Information for international students on the visa and financial requirements, as well as the steps of this process for attending Penn State.
Because Penn State cannot offer financial assistance to undergraduate students from other countries, an international applicant must certify that sufficient resources are available to cover expenses for the first calendar year at Penn State, exclusive of travel expenses. You must also indicate how you will meet your expenses for subsequent years.
When considering how to finance your Penn State education, be aware that tuition and some fees will vary depending on the campus and major to which you have been admitted. Additionally, cost of attendance typically increases each year. When evaluating costs, note that international students pay the out-of-state (non-Pennyslvania) tuition rate.
The actual financial guarantee requirement and estimated costs of attendance are available from the Office of Global Programs' International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA). You can also contact ISSA via email at international@psu.edu.
Financial documents and visa documents are not considered during the admissions process. Please DO NOT send financial and visa documents until you are contacted by the Office of Global Programs. The Admissions Office will discard any of these documents received during the admissions process.
The links below will help you determine the total cost for attendance to Penn State, as well as the requirements you must meet.
On-campus housing is guaranteed for first-year students enrolling at Penn State University Park. Advanced standing students and all other students enrolling at campuses other than University Park will be considered for on-campus housing on a space-available basis. Please see Housing, Food Services, and Residence Life for more information about on-campus housing options and costs, and individual campus housing web pages for more information about both on-campus and off-campus housing.
Sickness and accident medical/hospital insurance that meets guidelines established by Penn State is mandatory for all incoming international students and accompanying dependents (spouse and/or dependents) during their entire program of study at Penn State. Students who do not abide by this requirement will not be allowed to continue registration. This requirement can be met for students in one of two ways:
You can find more information on the insurance requirements on the University Health Services website.
Students accompanied by dependents (spouse and/or children) will be fully responsible for their support, and additional funds are required. Please contact ISSA for specific costs.
Penn State no longer requires any visa or immigration related documentation at the time of application. International applicants should not send this information until they receive an admissions decision.
Once you have received an offer of admission from Penn State and paid your acceptance fees, the International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) will start a file for issuing the appropriate visa eligibility document. ISSA will contact you via email with the next steps of the process.
Visit the ISSA website for more information on the visa documentation process.
Our Office of Global Programs will help prepare you for arrival to Penn State and will assist with visa requirements after you accept your offer.