Terra State Welcomes Qualified International Students
We value diversity and the experiences students from international backgrounds bring
to our campus and classrooms. Our goal is to prepare students from all backgrounds
to be successful after completing their education here at Terra State. Acceptance
as a new applicant from abroad can be made for the fall, spring or summer terms. Students
from international backgrounds looking to enroll at Terra State must complete the
following enrollment checklist.
Complete the placement test or submit scores from the ACT or SAT
Meet with the International Student Advisor
Complete Academic Advising and Class Registration
Required Documentation
1. Proof of English Language Proficiency
All international students are required to demonstrate English proficiency by achieving
a minimum score of 61 on the internet-based TOEFL® , or at least 5.5 on the IELTSTM
, or at least 3.5 on the ITEP, or at least 85 on the Duolingo, International test
of English proficiency. Scores must be sent directly from ETS® or be available for
download through IELTSTM or Duolingo. International students who have completed high
school in the United States will not be required to submit test scores. For information
on how to send TOEFL® scores, please visit: http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/scores/send/.
2. Proof of Adequate Financial Support
The estimated cost of attendance for international students studying at Terra State
is $20,300 annually. International students are required to submit documentation from
a government or bank official demonstrating that the student or the student’s sponsor
has sufficient funds to cover the student’s cost of attendance. Immigration regulations
prevent the student from earning any substantial portion of this amount through employment
in the United States. In addition, international students are not eligible for federal
financial aid.
3. Provide Official Transcripts
Official high school transcripts indicating a graduation date or certification of
a diploma are required before acceptance. All documents submitted to Terra State must
be translated into the English language if the original language used is not English.
If an international student has previously attended a college or university, an official
copy of those transcripts must be submitted as well. Students transferring from an
international institution must have their transcripts evaluated by an evaluation service
provider on one of the following websites: www.naces.org, www.ece.org or www.asha.org.
4. Passport
We require a scanned copy of your passport before acceptance. If you do not have a
passport, we will need a scanned copy of your official ID. The scans can be emailed
to international@terra.edu.
International Transfer Students
International students looking to transfer from another college or university in the
United States to Terra State Community College must also meet the following requirements:
Have not violated their immigration status and/or fallen out of status. Fulfilled
his/her financial obligations to the college or university.
To demonstrate meeting these requirements, students are required to have the transferring
institution complete an Intent to Transfer form and send it to Tim Shaal.
Procedures Following Admission
Secure a F-1 Student Visa
Once all the required documents have been received you will be sent an acceptance
letter and Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status (Form I-20)
via postal mail. Once these documents have been issued you should pay your SEVIS fee,
apply for an F-1 student visa, and schedule an interview at your local US embassy
or consulate. When applying for a student visa, you should have a valid passport,
resume, and information about past and future travel plans available. You should also
know your SEVIS ID number, which can be found on your I-20. You should take your visa
application confirmation page with you to the interview and be prepared to answer
questions regarding ties to your home country, your English language skills, academic
background, the program in the US to which you have been admitted, and proof of your
financial ability.
