College Application Process for International Students

St. John’s seeks to enroll a diverse student body and welcomes applications from international students. Typically students from 10–15 foreign countries are enrolled at the college, constituting 10–15% of students. International students find a welcoming atmosphere, an academic experience grounded in reading and discussion, an array of extracurricular activities, and an immersion in American social life. International Applicants are eligible for both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships.

Select your application: the Common Application, the St. John’s Application, the Coalition Application, or the Discussion-Based Application. The application instructions below are applicable to the Common Application, the St. John’s Application, and the Coalition Application; you can find more information on the different procedure for the Discussion-Based Application. St. John’s has no application fee.

COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Before you apply:

• Select your campus: Annapolis or Santa Fe. You may only apply to one campus. Accepted students may change campuses before enrolling if there is space available.
• Select your deadline: Early Decision (November 1), Early Action (November 15), Regular Decision (January 15), Rolling Admission-Fall (after February 15), or Rolling Admission-Santa Fe Spring (until January 15)

Required materials:

• Application
• Writing Supplement/Essays
• Secondary School Report
• High school transcripts and any college transcripts. This should be accompanied by an explanation of the grading system used and an English translation of records in other languages.
• Two Letters of Recommendation: We prefer one letter from a counselor and one from a teacher although any academic references will be accepted.
• International Student Application for Financial Assistance (if applying for need-based financial aid)

Recommended materials:

• English Proficiency: Students who did not attend an English-speaking high school should submit one of the following exams:
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English)
  • DET (Duolingo English Test)
• Interview: Applicants may be invited to interview with St. John's College as one of the final components of an application

SAT or ACT: Optional. for those applicants who choose to submit test scores, St. John's has a "no harm" test optional policy, meaning test scores will be used only to support your application for admission and will never harm your likelihood of admission. 

Deadlines

Applicants for both St. John’s campuses may apply Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, or Rolling Admission for the fall. Students also have the option of applying for Rolling Admissions throughout the fall semester for a spring start through the January Freshman Program. 

For Discussion-Based Applications, students must apply under Early Decision or Early Action and complete all requirements by January 15. Decisions will be released within one month of all completed application requirements received.

Decisions will be posted on the student’s application portal by 11 p.m. ET on the dates listed above.

Please also remember our financial aid deadlines.

Admission Requirements

For admission to St. John’s, you should have a solid college-prep background, including two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and two years of a foreign language. Additional work in mathematics and foreign language is advised, as well as two or three years of natural science. We recommend taking the most challenging courses in your school.

Admission and Visas

A student is admitted to St. John’s by an official acceptance letter from the Director of Admissions and secures a place in the class by submitting the nonrefundable deposit. Once the colleges receives a deposit and signed award, we send a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status (also known as an I-20 form). The student may then apply for a visa at a United States embassy or consulate. It is the responsibility of each international student to become familiar with and observe all applicable United States immigration rules and regulations.

For details, please visit the U.S. State Department’s Education USA website for assistance with the application process and information on how to contact an advising center in your country.

Financial Aid & Merit Scholarships for International Students

St. John’s College offers both financial aid and merit scholarships to international students. Award packages for international students may include merit scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment. For more specific application procedures, please visit the International Student Financial Aid Page.

United States citizens living abroad are eligible for all federal financial aid programs. They should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the College Scholarship Service’s Financial Aid PROFILE, and the Certificate of Finances as early as possible. The forms for financial aid are available online or they should be available from the student’s secondary school counseling office. No requests for financial assistance will be considered and no offers of financial aid will be made until after a student has been admitted to the college.

Davis United World Scholars Program

St. John’s is committed to enrolling graduates of the United World Colleges as a proud partner with the Shelby Davis Foundation. Additional information for UWC students can be found on our David United World Scholars Program webpage.

Ahmet Ertegun Turkish Scholarship for Study in America

St. John’s College offers top student applicants from Turkey (Türkiye) or with a Turkish background or affinity, the Ertegun Scholarship to study in the United States in honor of Ahmet Ertegun (Class of 1944) and his wife Mica. Ertegun Scholars can receive scholarships up to the cost of full tuition, depending upon their financial need. For more information, please see Ahmet Ertegun Turkish scholarship page.

Test Scores

International students who are not educated in English must submit English proficiency scores. All applicants may elect to submit SAT or ACT scores.

College Entrance Examination Board (SAT and TOEFL):

• Annapolis—5598
• Santa Fe—4737

The American College Test (ACT):

• Annapolis—1732
• Santa Fe—2649

Duolingo English Test (DET):

• Annapolis and Santa Fe—Search for "St. John's College." Our profile can be found under the Annapolis location; scores for both campuses can be sent here.

ACCEPTING YOUR OFFER

Early Decision acceptances are binding, and students have two weeks after receiving their offer of admission to make their deposit. Early Action acceptances are non-binding. All Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling applicants have until May 1 to make enrollment decisions and deposits. If applying via Rolling Admission after May 1, applicants have two weeks after receiving the offer of admission to make their deposit. Students accepted to the January Freshman Program have until January 1 to make their deposit. Please note that we will start your Visa process immediately after your deposit is received. You are therefore encouraged to complete this step quickly.

Starting College Early

St. John’s sometimes accepts an applicant who has graduated high school early or has chosen to start college without graduating from high school. If you are ready for college but haven’t taken the traditional path, you are welcome at St. John’s. Read more about starting college early at St. John’s.

Spring Admission

The Santa Fe campus offers a January Freshman Program. Freshmen who enter in January stay on campus the following summer to complete the first year. They can thus graduate a year earlier than if they had postponed their entrance until the following fall. The January Freshman Program is of particular interest to students who come to St. John’s from other colleges, or to those who have traveled or worked since graduation from high school, or to those who wish to enter St. John’s immediately after the first semester of their senior year of high school.