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International student admissions

Student sitting on stairs To apply for admission to Columbia College, fill out an online application form. Below are links to specific step-by-step instructions to help you complete the admissions process.

Columbia College's admission standards are moderately selective. Freshman international students are considered for admission based on an individual evaluation of overall secondary school performance. Students must complete a full sequence of university-preparatory studies that would qualify them for admission to university-level work in their home country. Transfer students generally are considered for admission based on completed college coursework with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average or higher.

Checking the status of your application

If you have submitted an application and are interested in finding out what materials are still needed before your file can be reviewed, please contact the Admissions Office. You may fax your request to (573) 875-7506, send an email to admissions@ccis.edu, or call (573) 875-7352.

English proficiency

To be considered for full admission, you must provide official scores from an English proficiency or standardized admission test. Appropriate scores from the following exams are considered proof of proficiency in English:

  • TOEFL (institution code: 6095)
    • 500, paper-based test
    • 173, computer-based test
    • 61, internet-based test
  • IELTS
    • Overall band score of 5.5 with no individual band scores below 5
  • SAT (institution code: 6095)
    • Minimum critical reading subscore of 430
  • ACT (institution code: 002456)
    • Minimum English subscore of 17

Columbia College also will consider the following evidence of English language proficiency:

  • A grade of C or higher from an English composition course completed at a U.S. institution and deemed equivalent to the Columbia College ENGL 111 course
  • Submission of official APIEL score of 3 or higher
  • Successful completion of a U.S.-based English as a Second Language (ESL) or Intensive English Program (IEP)

Columbia College does not offer beginning-level ESL.