International Student Admissions

Waiver of the English Proficiency Requirement

The following circumstances will waive the requirement of a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) or other English proficiency tools:

1. If the applicant's native language is English.
2. If the applicant has taken the ACT and received a composite score of 21 or the SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Mathematics) with a score of 1060.
3. If the applicant graduates and receives a high school diploma in the United States.  The transcript will be reviewed and if the student has low grades and/or a low ACT/SAT, additional proof of English proficiency may be required.
4. If the applicant received an undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution or a country where the native language is English.
5. If the applicant is transferring to Northwest from another regionally-accredited institution in the United States and has completed the equivalent of English Composition I (10-111) and English Composition II (10-112) with grades of C or better.
6. If the applicant intends to be non-degree seeking at Northwest and/or is visiting from another college or university.

New International Students

To be fully admitted to Northwest, students must submit each of the following items to the Northwest Office of Admissions, Northwest Missouri State University, 800 University Drive, Maryville, Missouri, 64468-6001, USA. Forms are available by request from the Northwest Office of Admissions.

1. Application for admission (as appropriate).
2. Official academic transcripts from each secondary and post-secondary institution attended. If students are currently enrolled in a college or university, they should send partial transcripts. Transcripts in a language other than English must have official translations attached to the official transcripts. All transcripts become the property of Northwest and cannot be released. Syllabi (course descriptions) must be submitted for all courses taken at universities outside the United States. Transcripts will not be evaluated until syllabi have been received. Transcripts from Nepal must be certified by USEF-Nepal.
3. Application fee of $75.00 in U.S. currency. This is a non-refundable fee.
4. Students entering Northwest are required to have a reading, writing, and conversational knowledge of the English language. If the student's native language is not English, he or she must submit a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). Undergraduates should have a minimum score of 61 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a 5.5 on the Academic IELTS or a 44 on the PTE Academic. English proficiency scores must be less than two years old at the time the student starts classes. Additional options used to verify English Proficiency include C1 Advanced, Duolingo, EIKEN, GTEC, iTEP, SAKAE SEPT, and TOEIC. The Northwest website may be referenced for score requirements.
5. Copy of passport.
6. Statement of support (form provided by Northwest) from family member or sponsor stating amount and years of support.
7. Bank statement verifying that the sponsor has the balance provided on the statement of support. Information may be submitted electronically and should contain the available funds, account holder's name and number, date of issue, and bear a bank official signature.
8. If available, official ACT or SAT scores will be used to determine scholarship eligibility.

International Application Deadlines

For students applying from their home country, the application and documentation noted above must be received by the Office of Admissions prior to the deadlines noted below. Applications not complete by the deadline will be considered for the next admission session. These deadlines allow for the evaluation of transcripts for admission and for transfer of credit, time to process, send and receive an I-20 and time for the student to obtain a visa.

Students transferring from a school within the U.S. must apply, be admitted and arrive on campus before International Student Orientation which occurs the week before classes begin.

I-20 Form

A Statement of Support completed and signed by the student’s family, sponsor, or government and a bank statement are needed before an I-20 can be issued. Student visas should be obtained before entering the United States, as converting from a tourist visa to a student visa is not assured.

An I-20 Form will be prepared for the applicant after the application and all necessary information have been received and the Office of Admissions has taken favorable action on the application. The I-20 Form cannot be prepared before the application is officially reviewed and the applicant accepted.

Freshman International Student Admissions

Freshman admission for international students is evaluated on an individual basis. Admission is offered to those students who possess academic qualifications equivalent to those required for domestic first-time freshmen. Consideration is given to the courses taken and grades received in secondary school, as well as to results of school leaving examinations and certificates. The integrity of the student’s native educational system is respected in regard to the university entrance requirements in the native country; students not eligible for university admission in their native country will not likely be granted admission to Northwest.

For comparison purposes, admission requirements for domestic first-time freshmen must include the following:

1. A minimum high school grade point average of 2.00 or “C” average and;
2. A college-preparatory curriculum in secondary school, including courses in mathematics, science, language and social studies.

International Transfer Students

In addition to items one through eight listed previously, undergraduate and graduate international students who are transferring to Northwest from another American university should also submit a Transfer Form to the Northwest Office of Admissions. To be admitted to Northwest as a transfer student, students must also meet all the standards and requirements of American transfer students. Students who have less than 24 transfer hours completed will be considered for admission on the basis of freshman admission requirements as well as transfer admission requirements.