International Admissions

International Admissions Requirements | Application Deadlines | Helpful Links

Southwestern Community College is one of Iowa’s smaller two-year community colleges, so at SWCC you'll receive a lot of individual attention. The campus setting is rural and located in Creston, Iowa (population 7,600). Creston is approximately 115 km southwest of Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines (population 191,000).

Southwestern provides educational offerings leading to gainful employment or coursework transferable to four-year colleges and universities to continue studies for an advanced degree. Detailed information about SWCC's programs and advanced degree offerings is available online or in the college catalog.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for questions regarding admission for international students.

International Admissions Requirements

1. Application for Admissions for International Students - Complete the Southwestern Community College International Student Online Application for Admission.
2. Transcripts - Students must submit official records of attendance and final transcripts for all schools, English language programs, and colleges attended. NOTE: Each transcript must be in English and include the date of completion, as well as the signature of a school official. All transcripts or other documentation must be translated to English by an agency such as the Education Credential Evaluators (ECE), http://www.ece.org, or InCred, www.incredevals.org, prior to a credit evaluation at Southwestern. International Transfer Students -- Complete and submit the International Transfer-In Form, an official transcript from your current institution, copy of current visa, copy of I-20 and copy of I-94.
3. Students are required to submit dated (within a maximum of three months/90 days from day of submission of the application for admissions) bank statements indicating that there are sufficient funds to pay for college. The bank statements need to have a minimum balance. Students should refer to the college website for the minimum balance necessary for the academic year for which they plan to attend. The bank statements need to be in English, and also the amounts need to be in U.S. dollars.
4. International students must provide Proof of Financial Sponsorship during their attendance at Southwestern Community College. Proof of Sponsorship must include the following: signature of a sponsor and a signature and stamp from a bank official. If the bank will not stamp and sign a foreign language document, they must translate the financial certificate and have the translated version stamped and signed by the bank. If the bank regulations prohibit the bank from signing and stamping this form, then the college will accept a bank letter on official letterhead. The letter must be directly emailed or mailed from the bank to the SWCC admissions department. The letter sent by the bank must include a bank official’s signature and the amount of the sponsor’s available funds in USD. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Mailing address: 1501 W. Townline Street Creston, IA 50801.
5. English Proficiency Form - If English is not the first/native language of the student applying for admissions into Southwestern Community College, then official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Exam with a minimum score of 61 on the internet-based test, 173 on the computer-based test, or 500 on the paper-based test; IELTS (International English Language Testing System) academic module score of 6; Duolingo with a minimum score of 85; or freshman-level English class completed at an approved United States college or university must be submitted.
6. Students should take a photo of their current passport, or scan a copy of the passport, and email it to the designated school official, DSO. The photo or scan should be of the main page of the passport, with all of the student's relevant information.
7. A $2,000 deposit is required for international students. This deposit may be paid via phone with credit card or online through PayMyTuition (deposit is refundable, if the student decides not to attend, to the student applying for admissions, not the payer of the amount).
8. Students must pay the $150 processing fee online at PayMyTuition or with a credit card by calling the SWCC business office at 641.782.1448.
9. The application for student housing must be completed if a student plans to live on campus. If a student plans to live off-campus, the student should notify the SWCC designated school official (DSO) of their plans.
10. The student housing department requires a $150 deposit paid to Southwestern's business office at 641.782.1448. Payments are accepted by credit card or debit card. This must be paid before the student's housing spot is confirmed. Again, if a student plans to live off-campus, the student must notify the SWCC designated school official.

After completing steps one through 10, the college will issue an I-20, which is a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) form through the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement utilizing the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The student's I-20 will not be issued until all documents and fees are received.

Items may be sent via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail:

Southwestern Community College
c/o Hailey Graham, admissions representative
1501 W Townline Street
Creston, IA 50801