If you are prepared to seek new possibilities at ACU, please ensure that you submit your application materials at least six months ahead of your desired start date. We should also receive your official test scores and transcripts no later than 60 days before your studies begin. Your program may have specific stipulations, and we’ve assembled a list of requirements to keep in mind.
Application
In this critical step, please ensure that you respond to all questions and match the name on your application to the name on your transcripts (and, where possible, your passport). Please also include your current email address so we can keep you up-to-date on the progress of your application.
Bachelor’s degree
With a few departmental exceptions and additions, all graduate students at ACU must have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited US college or university or comparable international university.
Minimum GPA
Though some departments may provide stricter guidelines, the general minimum cumulative GPA for ACU graduate programs is 3.0 on a 4-point scale from an undergraduate or graduate program.
English language proficiency
You may demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following:
- An official test score sent to ACU by the testing entity (ACU test code: 6001). ACU accepts the following English language proficiency tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – 80 minimum overall score, 19 or above in reading and writing
- International English Language System (IELTS) – 6.0 minimum overall score; 6.0 or above in reading and writing
- Duolingo – 110 minimum score
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution.
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
Financial sufficiency
Please review the required financial documents international students must submit to the Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars. Your submitted records should demonstrate sufficient funds for the estimated cost of one year of study at ACU.
- Annual Tuition Cost: Detailed on your program’s page
- Room and Board: $14,540
- Insurance and Books: $2,762
- Annual Tuition Cost: $1,432 per credit hour X 18 credits = $25,776
- Room and Board: $14,540
- Insurance and Books: $2,762
Total example estimate: $43,078
Passport
Please send a copy of your passport with your application materials; the information on your passport will be used to prepare your I-20 immigration document, which you will use along with your certificate of admission to apply for a student visa from your country’s US consulate or embassy.
Deadlines
You must submit the items above by the following dates to be eligible for financial aid approval and to receive your I-20:
Summer Entry Term: April 15
Fall Entry Term: June 10
Spring Entry Term: October 31
Financial Aid
Financial approval will be processed after a student has been admitted.
- All scholarship decisions are made at the departmental level. If admitted, you can discuss scholarship opportunities with your program director.
- Some programs offer graduate assistantships*, which includes a scholarship and small living stipend.
- International Students can apply for private loans to cover expenses.
- To aid students and families in the process of choosing a private lender, Student Financial Services has compiled a Preferred Private Lender List.
- Further financial assistance is available through the Wildcat Pay Plan, ACU’s innovative tuition payment model, to help balance your payments over the course of each semester.
*See admission deadline on your graduate program page.
Employment
As an international student, you may apply for on-campus employment for up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and full-time during school breaks.