishing to transfer credits towards an associate degree at Tri-C. In order to receive college credit, you must request a catalog match report from Educational Perspectives. This process may take up to four-to-six weeks and does not guarantee the courses you completed in another country will meet the equivalency requirements for transfer credit to be awarded. The cost is the responsibility of the student.

If you are a student transferring from another institution in the U.S., please submit the F-1 visa page in your passport along with your current I-20 and I-94.

You must show proof of financial support to cover tuition and living expenses for one year in the amount of $29,539. The minimum tuition for 12 credit hours is $3,595 which is due in full. Students must take 12 credit hours per semester (both fall and spring). All students must submit the following:

• Proof of Financial Support Form. 
• Bank statement showing the required funds in liquid assets (checking or savings account).
• An original Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) is required. (ONLY if the sponsor lawfully resides in the U.S.)

The estimated total living expenses, including tuition for one year, is *$29,539. Submit a bank statement(s) that includes available funds in the amount of $29,539.  Bank statement(s) must be dated within six months from the start date of the semester you wish to begin your studies. Photocopies and scans that you make yourself are not acceptable. An original and official bank statement is required.

*Cuyahoga Community College estimates the student’s average estimated costs for each academic year to be:
 
Minimum for Tuition and fees $7,189
Living expenses $18,700
Other: Health Insurance (responsibility of student) $3,650

TOTAL ESTIMATED ANNUAL BUDGET: $29,539**

**Estimated budget expenses are subject to change without notice. Please see the tuition and fee schedule for out-of-state residents.