International Student Admissions

• New Students currently outside of the U.S.
  • May 1 for admission to the fall semester
  • October 1 for spring semester
  • No summer session admission
• Transfer student currently in the U.S.
  • Fall 2025: Friday, August 1, 2025
  • Summer: May 1st (by request only)

All transfer applications for Fall 2025 must have an online application submitted by August 1 and must receive an acceptance email from iss@minneapolis.edu by August 8 to start classes on August 25. 
No Exceptions.  

If you have concerns about meeting the deadline, please contact International Student Services at Minneapolis College.

As an F-1 student at Minneapolis College, your primary major must be a 2-year associate degree program. Note that not all programs are eligible for F-1 students. Students applying to study at Minneapolis College in F-1 status must choose a primary program from the list linked below.

• Eligible Programs for International Students

Programs that are labeled “Transfer Pathway Programs” in the F-1 Eligible Programs document are programs that seamlessly transfer into a bachelor’s degree at a four-year university in the Minnesota State System.
 

Minneapolis College has some programs with extra requirements and also have a higher per credit cost than other programs.

The Nursing program requires students to begin as a “pre-nursing” major and meet eligibility requirements to apply and get admitted as a “nursing” major and enroll in the clinical courses. To complete the whole program, nursing takes at least 3 years to complete, if not more.

The Dental Program requires successful completion of first semester classes to register for second semester courses. The first semester DNTA classes are only offered in Fall semesters and fill extremely fast.

The Aircraft Maintenance Technician program has a waitlist to begin taking the ACMT courses held at the MSP airport. Cohorts of the 25 students can begin every fall semester and every-other spring semester. You must meet the placement requirements to get your name added to the waitlist. It is possible to take the 15 credits of generals while waiting for your name to move to the top of the waitlist to get invited to register for the ACMT courses.

• Please direct questions about these programs to iss@minneapolis.edu.

English Placements Requirements
Students wishing to pursue an associate degree program at Minneapolis College who do not quite meet English prerequisite requirements to begin taking classes in their chosen program, but otherwise meet admission requirements, will need to take some English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes to improve their English. 

This may add up to three semesters of coursework to a program of study depending on the student’s placement into English. More information about the course placement process can be found here. Scroll down to view the Guided Self Placement section and click on the English as a Second Language subsection.

Follow these steps if you are a new international student not currently living in the US and want to apply for an F-1 visa to attend Minneapolis College.

1. Submit the online Minneapolis College application
   Submitting the online application is the first step. This step must be completed before submitting the International Application eForm. When you submit the online application for the first time, you will create a Star ID and password. This Star ID and password is required to submit the International Application eForm.
2. Submit the documents below through the International Application Document Submission eForm. 
   This form requires you to upload the required documents and materials listed below (in pdf or jpeg). You will have only 30 minutes to complete and submit the form. You must have all required documents prepared and ready for upload. After 30 minutes, the form will time out and delete your information.

Before proceeding, please ensure you have the following documents ready to upload:

• Copy of valid passport 
• Copy of secondary school/high school records (diploma/leaving certificate/proof of completion) – English translation is required.
• F-1 International Student Agreement Form Within the form, you will acknowledge that you have read and agree to abide by the requirements listed in the linked document.
• Immunization Requirement - Dates of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD or Tdap) vaccinations -may be submitted after admission, if necessary.
  Online form: Immunization eForm (processing time 3-5 business days)
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: Click here to see English proficiency requirements and accepted tests/assessments
• Dependent passports (if applicable)

Once all of your documents are ready, log-in to the International Application Document Submission eForm using your Star ID and password to submit your documents. 

If you have forgotten your Star ID or password, visit: starid.minnstate.edu/selfservice and click on “what is my starid?” or “reset my password” to proceed. You will click on “I know my email address”, get a verification code and enter it. You will be provided with the star id (format: ab1234cd) and given the opportunity to reset your password.

3. You will also need to submit the documents below through the Financial Certification Statement eForm. No log-in required.

• Proof of funds:
  • A bank statement(s) showing at least \$27,500 (USD)
  • Affidavit or Letter of Support signed by sponsor(s)  click for a letter template
• Dependent passports (if applicable)

Getting admitted
After submitting the eForm, your documents will be reviewed within 7-10 business days. If we require any additional information from you, we will notify you via email. Once your completed application with all documentation has been received and accepted, you will be notified via email of your admission. You will receive your Form I-20 and Minneapolis College acceptance letter within 7-10 business days of your admission to the college.

Visit the Next Steps for Admitted International Students page for more information about receiving your Form I-20, applying for the F-1 visa, and additional steps required before starting classes at Minneapolis College.

Follow these steps if you are a SEVIS Transfer international student. This means you are currently in the US on an F-1 visa at another college or university and wish to transfer to Minneapolis College in F-1 status.

1. Submit the online Minneapolis College application
   Submitting the online application is the first step. This step must be completed before submitting the International Application eForm. When you submit the online application for the first time, you will create a Star ID (format: ab1234cd) and password. This Star ID and password is required to submit the International Application eForm.
2. Submit the below documents through the International Application Document Submission eForm 
   This form requires you to upload the required documents (in pdf or jpeg) and materials listed below. You will have only 30 minutes to complete and submit the form. You must have all required documents prepared and ready for upload. After 30 minutes, the form will time out and delete your information.

Before proceeding, please ensure you have the following documents ready to upload:

• Copy of valid passport 
• Copy of secondary school/high school records (diploma/leaving certificate/proof of completion) – English translation is required.
• F-1 International Student Agreement Form
• Immunization form-link to fillable PDF (this requirement may be submitted after admission, if necessary.)
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: Click here to see English proficiency requirements and accepted tests/assessments
• Copy of your current I-20 form
• Copy of your F-1 visa
• Your most recent I-94: Download your I-94.
• Unofficial U.S. college transcript(s) showing your enrollment in the U.S.

Once all of your documents are ready, log-in to the International Application Document Submission eForm using your Star ID and password to submit your documents.

If you have forgotten your Star ID or password, visit: starid.minnstate.edu/selfservice and click on “what is my starid?” or “reset my password” to proceed. You will click on “I know my email address”, get a verification code and enter it. You will be provided with the star id (format: ab1234cd) and given the opportunity to reset your password.

3. You will also need to submit the documents below through the Financial Certification Statement eForm.  No log-in required.

• Proof of funds:
  • A bank statement(s) showing at least \$27,500 (USD)
  • Affidavit or Letter of Support signed by sponsor(s) click for a letter template
• Dependent passports (if applicable)

Visit the Next Steps for Admitted International Students page for more information about receiving your Acceptance Letter and requesting a Transfer of your I-20/SEVIS record. There are also additional requirements to complete before starting classes at Minneapolis College.

Follow these steps if you are currently in the US on a visa type other than F-1 (J-1, H-4, H1-B, F-2, etc.) and wish to apply to USCIS for a change to F-1 status to attend classes at Minneapolis College. Please view this Change of Status Brochure for more information.

1. Submit the online Minneapolis College application
   Submitting the online application is the first step. This step must be completed before submitting the International Application eForm. When you submit the online application for the first time, you will create a Star ID and password. This Star ID and password is required to submit the International Application eForm.
2. Submit the below documents through the International Application Document Submission eForm.
   This form requires you to upload the required documents and materials listed below(in pdf or jpeg). You will have only 30 minutes to complete and submit the form. You must have all required documents prepared and ready for upload. After 30 minutes, the form will time out and delete your information.

Before proceeding, please ensure you have the following documents ready to upload:

• Copy of valid passport 
• Copy of secondary school/high school records (diploma/leaving certificate/proof of completion) – English translation is required.
• F-1 International Student Agreement Form
• Immunization form-link to fillable PDF (this requirement may be submitted after admission, if necessary.)
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: Click here to see English proficiency requirements and accepted tests/assessments
• Copy of your current visa and/or USCIS I-797 approval notice
• Your most recent I-94: Download your I-94.
• If you are a J1 visa holder, submit a photocopy of DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitors

Once all of your documents are ready, log-in to the International Application Document Submission eForm using your Star ID and password to submit your documents.

If you have forgotten your Star ID or password, visit: starid.minnstate.edu/selfservice and click on “what is my starid?” or “reset my password” to proceed. You will click on “I know my email address”, get a verification code and enter it. You will be provided with the star id (format: ab1234cd) and given the opportunity to reset your password.

3. You will also need to submit the documents below through the Financial Certification Statement eForm. No log-in required.

• Proof of funds:
  • A bank statement(s) showing at least \$27,500 (USD)
  • Affidavit or Letter of Support signed by sponsor(s) click for a letter template
• Dependent passports (if applicable)

Visit the Next Steps for Admitted International Students page for more information about receiving your Form I-20, applying for change of status through USCIS as well as additional steps required before starting classes at Minneapolis College.

If you are currently in the US on an F-1 visa and you are maintaining that visa status with another US college or university, and do not intend to transfer to Minneapolis College, you are considered a visiting student. Please follow the Visiting Student steps.

If you are an F-1 visiting student and do not require an I-20 from Minneapolis College, please notify International Student Admissions by emailing iss@minneapolis.edu. We may need to override parts of your application after you confirm your visiting student status to allow you to register for classes.

Minneapolis College does not perform evaluations of international transcripts in house. If you have a college/university transcript from a country outside the U.S., and you wish to transfer your credit to Minneapolis College, you must apply for a third-party transcript evaluation service to translate your transfer credit to the US education system.

It is not required for admission to get a university/college transcript evaluated for transfer credit. It is not required to get your high school transcript evaluated, but Minneapolis College reserves the right to request an evaluation of a high school transcript on a case-by-case basis.

Coursework completed at an international college or university will be considered for transfer if recommended by a credential evaluation service that is recognized by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). You must request a course-by-course evaluation for further education. We highly recommend Educational Credential Evaluators. Note: the cost is approximately $250 for this service. However, if you have one class that transfers in, it is worth the time and money to get your official transcript evaluated. If you have chosen a program of study that is completely different than what you studied previously, it may not be useful to get the transcript evaluated.

Minneapolis College reserves the right to request additional information from you such as course descriptions, syllabi, etc. There is no guarantee that your credits will transfer, and it is your responsibility to apply for a transcript evaluation and submit the transcripts to the company. Once received, Minneapolis College requires 4-6 weeks to apply the transfer credit to your program of study. Once the transfer of credit evaluation has been completed you will receive an email notification via your college email address, which you can set up upon admission to the college. For more information about transfer credit, click here.

A family member or friend can help you with your application, but you as the student are responsible for submitting the online application and all the supplemental application documents.
Due to federal privacy laws, Minneapolis College staff cannot speak to anyone except the student regarding their application status and any official college records.

If you would like to give College staff permission to discuss your application and supplemental application materials with a particular person, you must submit the Release of Information Form for International Students via this Application Document Submission eForm. Completion and submission of this form is optional. This form must be completed and submitted by the applicant themselves and means they give their consent freely and voluntarily and understands the consequences of granting their consent to another person.

International students pay the same tuition rate as domestic students. Students are billed for courses based on the number of credits that they are enrolled in by semester/term. It is possible to pay for tuition in monthly installments.

International Students are also required to pay for medical insurance which is estimated at \$2200 - \$2500 per academic year. The cost of insurance must be paid in full before the beginning of the semester and generally prior to course registration for that semester.

Minneapolis College does not offer any first semester scholarships, and the college does not have any financial aid or financial support available for international students.
As an international student, it is critical that you have the funds to support yourself throughout the duration of your studies at Minneapolis College.

The application for scholarships through the Minneapolis College Foundation opens each spring (in April) ahead of the Fall semester. These scholarships range from \$500 to \$1,500 per semester and are not guaranteed. These college scholarships should not be used as a primary source of funding.

Minneapolis College does not recommend relying on any type of employment or college scholarship as a means of long-term financial support. 
Ultimately, it is each student’s individual responsibility to ensure that they have the funds to pay for tuition, living expenses, mandatory health insurance, and any other expenses while a student at Minneapolis College. Failure to financially prepare may result in the need to leave the US early without completing your academic program and/or the loss of F-1 legal status.

On-campus work opportunities at Minneapolis College are available but not guaranteed. There are no off-campus work opportunities for F-1 international students in the first year of study and the options that become available after the first year of study are dependent on the program of study and therefore are limited and not guaranteed.

The restrictions on employment are in place to make sure F-1 students prioritize being a student while in the U.S. and are not using the student visa to be in the country for other reasons. Working without authorization can jeopardize your ability to maintain your visa status.

A dependent of an F-1 student is known as an F-2 dependent. To qualify as an F-2 dependent, the dependent must be the spouse (married partner) of the F-1 student, or unmarried minor child of the F-1 student under the age of 21. Note that adding a dependent increases the amount of funds an F-1 applicant must have to get admitted. It is also a requirement to submit the passport page for each dependent as part of the admissions process.

Upon completing the admission process to Minneapolis College, both the F-1 applicant and the F-2 dependent(s) each receive Forms I-20 needed to apply for the F-1 and F-2 visas, respectively.

No, the college does not have any on-campus housing, and students are responsible for finding their own housing. The college also does not provide or arrange transportation or offer airport pick-up.

Please see more information about transportation in the Admitted Student Webpage under Admitted Student FAQs. Housing resources are available upon request.  For more information, please email iss@minneapolis.edu to inquire.

For new students who need to apply for the F-1 visa at the embassy in their home country, it can be advantageous to have a four-year educational plan that includes transferring from Minneapolis College with the associate’s degree to a university for a bachelor's degree. Generally, you get an associate degree in two years and transfer to complete two more years at a university to get the US bachelor’s/undergraduate degree. A letter from the international admissions office at a partner university provides you with proof of this plan for the visa interview.

For students pursuing a transfer pathway program at Minneapolis College, we offer dual admission letters from Metropolitan State University (Metro State) upon request after getting admitted to Minneapolis College. Students in other programs are not eligible for dual admission letter.

Click here to see the Minneapolis College Programs that are eligible for international students. Any programs listed as a Transfer Pathway AS or Transfer Pathway AA are a part of the transfer agreement. By clicking on the transfer pathway programs, you will find the bachelor’s degree programs at Metro State that will accept the credits from the associate degrees at Minneapolis College.

Please find the instruction for how to request a dual admission letter from Metro State on the Admitted Student Website in the New Student section.