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: 

• Apply for admission
• Official transcripts for any secondary (high school) and post-secondary (college/university) schools attended: All international transcripts, including secondary and post-secondary records, must be evaluated by a NACES-approved (https://www.naces.org/members), or other approved organization, interpreted for the 4.0 grade point average (GPA) scale, and Certified English translation if needed.
• 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:
  • 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
  • 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
• Personal essay
• Two letters of recommendation
• Copy of passport
• (Traditional students) If applying with test scores, please submit SAT or ACT scores
• Mount St. Joseph University codes: ACT - 3254, SAT – 1129.

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:
  Office of Admission
  Mount St. Joseph University
  5701 Delhi Road
  Cincinnati, OH 45233-1670
• Declaration of Finances: International students seeking an I-20 must provide financial support that covers all school and living related expenses for the entire length of his or her program. Students must also show how they will be supported during times when school is not in session. Funds for the first year of study must be documented and available. This means the money must be “on hand” for immediate use. Generally, this is shown through bank statements. Funds for subsequent years must be reasonably attainable. While this can be documented through bank statements, it is best demonstrated by employment or investment income from a sponsor. As a general rule international students are NOT allowed to work off-campus. International students are eligible to work on campus. However, students cannot support themselves through on campus employment. At best on campus employment can provide spending money for incidentals.
• (visit Tuition & Costs for tuition information)

All financial documents must be in English and dated within 6 months. Documents more than 6 months old will not be accepted. Documents can include:

• Bank statements.
• Certificates of deposit.
• Letters/statements from sponsors that show how much they receive annually from employment.
• Letters or emails from MSJ departments about scholarships/assistantships.
• Information from governments about sponsorships.
• Bank/education loan award letters.
• Letters of support from current overseas employers.

All documents should state in English who the account owner is, the current balance, and the currency being used. Deposits stated on the bank statements/certificate of deposits do not need to be frozen.

2023-2024 Undergraduate Tuition Costs *
*All costs are subject to change.
Visit Tuition and Costs page for most current information.

Estimated cost of 4 years of study: $191,800*
*All costs are subject to change. Visit Tuition 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), MSLP (Master of Speech-Language Pathology), 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 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. The MSN-MAGELIN program participates in the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). Applications to the MSN-MAGELIN program are completed through the NursingCAS website at www.nursingcas.org. The Master of Speech and Language Pathology program participates in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Applications to the Speech and Language Pathology program are completed through the CSDCAS website at www.csdcas.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 applicants on visa, submit a Declaration of Finances:
  • Declaration of Finances: International students seeking an I-20 must provide financial support that covers all school and living related expenses for the entire length of his or her program. Students must also show how they will be supported during times when school is not in session. Funds for the first year of study must be documented and available. This means the money must be “on hand” for immediate use. Generally, this is shown through bank statements. Funds for subsequent years must be reasonably attainable. While this can be documented through bank statements, it is best demonstrated by employment or investment income from a sponsor. As a general rule international students are NOT allowed to work off-campus. International students are eligible to work on campus. However, students cannot support themselves through on campus employment. At best on campus employment can provide spending money for incidentals.
  • (visit Tuition & Costs for tuition information)

All financial documents must be in English and dated within 6 months. Documents more than 6 months old will not be accepted. Documents can include:

• bank statements
• certificates of deposit
• letters/statements from sponsors that show how much they receive annually from employment
• letters or emails from MSJ departments about scholarships/assistantships
• information from governments about sponsorships
• bank/education loan award letters
• letters of support from current overseas employers

All documents should state in English who the account owner is, the current balance, and the currency being used. Deposits stated on the bank statements/certificate of deposits do not need to be frozen.

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