International Students
Cornerstone University students represent more than 30 countries. Our students have a drive and passion to serve the global church and deeply value the perspective each international student brings. No matter where you are from, we are all part of God’s kingdom.
International students have a couple of routes to enrolling at Cornerstone University!
Study in the United States on a student visa (F-1).
Complete the enrollment items in the table below by the listed deadlines. F-1 visa students must be enrolled in a full-time, on-campus program. New F-1 visa students may apply for fall start terms only.
Study while remaining in your home country.
You can enroll in any fully online program. The following programs require on-campus residencies and are not available for international students:
- M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
- Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership & Development.
Study while already residing in the U.S. on a non-student visa type.
Students can enroll in an online or on-campus program as long as it is permitted by their current immigration status. Some immigration statuses do not allow for higher education enrollment, working on campus, or internship opportunities — limitations could impact degree completion requirements. Contact immigration@cornerstone.edu for details.
On-Campus Admission Deadlines
| Admission Item to Complete | Without an F-1 Visa | With an F-1 Visa or Canadian Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Application | April 1 | June 1 |
| Submit Transcript(s) for Evaluation | April 15 | July 1 |
| Submit English Proficiency Test Scores | April 15 | July 1 |
| Application Acceptance | May 1 | July 1 |
| Complete the Declaration of Finances Form | May 1 | July 1 |
| Pay Enrollment Deposit | May 1 | July 1 |
| Obtain F-1 Student Visa | August 1 | N/A |
| Pay Health Insurance Fee | August 1 | August 1 |
Jump To:
01
Apply Online
Use this application for both on-campus and online programs.
Submit your Cornerstone application or Common App.
As part of our admissions requirements, undergraduate applicants should have a high school grade-point average of 2.5 or higher, as determined by the U.S.-based grading scale.
We do not require a recommendation letter for admission consideration.
On-Campus Only: Please keep in mind that it can take several months to complete the entire admissions and immigration process. We recommend applying as early as possible so that you can stay on track with the required deadlines. If you miss the application deadline, you should submit an application for the following academic year (fall semester start).
02
Submit Your Transcript(s)
After your application is submitted, begin working on submitting your educational record(s) immediately.
High School transcripts must include records for at least three years of study. High School Grade-Point Average Requirement: 2.5 or higher
If you are applying for a graduate program, your college transcript(s) must show that you have completed a bachelor’s degree.
Within the U.S. or Canada
Official transcripts must be sent to Cornerstone University by the institution you attended if it is a:
- U.S.-based or Canadian-based high school.
- Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) high school.
- U.S.-based or Canadian-based university.
These transcripts do not need to be evaluated by one of our approved evaluators.
You are responsible for any costs and fees associated with transcript evaluations and submissions.
Outside of the U.S. or Canada
High school and university transcripts from outside of the United States or Canada must be officially evaluated by one of Cornerstone’s approved evaluators unless you attend a school certified by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Be sure to follow the directions on the approved agency website, as requirements may be different for each country. Please plan accordingly, as some evaluators take several weeks to process your records.
Cornerstone University requires a course-by-course evaluation or detailed evaluation.
- InCred (preferred method, required for athletes)
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
These evaluators will then calculate a U.S.-based GPA to be used for your admissions review. Organizations should send your evaluation directly to Cornerstone University one of two ways:
- Email: immigration@cornerstone.edu
- Sealed envelope by mail: Cornerstone University, Attn: Enrollment Operations, 1001 East Beltline Ave. NE., Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Evaluations will only be accepted if received directly from one of the approved evaluators.
You are responsible for any costs and fees associated with transcript evaluations and submissions.
03
Provide English Proficiency Test Scores
If your country does not list English as an official language then TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores must be submitted to demonstrate your proficiency in the English language.
Results from the approved testing organizations are valid for two years. If your test results are older than two years, you must take the test again.
- TOEFL: A 550 written or 80 internet-based minimum score required.
- IELTS: A minimum score of 6.5 required.
- Duolingo: A minimum score of 105 is required.
You are responsible for any costs and fees associated with test score submissions.
If you are a student currently attending high school in the U.S., your language test score may be waived.
Please email test scores to immigration@cornerstone.edu or mail test score results to the following address:
Cornerstone University
Attn: Enrollment Operations
1001 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids MI 49525
United States
04
Application Review
Following the submission of your application and all supporting documents in steps 1-3, your information will be reviewed.
It may take as long as four to six (4-6) weeks for an admission decision to be made once you have submitted all required documents and have followed all processes and procedures required for an admission decision.
Admissions decisions will be communicated via email, so be sure we have your most up-to-date contact information.
05
Submit Declaration of Finances | On-Campus Only
Once you have received acceptance to Cornerstone University, please fill out the Declaration of Finances form. The International Student Declaration of Finances form is evidence of your financial resources to cover the cost of attendance.
The U.S. government requires Cornerstone to obtain proof of financial ability before we can move forward with immigration paperwork. For more information, please visit the U.S. Homeland Security website.
This form should only be completed by accepted students for an on-campus program.
Declaration of Finance forms will not be accepted after the deadline.
06
Pay Your Enrollment Deposit
To secure your spot at Cornerstone, you must submit a deposit.
On-Campus Programs: A $200 USD deposit is required after being accepted to the university and receiving your Form I-20. This ensures a spot for you in the upcoming semester and will reserve your housing and academic registration.
Online Programs: A $50 USD deposit is required after being accepted to the university.
07
Immigration Process | On-Campus Only
A Designated School Official (DSO) will work with you to begin immigration paperwork after you have been admitted to Cornerstone, are financially approved and have paid your $200 enrollment deposit.
Please note that you need a valid passport to study in the U.S. We encourage you to contact immigration@cornerstone.edu to discuss the best way to send Cornerstone University a copy of the ID page of your passport or to begin the necessary paperwork to obtain or renew your passport.
To ensure a successful transition to college, Cornerstone University’s policy states that visa appointments must be completed by Aug 1.
Note: F-1 visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days in advance of the start date for a course of study. Because many countries may have long appointment wait times, it is recommended to schedule visa appointments as soon as you have received your Form I-20. Contact immigration@cornerstone.edu if you have any questions.
Full instructions for obtaining your F-1 visa are available at Travel.State.Gov.
08
Pay Your Health Insurance Fee | On-Campus Only
Once you have obtained your visa, an additional $1,350 is required to be paid to Cornerstone. This amount will be applied toward your health insurance coverage, which is required by the U.S. government.