International Students

Submit original or certified true copies of all certificates and grade reports received upon completion of secondary work.

These credentials must include:

• a list of the subjects studied.
• the minimum passing grade and maximum possible grade in each subject, and the grade that was earned in each subject on examination. Credentials not in English must be accompanied by English translations. A list of evaluation service providers is available in the international office.

Transfer Credit from Foreign Colleges and Universities:

Lake Michigan College does not evaluate post-secondary international transcripts. Individuals who wish to transfer credit from colleges and universities outside of the United States must have their foreign transcripts and credentials evaluated by an independent international credential evaluation service. There is a fee for this service. Contact the International Services Office for contact information and application forms.

Proficiency in the English language is required. The applicant must submit proof of ONE of the following: 

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Test with a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based test, 173 on the computer-based test, or 59-60 TOEFL iBT for academic admission.
• Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP): a minimum score of 75 is required.
• Transferable English Composition Course: must be completed at a US college or university with a minimum grade of "C".
• Native English Speaker: documented by high school Transcript/Certificate/ Reports.

Applicants must be financially self-supporting while studying in the U.S.  Students must provide both:

• Proof of having U.S. dollars to meet the “Lake Michigan College Minimum Cost of Living Estimate”.This must be documented on the “Declaration of Finances Form”.The sponsor of the student must provide a bank statement that testifies to the sponsor’s willingness and ability to support the student while he/she attends Lake Michigan College.
• A one-time deposit, which will be collected before an international student is admitted to the College for the first time.This required deposit will be made in accordance with the International Student Deposit Policy below.

Upon completion of the steps listed above, international student applicants will receive a letter of acceptance, a Form I-20, and copies of the Declaration of Finances Form. The letter of acceptance, Form I-20, a valid passport, and Declaration of Finances Form must be presented to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad to apply for an F-1 student visa. 

Before a Form I-20 can be issued to an international student, the student must make a deposit approximately equal to the cost of the first year of tuition and fees. For the current academic year, this amount is $6,500. The deposit is held exclusively for Lake Michigan College tuition/fees and on-campus housing. The student may register for classes once the deposit has been received.

If paying within the U.S., payment arrangements may be made through the Lake Michigan College Business Office. Payments made by credit card will be assessed a 2.5% processing fee. If sending funds from outside the U.S., wire payments may be submitted through Flywire.

The deposited funds will be held until the student leaves Lake Michigan College or transfers to another institution. At that time, any remaining deposit will be refunded to the student. If the student requests that funds be refunded using Flywire, the funds will be sent back to the original bank account at the originator’s expense. 

Lake Michigan College reserves the right to deny acceptance of any funds not made in accordance with International Student Deposit Policy.

If paying within the U.S., payment arrangements may be made through the Lake Michigan College Business Office.  Payments made by credit card will be assessed a 2.5% processing fee.  If sending funds from outside the U.S., wire payments may be submitted through Flywire. 

The deposited funds will be held until the student leaves Lake Michigan College or transfers to another institution.  At that time, any remaining deposit will be refunded to the student.  If the student requests that funds be refunded using Flywire, the funds will be sent back to the original bank account at the originator’s expense.

Lake Michigan College reserves the right to deny acceptance of any funds not made in accordance with International Student Deposit Policy.