For admission to SSC:

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 2 years). This is required for all international students, regardless of language spoken in country of origin. NO EXCEPTIONS OR LETTERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. SSC 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 4 months having a balance of at least $20,752 USD. This can be the student’s account or whomever 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 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. 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 of 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 of 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.