International Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Admission Requirements for International Students

Mount St. Joseph University conducts an individual, comprehensive review of each candidate’s credentials for admission. We look at each student as an individual, taking into consideration personal background, attributes and life circumstances. We look for students who’ll contribute to, and benefit from, the Mount’s educational programs and activities.

Upcoming Admission Date

Students must be admitted to the University by the following dates for the upcoming semesters:

Application deadline dates for F1 students: an I-20 will not be issued after the following dates for the corresponding semesters:

Undergraduate International Application Requirements: 

1. Apply for admission
2. Submit $25.00 non-refundable application fee
3. Send official secondary school records with current year’s subjects and previous years’ subjects and grades. Certified English translation if needed. Transfer students should additionally send official records from all previously attended universities.  International transfer credit must be evaluated by WES (World Education Services) or other approved organization.
4. If a student completes secondary school/high school in a country where English is not the language of instruction, then one can demonstrate proficiency by taking one of the following exams and required scores:
   1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination
      • 79 or better for the internet-based
      • MSJ TOEFL code is 1129
      • TOEFL Services: E-mail: toefl@ets.org; Web: www.toefl.org
   2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic module)
      • 6.5 or better band score
      • IELTS International: (British version of TOEFL) Services: E-mail: ielts@ieltsintl.org; Web: www.ielts.org
5. Declaration of finances - Acceptable forms of sufficient support may be demonstrated by the following (visit Tuition & Costs for tuition information):
   • The I-134 form can be found at https://www.uscis.gov/i-134
   • Bank letters signed by a bank official
   • Bank statements issued directly from a bank
6. Personal essay
7. Two letters of recommendation
8. Copy of passport
9. (Traditional students) If applying for scholarships, please submit SAT or ACT scores
   • Mount St. Joseph University codes: ACT - 3254, SAT - 1129

Application materials should be sent to:

For more information: E-mail: international.admission@msj.edu; Call the Office of Admission: 513-244-4531 or 1-800-654-9314 ext 4531.

Steps to be completed once admitted:

• $1,000 confirmation deposit (refundable) must be submitted to:

• One year of undergraduate tuition and cost (visit Tuition & Costs for tution information):

2020-2021 Undergraduate Tuition Costs *
*All costs are subject to change.
Visit Tuitions and Costs page for most current information.

Estimated cost of 4 years of study: $170,560*
*All costs are subject to change. Visit Tuitions and Costs page for most current information.

• SEVIS Fees - International students who apply for an F-1 visa using the initial attendance Form I-20 will need to complete and pay SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/I-901 confirmation, prior to the student visa interview.

If you’re currently living outside of the U.S.: Present the I-20 form, I-901 payment confirmation form, acceptance letter and declaration of finances to the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country to obtain the F-1 student visa.

-OR-

If you’re currently on an F-1 student visa and transferring from another college or high school within the U.S.: Inform the international student advisor at the high school or college you’re now attending of your intention to transfer to Mount St. Joseph University.  The international student advisor must release or transfer out your record in SEVIS, which then permits us to create a transfer-in I-20.  Complete this form.

Note: Transfer credits are only accepted from regionally accredited institutions.

Graduate Admission Requirements for International Students

Visit our graduate programs page for a list of programs available.  Students must be studying full-time to qualify for an I-20.  At this time, the following graduate programs are full-time: MSN-MAGELIN (Master of Science in Nursing: Master’s Accelerated Graduate Entry Level Into Nursing), DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy), and MPAS (Masters in Physician Assistant Studies).

Graduate International Applicants

• A completed graduate application.
• A $50 non-refundable application fee payable to Mount St. Joseph University.
• Academic Transcripts: Official undergraduate transcript(s) from a regionally accredited college or university, with a baccalaureate degree noted, sent directly to the Mount’s Office of Graduate Admission from the undergraduate institution attended.  If credits from more than one institution appear on the undergraduate transcript, official transcripts from all originating institutions are required.
• Undergraduate transcripts from non-U.S. countries will need to be evaluated by World Education Service.
• TOEFL requirements: 220 computer based-83 on i-TOEFL.  Requirements can be waived if the graduate department requires another standardized test, e.g., Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or if the undergraduate degree was earned at a college or university in the United States.  Waiver of the TOEFL will be determined by the program director.
• For applicants on visa, submit a declaration of finances, either I-134 or certified bank statement on bank letterhead with dollar amount equal to one year’s tuition, housing, etc.  To be eligible for the student visa status (F-1), students must show that funds are available for the length of the program.  Visit Financial Aid for more information on tuition changes.
• For applicants on F-1 visa, two letters of recommendation are required.

If you’re currently on an F-1 student visa and transitioning from another college within the U.S.: Inform the international student advisor at the college you’re now attending of your intention to attend Mount St. Joseph University.  The international student advisor must release or transfer out your record in SEVIS, which then permits us to create a transfer-in I-20.  Complete this form.

The Physical Therapy Department participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).  Applications to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program are completed through the PTCAS website at www.PTCAS.org.  The Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program participates in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).  Applications to the Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) are completed through the CASPA website at https://portal.CASPAonline.org.

All documents received by the University in connection with an application for admission become the property of Mount St. Joseph University.  Documents will not be returned to applicants or forwarded to any other college or university.

Application materials should be sent to:

For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 513-244-4807 or 1-800-654-9314, x4807.