International Students
We're excited you're interested in applying to Dordt! We are committed to providing you an excellent education in a safe, caring, and committed community. Find out what Dordt has to offer you.
Welcoming Community
Located in the center of the United States, Dordt provides a safe, welcoming community for international students. With more than 90 percent of students living on campus, Dordt will become your home away from home. Get involved in residence life activities, join a worship team, sign up for intramural sports, or relax in the game room with friends. Whatever your interests, there is a place for you at Dordt!
Engaged Worldview
Dordt's education is about making connections between your area of study and the work that God is calling you to do in his world. Committed faculty and passionate students make Dordt a great place to grow. Your studies, activities, and worship will come together at Dordt to equip you for leadership and service in your future.
Rigorous Academics
From the highly qualified faculty to the more than 40 majors offered, rigorous academics are the hallmark of a Dordt education. In fact, Dordt is consistently ranked on the U.S. News and World Report list of Best Colleges in the Midwest and is also one of the most international campuses in our entire region of the United States. With caring professors and engaging course work, students find that Dordt is a place to be challenged and to succeed.
Life At Dordt
Students at Dordt come from across North America and the world. The campus is filled with students from different places coming together into a dynamic and welcoming community. Dordt is home to students from 36 countries, including the following:
Australia Barbados Canada China Congo | Costa Rica Germany Guatemala Honduras | Philippines South Africa South Korea Thailand Zimbabwe |
Participating in the International Friendship Family Program has been such a blessing in so many different aspects. My family has helped us with university stuff and our personal lives and social lives and spiritual lives.
Andres Guzman
Applying to Dordt
To allow ample time for the application process, you should complete and submit an application for admission a minimum of three months in advance of the semester that you would like to enter Dordt. For the fall semester, the preferred deadline is April 1, although maximum financial aid consideration is given to applicants who are admitted prior to January 15. For the spring semester, the preferred deadline is October 1.
Completing an application is free for all international applicants. To apply online now, create an account and begin an application.
All students must submit official copies of their scores on the ACT, SAT, or CLT in order to be approved for admission to Dordt. Scanned copies may be sent for review, but official copies or notation on official high school transcripts will be required before an I-20 can be issued.
The minimum ACT composite score required for admission to Dordt is 19. The minimum SAT composite required for admission is 1010. The minimum CLT composite required for admission is 65.
Dordt's ACT College code is 1301. To request that your score report be sent to Dordt University, visit the ACT Report Request page.
Dordt's College Board (SAT) code is 6171. To request that your score report be sent to Dordt University, visit the SAT Report Request page.
Dordt requires the submission of official English transcripts of all high school (grades 9-12) and prior university coursework. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 on a 4.0 scale is required of all students for admission.
To have an official transcript sent to Dordt, contact the counselor or registrar of the high school(s) and/or university(s) you have attended and request that they mail a transcript to Dordt. Transcripts are not considered official if they are sent by the student. Scanned copies may be sent for review, but official copies will be required before an I-20 is issued.
The mailing address is:
Dordt University Office of Global Education
700 7th St NE
Sioux Center, IA 51250-1697 USA
Dordt requires a score of at least 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) or a 6.5 band on the IELTS for admission of international students for whom English is not their first language.
Scanned copies of test results may be sent for review, but official copies will be required before an I-20 is issued. An exception may be made for non-native speakers who have been schooled in English-speaking settings for seven years or more, or who have sufficient scores on the English-language portions of the ACT, SAT, or CLT tests.
All students are required to sign and indicate their agreement to the Statement of Faith that is included in the Application for Admission to Dordt.
International students may also be interviewed or asked to submit a brief (350 to 500 word) essay about their faith background and why they are interested in studying within the Christian setting at Dordt. For further information about the essay, please contact Adam Adams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please go to our Tuition and Fees page to see the current costs of attending Dordt.
Dordt University does offer financial aid for students, both academic scholarships and need-based grants. In addition, students who are gifted in academics or music or athletics may be able to earn additional awards. Aid seldom covers more than 50% the cost of enrollment.
Dordt provides partial financial assistance to international students who demonstrate academic merit and leadership ability and who have financial need. The amount of assistance is determined by reviewing the previous academic performance of the student (e.g. high school grades and ACT or SAT scores), the financial situation of the student, and the amount of funds available to assist students.
International students may be eligible to receive an International Student Grant, based on financial need and leadership potential, or other merit-based grants, based on music, theater, or intercollegiate athletic participation. Even with financial aid, however, all international students must prove their ability to pay the balance of the cost of attendance, either with their own funds or with the assistance of a financial sponsor arranged by the student.
Admitted students will be required to thoroughly complete the Dordt University International Student Financial Aid Form in order to be eligible for financial assistance.
International students are not eligible for Federal Student Loans, but may be eligible for a private school loan from a U.S. financial institution if a family member is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
On-campus employment is allowed. Off-campus employment is prohibited without prior approval and federal work authorization.
Apply for free online. There is no application deadline.
An application can be completed over a period of time. It is not necessary to submit all of the following documents with your initial application form, but it is necessary to submit the following documents for full admission to Dordt University:
- ACT or SAT exam score
- TOEFL or IELTS exam score
- Duolingo English Test is approved for a limited time during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Original transcripts from secondary school or university, with translations, if necessary
- An essay of 300-500 words, or a personal interview with an international admissions counselor about your interest in Christian higher education
You may apply for a student visa after you have been fully admitted to Dordt University. Dordt will issue you a document called Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. This document must be presented at a U.S. embassy or consulate during the student visa interview for consideration of a student visa.
An I-20 is a U.S. government document. It is issued, with permission, by U.S. educational institutions. It verifies to U.S. officials that a student has met all admissions requirements to attend an educational institution in the United States. The I-20 verifies supplemental information necessary to receive a student visa.
Dordt University assists students in finding an affordable basic healthcare plan that meets federal requirements, and is accepted by local healthcare providers. All international students are required to purchase healthcare from Dordt’s health insurance options.
Bills for incoming students are issued mid-July. Payment is due in full prior to the beginning of each semester. A monthly payment plan is available. The Dordt University Business Office provides a detailed summary of the payment options available.
There are many different mobile phone providers in the United States. Mobile Phone plans in the United States are much more expensive than other parts of the world, and frequently require 2-year contracts. No contract options are available, but generally require the individual to bring their own phone to use with the plan.
