TCC Campus

International Admissions

COVID-19 Updates for International Students

Apply to Tacoma Community College

Eligibility:

Applicant must be at least 16 years of age by program start date
High School graduation NOT required (see High School Completion Program)

Required Admission Documents:

Bank Statement (proof of funding) showing at least USD $21,783.
- The "Bank Statement" may include checking or savings accounts, stocks, certificates of deposit, or other easily liquidated assets. Please indicate the relationship between the student and the person listed on the bank statement in the online application. All proof of funding documents must be dated within the last 6 months.
Copy of High School or College Transcript
Copy of Passport Photo Page
Transferring in from another U.S. school? Submit the Transfer In Form with your application
Under age 18? Submit the Under 18 Consent Form with your application
$50 non-refundable application fee (pay here)
*If you plan to pay an application fee by using a U.S. credit card for your application or on behalf of an applicant. Please email international@tacomacc.edu for assistance.

Apply Now

Missing information? Be sure to review:

Tuition and Fees Dates and Deadlines DAY IN THE LIFE VIDEO

English Proficiency:

English Proficiency is not required for admission. However, students who have taken an English proficiency test within the last two years are encouraged to submit their score with the online application. The following scores will place a student directly into college-level English (ENG 101).

IELTS: 5.5
TOEFL: 65 (iBT or iBT Special Home Edition)
Duolingo: 90
SAT: 470 Reading Score
ACT: 19
Pearson: 46
Cambridge A & O Level Scores: C in English
IB Diploma: Completion of full diploma or a score of 3 in English
U.S. High School: Completion of two years at a U.S. high school with a 2.5 GPA in English
U.S. College: Completion of one year with an overall 2.0 college level GPA
Other Assessment: CEFR B2 Level
Native-English proficiency: Ask our team if this applies to you!

Application Processing

After your completed application is received, it is reviewed by our admission staff. The processing time may vary depending on the volume of applications that we process, but typically it's within a week. In the event that your application was submitted incomplete, please use the following resources to finalize your submission.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Missed a supporting document when completing the online application? Submit additional documents:

Online: Submit Supporting Documents
By email: international@tacomacc.edu

PAYING FEES

For all applications, there is a $50 application fee. Students can pay fees:

Through the Online Payment Form
With a check from an American bank, bank draft or Cashier's check (payable to Tacoma Community College)
Via money order from the postal service (not Western Union)
With a U.S. credit card (a credit card issued by a non-U.S. financial institution cannot be accepted)

ADDITIONAL FORMS

Deferral Request Form: Defer your TCC admission to a different quarter
Authorization to Release Information: Give TCC staff permission to share your academic progress and tuition bill with any people/agency/school you authorize

Admissions Packet

After your completed application is processed, an admissions package will be created. The time for you to receive your admissions package may vary depending on the volume of applications that we process, but typically it's within a week. This package contains:

TCC Admission letter
A Consulate letter (supporting your request for a student visa)
A High School Completion Dual Degree letter (for students who have not graduated High School)
University Conditional Admission letter (select one of our University Partners where you'd like to transfer after graduating from TCC)
Your I-20 (this document confirms your acceptance as an international student in the U.S.)

I-20 and Visa Interview

You will need to pay a SEVIS and visa fee, make an interview appointment with the U.S. Consular Office in your home country and present the complete admissions package to them during your interview.

Be sure to keep your documents safe! If you lose any of your documents, please notify us immediately.

FIND A U.S. CONSULATE NEAR YOU

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH YOUR VISA INTERVIEW

Most interviews last only 1-2 minutes and are conducted in English*
Preparing for your visa interview is very important
Providing thorough and honest answers are absolutely necessary

ESSENTIAL THINGS TO REMEMBER

This is a Study Visa. Be sure to have a clear plan of what you plan to study and where you intend to transfer after TacomaCC.
Students who arrive to the U.S. with a Tacoma Community College I-20 must study on TCC’s campus for at least one quarter. If you choose to transfer out before completing your first quarter, your TCC I-20 will be cancelled and transferred in terminated status.
Demonstrate you can afford tuition and living expenses. You can do this by providing valid sources of funding and how those will be sustained throughout your time in the U.S.
*Request to be interviewed in your native language, if you intend to study English (EAP) first.
Show your intention to return home. Demonstrate strong ties to your home country and a motive to return home after you complete your studies.

WHAT QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR

Why have you chosen to study at Tacoma Community College?
How will you fund your studies?
Do you have family members or relatives in the United States?
What do you intend to do at the completion of your studies? (Career plan and intent to return home)

For next steps, visit

Newly Admitted Students

Admissions & TCC Questions

Learn who we are at Tacoma Community College and steps for applying as an international student.

The first two years of classes at a community college are the same as the first two years of undergraduate education at a university. You can choose to complete the first two years of your U.S. Bachelor's degree at either type of school because the curriculum is the same.

What makes community colleges special is they have less-expensive tuition, the application process is easier, and classes are smaller.

A big difference between community college and university is research. A faculty's main purpose at a community college is to teach you rather than engage in research projects. As a community college student, you will have more individual time with your faculty and a personalized education. However, you won't join research projects until year three of your undergraduate degree when you study at a university.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TCC
Unfortunately, community colleges are not a part of the formal World University Ranking system. This is due primarily to the fact that our professors main responsibility is to teach and not engage in research.

With that said, TCC has been considered a top community college in the U.S. and within the state of Washington in a variety of articles.

Washington State also remains the 2nd best state in the country for higher education.
NO.

Any international student who has not taken an English placement test will take the Pearson Versant English Placement to determine their English proficiency level. TCC covers the cost of one test per applicant, so it is free of charge to international students.

Based on one's placement score, students will either be placed into one of six levels of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) or they will be placed directly into college-level English, ENG 101.

English for Academic Purposes

For students who have taken the TOEFL or IELTS, please submit your score with the online admission application. You may qualify for direct placement into college-level English or you may be asked to take the above mentioned Pearson Versant test if your score does not meet our minimum proficiency scores.
International students must enroll for at least 12 credits per quarter. Most classes are worth 3-5 credits.

However, a typical course load is 15 credits per quarter (approximately 3 classes), which allows a student to stay on track for graduation in two-years.
Tuition for all international students is paid after registering for classes. The tuition will be calculated based on number of credits and specific course fees.

The tuition due date differs for new international students versus returning international students. Visit the below pages to learn more about cost and due dates:

Tuition & Fees

Dates & Deadlines
TCC allows international students to pay tuition three different ways.
1. ctcLink with a U.S.-based credit card Visit ctcLink > Financial Account > Payments > Make a Payment
- Enter payment amount & click Next
- Select payment method in 'Pay By' & click Next
- Review the confirm payment information. If information is correct, select Continue to Make Payment. You will be directed to a third party page to complete secure payment.
- Enter card information & click Pay
- Confirm information on the submit payment page & click Submit
- Payment result page will confirm that the payment was successful or notifies you of an error
2. Check or cash drop-off to Building 14

3. International Wire Transfer (available for students currently residing outside the country)
- Contact International Admission at international@tacomacc.edu for wire instructions
All international students will be enrolled and billed for Firebird International Health Insurance upon enrolling in classes. This insurance is required for any student studying from within the United States.

Firebird Health Insurance
International students are allowed to work on-campus for 17 hours per week, if they are in good academic standing (2.0 GPA). Students must apply for and be selected for a position. Employment is not guaranteed.

New international students must attend TCC for at least one quarter before beginning on-campus work.

Off-campus work is not allowed unless U.S. Immigration gives special permission.

After you graduate from TCC, you may stay in the U.S. and work full-time in your chosen career field through a special program called Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Employment at TCC
It is a beneficial to open a bank account at a U.S. bank for your personal finances. This allows you to conveniently pay for goods, services, tuition, and other expenses. Keep in mind that banks have varying requirements and fees associated with opening and maintaining an account. A majority of them will require the following documents:
- Passport
- Form I-20 (as a second form of ID)
- Address Verification Letter
  - Request your verification letter here: https://tccinternational.wufoo.com/forms/k1jwiu9j18cn829/
- Immediate deposit of $25 USD
Contact the bank directly to inquire about specific details. Here are a few bank located near TCC's campus:

Bank of America: 3408 S 23rd St, Tacoma, 98405

U.S. Bank: 6723 S 19th St, Tacoma, 98466

Wells Fargo: 2615 Bridgeport Way W, Tacoma 98465

Chase Bank: 2615 Bridgeport Way W, Tacoma 98466

Key Bank: 2424 Mildred St W, Tacoma 98466

Umpqua Bank: 1211 S Pearl St, Tacoma 98465
Mobile phone providers will have varying price range and plans. It is important to compare the providers/plans to determine which option will best suit your needs. Providers offer contract and/or pre-paid options. Please inquire about service for an unlocked phone or existing SIM cards. The most common mobile providers are:
- T-Mobile
- AT&T
- Verizon
- Sprint
- Metro PCS
- Virgin Mobile
- TracFone
- Xfinity

Contact International Admissions

International Admissions
Tacoma Community College
Building 11, 2nd Floor
Phone/Fax: 253-566-5190
Facebook/Instagram: @tacomaccinternational

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