International Admissions
Note: The international application process is only for students who require a student (F-1) visa to study at the College. International students on any other immigration status should follow the domestic application process.
How to Apply
Step 1: Submit the Online Application
Please upload the following documents with your application, in order to be admitted to the College.
- $100 nonrefundable application fee
- Copy of passport photo ID page
- Copy and certified translation in English of high school / secondary school diploma / certificate of graduation (do not send original high school transcripts or diplomas to the College)
- Completed, notarized Affidavit of Support
- Copy of personal bank statement confirming the minimum amount is available to cover the cost of the first academic year’s estimated tuition, fees, and living expenses
- Minimum amount: $31,632 USD
- If transferring from another U.S. school: International Student (F-1) Transfer Request Form
- If under the age of 18 at the time of enrollment: Medical Release Form
- If requesting a Change of Visa Status: copy of most recent I-94 & copy of current visa
IMPORTANT UPDATE for Fall 2024 and onward: The College will be requiring a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD before reviewing any international applications. Additionally, a nonrefundable deposit of $400 USD will be required after acceptance and before an I-20 is issued to any student. Further instructions will be available within the online application.
The College reserves the right to request an official evaluation report for educational credentials or original copies of documents, if needed, for verification. Documents submitted become the property of the College and will not be returned to the applicant, so please make personal copies of the documents before submitting.
Application Timelines
| Term | Application Open Date | Overseas Application Deadline | Transfer Application Deadline | Term Start Date |
|
Spring 2025 |
June 6, 2024 | November 1, 2024 | January 3, 2025 | January 9, 2025 |
|
Summer ESL* 2025 |
June 15, 2024 | April 1, 2025 | May 13, 2025 | May 20, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | September 15, 2024 | July 1, 2025 | August 8, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
*The Summer term is only open for international admission to students who require ESL (English as a Second Language) courses before beginning a degree program. Those who consider English to be one of their native languages should only apply for fall or spring.
We do not recommend that you wait until the deadline to begin the process to apply; you should start the process to apply as soon as you have made your decision to attend the College. Please keep in mind that visa processing in some countries can take up to six to nine months.
Step 2: Complete the Placement Test
Schedule a remote testing session to determine your course placement by contacting the testing center at testingcenter@dccc.edu or call
Or
- A TOEFL iBT score of 80+, TOEFL PBT score of 550+, or IELTS score of 6.5+ will qualify you to take the English placement test (and not the ESL placement test.)
- An SAT Reading score of 500 or ACT Reading score of 18+ qualifies students to register for English Composition I (ENG 100).
- An SAT Math score of 530+ or ACT Math score of 20+ qualifies students to register for Math classes at the appropriate level.
TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, and ACT scores are not required for admission. After applying, students will be invited and instructed to sit for the placement exam. Testing will ensure students are placed in the appropriate levels of English and Math classes. To get more information about the placement test, visit accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students. The Form I-20 will not be issued until the placement test is complete.
Although they are not required for admission, if you do have test scores, they may be used for placement purposes. Scores must be current within five years.
Step 3: Register for Courses
After completing the placement test, please contact Career & Counseling for advising support and to register for classes. Call
Step 4: Pay the International Admissions Deposit
Once you have registered for courses, you will need to pay a nonrefundable fee of $400 USD before the I-20 can be issued. This fee will be subtracted from the student's overall bill upon enrollment. Further instructions will be available in the online application for admission.
Final Step: Receive I-20
International Student Services will issue the Form I-20 and the applicant will begin the visa process.
Visa Appointment Wait Times
We highly recommend that international applicants check the current visa appointment wait times for U.S. embassies and consulates before beginning the application process. Visa appointment availability can vary significantly depending on location and time of year.
To view the current wait times for your specific visa appointment, please visit the official Department of State Visa Wait Times page.
By reviewing this information, families can better plan ahead and manage expectations regarding the visa application process. Keep in mind that wait times are subject to change, so we encourage you to monitor updates regularly."
Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
Among other regulations, F-1 international students must study full time during fall and spring semesters. Students must enroll in and remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits (with no more than 3 credits of online courses) in order to be considered full time. Students are not required to study full-time during the summer semester, however if Summer ESL is their first semester, the student must be enrolled full-time. Most international students enroll in 12-15 credits per semester, and most associate degrees require ~60-65 credits to complete.
International students will be required to register for ALL classes in-person or at least 9 credits in-person and 3 or more credits online. If a student registers for a hybrid course, the class must meet in-person at least two days a week for the class to be considered in-person.
Insurance Requirement
The College automatically enrolls international students in a health insurance plan. International students must accept this insurance. No waivers can be made. The College implements this policy to best and most efficiently safeguard students’ health needs. Students may wish to obtain their own supplemental insurance to increase their maximum total coverage. The required insurance will be added to the student's account, after the completion of orientation. It will take 10-14 days to reflect on your student account.
*Cost is subject to change each academic year
Approved Programs of Study for F-1 Visa Seekers/Holders
Transferring Credit to the College
Students who have attended another United States college or university and received college-level credits may be able to transfer credits into Delaware County Community College.
Students who have attended a college or university outside of the United States may be able to transfer their credits into Delaware County Community College. To do so, students should have their official, English-translated transcripts evaluated course-by-course by any member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and emailed to records@dccc.edu or sent to the following address:
Records Office
Delaware County Community College
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094 USA
Official transcripts and evaluations of transcripts cannot be sent by students. These documents must be sent directly from the school or evaluation agency that produced them.
Paying for Your Education
Please see our current international student cost estimate for more details on tuition, fees, and other expenses. Financial aid is not available for international students. However, the College costs less than most four-year universities and colleges, and during the fall and spring semesters some international students work on campus to earn spending money. In addition, Delaware County Community College's Education Foundation awards approximately $625,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholarship has its own criteria for eligibility established by the donors, and many scholarships are open to international students.
Payments can be made internationally online. Visit the FlyWire Payment site for tuition and fee payments from abroad. Payments to Delaware County Community College can be made at pay.flywire.com.
International Student Cost Estimate
| Minimum Cost Estimate | Per Semester | Per Academic Year (fall and spring semesters) |
| * Tuition and Fees (12 credits per semester) | $6,396 | $12,072 |
| Health Insurance | N/A | $1,864 |
| Housing | $5,580 | $11,160 |
| Transportation | $918 | $1,836 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,350 | $2,700 |
| Total | $14,884 | $31,632* ** |
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|
|
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| Cost Estimate Per Credit | Tuition & Fees Only | |
| 12 Credits | $6,036 | |
| 13 Credits | $6,539 | |
| 14 Credits | $7,042 | |
| 15 Credits | $7,545 | |
| 16 Credits | $8,048 | |
| 17 Credits | $9,551 | |
| 18 Credits | $9,054 | |
| 19 Credits | $9,557 |
* Estimates are valid for the 2024-2025 academic year.
**This required minimum amount reflects the estimated cost of attendance for one year. Total must be reflected in a personal checking or savings account.
Deferral of Attendance
If the student is not able to attend the semester for which the initial I-20 was issued, please contact International Admissions.
International Educational Agents
Delaware County Community College utilizes various strategies to attract students from overseas. We work with individual students, families, educational institutions, Education USA offices, and the U.S. Commercial Service. Delaware County Community College also realizes that agencies can provide a valuable service to students in helping prepare admission documents, providing educational counseling, and assisting with matters that may be difficult for a student or parent from another country, especially when English is not the native language. We work with reputable agents across the globe who assist students and families in selecting a college that places students' best interests first. In keeping with the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Guide on International Recruitment and the use of agencies, as well as upholding AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management standards, the College discloses that it may provide compensation to its partners based on first year enrollments of the students on whose behalf they work. If you are interested in becoming a representative of the College, please complete our Partner Questionnaire.
