International Students

Initial F1 visa

For admission to Stark State College:

1. Apply as an international student at https://apply.starkstate.edu/apply/.
   • Please enter all 999s for your social security number.
   • You can log back into your application account at any time to view your outstanding requirements.
2. High school diploma or equivalent and transcripts (English translations may be needed).
3. All previously attended college/university transcripts, if applicable (formal evaluation may be needed to grant credit from schools outside of the U.S.).
4. English proficiency shown by taking and meeting the minimum score requirements on the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or ACT/SAT (taken within the last two years). This is required for all international students, regardless of language spoken in country of origin. NO EXCEPTIONS OR LETTERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Stark State College does not offer any ESL programs.
   • TOEFL: minimum score of 61 AND minimum of 18 on both reading and writing sections.
   • IELTS: minimum score of 6.
   • Duolingo: minimum score of 90.
   • SAT: minimum EBRW of 360.
   • ACT: minimum English score of 18.
5. Current passport.
6. Bank statements or letter from the bank that shows the most recent four months having a balance of at least $20,752 USD. This can be the student’s account or whoever is sponsoring the student.
   • If adding a single F2 dependent, please add an additional $2,500 (for a total amount of $23,252).
   • If adding more than one F2 dependent, please add an additional $5,000 (for a total amount of $25,752).
7. Complete the SSC financial affidavit form. This form must be completed by the student, acknowledging their responsibility of all costs for attendance. Please be sure to completely fill in the chart at the bottom according to the “Important” paragraph above it.

Any and all of the above required documentation can be sent directly to Rebecca Danner, DSO, at rdanner@starkstate.edu. Additionally, please disregard any automated emails that come through the system other than those from rdanner@starkstate.edu and/or application status updates.

Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law (https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/06/announcement-of-expanded-screening-and-vetting-for-visa-applicants).

Once all the above steps have been completed and you have received your I20, you will then need to complete the following steps. Please note the order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by the Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions at usembassy.gov.

1. Pay the I-901 fee (https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html).
2. Complete an F1 visa application (https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/).
3. Schedule an interview with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you live (usembassy.gov).

Currently, tuition for international students is $338.60 per credit hour. Most degrees are approximately 62-68 credit hours, plus any needed prerequisite courses, fees, labs, supplies and textbooks. Per U.S.C.I.S. F1 visa student regulations, you must take a minimum of 12 credit hours every fall and spring semester, with no more than one online class at a time.

Also, please note that F1 visa international students are not eligible to receive any financial aid or scholarships through Stark State College. Stark State is proud to offer its students one of the lowest tuition rates around, but students are encouraged to research outside sources that may offer such assistance. Additionally, please be aware we are a commuter college and offer no on-campus housing. International students are responsible for securing their own housing, and job opportunities for F1 visa students are severely limited and not guaranteed.

Transfer F1 visa

For admission to Stark State College:

1. Apply as an International Student at https://apply.starkstate.edu/apply/.
   • Please enter all 999s for your social security number.
   • You can log back into your application account at any time to view your outstanding requirements.
2. High school diploma or equivalent and transcripts (English translations may be needed).
3. All previously attended college/university transcripts, if applicable (formal evaluation may be needed to grant credit from schools outside of the U.S.). If you are currently enrolled in a U.S. college/university, you will need to request your official transcript be sent to Stark State College after completion of the current semester and your final grades have posted. You must have successfully completed a full-time course load at the institution from where you are transferring.
4. Copy of current I20: PLEASE NOTE: Stark State College does not accept students who have a reinstatement or terminated I20.
5. Placement testing scores or equivalent U.S. transfer credit in math, reading and writing, as required by all incoming students to Stark State College.
   • If there is no transfer credit in equivalent math, reading and/or writing, you will need to schedule the Stark State College ACCUPLACER placement testing at one of the Stark State’s campuses. Minimum reading (219) and writing (2) scores are required. There’s no minimum math score.
6. Current passport.
7. Copy of F1 visa.
8. Bank statements or letter from the bank that show the most recent four months having a balance of at least $20,752 USD. This can be the student’s account or whoever is sponsoring the student.
   • If adding a single F2 dependent, please add an additional $2,500 (for a total amount of $23,252).
   • If adding more than one F2 dependent, please add an additional $5,000 (for a total amount of $25,752).
9. Complete the SSC financial affidavit form. This form must be completed by the student, acknowledging their responsibility of all costs for attendance. Please be sure to completely fill in the chart at the bottom according to the “Important” paragraph above it.

Any and all of the above required documentation can be sent directly to Rebecca Danner, DSO, at rdanner@starkstate.edu. Additionally, please disregard any automated emails that come through the system other than those from rdanner@starkstate.edu and/or application status updates.

Currently, tuition for international students is $338.60 per credit hour. Most degrees are approximately 62-68 credit hours, plus any needed prerequisite courses, fees, labs, supplies and textbooks. Per U.S.C.I.S. F1 visa student regulations, you must take a minimum of 12 credit hours every fall and spring semester, with no more than one online class at a time.

Also, please note that F1 visa international students are not eligible to receive any financial aid or scholarships through Stark State College. Stark State is proud to offer its students one of the lowest tuition rates around, but students are encouraged to research outside sources that may offer such assistance. Additionally, please be aware we are a commuter college and offer no on-campus housing. International students are responsible for securing their own housing, and job opportunities for F1 visa students are severely limited and not guaranteed.

Transient students

You’re a transient student if you’re currently attending another college/university and want to enroll at Stark State College and then return to your institution. You won’t however, be eligible to use financial aid at Stark State, so contact your home college/university financial aid office to discuss your financial aid options.

1. Apply for admission. Complete the guest-transient student application online.
2. Submit your documents.
   • To register for courses, you’ll need to provide a signed transient letter from your home college/university. Many will have a standard form, often referred to as a transient authorization form. This letter/form should state that you are in good standing along with the name of the approved courses to be taken at Stark State College. The transferability of course(s) taken at Stark State is the prerogative of the accepting institution. Contact your home college/university academic advisor or registrar to get your transient letter/form and email to admissions@starkstate.edu.
   • In the instance your home college/university will not provide a transient letter/form, you may submit an official copy of your college transcripts that show proof of pre-requisites for any class you are seeking to enroll in at Stark State. Electronic transcripts are preferred. Check with your college/university registrar website to find your electronic transcript request process.
3. Request your documents. After completing the semester/session, submit a transcript request to transfer course(s) to your home college/university. Click here to request a transcript.

Guest students

You’re a guest student if you’re not currently attending another college/university and want to enroll at Stark State as a non-degree seeking student taking courses for personal knowledge or to update your skills. A guest student is not eligible to use financial aid at Stark State College.

1. Apply for admission. Complete the guest-transient student application online.
2. Contact the Admissions Office. To register for courses, you’ll need to contact the Admissions Office to determine eligibility to enroll in your desired courses. Prior college transcripts and/or ACCUPLACER placement testing may be needed for course placement. If you’re a senior citizen who wants to audit courses, contact the Admissions Office to learn more.

Status change to F1 visa

Individuals that hold a B1/B2 visa are not eligible to study in the U.S. Only F and M students are limited to attendance at SEVP-certified schools. Therefore, the quickest way to be able to study here in the U.S. is to go through the process of obtaining an F1 visa while in your home country. If you would like to obtain an F1 visa in this way, please go back to the previous webpage and select “I am overseas and want to come to Stark State Community College as an F-1 international student.”

If you choose to remain in the U.S. under your B1/B2 visa, you will not be permitted to attend school until after you have applied for and been granted a change of status through USCIS, which can take up to 18 months.

For additional information on Changing to a Nonimmigrant Student Status from B-1/B-2 status by remaining in the U.S.), please go to https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/complete/change-of-status.

Below are the steps for obtaining an I20 for status change by remaining in the U.S.

For admission to Stark State College:

1. An application must be completed and submitted to SSC using the international application available online.
   • Please enter all 999s for your social security number.
   • Under high school, select OH for the state, select any city, then click the dropdown arrow and select My School Isn’t Listed and manually type in the name of your school.
2. High school diploma or equivalent and transcripts (English translations may be needed).
3. Any previously attended college/university transcripts (formal evaluation may be needed to grant credit from schools outside of the U.S.).
4. ACCUPLACER placement testing in reading, writing and math through Stark State: minimum writing score of 2, minimum reading score of 246, no minimum math score is required.
5. Current passport.
6. Copy of current visa (please note you will be required to keep your visa in good standing while waiting a change of status through USCIS).
7. Bank statements or letter from the bank that shows the most recent four months having a balance of at least $20,752. This can be the student’s account or whoever is sponsoring the student.
   • If adding a single F2 dependent, please add an additional $2,500 (for a total amount of $23,252).
   • If adding more than one F2 dependent, please add an additional $5,000 (for a total amount of $25,752).
8. SSC Financial Affidavit form, completed by the student, acknowledging his/her responsibility of all costs for attendance. Please be sure to completely fill in the chart at the bottom according to the “Important” paragraph above it.

Any and all of the above required documentation can be sent directly to Rebecca Danner, DSO, at rdanner@starkstate.edu.

Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law (https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/06/announcement-of-expanded-screening-and-vetting-for-visa-applicants).

Once all the above steps have been completed, you will need to follow the procedure for U.S.C.I.S. for submitting an application Form I-539. The form, fees, and instructions for filing the form with U.S.C.I.S can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-539.

Currently, tuition for international students is $338.60 per credit hour. Most degrees are approximately 62-68 credit hours, plus any needed prerequisite courses, fees, labs, supplies, and textbooks. Per U.S.C.I.S. F1 visa student regulations, you must take a minimum of 12 credit hours every fall and spring semester, with no more than one online class at a time.

Also, please note that F1 visa international students are not eligible to receive any financial aid or scholarships through Stark State College. Stark State is proud to offer its students one of the lowest tuition rates around, but students are encouraged to research outside sources that may offer such assistance. Additionally, please be aware we are a commuter college and offer no on-campus housing. International students are responsible for securing their own housing, and job opportunities for F1 visa students are severely limited and not guaranteed.

You’re ready to apply to Stark State College.