International Students

Lake Michigan College welcomes students from around the world

LMC is a source of education, a cultural center, a regional economic partner and a leader in diversity and innovation. International students enjoy special assistance from the International Students Office.

Who is an International Student?

The College defines an international student as a non-United States (U.S.) citizen residing or intending to reside as a non-immigrant in the United States for the purposes of obtaining an academic degree conferred by the College; i.e. those seeking an F1 student visa.

How to Apply

Submit all documentation to: Lake Michigan College International Student Office, 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.

Step 1

Apply

Step 1: Apply

International students seeking admission to Lake Michigan College must apply by July 1 for the Fall semester, November 1 for the Spring semester, and March 1 for the Summer term to issue the necessary documents required to apply for a student visa.

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Step 2

Grades

Step 2: Submit Academic Requirements

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 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.

Step 3

TOEFL

Step 3: Proof of Language Proficiency

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.

Step 4

Finances

Step 4: Financial Verification

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.

Step 5

Visa

Step 5: Apply for a Visa

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.

Important Information

International Student Deposit

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 $7,500. The deposit is held exclusively for Lake Michigan College tuition/fees and on-campus housing.

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.

Medical Insurance

Health services and practices in the United States are perhaps different from those in other countries. Health care is expensive in the U.S. and must be paid for by the student. Most treatment is obtained through private-practice physicians. There is no Federal government facility open to the general population. Students may want to seek a personal physician or dentist for routine attention. Because hospitalization is very expensive, international students are urged to have hospitalization insurance. LMC does not maintain coverage for students and is not responsible for any medical, hospital, evacuation, or repatriation expenses that you may incur.

Housing

Student housing is available on the Benton Harbor Campus. Apartments and rooms are available for rent to students in the area. Students are responsible for arranging their own housing accommodations.

Transportation

Benton Harbor, Niles and South Haven do not have international airports. The nearest international airport is O'Hare Airport in Chicago, IL. Arriving students could make arrangements for a connecting flight from O'Hare to South Bend, IN. Land travel is possible from South Bend, IN to any of our campuses.

Public transportation is very limited. Most students rely on a private automobile as a means of conveyance between their residence and the College.

Employment

Employment opportunities for international students are very limited. The single source of employment initially is restricted to on-campus employment. There are very few jobs available on-campus. You can not work off-campus in any capacity without specific authorization from the International Student Advisor and Department of Homeland Security. This permission is withheld until you have completed your first year of college work. Applicants cannot assume that monies from employment will be available to them in the US. Working without approval means immediately the student is "out-of-status" with no opportunity for reinstatement. You will be ineligible for any other benefits of your status.

Transfer Credit from Foreign Colleges and Universities

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.

Additional information and validation of required documents may be obtained from the International Student Specialist, at (269) 927-8749.

Dreamer Scholarship

This scholarship is for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individuals, who came to the United States as children and meet DACA criteria.

Amount: $2,000/year full-time; $1,000/year part-time

Criteria

LMC students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status
Qualifying GPA: 3.0; must maintain for renewal
Current high school graduate entering college for the first time, or current college student
Demonstrate financial need
Full- or part-time student

Items to Include in Your Application

Academic Documents

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.

Language Proficiency

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.

Final Verification

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.

Visa Information

International Student Deposit

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.

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

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.

Tuition and Fees

No other Michigan area college has lower tuition than Lake Michigan College. Whether you earn your degree or transfer to a four-year school, you'll save money on your education.

Paying for College

Living on Campus

Imagine having a place you can call home that offers a quiet place to study, where friendly faces are found down every hallway and you’re just steps away from classes and campus life. You’ll find your place at Beckwith Hall, located at LMC’s Benton Harbor campus.

Beckwith Hall

More than Academics

Get the real college experience at Lake Michigan College. From student clubs to disability services, intercollegiate athletics to world-class performing arts productions, you'll find a chance to get involved when you become a Red Hawk.

Student Life at LMC