Intl Undergraduate Applicants

We encourage international undergraduate students to apply for admission as early as possible. The undergraduate priority deadline for fall is February 1 and October 1 for spring.

For the benefit of an international student's family who may not speak English, downloadable translations of CCA's admission process and requirements are available in simplified Chinese (PDF), Korean (PDF), or Spanish (PDF).

Application Checklist

International undergraduate applicant requirements:

Application: Apply online ($60 application fee).

Essay: Question provided on the online application (one-page essay).

Transcripts: Official transcripts from your high school and/or university(ies) must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. CCA accepts International Baccalaureate (IB) coursework.

Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation (from teachers, faculty, employers, or counselors). Recommendation forms are available through the online application.

See Application Requirements for more information.

Portfolio: 10–15 pieces of your most recent artwork for first-year students and 15–20 images for transfer students. Do not send original work.

See Portfolio Requirements for more information.

Official Test Scores: SAT and ACT test scores are not required for admission, but may be used for placement test waivers. Proof of English language proficiency is required of all students whose native language is not English. For details, please refer to the section "Proof of English Language Proficiency" below. Applicants must request that an official copy of any score(s) be sent directly from the testing service to the Enrollment Services Office. CCA's school code is 4031. Test scores are valid for two years from date the test was originally taken. If more than two years have passed since taking the test, the test must be retaken.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Unless English is the official language of your country, you must submit your official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic score.

TOEFL
CCA accepts paper- and Internet-based versions of the (TOEFL) exam.
International undergraduate applicants must achieve a minimum score of 550 on the PBT, or 79 on the iBT.

IELTS
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores of 6.5 and higher.

PTE Academic
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) with a score of 58 or higher.

CCA accepts certain conditions in place of the proof of English language proficiency requirement:

• SAT Critical Reading and Writing score of 490 and above
• ACT English and Reading subsections scores of 20 and above
• IB English score of four and higher
• AP English Language score of three and higher
• Minimum three years' attendance at an English-speaking secondary school or a four-year college or university (excluding extended-education coursework)
• Completion of U.S.-transferable coursework equivalent to English 1A (writing) and 1B (literature) with a grade of C or above
• Completion of ELS Center Level 112

Please speak with your international admission counselor if you believe you should be exempted from taking the proof of English language proficiency tests.

Conditional Admission and ELS

Undergraduate students who need to improve their English skills before entering CCA can attend ELS Language Centers.

CCA will waive the English-language requirement if the student successfully completes level 112 in an ELS program.

The college will issue conditional letters of acceptance to international students currently enrolled in ELS provided they have met all remaining CCA undergraduate admissions requirements.

Obtaining a Student Visa

Step 1: You must submit an official bank statement from your parent or sponsor that demonstrates your ability to cover the cost of attending CCA for at least one academic year. Download the Cost of Attendance (PDF) report, which provides an estimated total cost to attend CCA in the current academic year (revised annually).

If you have a sponsor(s) by someone other than your parents, a letter of support must accompany the official bank statement. CCA does not provide a special form for this verification of finances. All financial documents are completely confidential. Please send us original bank documents (translated to English) and the total amount must be indicated in U.S. currency.

Step 2: You also must complete an I-20 Request Form (PDF). CCA will not issue an I-20 until you have been admitted, submitted the bank statement, provided a copy of the first two pages of your passport and completed the I-20 Request Form.

After the above materials have been received, reviewed, and approved, the new CCA I-20 will be created. We will send the new I-20 to the address provided on the I-20 Request Form.

Step 3: Bring your new CCA I-20, the I-901 fee receipt, the original bank statement(s), and your CCA letter of acceptance to a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a student visa (F-1) for entry into the United States.

Note: each U.S. embassy or consulate around the world may require additional documents to those listed above. Check the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for your F-1 visa.

A list of all U.S. embassies or consulates is available at www.usembassy.gov.

If you are currently studying in the United States on an F-1 status, you must submit both an I-20 request form (see above) and the Request for Release of SEVIS Record form (PDF). Your current international advisor will need to transfer your SEVIS record to CCA and complete part of the Request for Release of SEVIS Record form.

To maintain F-1 status, you must carry a full-time course load each semester (minimum 12 undergraduate units; 9 graduate Visual and Critical Studies units, or 15 units for all other graduate programs).