International students must meet the same admissions requirements as domestic students. Students must have graduated from a secondary school and have the minimum English abilities to succeed in college.
Apply as an International Student
International students who are transferring from a U.S. college or university must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. All application materials from students who are located abroad should be sent to Cardinal Central at least six months before registration to allow time for evaluation and notice of acceptance. International students who are applying from within the U.S. need to submit all materials no less than one month prior to registration.
Have questions about requirements in the U.S. for International Students? Check out Study in the States at dhs.gov.
Tuition and Fees
International students must have sufficient financial resources to fully meet all institutional and personal expenses while studying in the U.S. International students pay the non-resident rate. See Tuition and Fees for current rates.
Please be aware that North Idaho College does not offer financial sponsorship to international students. Students may apply for small scholarships (not guaranteed) once they are here in attendance, but these should not be counted on for initial expenses.
Housing
International students are responsible for arranging their own housing. NIC does have an onsite Residence Hall with limited space. Applicants can submit the application for the Residence Hall once they submit a college application and receive a student ID number.
Health Insurance
As an international student in the U.S., you will be required to purchase/confirm health insurance coverage for the entire time you are a student at North Idaho College. Proof of Health Insurance will be required once student has arrived in the U.S.
Here are a few international health insurance vendors for you to consider. These are only options for you to consider – we do not recommend any of these over other providers that you may choose:
NIC is currently accepting international applications for Summer and Fall 2023.
To complete the international student online application, you will need to have the following information available:
Personal Information
It is vital that you apply with accurate personal information, including:
- Your legal name (not your nickname);
- Any former names (first or last names you have used that are different from your current legal name, such as previous names that were changed through a court, marriage or divorce); and
- Your date of birth with the correct year of birth.
Note: Submitting your application with incorrect personal information could result in your application being withdrawn.
Previous College Information
It is important to include all colleges you have previously attended (not applied to) with estimated dates of attendance. Our initial list of required transcripts will be based on information provided on the NIC Application for Admissions.
In addition to the online application, submit the following for international student admission consideration. Documents may be submitted by mail or email:
- Mail: North Idaho College, Cardinal Central, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
- Email: internationaladmit@nic.edu
Passport
Submit a color copy of your current passport name page.
Proof of English Proficiency
Academic courses at NIC are taught in English, and international students must demonstrate appropriate levels of English proficiency to be admitted to a degree program. Scores must be less than two years old.
Accepted English Proficiency Exams
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Minimum overall score of 5.0
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Minimum 500 on the paper-based test (PBT) or a minimum score of 61 on the internet-based test (IBT)
Financial Declaration
Submit the Financial Declaration along with a supporting monthly account statement to demonstrate your ability to cover your financial obligations as a student. If you have multiple funding sources, please print out a copy for each sponsor to sign and submit to their banking institution.
Please be aware that North Idaho College does not offer financial sponsorship to international students. Students may apply for small scholarships (not guaranteed) once they are here in attendance, but these should not be counted on for initial expenses.
High School Transcript
A high school transcript is also known as secondary school transcript and/or confirmation of graduation. Submitted transcripts must be translated into English. For an official translation and evaluation, international transcripts must be first sent to a third-party organization – such as World Education Services (WES) or a similar NACES-approved agency – for an external evaluation of your secondary school credentials.
College Transcripts
NIC requires official transcripts from every institution you have attended, even if you transferred credit from one institution to another.
For an official evaluation, international transcripts must be first sent to a third-party organization – such as World Education Services (WES) or a similar NACES-approved agency – for an external evaluation of your credentials and individual courses. NIC Admissions will then evaluate your credentials and coursework.
Certificate of Health and Immunization Records
International students must submit a certificate of health and records of immunizations.
Placement Assessments (SAT/ACT)
Placement assessments or previous completion of English and math are required prior to registering for classes.
- If you are in the U.S. and can provide SAT or ACT scores, request that SAT or ACT scores be sent directly to Cardinal Central.
- If are transferring from another U.S. institution, send official college transcripts verifying completion of English and math courses.
- If you wish to take the SAT exam to meet your placement score requirement, visit sat.collegeboard.org for more information.
If you have not taken the SAT or ACT within the last four years or if you have no college math or English credits to transfer, schedule your NIC English and Math Placement Assessments as soon as possible.
Set up your MyNIC and Cardinal Mail accounts. These will be your way of accessing all important NIC information. Upon acceptance to NIC, below is additional helpful information to prepare for your appropriate immigration documents and arrival on campus.
Student Visa
Once all admissions requirements are met and the international applicant is accepted, NIC will issue an I-20. To receive the I-20, the student must pay the postage for the I-20 to be mailed to them.
After receiving the I-20, you will need to go online and pay this system fee for student and exchange visitors to the U.S. You will need to print your receipt (“I-901”) to take to the visa interview.
- Visa Fee: Prior to scheduling your visa interview, you must pay the Non-Immigrant Visa Fee. View the U.S. Embassy website in your country for details on paying this fee. For students requesting an F-1 Visa, remember to bring your payment receipt to your interview.
- Visa Interview: Unless you are from a visa-exempt country, you will need to schedule an appointment at the U.S. Consulate in your country to request a student visa. Please allow yourself plenty of time to arrange this, as some consulates have long wait times. Find more information on the via process at travel.state.gov.
Orientation, Advising and Registration
Orientation
Completing the online New Student Orientation will help you become familiar with the many resources and services available to support your success throughout your NIC experience. You will learn about free services available to you as a NIC student, financial aid and scholarships, career exploration, how to get involved on campus and more. You should plan for about one hour to complete this program.
Advising
Complete your Advising Profile online prior to scheduling your advising appointment. An advisor will review the information you share in your profile to prepare for your advising conversation.
After you have submitted your Advising Profile, contact Advising Services at (208) 769-7821 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are currently offered via phone and Zoom. Our team of student success advisors will partner with you to develop a personalized, meaningful and informed educational plan to complete your associate degree or pre-nursing prerequisites.
Register for Classes
After your advising appointment, you will be able to register for classes. It's important to plan your class schedule early each semester and register as soon as you can.