Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) is a community college offering associate degree programs for students attending college in the United States on a non-resident student visa.
Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees are designed for students who plan to transfer to four-year universities after graduating from SWIC. Please note that baccalaureate degrees cannot be earned at SWIC.
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees are career-focused programs for students who plan to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Some program restrictions may apply due to visa enrollment requirements.
Students with an international status other than F-1 visa can contact enrollmentservices@swic.edu for details on required residency documentation for enrollment.
Application Dates for F-1 Admissions
International students will be considered for admission to SWIC after the following documentation is received by the Designated School Official. Class start dates are listed below:
| Term | Start Date | Apply By Date |
| Summer 2026 | June 1, 2026 | April 1, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 | August 15, 2026 | May 17, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | January 16, 2026 | October 18, 2026 |
Students transferring from another U.S. institution may have more flexibility on deadline. Please contact international@swic.edu for more information.
Requirements for F-1 Admission
International students will be considered for admission to SWIC after the following documentation has been received.
Step One: International Student Application
Complete the New International Student Information Form. This form helps the International Admissions Team start the admissions process for new, transfer, or visiting F-1 visa students. It is separate from the college enrollment form below.
Step Two: SWIC Application
Complete a New Student Information Form. After receiving your student ID number, be sure to set up your eSTORM and student email accounts for official communication from SWIC.
You will also need to provide:
- A copy of your passport
- The U.S. address where you will stay while enrolled (if known)
- Your current address in your home country
Step Three: Transcript Evaluation
Official copies of all secondary school and college transcripts not from a U.S. institution must be provided with notarized English translations from one of the following organizations:
Send all High School Transcripts to enrollmentservices@swic.edu
Send all College Transcripts to records@swic.edu
Step Four: English Language Proficiency
International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by one of the following methods:
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – The minimum score accepted for admission is 500 on the written exam which equates to 173 on the computer based TOEFL or 61 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL.
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) – The minimum score accepted for admission is 6.0 or higher.
Step Five: Certification of Funding
F-1 applicants are required at time of application to provide certification of the availability of funds to meet all tuition and cost of living expenses of one year of attending SWIC. Total amount to be certified listed below.
| Total | $32,293 |
| Expense | Cost |
| Tuition* | $5,880 |
| Living Expenses | $24,013 |
| Books & Supplies | $2,400 |
*Our current tuition for international students is $236 (USD) per semester credit with an additional $9 per semester credit institutional fee. Minimum enrollment is 12 semester. This rate is subject to change without notice.
Step Six: Visa Application
After acceptance to Southwestern Illinois College and issuance of the I-20, the DS-160 Form and I-901 SEVIS fee must be paid to the consulate prior to seeking a visa.
DS-160
To pay the DS-160 for an F-1 visa application fee visit How to Apply for an F-1 Visa
To learn more about the DS-160 form and fee visit the DS-160 FAQ page
I-901 SEVIS Fee
To pay the I-901 SEVIS fee online visit FMJFEE.com
To learn more about the I-901 SEVIS fee visit US Customs and Immigration I-901 FAQ
Proof of Insurance
SWIC requires all F-1 international students to maintain medical and repatriation insurance coverage while studying at SWIC. SWIC does not offer a student health insurance plan and cannot recommend specific providers. However, the following companies are commonly used by F-1 students in the United States:
ISO Student Health Insurance: https://www.isoa.org/
International Student Insurance: https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/
- Insurance must be purchased prior to arrival in the United States
- For SWIC student-athletes, medical and sports coverage is strongly recommended
- After selecting a plan, you must upload your Certificate of Coverage to E-Storm (Athletes should send an additional copy to their coach)
Things to Know:
- Travel to the US should be booked after the entry visa is issued. Students must arrive prior to the start date of the term.
- After the visa is confirmed, students should reach out to their academic advisor to set up a virtual appointment for course enrollment. Advisor information is located in E-Storm and students can Make an Advisor Appointment online.
- F-1 visa students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per term in an eligible program of study. Only 1 course (3 credit hours) may be taken online.
- All new F-1 visa students must check-in with the ISS team upon their arrival to campus in order to activate their SEVIS record.
- All new F-1 visa students must attend a required immigration orientation session with a designated school official when they arrive to campus.
- F-1 visa students are not permitted to work more than 20 hours per week in an on-campus job. Off-campus employment is not permitted without prior work authorization approval. Volunteer (unpaid) work is still considered work and a violation of a student’s visa status. If a student violates their status, it is grounds for automatic termination.
Transfer Students
International students who wish to transfer their F-1 record to SWIC will be asked to submit the following items in addition to the items listed above:
- Completed SWIC Transfer-In Form
- Copy of I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
- Copy of current I-20 and Visa
Contact Information
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For admission questions and document submission please email the International Admissions Team at: |