E-mail this pageAdmissions Requirements for International Students
What We Look For
Plattsburgh considers three factors when reviewing applications for admission from international applicants.
Quality of Previous Academic Achievement
We believe that in order to be a successful student at Plattsburgh State, you must have been a good student in your home country. You need to submit original documents or certified copies showing good academic achievement in high school, college, or university. Most common credentials include transcripts (documents issued by high schools, colleges, or universities listing the courses taken with grades), or nationally accredited examinations (like GCSE "O" and "A" levels, Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) results etc).
English Proficiency (SUNY Plattsburgh Institutional Code 2544)
If you have taken the TOEFL iBT, IELTS, SAT, or ACT, you may enter your online profile information on the English proficiency page . We will verify your scores and include them in your file.
English Bridge Program requirements:
TOEFL paper: 450-539
TOEFL computer: 133-203
TOEFL Internet: 45-75
IELTS Academic: 4.5
EIKEN/STEP: Grade 2
Full-time without ESL:
TOEFL paper: 540
TOEFL computer: 207
TOEFL Internet: 76+
IELTS Academic: 6.5
EIKEN/STEP: Grade 1
SAT/ACT
Although applicants are not required to take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), it is highly recommended. Our most valuable scholarships are available only to applicants who have submitted SAT or ACT results.
Evidence of Financial Support
In order to meet the standards set by the United States Citizenship and Immigration and Services (USCIS), you must provide official documents to prove that you have enough money to pay for your education. We provide a limited number of merit scholarships and on-campus housing grants to help lower the cost of attendance for international students, especially those with a record of extraordinary academic achievement. Early applicants get priority consideration.
Transfer Students
Any international applicant, who has been enrolled in a higher education institution and has earned college credit by pursuing a college/university degree elsewhere, should apply for admission as a transfer student. To qualify for admission to the university as a transfer student, any international student must complete at least 24 semester/36 quarter hours of general academic credit (equivalent to one year of university study) with a minimum 2.50 GPA before transferring to SUNY Plattsburgh.
We will consider awarding transfer credit for courses that you successfully completed after secondary school. You must forward official academic records (with certified English translations) and exam results with your application. We will also need descriptions of the courses you completed and the number of hours spent in each class to determine the number of transfer credits to give you.
We do not grant transfer credit for English language courses designed for students whose native language is not English.
Recommended Dates for Completed Applications
- Fall Semester (beginning in August) - April 1
- Spring Semester (beginning in January) - November 1
We highly recommended that you email or mail your application to us at least one month prior to the above deadlines.
Early applicants have a much better chance of receiving a housing grant and obtaining a merit scholarship.
Making Our Decision: What to Expect
We can make a decision only after we receive all the required documents, including the application fee. If your application is complete, we will make a decision immediately. If it is not complete, you will receive a list of the missing items via email. If needed, we will also request additional documents and supplemental forms by email. Therefore, we require that you provide a working email address you check daily on your application.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
If you have any questions about international admission or financial aid at SUNY-Plattsburgh, please contact:
International Student Services
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Kehoe Administration Building, Room 209
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901 USA
Phone: (518) 564-3287
Fax: (518) 564-3292
E-mail: iss@plattsburgh.edu