Attending American River College as an International Student
Please see the important information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) below:
- International students can only enroll in programs listed in the application packet. All students must declare a major at the time of application; you cannot use "Undecided". It is possible to change your major in the future.
- The ARC International Student Program only accepts F-1 transfer students currently in the US who are in active F-1 status.
- The International Student Office does not provide legal advice on obtaining or changing your F-1 status. Please check with appropriate legal/government agencies.
- American River College does not evaluate foreign transcripts for course waivers or transfer credits. However, ARC accepts foreign transcript evaluations from specific agencies. Please see your welcome packet or contact the International Student Program office for more information.
- F-1 international students have strict restrictions on employment. Working in the US with F-1 status is prohibited except under certain conditions.
Programs of Study FAQs
Students who are not physically located in California may not enroll in online courses offered by American River College. American River College is not authorized to provide education outside the boundaries of the State of California.
F-1 students also have an additional requirement where the majority of their classes must be in-person or hybrid.
The International Student Program at ARC is intended for students pursuing associate degrees who already meet a minimum level of English proficiency. Although American River College does have an ESL program, ARC is not authorized to issue I-20s for English language training.
If you are interested in pursuing an Intensive English Language Training program, you can find additional information regarding how to find schools that issue I-20s for F-1 international students for English Language Training at the United States Department of State website.
American River College is only authorized to issue I-20s for full-time students who are studying for an associate degree. Certificates are not degrees, but it is possible for international students to earn a certificate during their course of study for a degree. We recommend that students who are interested in earning a certificate while studying for a degree speak with a counselor.
Admission into programs with separate eligibility and requirements is handled by their respective departments, and specific questions about each program should be directed to each department directly. International students interested in these programs should first apply to the ARC International Student Program to study under a different major (for example, Pre-Health Occupations for those interested in nursing) until they meet the requirements/prerequisites for their intended program. Students may change their major after being accepted into the program.
As a community college, ARC only confers associate degrees. We do not confer bachelor, master, or doctorate degrees, but students can study for associate degrees here and then transfer to another school that does offer higher degrees.
If you only want to take specific classes at ARC without transferring your SEVIS record from your current school, you may apply for concurrent enrollment. Please contact: international@arc.losrios.edu for the application form and other required documents.
Application Process FAQs
At this time, ARC does not accept students who are undergoing a change of status. In order to receive an I-20 from ARC, you would need to leave the US, apply for the F-1 visa in your home country, then re-enter the US using the F-1 visa.
We do not accept Duolingo or Pearson test results. Please see the admission steps for more details on exactly what is accepted for proof of English proficiency.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept students who do not meet our minimum English proficiency requirements. We recommend that you look into schools that can issue I-20s for English language training or continue your English studies in your home country, then apply to ARC once you can meet the English proficiency requirements.
Applications are only accepted during the posted application periods to begin studying at the next available semester. It is not possible to begin studying partway through a semester.
We do not accept F-1 students whose SEVIS records are terminated or pending/needing reinstatement. In order to receive an I-20 from ARC, you would need to leave the US and re-pay the I-901 SEVIS fee to receive a new F-1 visa and SEVIS number.
We do not partner with any third-party agencies. Per federal laws, the International Student Office only communicates with the applicant directly. You must give us written permission to allow others to be included in your application process and communications. The student must request this directly from our office.
Tuition/Housing FAQs
Yes, all applicants must show proof of financial ability to pay the current cost of attendance listed in the application packet, regardless of individual arrangements for housing, etc.
ARC does not provide scholarships specifically for international students, but international students are welcome to apply to internal Los Rios scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements. International students are also encouraged to research and apply for external scholarships on their own. Remember that you should never have to pay for a scholarship. Any scholarship that costs you money is probably a scam. More information on scholarships can be found here.
F-1 international students are not eligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA, federal work-study, etc.), but they are eligible for a student payment plan that spreads the payment over several installments.
As a community college, ARC does not have dormitories or provide housing services. Admitted students should see the welcome packet sent with their acceptance letter for resources about housing in the Sacramento area.