Admission of International Students to Ball State University

Students who are not citizens, permanent residents, asylees, refugees, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) of the United States must enroll at Ball State University through the International Admissions. Prospective students must meet all of the university’s international student admission requirements. Prospective students are encouraged to inquire at least one year before proposed enrollment at Ball State by contacting International Admissions or by visiting bsu.edu/admissions/international. Requirements for international applicants:

1. An application for admission. Applicants submit a completed application for admission by 15 June for priority consideration for fall semester, by 15 November for spring semester, and by 15 March for summer semester. Applications may be submitted up to one year in advance. Students seeking admission to academic programs in, dance, music, theatre, interior design, or the first-year program in the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) will be required to provide additional information within the online application to be considered for admission to those programs. Students will also be required to provide additional information within the admission application to be considered for admission to the Honors College. For information about the supplemental application process, students should contact International Admissions. 
2. A $60 nonrefundable application fee. Applicants must pay a $60 application fee before they will be considered for admission. The fee can be paid by a credit card or electronic check process included in the online application for admission. In cases of financial difficulties or other approved reasons, a request can be made to have the application fee waived. Supporting documentation must be sent to Ball State University Office of Admissions documenting the reason for the fee waiver request on behalf of the applicant.
3. Secondary school record (official transcript) or equivalency certificate, translated into English. Students should ask their high schools to send official copies of the secondary transcripts to the Office of Admissions, including lists of courses in progress. Students who have been home schooled or who have attended unaccredited high schools will be required to submit an official General Education Development (GED) and/or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and/or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) certificate. Transcripts or GED/TASC/HiSET certificates must show that applicants meet the standards for certification as secondary school graduates. If schools send partial transcripts, students must make certain that complete official transcripts showing the specific date of graduation are submitted as soon as possible after graduation. Failure to do so will result in a registration barrier and university hold placed on the student’s record. If admitted, the quality of students’ academic achievement must remain the same or improve, or the admission classification may be changed or admission rescinded.
4. Standardized test scores: Ball State is a test optional institution. Applicants may elect to provide the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Testing Assessment (ACT) score. The test scores should be sent directly to the university.
5. Proof of English language proficiency: Regardless of citizenship, students who completed the majority of their education in a language other than English must submit proof of language proficiency. The most common method to prove language proficiency is by submitting a standardized language test: TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5), PTE (53), Duoling (110), etc. Please visit https://www.bsu.edu/admissions/international/undergraduate/conditional-admission for up-to-date information about proof of English language proficiency. Any exceptions to these English proficiency admission requirements must be approved by the International Admissions.  Students who are eligible for conditional admission are admitted to the Intensive English Institute program at Ball State and must meet English proficiency requirements before being offered degree-seeking admission to the university. Please note, beginning Spring 2024, a language test score will be required for conditional admission and/or admission to the Intensive English Institute. The Intensive English Institute offers Academic English courses for students who have the following minimum language test scores:

   -IELTS 4.5

   -TOEFL iBT 42

   -Duolingo 65

   -Pearson PTE 40

   Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Intensive English Institute.

   
   Any international student may take a course in the Intensive English Institute for noncredit, regardless of whether such a course is required. Any student who is required to take a course in the Intensive English Institute and whose progress is unsatisfactory will be required to repeat the course if the Intensive English Institute, Rinker Center for Global Affairs, and the chairperson of the relevant department deem it advisable. 
   
6. Dual credit/college credit. Students taking college-level courses at an accredited institution while enrolled in high school must submit official college transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions in order to receive credit for completed courses. For advanced standing information, please see Advanced Standing section. 
7. Additional information for international applicants:  

• In addition to submitting an admission application and all supporting academic credentials, international students must provide evidence of adequate financial support for expenses for one academic year–including tuition, fees, books, supplies, maintenance (lodging and food), health insurance, taxes, and miscellaneous expenditures (clothing, local travel, recreation, toiletries, telephone, etc.) before Ball State may issue visa-enabling documents, if applicable. Successful applicants will be sent documentation allowing them to apply for a student visa through United States consular representatives in their home countries. 
• Any student offered admission to non-degree study in the Intensive English Institute only must apply as a degree-seeking student and be offered admission before enrolling in credit-bearing academic classes. 
• International students are assessed nonresident tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the university. The university currently has a limited number of scholarships authorized by the University Board of Trustees that may be awarded to outstanding and deserving students from other countries. These scholarships are equivalent in value to a partial waiver of university tuition fees. No scholarships are available for room, board, or transportation costs. 
• All international students are required to participate in a health insurance plan designed for Ball State University students unless approved for a waiver. The premium must be paid along with nonresident tuition and fees and must be maintained throughout the student’s period of enrollment at the university. 
• Upon arrival at Ball State, students are required to attend international student orientation during which registration information and other relevant student issues are discussed. An English language examination will be administered to those students who require the test at this time to determine language competency. 
• Students who have a break in continuous semester attendance or who have attended other institutions since last attending Ball State and who were in good standing with Ball State at the time of stop out will be considered reenrolling students. Please refer to the information above.