Academic Programs

Admissions

Tuition & Financial Aid

Student Experience

Graduate Program International Students

At Cornerstone University, our dedicated admissions team walks with you in each step of the process to help you start your journey with confidence.

Admission Deadlines

Admission Item to CompleteWithout an F-1 VisaWith an F-1 Visa or Canadian Citizenship
ApplicationApril 1June 1
Submit Transcript(s) for EvaluationApril 15July 1
Submit English Proficiency Test ScoresApril 15July 1
Application AcceptanceMay 1July 1
Complete the Declaration of Finances FormMay 1July 1
Pay Enrollment DepositMay 1July 1
Obtain F-1 Student VisaAugust 1N/A
Jump To:
01

Apply Online | Deadline: Varies

Complete your application for admission for the degree program of your choice. You’ll create a secure account and move through responding to questions regarding your educational goals and contact information.

Fully online programs taken from your home country start approximately every seven weeks. We recommend that you are enrolled four weeks prior to the first day of class.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a Project Management concentration is the only program offered to students interested in taking classes on-campus on an F-1 visa. New students must enroll in the fall semester, which begins in August.

Begin My Application

International applications are currently closed for the following programs:

  • M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership  & Development
  • All Cornerstone Theological Seminary programs
02

Submit Your Transcript(s) for Evaluation

After your application is submitted, begin working on submitting your university record(s) immediately if you would like previous credits taken outside of the United States to be evaluated as U.S. equivalencies. Please plan accordingly, as some evaluators take several weeks to process your records.

Outside of the U.S.

If you are attending or have attended a high school and/or university outside of the U.S., your transcript(s) must be officially evaluated by one of Cornerstone’s approved evaluators if course instruction was not completed in English.

Be sure to follow the directions on the agency website, as requirements may be different for each country.

Cornerstone University requires completing a course-by-course evaluation or detailed evaluation.

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: Admissions Office, 1001 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Evaluations will only be accepted if received directly from one of the approved evaluators.

Examples:

  • Undergraduate Accelerated Degrees: If you are applying for an undergraduate degree (to complete in your home country), your high school transcript must be evaluated through one of the three approved evaluators. If you have any university-level coursework completed from a university outside of the U.S. then that transcript would also need to be officially evaluated by one of the approved evaluators.
  • Graduate: If you’re applying for a graduate program, including the M.B.A, your undergraduate bachelor’s degree transcript must be evaluated by one of our approved evaluators if the degree was obtained outside the U.S.

You are responsible for any costs and fees associated with transcript evaluations and submissions.

Within the U.S.

Official university transcripts from a U.S. based college/university must be sent to Cornerstone University by the institution you attended. 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.

03

Provide English Proficiency Test Scores

TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores must be submitted to demonstrate your proficiency in the English language if you are from a country where English is not listed as an official 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.

Undergraduate Accelerated Programs

  • TOEFL Paper-Based Test Score Requirement: 550
  • TOEFL Computer-Based Test Score Requirement: 213
  • TOEFL Internet-Based Test Score Requirement: 79-80
  • IELTS Score Requirement: 6.5

Gradaute Programs

  • TOEFL Paper-Based Test Score Requirement: 577
  • TOEFL Computer-Based Test Score Requirement: 233
  • TOEFL Internet-Based Test Score Requirement: 90-91
  • IELTS Score Requirement: 7.0

You are responsible for any costs and fees associated with test score submissions.

Please mail test score results to the following address:

Cornerstone University
Attn: Enrollment Management
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.

Admissions decisions will be communicated via email, so be sure we have your most up-to-date contact information.

05

Complete the Declaration of Finance Form

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.

Proof of financial ability to study in the United States is required by the U.S. government. For more information, please visit the U.S. Homeland Security website.

This form should only be completed by accepted students.

06

Submit Tuition Deposit

If you are admitted to Cornerstone University, a $50 enrollment deposit is required to secure your spot in classes.

On-Campus MBA Only: This enrollment deposit must be paid before Cornerstone will begin the I-20 immigration paperwork for students enrolling in the MBA program, which requires students to have an F-1 visa.

Submit Enrollment Deposit

07

Immigration Paperwork

A Designated School Official (DSO) will communicate with students in the MBA program about immigration paperwork.

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.

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 places have long appointment wait times, it is recommended to schedule visa appointments as soon as you have been admitted to Cornerstone and are financially approved.

More questions related to immigration should be directed to immigration@cornerstone.edu.

As an international student, I have come to learn from my cohorts’ input about how appreciative they are for the different perspectives I bring to classroom discussions and presentations. There is so much to learn from exposing yourself to issues outside of America.

Kalizya Nseluka (M.A. ’20)

Things to Know

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are not the same for every CU online or seminary program. To see what the admission requirements are for the program you are interested in, see our degree program pages.

Tuition and Fees

To see the estimated cost and breakdown for the program you’re interested in, see our tuition and fees page.

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