International Students at Edinboro University

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Edinboro University located?

Edinboro University is located in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania, near the Ohio and New York borders.

Mileage from major cities to Edinboro University:

How can I apply for admission to Edinboro University?

You must begin by filling out our International Student Application. With this application, Edinboro University requires that you submit an official copy of your academic credentials (a transcript or record of your grades) from the secondary school(s) you attended.

Proof of financial support is also required. You may send a bank statement, affidavit of support, and/or letters from sponsors stating that sufficient funds are available to finance your education to fulfill this requirement.

Finally, if English is not your native language, you must complete a TOEFL examination and receive a score of at least 500 (paper-based) or 173 (computer-based) and Edinboro University must receive an official report of your TOEFL score.

Edinboro University must receive all of these documents, along with a non-refundable application fee of $25 (U.S. Dollars) in the form of a certified check or bank draft payable to Edinboro University of Pa., before your application will be processed.

What documents must I send with my application?

  1. International Student Application Form

  2. Copy of official transcript(s)

  3. Official report of your score on the TOEFL examination

  4. Proof of financial support (bank statement, affidavit of support, and/or letter of support)

  5. Application fee of $25 (US dollars) made payable to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

If I am applying as an undergraduate student, what TOEFL score is necessary for entrance to Edinboro University?

If English is not your native language, then you must complete a TOEFL examination and send an official report of a score of at least 173 (computer based) or 500 (paper based).

If I am an undergraduate student, what is the cost for the first year?

The current cost of studying at Edinboro University for one full year is $11,677.68.

What programs of study are offered at Edinboro University?

Edinboro offers more than 100 associate (two-year), bachelor's (four-year) and master's (graduate) degree programs. See the complete listing here.

When are Edinboro University's application deadlines?

Admission decisions at Edinboro University are made and the applicants are notified on a rolling basis, as applications are completed. It is recommended that application for admission be made well in advance of the anticipated semester of entry.

Where can I stay? Can I live off campus?

If you are a freshman and under the age of 22, you are required to live on campus for at least one academic year. On campus housing is available in one of the six residence halls. Housing accommodations require a $75 deposit at the time you submit your advance tuition deposit.

All on-campus residents are asked to sign a Housing and Food Service Agreement for one academic year. Each room is furnished for two students with two beds, dressers, desks, chairs and closets/wardrobe. Rooms are also equipped with free local telephone service. Internet connection is available in all of the rooms at a reasonable cost. Mail/post is delivered and picked up at all residence halls Monday through Friday. All residence halls are coed which means that both men and women are in the same residence halls, however on different floors.

What if I arrive early?

New International Students are requested to arrive prior to the start of classes for "New Student Orientation." Students who are living in a residence hall will be provided housing at no additional charge when arriving early. New students who plan to live in an off-campus facility may request temporary on-campus housing for a fee per night.

What are meal plans and flex dollars?

As an on-campus resident you are required to purchase a meal plan. There are many types of meal plans that you can choose from when arriving at Edinboro University. The options are:

Flex Dollars is a pre-paid account that offers meal plan members the opportunity to make purchases above the dining hall options that are covered on your meal plan. These flex dollars can be used at the convenience store, Van Go, Faces and MacCato's Bog.

What are transcripts?

A transcript is a list of your academic credentials. This means that the college wants to see a copy of all your grades (e.g. school grades, college grades, previous university grades, etc).

What are the Visa requirements?

To study in the United States of America you need to obtain a student visa, F-1 or a J-1 visa. If you are admitted to Edinboro University, we will send you the necessary Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) documentation to apply for your student visa along with some basic instructions.

How Can I Apply for F-1 Student Visa?

You may have already received your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Students Status) from Edinboro University. In order to obtain an F-1 Student Visa you must apply for one at a United States Consulate or Embassy within your home country. The following documents should be brought with you when you go to either of these government offices:

  1. A valid passport

  2. Your Edinboro University Form I-20

  3. Financial documentation to support the I-20. You will need to provide proof of support for at least one full year of study. Examples include a bank statement, an affidavit of support from a sponsor and/or letters stating that you have been awarded a scholarship.

  4. Documentation showing your intention to return to your country of residency after completing your education within the United States. Examples include papers showing that your family owns either a home, business, or other property within your country, a letter from a potential employer willing to consider you for a position after your return, or a letter from an educator stating that the knowledge you seek is greatly needed in your country.

If you have I-20 Forms from more than one college/university in your possession and have not yet decided where to attend, please note that you must attend the school whose I-20 Form you use when applying for entry to the United States. You may not use one school's I-20 to enter the United States and then, upon arrival, attend the other school. By law, you are only authorized to attend the school whose I-20 you used upon entry.

Consult www.usembassy.state.gov for updates on country-specific visa processing requirements.

What travel arrangements should I make?

Your travel arrangements should be made from your home to your final destination of Erie, Pennsylvania, or Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Erie is located approximately 20 miles north of Edinboro. However, you will have to fly to a larger airport first. We recommend Pittsburgh International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, or Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

AIRLINES with service to Erie International Airport:

GREYHOUND BUS LINE also provides service from larger cities to Erie and Edinboro. They can be reached at 814-725-8701 or 1-800-231-2222 (in the United Sates).

The Office of International Student Services will provide transportation from Erie to Edinboro University for those students who inform us of their travel arrangements in advance. A member of our office or community will be at the bus terminal or airport when you arrive. In order for us to accommodate your arrival, we need to know your specific arrangements.

What medical history and health insurance coverage do I need?

In order to serve international students' medical needs and provide our university physicians with information relative to their personal medical history. You are required to have your family physician complete a Confidential Health Record and submit it upon enrollment. In addition you or your parent(s) must complete the Emergency Treatment Authorization form for submission. These forms will be collected at the student orientation. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) recommends that all international students purchase a health insurance plan OR provide proof of an equivalent insurance coverage from a private insurance company throughout your attendance at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. The annual premium (12 months) for an international student health plan can cost $500.00 U.S. There is not a public health system in America and medical care can be quite expensive.

These requirements have been established in an attempt to provide the best medical care possible and to avoid excessive medical costs in the event of an illness or accident.

How will I be able to manage my finances?

Upon arrival to the United States you will need to have U.S. currency (dollars) available to you; however, it is not recommended that you carry large amounts of currency with you while traveling. An alternative to carrying "cash" you may:

What happens at orientation?

Orientation is offered each fall for all new international students. During the orientation period, you will have the opportunity to meet with the Office staff and other helpful individuals. Orientation time has been reserved to accomplish important University procedures such as registering for classes, paying tuition bills (full payment of fees for one semester are due upon registration of classes), opening bank accounts, and buying textbooks. This time will also be used to introduce students to the various University facilities, services, and offices. Students will be able to purchase necessary items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, sheets, blankets, towels, pillows, and so forth.

What is a Credit?

Most colleges and universities use a credit system in which each course is allotted a specific number of credit hours; representing the number of hours the student spends in class each week. The norm is 3 credits per course and a normal workload for an undergraduate student would be between 12 and 15 credits, which is 4 or 5 classes (normally) meeting 12-15 hours per week. For a graduate student it is usually between 6 and 12 credit hours each semester.

How will I be graded in class?

The professor evaluates academic performance in each course by using number or letter grades. At the end of the semester you will receive a number of credits corresponding to the courses that you have successfully completed. Your credit hours are multiplied by your grades, which will in turn determine your "grade point average" (GPA). GPA's are used to give an overall indication of your total academic performance and are used by the admissions office and employers interested in your academic history.

The grading system by Edinboro University can be seen in the following table:

Grade Points Undergraduate Graduate
A 4.0 Excellent Excellent
B 3.0 Good Good/Average
C 2.0 Average Passing
D 1.0 Passing Failing
F 0.0 Failing Failing

Undergraduates are expected to complete their studies with a C or better average; graduates are expected to complete their studies with no less than a B average.

What if I lose my student identification (ID)?

Report any lost, stolen or misplaced ID card to the Access Office in Van Houten Dining Hall immediately. This will protect your account balance for both flex and meals against fraudulent use.

Can I work while attending school?

Additional financial assistance in the form of job opportunities is highly competitive and not guaranteed.

Can I receive any scholarships from Edinboro University?

Edinboro University has developed a tuition waiver program for our International students. Upon your official acceptance to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania you will qualify for this award, which reduces your tuition cost. You will continue to receive this award annually throughout your undergraduate academic career at Edinboro University as long as you achieve satisfactory academic standing (as outlined in the University Catalogue). Additional financial assistance beyond the International Waiver is limited and not guaranteed.

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