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More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

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Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

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Getting Started

Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you? New Student Returning Transfer Visiting International College Credit Plus Non-Credit All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all programs

Degree Programs & Certificates

More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

Learn more
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Tri-C is here for you. Have a question about a program or service? We'll help you find the answer.

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Get answers to your frequently asked questions from navigating the website to programs and services.

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International Students

Welcome Steps to Apply for International Students on an F-1 student visa Application Requirement Checklist for F-1 International Students English Language Proficiency Requirements for Admission Change of Status to the F-1 Student Visa Category Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Guidelines F-1 International Student Visa Employment Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions by International Students On-Campus Employment Optional Practical Training (OPT) Guidelines Permanent Residents, Asylee, Refugee and Other Visa Holders
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Steps to Apply for International Students on an F-1 student visa

New, Transfer, Change of Status International Students

International students refers to those who hold, or are seeking, an F-1 student visa. The application process for international students is different from U.S. resident students. Students seeking an F-1 visa may not apply online, but instead must follow the application requirements detailed here.  Be sure to review all of the pages in this section to understand the basics of applying as an international student. 

New - International student applying for F-1 visa from home country

Transfer - Currently hold F-1 visa and have recently studied at another institution within the U.S. 

Change of Status - Currently in the U.S. on a visa other than F-1 and wish to change status to F-1 student status. View for more information regarding changing your status.

Step 1 - Submit required documents

View the requirements here. Documents must be submitted by the deadline below to one of the International Advisors by appointment or mailed to the campus you wish to attend.

Deadline Spring 2023 semester:

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

 

Expect two to three weeks for processing. Once all requirements are met, you will receive an acceptance letter.

If you are currently overseas, a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) will be mailed to the address on your application. Upon receipt of your Initial Form I-20, pay your SEVIS I-901 fee and make an appointment for a visa interview at the U.S. consulate/embassy.

Step 2 - Mandatory Testing

Once you have a valid Tri-C student ID number (S#) you can complete the English as a Second Language (ESL) placement test. The placement test can be completed from home on any computer. You are not required to come to a campus to take the test.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement Test: Students beginning the ESL program must take the ESL placement test to determine placement in Basic, Level I, Level II, or Level III. Please visit the ESL placement testing webpage for information on how to get started.

You are exempt from the English as a Second Language Placement testing if you have completed a college-level English course with a “C” or better from an accredited U.S. college or university OR if you have earned qualifying TOEFL, IELTS, ACT or SAT scores within the last two years. See qualifying scores for the TOEFL, IELTS, ACT or SAT tests here.

Students who have qualifying scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, ACT or SAT tests or have taken the ESL placement test and tested into the third level of ESL classes are eligible to take the math placement test.

Step 3 - Mandatory Orientation

All new international students are required to attend a mandatory international student orientation hosted at the campus to which you were accepted.

During orientation, you will be introduced to Tri-C policies, procedures and resources, meet with a counselor and register for your classes.

Step 4 - Meet with an Academic Counselor

If you are taking academic (non-ESL) classes, you should meet with a counselor.

Once you have completed all required academic testing or your transcripts have been reviewed by the Registrar (transfer students only), make an appointment with a counselor by calling the campus Counseling Office at 216-987-6000, choose option 4, or schedule an appointment online.

If you are a new student, you will be required to take the one credit FYE Success Seminar below. Transfer students are exempt if they have completed 12 or more credit hours and maintained a 2.5 GPA.

  • New Student Convocation: This event is a formal introduction to the campus community. You will learn about campus life and college expectations. You will also connect with campus resources, faculty and other students in your program. You must register for this course during New Student Orientation.
  • First Year Experience (FYE) Success Seminar: FYE Success Seminar is a one-credit course that develops lifelong learning skills and connects students to College support services. Course topics include time management, budgeting, study-skills development, career exploration and more. Students will also develop their academic plan. Learn more about FYE at www.tri-c.edu/fye. 
  • Note that New Student Convocation and First Year Experience Success Seminar are co-requisites. Students must register for both courses.
Step 5 - Sign into my Tri-C Space

As soon as your application is processed, the College will generate your My Tri-C Space account. Here, you will obtain important information regarding registration and course planning. Within My Tri-C Space, you will also have a student email account. To access your email account, search Student Email on the Discover page in My Tri-C Space. The format of your email includes your personal “S” ID number and looks like: Sxxxxxxx@acad.tri-c.edu

Remember to check your email regularly for important updates.

  1. Go to my.tri-c.edu
  2. Click "Change Your Password" to create a new password
  3. Enter your Tri-C ID (S#) and click "Continue"
  4. Enter your date of birth as your old password. Enter in m/d/yyyy format with no leading zeros
  5. Create a new password. Re-enter the password
  6. Click the "Change" button. You will be redirected to the my Tri-C Space login page
  7. Log in using your Tri-C ID and the password you just created. (You will need to create a new password every 120 days)
Step 6 - Register and Pay

Schedule your classes in My Tri-C Space (Search Registration on the Discover page) or in person at the Enrollment Center.

  • F-1 students must register for and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester at Cuyahoga Community College in order to maintain their F-1 visa status.  F-1 visa holders must register for 16-week or 14-week classes and are not permitted to take 8-week courses. 
  • Nine credits must seated in a classroom. F-1 visa holders are only permitted to register for one online course per semester.

Registration is not complete until you have paid or made arrangements to pay for your tuition and fees. Students can make an international payment from any country, using any currency, by searching Paying for College on the Discover page in My Tri-C Space. Cash and check payments can be made in person at the Enrollment Center. Credit card payments can also be made in My Tri-C Space by searching Paying for College on the Discover page. View the deadline dates. There is a payment deadline for each term.

International students must pay in full at the time of registration. To arrange an installment payment plan, an international student must present their Social Security card or be accompanied by a co-signer who has a Social Security number. Go to the Enrollment Center to receive an installment payment agreement form and learn about the required documents.

Step 7 - Get ID and Books

In order to obtain a student ID (My Tri-C Card), you must be registered for classes. Come to the Enrollment Center to have your photo taken for your student ID. Your My Tri-C Card is necessary for conducting business at the College. A photo ID will be required. Your first ID is free; there is a fee for a replacement ID.

Buy your books at the campus bookstore (take your printed class schedule) or on the Tri-C bookstore website before the start of classes. The bookstore offers rentals, e-books, used books and new books.

Step 8 – Receive your Form I-20

You will receive a new Form I-20 from your Coordinator by appointment. Please bring your passport, a print-out of your I-94 record, and your current U.S. address to the appointment.

Step 9 - Engage

Go to your classes, meet new people, and begin your college career as a Tri-C student! Find information about engagement opportunities on our Student Life and Engagement webpage.

Steps to Enroll

For a more detailed step by step guide to applying to Tri-C and enrolling in classes, download the printable checklists below.

Download Steps to Enroll
Download Application Requirement Checklist

How to reach us

Eastern Campus
216-987-2118
internationaleast@tri-c.edu  
 
Metropolitan Campus 
Lori Brindisi 
216-987-4167 
lori.brindisi@tri-c.edu

Western Campus
Daniel Safko
216-987-5203
international-west@tri-c.edu 
 
Westshore Campus
Michelle Noll
216-987-5884
internationalwestshore@tri-c.edu

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Cleveland, Ohio 44115

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