International Student Program

Apply Here!

Please note the following:

• Do NOT use special accents or characters when entering personal information in this application.
• In the immigration section, if you do not yet have an F-1 Visa, select other and click no documents.  This will let you proceed in the application process.
• IMPORTANT: Two business days after submitting your online application, you will receive an email with your myCuesta student portal access information. If you do not receive this email within 3 business days, please reach out to us at international@cuesta.edu.

Once your Cuesta College application is processed, please complete the supplemental application here. 

Students must maintain an enrollment of 12 credits during spring/fall semester and show evidence of their ability to pay non-resident fees. To confirm both requirements, we ask you to complete this financial certificate which is required to verify that you or your family have sufficient financial resources for personal care, housing, and educational costs.

The current cost of attendance can be found here – international students will refer to the Non-California Resident table, under the Off-Campus column. Please note, housing is not available at Cuesta College.

Financial aid is not available for international students through Cuesta College. Students holding F-1 Visas may work a maximum of 20 hours per week on the Cuesta College campus AFTER their first full academic year, with prior approval from the Director of Admissions & Records. F-1 students are not allowed to work off-campus, unless they have prior authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  

Classes at Cuesta College are conducted in college-level English, so we require students to be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the language. For this reason, Cuesta College requires all F-1 students applying for admission to submit proof of passing an English proficiency exam. 

Your options for testing are:

1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), 
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or
3. Duolingo

Exams must be completed within the year of your application and official results can be submitted either sealed in the original envelope or e-mailed directly from the testing agency to Cuesta College.  

TOEFL:
Required scores:

• Internet based minimum of 61, 
• Computer based minimum of 173, or paper-based minimum of 500. 
• Inst. Code: 4101 
• Dept. Code: 00 
• Dept. Description: Undergraduate  

For more information, contact:   
TOEFL iBT, Educational Testing Services,  
PO Box 6151,  
Princeton, NJ 08541-6155,  
Phone: (443) 751-4862 or (800) 468-6335 in U.S. only.  
Email: www.prometric.com/contact-us  

IELTS:
Required minimum overall band score of 6 on IELTS Academic Exam or IELTS Online.  
Official scores will be sent electronically to Cuesta College. We do not accept unofficial Test Report Forms from students. An institutional code is NOT required. 

Duolingo:
Minimum score: 85  
The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken on-demand, in under an hour for only $49. For the test, a computer with a camera is required and you’ll be asked to complete a video interview and writing sample, resulting in a proficiency score. This will be shared with Cuesta College when you send your results, which are available within 48 hours of the test session.  

*Exception: Test requirement is waived if 1) your native language is English, 2) you have completed and passed the equivalent of college-level English composition at a US college or university, or 3) you have completed two or more years of secondary education in an English-speaking country.  

Official transcripts must be evaluated and translated into English by a verified evaluation company.  We recommend SpanTran (reduced cost for Cuesta College applicants), ACEI - Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (choose "Comprehensive Report"), or other NACES members (choose Academic/Course-by-Course evaluations). Students must provide certified transcripts of academic records achieved during all prior high school or college attendance – these should bear the school seal and be signed by the registrar or another appropriate official.

NOTE: Scanned or photocopies as email attachments are not considered official and will not be accepted. Evaluations must be submitted to Cuesta College in a sealed envelope or electronically directly by an evaluation company.  

Applicants must provide a physician's certificate of negative skin test, blood test, or a chest X-ray for tuberculosis completed within 12 months prior to the first day of classes.

Please note:   

• X-ray film will not be accepted.
• Results must be professionally translated into English (refer to our list of translation companies above in the "Official Transcripts" section).  

Applicants must submit a legible copy of their passport and any issued Visa.

Check/Money Order: payable to Cuesta College  
Credit Card: payable in myCuesta portal.