International Students
Students from around the world, welcome to Northwestern!
An international student is one who wishes to attend college in the U.S. without residency or citizenship, typically on an F-1 visa.
NOTE: If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, please apply as a first-time or transfer student.
International Student Application Process
To apply to Northwestern College as an international student, follow the steps below.
The entire process of working through international student matters can take up to a full year from start to finish. We encourage you to begin the process early.
Keep in mind that you will be working not only with the college, but with various financial institutions, your country’s embassy, and the Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services.
Steps to Enroll
We strongly encourage you to complete steps 1–4 below by March 31. The process cannot be extended beyond June 1, and may have to be closed prior to that date.
1. Take standardized exam
If English is your primary language, you should take the ACT or the SAT exam.
If English is not your primary language, arrange to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. See more details on the TOEFL below.
When both applications are complete, we will send you a financial aid award packet, which includes the Financial Verification Form (FVF) for the I-20.
4. Complete the Financial Verification Form (FVF) and return it to the Admissions Office
The line Total Resources must balance the line Total Costs on the FVF. You must demonstrate the ability to cover the cost of an entire year of education.
When we receive your Financial Verification Form in satisfactory condition and your application to the college is complete, it will be reviewed.
Once you are admitted
If you are admitted, you will be sent a letter of acceptance. At that time, you will be asked to transfer $4,000 (USD) to the Northwestern College Student Accounts office. This amount will be credited to your college bill.
You will then be issued an I-20, which you will need in order to acquire a student visa to study in the U.S. Work with the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your country to obtain your student F1 visa. If, for some reason you are unable to attend Northwestern, your $4,000 will be refunded.
Note the tuition and fees cost for a year at Northwestern, and remember that you will need to be prepared to pay similar amounts for all four years of your education.
Once you have your Student Visa
Once you have acquired an F-1 student visa, you must contact the Office of Admissions to inform us of your travel plans.
At that time, you will be guided through the process of registering for classes and making your housing arrangements. Please note that our housing policy does not allow any student age 25 or older to live on campus. Any student age 25 or older must make their own off-campus housing and transportation arrangements.
Before you arrive on campus, you must arrange a payment plan for any remaining costs by e-mailing the Student Accounts office at studentaccounts@nwc.edu.
Is the TOEFL required if my native language is other than English?
Yes, unless you have taken the ACT or SAT exam and your scores are acceptable. New Student scholarships may be awarded on the basis of ACT/SAT scores and high school grades. The minimum score for admission on the paper-based TOEFL is 530; the minimum score using the computer-based test is 197; and the minimum score on the Internet-based test is 71.
What special documents are required for an international high school transcript?
A copy of your high school transcript is required, listing courses taken, number of credits, and grades received. If the transcript is in another language, a school official or other authorized person must translate it into English. Information on the school’s grading system should accompany the transcript. A diploma or certificate of graduation may be required. Official transcripts from any/all colleges attended are required. Any credits being transferred must be evaluated using one of the evaluation services found at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
