International Students
Catawba College welcomes qualified applicants for admission from all nations.
Catawba College welcomes qualified applicants for admission from all nations. Our small, close knit community quickly becomes a second home for international students.
Catawba provides many of the benefits you might expect at a larger university while providing an education rich in individual attention on a beautiful and safe residential campus. Students who are able to provide evidence of suitable academic preparation and adequate financial resources are encouraged to apply for admission at least three months prior to the term in which they plan to begin their studies. Applying early helps ensure adequate time to obtain your I-20 and acquire your student visa.
How to Apply
Non-U.S. Citizens applying for undergraduate admission must submit the following by July 1 for Fall enrollment:
- Completed undergraduate application:
- Translated and evaluated transcripts from all secondary/high school and postsecondary* schools attended
- Official standardized test scores: either SAT, ACT, TOEFL or IELTS
- Letter of recommendation (recommended)
For students whose native language or language of instruction in secondary/high school is English: SAT I or ACT score is required.**
For students whose native language or language of instruction in secondary/high school is not English must meet at least one of the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- Achieve a minimum score of 79 on the IBT TOEFL (minimum of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL)
- Score a minimum of 6.0 on the IELTS
- Complete Level 112 from an ELS English Language Center
- Score 450 or higher on the Critical Reading section of the SAT-I
*Translations and Course Report Evaluations must be handled by International Education Evaluations, Inc. Read more about this process.
**Catawba offers a Test Optional admission program for students with an equivalent 3.25 grade point average or higher. If you would like to inquire about test optional admission, please visit our Test Optional website or contact Admissions at admission@catawba.edu.
Student Visa Information
The following information is not required as part of your application for admission; however, it is required to obtain a student visa if a student is accepted and plans to enroll at Catawba:
- Photocopy of your passport(s) (required for all applicants from outside the U.S.)
- Completed Certificate of Finances form
- Original bank statement or letter from the bank issued within the last 6 months
Please note that this information can be sent in with the application and is not used in the decision process.
Students must schedule an appointment with the consulate in their home country to be considered for a visa. For more information on how to obtain your student visa, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html#howtoapply.
Cost
The cost of attendance at Catawba can be found under the Tuition & Fees section of the college website. Please note this amount does not include transportation costs, books, other assorted living expenses, and health insurance.
All Catawba students are required to have health insurance. Students will be charged for a school-sponsored health insurance plan or may waive this option if they are currently covered by a comparable insurance plan of their own. We strongly encourage students to contact Kathy Welborn, in the Catawba Health Services office to discuss your plan prior to filing your insurance waiver.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Non-U.S. Citizens are eligible for any merit or talent based Catawba scholarships, such as the Presidential or Trustee Scholarships, Access Grants, and McCorkles Scholarships. International students may also qualify for Athletic, Music, and Performing Arts Scholarships. All Catawba scholarship information can be found at www.catawba.edu/scholarships.
Questions?
If you have questions that are not addressed in the following material, we strongly encourage you to contact the Admissions Office so we can personally walk you through the process. View FAQs »
The Admissions Team looks forward to serving you! Call us at 1-800-CATAWBA.
