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Border Commuter Student Admission Requirements

International Student Services Home > Admissions

Canadian border commuter students must meet both the regular admissions requirements and the international student admissions requirements. For regular admission requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions Office page.

International student admissions requirements:

English proficiency
Demonstrated financial resources
Evaluation of foreign educational credentials

English proficiency:
Students whose first language is not English must demonstrate that they have sufficient English proficiency to study at Empire State College. All international student applicants must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered through the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For more information on registering for and taking the TOEFL exam, please visit the ETS web site.

Students may take any version of the TOEFL exam that suits their needs. Undergraduate students must achieve a score of 550 on the paper-based exam, 213 on the computer-based exam, or 80 on the TOEFL (iBT) Internet-based exam.
Graduate students must achieve a score of 600 on the paper-based exam or 250 on the computer-based exam and 100 on the TOEFL iBT internet based exam. Score reports must be sent from ETS directly to the college and are valid for two years. Photocopies of a score report sent to the college from the student will not be accepted.

Demonstrated financial resources:
Canadian border commuter students are not eligible for financial aid, college-sponsored scholarships, or employment while studying in the U. S. International students must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to fund their first year of study at Empire State College before they are issued an I-20.

For the 2011-2012 academic year, students pursuing undergraduate degrees must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to pay for each semester. These figures include tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation costs. The required fees may include the mandatory foreign student health insurance. Please review this with the ISL.

Undergraduate financial information

Canadian border commuter students are always considered nonresidents for tuition purposes. Students may demonstrate their financial support through their own funds or the funds of a sponsor. Evidence proving the availability of funds and support from a sponsor must be submitted with the application.

Evaluation of foreign educational credentials:
Canadian High School Documents:
Must be in English and signed by the Canadian Minister of Education.
All others must be evaluated by one of the following approved evaluation services prior to being submitted to Empire State College:

Please visit evaluator website for more information on what is required to access their services.

Canadian College Transcripts:
Empire State College accepts transcripts from Canadian institutions that are members of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) or the Canadian Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT). All other educational documents must be evaluated by one of the above approved evaluator services prior to being submitted to Empire State College. Please visit evaluator website for more information on what is required to access their services.

Please note that all evaluation reports must be submitted to the college directly from approved evaluator service. This is the only official copy of the report. Any copies of the report sent by the student will not be accepted.