How to Apply: International Undergraduates

• Students who have not attended a previous college must submit a non-refundable $25 application fee.

• PNW will accept unofficial copies of academic transcripts to start the international admissions process. Upon matriculation, documents should be sent or hand-delivered in an envelope, sealed by a secondary school, college, university or examination board. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS. Students may upload unofficial transcripts through our online application system (under the status page, where it states upload materials).
  • If the original is not in English, a certified, detailed translation should be included.
• If the student is in their final year of secondary school, they should submit current secondary school transcripts for review and can submit final transcripts and examinations upon graduation.
• International Admissions completes the credential evaluation for undergraduate and non-degree students, and we do not require a WES or ECE credential evaluation report. (However, if a student has a WES or ECE report and wants to submit it, we will accept it.)

See Documentation Requirements

You must submit one of the following. PNW’s school code is 001638 for all standardized tests, including TOEFL and SAT.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), for Internet Based TOEFL (iBT).
  • For exams taken before January 21, 2026: Minimum total score: 79 (scale 0 to 120)
  • For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: Minimum total score: 4 (scale 1 to 6)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with a score of at least 6.5 or higher
• PNW Undergraduate Admissions accepts a minimum total of 100 or higher Duolingo English Test score.
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
• British O-Level English Language Exam with a Grade of A or B on Ordinary Level of GCE/GCSE/IGCSE
• A minimum of 12 transferable credits from an accredited U.S.-based institution of higher education, including an English Composition course that is equivalent to Purdue University Northwest’s ENGL 10400.

• Students that have attended post-secondary institutions should have transcripts mailed in a sealed envelope from the college, university or examination board. The record must be an official copy bearing an original stamp or seal. If the original is not in English, include a certified, detailed translation.
• Transfer students (students who have not attended a Purdue campus) must submit a non-refundable application fee of $55. This fee includes evaluation of all college transcripts.

Once admitted, you can submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to get the I-20 needed to apply for a student visa. Documents needed for the Notice of Intent include a copy of the picture page of your passport and proof of financial sponsorship, which includes:

• Financial documents from a bank, employer, or other agency showing funds available for your educational experience at PNW. Amount needed for the I-20 is approximately $37,000 USD for undergraduate studies and $31,000 USD for graduate studies. This is the estimated cost for one academic year.
• A letter from a sponsor or sponsoring agency indicating willingness to pay all expenses for your educational experience, including tuition and fees, room, board and miscellaneous expenses while living in the USA.
  • Letter is not required if the sponsor is your parent(s).
• Financial documents can be no older than 6 months and must be converted to American dollars available and or accessible for expenses for one academic year. Copies are acceptable, but they must be copies of the originals or true and attested copies you plan to bring to the visa interview. Financial sponsorship support should be in liquid assets, not property or other assets that cannot be converted to cash.

 Notification of Intent (NOI) Instructions (to get the I-20)

Please allow up to 5 days after you are admitted to submit the notice of intent as it takes time to populate the system. Then allow up to 10 business days for the I-20 after you submit the NOI. Follow these steps:

1. Establish your student account.
   1. Undergraduates login to your application to obtain your career account and Purdue ID (PUID). Graduate students will receive these from graduate admissions.
   2. Visit password.pnw.edu/public/activate to establish your password.
   3. Download the Duo Mobile application on your smartphone for Purdue Login, a two-factor authentication system that protects access to your sensitive information.
   4. Log in to myPNW to access your student email and other university resources. Your student email will be used for all school communication.
2. Log in to MyISS (Purdue career account and password required. It may take up to 48 hours after you have been admitted to receive your Purdue career account.)
3. Under the section labeled “Current Students, Faculty, or Staff – Click the “Login” button;
4. Enter your Purdue career account and password to log in to myISS;
5. On the left hand side, click “Pre-Arrival and Orientation;”
6. Then click “Notification of Intent;”
7. You must complete all the required forms that are included in the Notification of Intent (NOI).

Remember, you must have the NOI in your possession before you can apply for your student visa.

Once you are admitted and the Notice of Intent is completed, your record will be reviewed.  If anything is missing, you will be notified. If all is in order, the I-20 will be emailed to you.