Admission Information for International Students

Students from more than 20 countries currently call Baldwin Wallace University home! They come to BW for a variety of reasons, but academic quality, location and affordability are among the top reasons international students choose BW.

Baldwin Wallace is a private university in Ohio offering more than 80 undergraduate programs of study. BW's curriculum is built on an arts and sciences foundation with a commitment to real-world preparation. An education at Baldwin Wallace is tailored to you, giving students lasting tools for success. For more than 25 years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked BW among the Midwest's best universities. Baldwin Wallace University continues to earn high marks for affordable excellence.

You + BW + CLE + USA

BW provides international students with a fantastic location. BW's campus is in Berea, Ohio, a safe suburban college town of about 20,000 people in close proximity to Cleveland. Students can enjoy nature trails and coffee shops in Berea and access internships, cultural events, theatrical performances and much more in Cleveland, a city on the rise.

Destination Cleveland
Baldwin Wallace is 20 minutes from Cleveland, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is less than six kilometers from campus.
Near Campus
Cleveland is a popular student destination for internships and field experiences, not to mention entertainment and recreation. Cleveland is home to culturally diverse communities and an array of ethnic institutions and restaurants.
Tradition + Innovation
Baldwin Wallace has offered students a personalized education for more than 170 years. BW’s curriculum is built on a strong liberal arts foundation. Leading-edge programs develop tangible professional skills and career options to match your academic passion.
Your Home Away from Home
From course registration to how to get a driver's license, the international student services (ISS) office can answer your questions. ISS also hosts programs and events to help international students transition to the campus community.
History + Innovation
Students enjoy a compact, walkable campus in our safe, residential community. Majestic stone buildings recall the University’s historic founding, while ultramodern facilities meet the needs of 21st century students.

First-Year Undergraduate Application Information

Admission to Baldwin Wallace is selective, and determined by a thorough review of all items submitted. Completed applications are reviewed on a daily basis with decisions determined within 2-4 weeks.

Required items are submitted through the applicant portal and include:

Application
Secondary School Transcripts
Secondary School Report Form
Teacher Recommendation
International Student Certification of Financial Support Form
- Prospective F-1 students must have the financial resources to live and study in the United States. This includes being able to cover the cost of tuition, books, living expenses and travel while enrolled. BW must collect evidence of the student’s financial ability to attend BW for at least one year (or the program length, whichever is shorter) before issuing a Form I-20. Please review the Instructions for Completing the International Student Certification of Financial Support Form for additional information.
Financial Sponsor Letter
- A financial sponsor letter is required documentation if a sponsor is helping the student financially.
  - Sample financial sponsor letter
One of the following exams*:
- TOEFL (recommended scores of IBT 79, CBT 213, PBT 550)
- IELTS (recommended composite of 6.5)
- SAT (recommended evidence-based reading/writing score of 520)
- ACT (recommended English score of 21)

As noted, the score levels above are recommended but not required. Students whose English language skills need development may be conditionally admitted and placed in BW’s ESL program provided by the LADO International Institute.

* Students who have taken an English language curriculum are highly encouraged to take the SAT or ACT exam. If these exams are not available, students should submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Conservatory of Music Application Information

Students interested in pursuing a music major must submit the documents required for first-year undergraduate admission or transfer admission. Additional items required for Conservatory of Music applicants are as follows:

Transfer Application Information

Students transferring to BW with college-level courses taken at another accredited college or university will need to submit the following items through the applicant portal:

Application
Official college or university transcripts
- Students transferring with credits from outside of the United States must provide English translated documents as well as an evaluation of courses from World Educational Services (WES).
Secondary school transcripts
- Required for students who graduated secondary school less than five years from application or have less than 25 transferable credits.
Letter of recommendation
International Student Certification of Financial Support Form
- Prospective F-1 students must have the financial resources to live and study in the United States. This includes being able to cover the cost of tuition, books, living expenses and travel while enrolled. BW must collect evidence of the student’s financial ability to attend BW for at least one year (or the program length, whichever is shorter) before issuing a Form I-20. Please review the Instructions for Completing the International Student Certification of Financial Support Form for additional information.
Financial Sponsor Letter
- A financial sponsor letter is required documentation if a sponsor is helping the student financially.
  - Sample financial sponsor letter
Current F-1 students transferring from another U.S. college or university must submit the transfer application and the F-1 Transfer Undergraduate Student Verification Form.
One of the following exams are required if college-level English composition is not complete:

TOEFL (recommended scores of IBT 79, CBT 213, PBT 550)
IELTS (recommended composite of 6.5)
SAT* (recommended evidence-based reading/writing score of 520 on the SAT)
ACT* (recommended English score of 21)

As noted, the score levels above are recommended but not required. Students whose English language skills need development may be conditionally admitted and placed in BW’s ESL program provided by the LADO International Institute.

* Students who have taken an English language curriculum are highly encouraged to take the SAT or ACT exam. If these exams are not available, students should submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Graduate and Professional Programs

Baldwin Wallace University offers a variety of master's degrees and post-bachelor's degree programs, but not all of the programs are able to accept non-US citizens. The links below will provide additional information on the programs able to accept non-US citizens:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Leadership in Higher Education (MAEd)
Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)
Physician Assistant (MMS)
Speech-Language Pathology (MS)
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

Undocumented/DACA Students

A WELCOMING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY ... IT'S IN BW'S DNA

In 1845, Baldwin Wallace was founded as one of the first colleges in the nation to admit students without regard to race or gender. Today, you’ll find that spirit of inclusiveness has flourished and evolved into a personalized approach to education: one that fosters your individual growth as you learn to learn, experience new ideas and prepare for the certainty of change. Consistent with BW’s commitment to inclusivity, undocumented and DACA students are valuable members of the BW community. (Read BW's statement on immigration policy - January 30, 2017.)

Undocumented/DACA candidates who wish to apply to Baldwin Wallace University should be familiar with U.S. government laws and changes regarding DACA.

At BW, undocumented/DACA students are classified as international student applicants, though they are NOT required to submit an International Student Certification of Financial Support Form, with an admission made independent of their financial situation. Although they are not eligible for federal funding, undocumented and DACA students are eligible for any scholarships open to international students.

Additional Funding Resources

Scholarships that do not request immigration status: Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Scholarships for Hispanic/Latinx students
Scholarships for undocumented students

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions?

For additional questions, please contact Joyce Cendroski, Director of Undergraduate Admission at jcendros@bw.edu or (440) 826-8004.

English as a Second Language (ESL) through LADO

Baldwin Wallace has partnered with the LADO International Institute to provide ESL programs for international students who need to meet the English language proficiency requirements listed under admissions.

Using the “Total Approach Method” developed by founder and linguist Dr. Robert Lado, LADO courses appeal to different learning styles and take into consideration the native language, culture and education of the student to foster successful outcomes in a small-classroom setting.

LADO students will:

Receive a conditional acceptance letter to study at BW upon successful completion of the LADO program
Improve English skills quickly
Enjoy a small group classroom environment
Experience an American campus
Transition seamlessly from LADO to BW

For more information about LADO, please contact Alyssa Golinar at agolinar@bw.edu, (440) 826-8191, or visit the LADO/BW program page.

International Faculty

Swagata Banik (India)
Public Health

Karen Barahona (Honduras)
Foreign Languages and Literature

Haesook Chae (South Korea)
Political Science

Xudong Chen (China)
Economics

Chungsim Han (South Korea)
Mathematics and Computer Science

Sungeun Kim (South Korea)
Conservatory of Music

X. Gloria Liu (China)
Business

Narasimha Mohan (India)
Business

Christian Nsiah (Ghana)
Business

Herman Sahni (India)
Economics

Chisomo Selemani (Zambia)
Communication Sciences & Disorders

Param Srikantia (India)
Business

Liya Wang (China)
Sociology

2021-22 Academic Year

Full-Time Students

12-18 credit hours per semester

	Each Semester	Full Year
Tuition	$17,683	$35,366
On-campus housing and meals ¹	$6,212	$12,424
Student Activity Fee ²	$200	$400
Onboarding Fee (1st semester only) ³	$200	$200
Total (Residential)	$24,295	$48,390

¹ Listed cost is the combined total for a standard double room and the prime meal plan.

² An annual $400 Student Activity Fee ($100 for part-time students) is applied to all student accounts who were first admitted as first-year students for the fall 2021 semester and after. This fee is applied to the student balance, $200 each semester ($50 for part-time students), and is eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable. The fee is used to enhance the quality of activities that directly benefit students, including programs, services, student facility improvements, and events. These activities enrich the student experience, build community, and help students stay on track toward graduation.

³ A one-time $200 Onboarding Fee for first-year and transfer students provides access to online, virtual and in-person orientation and onboarding programs that ensure a successful start at BW. This fee is applied to the student balance and is not eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable.

Part-Time Students

1-11 credit hours per semester

	Per Credit Hour
Day Students	$1,099
Evening Students	$760
Weekend Classes	$760
Field Experience	$760
Independent Study	$760
Summer Classes (2021)	$525
Student Activity Fee (per semester) ²	$200
Onboarding Fee (one-time fee) ³	$200

2021-22 Academic Year

Full-Time Students

12-18 credit hours per semester

	Each Semester	Full Year
Tuition	$19,157	$38,314
On-campus housing and meals ¹	$6,212	$12,424
Student Activity Fee ²	$200	$400
Onboarding Fee (1st semester only) ³	$200	$200
Total (Residential)	$25,769	$51,338

¹ Listed cost is the combined total for a standard double room and the prime meal plan.

² An annual $400 Student Activity Fee ($100 for part-time students) is applied to all student accounts who were first admitted as first-year students for the fall 2021 semester and after. This fee is applied to the student balance, $200 each semester ($50 for part-time students), and is eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable. The fee is used to enhance the quality of activities that directly benefit students, including programs, services, student facility improvements, and events. These activities enrich the student experience, build community, and help students stay on track toward graduation.

³ A one-time $200 Onboarding Fee for first-year and transfer students provides access to online, virtual and in-person orientation and onboarding programs that ensure a successful start at BW. This fee is applied to the student balance and is not eligible for financial aid support. This fee is not refundable.

Part-Time Students

1-11 credit hours per semester

	Per Credit Hour
Day Classes	$1,218
Student Activity Fee (per semester) ²	$200
Onboarding Fee (one-time fee) ³	$200

Scholarships for International Students

The scholarships and special awards outlined below are for foreign nationals and DACA students.

Students will be notified of scholarships for which they are eligible at the time of admission to the University.

U.S. citizens, dual U.S. citizens, green card holders, eligible non-citizens who qualify to file a FAFSA, and residents of most U.S. territories should review the financial aid information for first-year students and transfer students.

Name	Award	Criteria
John Baldwin Scholarship	Up to $15,000	Awarded to international students based on academic achievement, leadership/service involvement and effective communication. This award is renewable.
Alumni Award	$2,000	Awarded to children and grandchildren of BW graduates. This award is renewable.
Sibling	$2,000 per sibling	Awarded to student siblings enrolled as full-time undergraduates at BW. This award is renewable.
Ministerial	Up to 50% of tuition	Awarded to dependent students (ages 17 to 23) of ordained United Methodist ministers who are full members of an annual conference. May be received in combination with other BW awards when, the total amount of all BW awards, including the Ministerial Award, equals no more than 75% of tuition.
Griffiths Scholarship	$2,000 - $8,000	Awarded to admitted Conservatory of Music students who demonstrate outstanding musicianship and talent in the audition process. Scholarship announcements are made after March 15. Renewable up to four years, based on a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and enrollment in the Conservatory.
Associate Award	$2,000	Requires full-time enrollment at BW. This award is for transfer students who have an approved associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Students must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. As completion of an associate degree reflects an important academic achievement, the associate award at BW is $2,000, renewable, and is considered as part of the total value of the John Baldwin Scholarship.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship	$1,000	Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society for students attending two-year colleges. Recipients of this scholarship are Phi Theta Kappa members who transfer to BW with a minimum of a 3.25 GPA. Students must show verification of their membership at the point of admission. This award is in the amount of $1,000 per year, spread out evenly over both semesters, and is renewable for up to two years.

External Financial Resources

The International Student Resource Center
International Education Finance Corporation
EduPASS - Smart Student Guide to Studying in the USA
Education USA

Set Up Your BW Network Account (retrieve your username)

As soon as you have been admitted to BW, your BW username and email account are created. Utilizing these tools will be critical as they allow BW to better communicate with you during the enrollment process and beyond. Your username grants access to information regarding financial aid, orientation and the enrollment process, which will be sent to your BW email account. Please retrieve your username at your earliest convenience and begin monitoring your BW email account (login info is below).

To retrieve your BW Network Account, go to myaccount.bw.edu and confirm your identity using your BW student ID, which is printed on the enrollment confirmation card enclosed with your letter of admission. If you don’t know your BW student ID or have questions, please contact the Admission Office at admission@bw.edu or (440) 826-2222.

Your BW username and email address will be displayed after completing this form.

Accessing BW Email Once You Have Retrieved Your BW Username

Access your BW email account: email.bw.edu

Pay Your $200 New Student Deposit

Submit payment with your enrollment agreement card or pay online now.

To pay online, log into the BW Payment Portal using your BW username. If you have questions, please contact the admission office at admission@bw.edu or (440) 826-2222.

In the BW Payment Portal, follow these steps to make your payment:

Select DEPOSITS in the top menu
Select your TERM
From the SELECT A DEPOSIT dropdown, choose your DEPOSIT PAYMENT
Complete the steps in Payment Portal using your preferred method of payment

Deposit Refunds

Please note that the new student deposit is refundable until May 1. To receive a refund, students must deposit and withdraw from BW prior to May 1 and request in writing for their deposit to be refunded prior to the start of the semester.

Confirm Receipt of Your Form I-20

The International Student Services (ISS) Office will be sending your form I-20 Packet in the mail (sent via FedEx or DHL). Please make sure that ISS has your most current address and confirm with ISS that you have received your form I-20.

Pay SEVIS 1-901 Fee and Make a Visa Appointment

You will need to pay your SEVIS fee before a F visa will be issued. View information on how to pay your 1-901 SEVIS fee.

Onboarding Forms (Housing and Orientation)

Students Entering Fall 2021

Visit admission.bw.edu/status and log in using your application account information. You will use the same username and password that you set up when you applied or viewed your application status. It works best if you use a desktop computer for these tasks. You will be prompted to complete multiple forms, including:

Select class schedule preferences – Tell us your class preferences so we can prepare a schedule for you. An academic advisor will review your schedule with you virtually.
Select an orientation session – Select the date that you would like to attend. You will be participating in virtual events on those days. Orientation is mandatory for all students.
Select campus housing/commuter form – Complete the housing application. For requests to live at home, file the Residency Exemption Application within this form.

All forms are reviewed in the order of the date received. The sooner you complete your forms, the sooner you will receive confirmation of your orientation date. In addition, housing preferences are based on the date your housing application is completed.

Book Your Flight

Now, you need to purchase your airline ticket. After you have confirmed your flight to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, please email Kristin Brewer at kbrewer@bw.edu with all of your flight information.

Airport pickup from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport may be available for first-year students. BW's International Student Services representative will assist students in checking in to the residence hall and provide an updated schedule for the international student orientation. Pack your luggage and get ready for a new and exciting experience!

Before you travel, be sure to review the U.S. Department of State international travel guidelines and COVID-19 quarantine requirements prior to your arrival. View CDC guidelines here.

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