Admissions for International Students

Step 1

Application

Requirements

  • Completed application
  • Financial Sponsorship Form
  • Bank Statement in English showing at least U.S. $15,900 for one year of study - Breakdown of annual costs
    • The Financial/Bank Statement may include checking or savings accounts, stocks, certificates of deposit, or other easily liquidated assets. Please indicate the relationships between sponsor and the student on the bank statement. The statement must be translated into English.
  • Copy of valid passport
  • ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ESLA COURSES
  • ENGLISH PROFICIENY REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES
    • Appropriate score on the Riverland College Accuplacer
    • TOEFL iBT - 64
    • IELTS - 5.5
    • Duolingo - 90
    • Successful completion of Advanced ESLA.  
    • Official SAT Score 
    • Official ACT Score
    • STEP/EIKEN score of Grade Pre-2A or better
    • International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) English (not ESL) score of C or higher
    • Academic-level transfer students only: placement in or completion of College English at an accredited English-language college or university.
    • Completion of the appropriate ESL level at these schools:
      • ELS Language Schools - Level 109, Advanced, or Institutional TOEFL Report
      • Kaplan International English Programs - Advanced Level Completion Letter
      • Others - with advisor approval
  • High School transcript (translated in English)
  • Housing Placement:
    • Completed housing application/preference form and pay a $300 deposit. 
    • Student Housing at Riverland
    • Students are required to live on campus unless they receive a waiver from the international student advisor. 

 

Step 2

Receive I-20 Form

After we receive your completed application along with all the required documents, an admissions package will be created for you within one week. This contains a Riverland acceptance letter and your I-20, which is an official document that confirms your acceptance as an international student in the USA. You will be contacted when your I-20 is ready for shipment. Shipping the I-20 is easy. Visit UEMS to set up a shipment account. https://study.eshipglobal.com/default.asp

 

Step 3

F-1 Visa Interview

You must present the complete admissions package to the U.S. consulate in your home country. Before you make an appointment for an interview at the U.S. consular office nearest you, be sure to pay your SEVIS and visa fee online.

The wait time for an interview varies from country to country. Check the US State Department website to learn more about preparing the visa application.

 

Step 4

Arrival in the USA

Riverland will provide transportation from the Rochester, MN International Airport to Austin. If flying into the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport you must take a shuttle to Rochester, MN.

As soon as you receive your F-1 visa, please email admissions@riverland.edu  so that we can plan for your arrival and prepare for your transportation.

 

Transfer Students

Additional information required for transfer students (from other U.S. colleges)

  • Transfer-in Eligibility Form
  • Copy of visa
  • Copy of I-20
  • English proficiency tests may be waived upon completion of an English Composition course with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • Unofficial transcript from previous school

 

Important Dates

Application deadline for students applying outside the U.S.

Fall Semester

June 15th

Spring Semester

November 1st

 

Admissions Policy

New international students who enter the U.S. must:

  • Attend Riverland's orientation for new international students
  • Enroll for and attend the first semester at Riverland
  • Present originals of: passport, visa, and Riverland I-20
  • Purchase Health Insurance while enrolled