Frequently Asked Questions - International Admission

Any student who needs a visa to study in the U.S. is considered an international student. This includes students who are already in the U.S. with a current, valid U.S. visa. All other applicants are considered domestic students for admission purposes, including U.S. citizens living abroad, Permanent Resident card holders, DACA recipients, undocumented students, and refugees or asylees.

At Loyola, we ask for all the information we need from the student upfront with the application, so that all necessary reviews can be completed before finalizing a decision. We review all materials submitted with the application to determine if the student is academically admissible, any scholarship they may qualify for, and then we move into a need-aware review to determine if additional financial aid is needed and if Loyola can provide it. That way, when we make an offer of admission, we can share any scholarship and financial aid information with the student at the same time.

Loyola considers students for need-based financial aid, and we need to understand each student's plan for funding their education so we can determine if they will need additional aid beyond their intended sources of funding and any Loyola scholarship they may qualify for. This allows us to determine if Loyola can provide additional financial assistance in the form of need-based aid. Our funding is limited so we're not able to guarantee that we can meet 100% of a student's financial need, and in some cases, we are unable to make an offer of admission if our funding would be insufficient for a student.

After a student applies, they will receive access to a Loyola Applicant Status Portal, where they can see all required materials on their checklist and track when the materials are received. Admission decisions are also released through this portal.

Loyola does not require a separate application for scholarships—all applicants with completed files will be considered for scholarships automatically. Students who wish to be considered for need-based financial aid must submit the College Board CSS Profile. Learn more about the scholarship and financial aid process.

No, Loyola does not offer conditional admission. We do not offer remedial or language training English courses, so we aren't able to provide the language support that students with lower scores would need. Therefore, applicants whose native language is not English must meet our minimum test of English requirements to be considered for admission.

Yes, AP, IB, or British A Levels examinations can be considered for transfer of credit to count towards a Loyola degree. Typically, scores of 4 or 5 are needed on AP exams, scores of 6 or 7 on IB exams, or a grade of D or higher in British A Levels to be reviewed for university credit. Learn more about credit for advanced examinations.

Accepted students will receive emailed instructions and support from the Office of International Student Services on the required materials for a Loyola Form I-20 and can track receipt of these materials on the International Checklist in their Applicant Status Portal.

The Form I-20 is also known as a "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status." This document is required to apply for an F-1 Student Visa and provides supporting information on a student's F-1 status during their studies. The Office of International Student Services will issue a Loyola I-20 for students who have committed to attending Loyola by submitting their enrollment deposit, and who have completed the I-20 requirements, including the items on the International Checklist.