International Admissions

Idaho State University encourages and welcomes international students to apply. We are proud of the active part taken in student activities by students from around the world. Admission to Idaho State University for international students is dependent upon credentials showing proof that the students are able to perform well in an American academic environment. The Office of Admissions recognizes there are no such things as equivalents between curricula in any other country and the United States. Thus, foreign courses must be evaluated in terms of approximations.

Applications

The priority dates for international student admission applications are May 1 for fall semester, and August 1 for spring semester. The form is online at www.isu.edu/apply/international/. The following additional items are needed:

  1. Application Fee ($50, nonrefundable);
  2. Documents showing English Proficiency (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo);
  3. Official Transcripts from all universities previously attended and statements of English proficiency when applicable; an official transcript is one that is sent directly from the institution to the Office of Admissions at Idaho State University;
  4. Official secondary or high school transcripts if fewer than 14 transfer college credits have been earned;
  5. Declaration of Financial Support for one academic year along with supporting bank documents;
  6. Copy of passport picture page;
  7. Students transferring from another U.S. college or university are required to have the SEVIS Transfer Release form completed and submitted to the Office of Admissions along with a copy of the current visa, I-94 and the current I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued to them by the school from which they wish to transfer; and
  8. Online Verification Form.

It is critical that students sub­­­mit necessary admission documents early so they may be cleared to register for classes. Those submitting application materials late cannot be assured of registration for the current semester. An official transcript is one that is sent directly from the college/university to the International Programs Office at Idaho State University.  Failure to list and submit transcripts from all schools attended, or submission of inaccurate information, is considered fraud and is cause for refusal of admission or dismissal from Idaho State University.

English Proficiency

Students from countries other than those exempted below are required to provide evidence of a satisfactory score on one of the following standardized tests:

  • TOEFL - iBT of 61 or above,
  • IELTS - overall band score of 5.5 or above, or a 5.0 on each of the sub-tests,
  • Duolingo - overall score of 85 or above,
  • SAT - Redesigned SAT Reading Test score of 25 or above**
  • English score of C5 or better on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate

     

**If the SAT was taken prior to April 2016, the SAT test score requirement is 460 on the Critical Reading score. 

Exemption from the English Proficiency requirement is possible for students who:

  1. are coming from one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales), Zambia.
  2. can show that English was the medium of instruction at the school(s) where they obtained their education.
  3. are transferring 14 or more credits from another college or university in the United States.
  4. have completed their prescribed course of study at the ISU Intensive English Institute and who have the recommendation of the IEI staff.
  5. can show English proficiency by completing Level 112 at any ELS program (http://www.els.edu).

To see whether you qualify, contact the International Programs Office at 208-282-4320. Test results must be sent directly to the ISU International Programs Office from the testing organization. To find test centers and to learn more about the tests, go to http://www.ets.org/toefl/ or http://www.ielts.org/ or https://englishtest.duolingo.com/home or https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores.

International High School Graduates

Assured Admission requires:

  1. A completed Undergraduate Admission Application;
  2. $50 nonrefundable application fee;
  3. 2.50 or better cumulative grade point average;
  4. Secondary school (high school) diploma and mark sheets (grades) in original, or copies certified by the school principal, or the controller of examinations. Documents must be sent in an official, sealed school envelope. Translation of these documents by a certified translator must be done if the documents are not in English; and
  5. Meeting English proficiency requirements.

Conditional Admission requires:

  1. A completed Undergraduate Admission Application;
  2. $50 nonrefundable application fee;
  3. 2.25 or better cumulative grade-point average;
  4. Secondary school (high school) diploma and mark sheets (grades) in original, or copies certified by the school principal, or the controller of examinations. Documents must be sent in an official, sealed school envelope. Translation of these documents by a certified translator must be done if the documents are not in English; and
  5. Meeting English Proficiency requirements.

We do not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. However, we strongly encourage our students to take these. The scores may be used for scholarship determination or to determine English proficiency and Math or English placement.

International Alternative Admissions without High School Diploma

Assured Admission requires:

  1. A completed Undergraduate Admission Application;
  2. $50 nonrefundable application fee;
  3. Composite score of at least 20 on ACT or a 1030 Total score on the Redesigned SAT; and
  4. Passing GED scores with a minimum 170 score on each test and a total of 680 or higher.

Conditional Admission requires:

  1. A completed Undergraduate Admission Application;
  2. $50 nonrefundable application fee;
  3. Composite scores of at least 14 on the ACT or a 730 total score on the Redesigned SAT; and
  4. Passing GED scores with a minimum 160 score on each test and a total of 640 or higher.

For both assured and conditional international alternative admissions, students may be required to provide either a TOEFL iBT score of 61 or above or an IELTS overall band score of 5.5 or above, or a 5.0 on each of the sub-tests to demonstrate their English proficiency if they score less than:

  • 18 on the ACT English test,
  • 25 on the Redesigned SAT Reading test (460 on SAT Critical Reading if taken prior to April 2016)

Test results must be sent directly to the International Programs Office from the testing organization.

International Transfer Student Admission Requirements

  1. Students who have pursued any post-secondary education are required to submit official (original) transcripts in a sealed envelope, bearing the stamp from the issuing institution, regardless of whether or not they want to receive transfer credit. Copies should be certified by the school registrar or the controller of examinations. Students who have attended more than one college/university must submit official transcripts from each institution attended. Post-secondary institutions include colleges, universities, and technical institutions.
  2. International students who have completed less than one semester of full-time study (fewer than 14 credits) are also required to submit secondary school (high school) diploma and mark sheets (grades) in original, or copies certified by the school principal, or the controller of examinations. Documents must be in an official, sealed school envelope. Students are also required to mail in official (original) post-secondary transcripts in a sealed envelope from the school. Copies should be certified by the school principal or the controller of examinations.
  3. Students who have already completed an associate’s (2 year) or bachelor’s (3 or 4 year) degree must also submit their diploma, or have their diploma posted on the transcript.
  4. All non-English documents must be translated by a certified translator.
  5. All international post-secondary documents must go through an evaluation service approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Students need to provide the International Programs Office with an official course-by-course credential evaluation in addition to the official transcripts. In order for an evaluation to be considered official, it must come to us directly from the evaluation service. Please also note that the type of evaluation must be a "course-by-course" evaluation.  For evaluations, Idaho State University recommends:

International Education Evaluation (IEE), (704) 772-0109
Educational Credential Evaluators, 414-289-3400
World Education Services, 212-966-6311

  6. Students must meet English proficiency requirements.

Transfer of I-20/DS-2019 Form

International students who have attended any other college or university in the United States are required to have the SEVIS Transfer Release Form completed by the official International Student Advisor from their previous ­institution. The form should be submitted to the International Programs Office along with a copy of the student’s I-20/DS-2019 and I-94 forms. All I-20’s are generated and tracked by the International Programs Office. If you have questions regarding this process, please call (208) 282-4320 or email ipomail@isu.edu.

Declaration of Financial Support / Financial Statement

All international students must submit documentation showing that they are financially able to support themselves while attending Idaho State University. The Declaration of Financial Support Form from a sponsor along with an attached official bank statement will serve as proof of the student’s financial ability to meet his/her educational costs. The designated sponsor must release funds when needed to pay for expenses as indicated on the declaration. Refer to the estimate of costs, shown below. International students receiving athletic scholarships from Idaho State University must have the Athletic Department submit written verification of such a financial award. Idaho State University reserves the right to require financial deposits from students before registration.

Scholarships

Based on academic merit and availability, new entering International students may be considered for non-resident fee waiver scholarships worth approximately $19,110 per year. For more information, go to https://www.isu.edu/scholarships/non-resident-tuition-waivers-/#d.en.31488.

Estimated Costs

Undergraduate, Without Scholarship

Fee Amount
Tuition and Fees* $27,466.00
Room and Meals $6,960.00
Other Expenses (Books, Supplies, and Medical Insurance)** $3,880.00
Total $38,306.00

Undergraduate, With Non-resident Tuition Scholarship

Fee Amount
Tuition and Fees* $8,356.00
Room and Meals $6,960.00
Other Expenses (Books, Supplies, and Medical Insurance)** $3,880.00
Total $19,196.00

Note: Academic year includes Fall and Spring semesters only. Summer Semester costs are not included in the estimates. Costs are subject to change; see https://www.isu.edu/costinfo/ for the most updated information.

*

Some academic and most College of Technology programs require additional tool or class costs. Students need to contact individual departments or programs for these costs.

**

Students must have the necessary funds to purchase medical insurance for themselves and their family. Costs for medical services provided while in the U.S. are NOT covered by the state of Idaho or the federal government.

Tuition costs include the basic fees paid by all students, plus Non-Resident Tuition which is required of all non-Idaho residents.

See University Housing for information about on-campus housing. Off-campus options are available. Married students accompanied by spouse and children must provide additional funds for them. International students are confronted with a different circumstance than resident students or even out-of-state students. These students may need to supplement their personal belongings with purchases after they arrive on campus. In addition, international students may be required to arrange for their own meals during vacations when residence hall cafeterias are closed.