Undergraduate On-Campus International Students

Submit your Cornerstone application or Common App.

As part of our admissions requirements, 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.

Please keep in mind that it can take several months to complete the entire admissions process. We recommend applying as early as possible for the semester in which you intend to enroll so that you can stay on track with the required deadlines listed below.

If you miss the application deadline, you must submit a new application for the following academic year (fall semester start).

We are not currently accepting international applications for the Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 semester.

After your application is submitted, begin working on submitting your educational record(s) immediately. Please plan accordingly, as some evaluators take several weeks to process your records.

High School evaluations must include records for at least three years of study.

High School Grade-Point Average Requirement: 2.5 or higher

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 approved agency website, as requirements may be different for each country.

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: 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.

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 high school and/or 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.

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.

• 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 if your high school guidance counselor submits a letter verifying your English proficiency.

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

Following the submission of your application and all supporting documents in steps 1-3, your information will be reviewed.

You should allow at least 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.

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.

Declaration of Finance forms will not be accepted after the deadline.

If you are admitted to Cornerstone, a $200 deposit is required after being accepted to the university. This ensures a spot for you in the upcoming semester and will reserve your housing and academic registration.

Pay Your Deposit

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 places may have long appointment wait times, it is recommended to schedule visa appointments as soon as you have been admitted to Cornerstone and financially approved. Contact immigration@cornerstone.edu if you have any questions.

Full instructions for obtaining your F-1 visa are available at Travel.State.Gov.

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.

Pay Your Health Insurance Fee