Join A Dynamic Community
International students are a uniquely valuable part of the Anna Maria College community, enriching our academic and social life with a global perspective. As an international student, you gain exposure to leading academics and an engaged, passionate student body located on a serene campus setting, not far from New England’s largest cities.
Admission Process
We consider either the Common Application or the Anna Maria College Online Application equally in the evaluation process.
Applicants applying for admission will receive a User ID and Password to the AMCAT Admission Portal Account. Please keep this information available as you will be able to track the information required to complete your application in the portal. Admissions decisions will be mailed and will be posted in the portal on a rolling basis.
Initial candidate review for the fall term begins in late November. Notification typically begins within 3-5 weeks of an application’s completion. International Applications will no longer be accepted for the Spring 2023 Term after October 1. Applications after October 1 will be considered for Fall 2023.
Fall Term
Preferred International Application Deadline: February 1
Spring Term
Preferred International Application Deadline: October 1
We advise international students not currently residing in the US to apply for admission before June 1, so that you have the necessary time to schedule and complete your F-1 visa interview (please note the Canadian students only need an I-20 and are not required to obtain the F-1 visa). Students interested in applying to the online RN-BSN, BS-Fire Science, or MPA programs: click here.
More Information
How To ApplyHow to Apply
Admission Office
Anna Maria College
50 Sunset Lane
Paxton, MA 01612
- Application: Apply using the Common App or the Anna Maria College Online Application.
- $25 Application Fee
- Academic Record: All international students must submit an official secondary school transcript. “Official” means that the school records are certified by an appropriate school official, such as the principal or registrar.
- English Proficiency: All international student applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate their English proficiency. There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Applicants should submit results of one of the following: TOEFL, (Paper based, IBT or TOEFL Essentials) IELTS, Cambridge Advanced English Exam (CAE) Duolingo or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) exam. The recommended scores for direct admission into undergraduate degree programs are as follows. Duolingo 95 -100 band or higher, TOEFL 72, TOEFL Essentials 8.0-9.5 band or higher IELTS 6.0, PTE 50 or higher. CAE 58. The admissions committee also looks closely at the academic coursework that you have completed and your overall commitment to this work. In some instances, exceptions to the listed scores are made. These exceptions are tied directly to evidence of strong achievement in your day to day academic work in the secondary school that you have attended. Students that have completed all of their secondary education in an English speaking instruction environment, are eligible for test optional admission.
- Personal Statement: All international students must submit a 250 – 500-word personal statement describing their educational goals and explaining why they wish to pursue an Education in the United States.
- Admission Interview (Recommended But Not Required): Applicants are encouraged to interview with a member of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions staff through Skype or through InitialView, an official interview service most often used by students in China.
- Standardized Testing Policy: In light of the impact caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic, Anna Maria College has adopted a temporary test-optional policy for ALL Fall 2023 applicants. Students pursuing degree programs in Education and in Nursing will continue to complete the necessary academic program and testing requirements to continue in their respective programs. This decision is tied directly to the significant difficulty that we are aware students are continuing to experience registering for any standardized testing and our lack of knowledge about the health related conditions in various schools and testing centers that have attempted to host standardized testing. A test-optional decision has not yet been made for students interested in Fall 2024 admission and beyond. We will continue to monitor the situation over the next year and update our policies as necessary.
- Prospective Art and Design Majors: (Art Therapy, Digital and Social Media Design, Graphic Design, Studio Art, and Video and Photographic Arts) We encourage the submission of an Art/Design Portfolio as a valuable part of the admissions process. Your portfolio gives the College and the Department of Art & Design insights into your interests. Portfolio guidelines can be accessed here.
- Prospective Nursing Majors: All Freshman Students entering Nursing should meet the following admission criteria:
- Secondary school program of study should include:
- 4 years of college preparatory English
- Mathematics – Algebra I, II, and Geometry as a recommended minimum. Students in IB programs can include Standard Level or Higher Level Mathematics.
- 2 years of science with a lab required; Biology and Chemistry recommended. (International students must have three to four consecutive years of study in mathematics and science)
- 2-3 years of social studies/humanities
- 2 years of a foreign language (preferred)
Application Deadline
Fall Term
International Application Deadline: February 1
Spring Term
International Application Deadline: October 1
Notification typically begins within 3-5 weeks of an application’s completion. Students interested in applying to the online RN-BSN, BS-Fire Science, or MPA programs: click here.
Financial Aid For International Students
At Anna Maria College, we’re committed to keeping our tuition affordable and to offering a highly personalized financial aid process that puts our top quality, four-year private education within reach of most students. We offer academic scholarships and grants as well as limited financial aid to international students based on a combination of financial need and academic performance. All International Students are considered for merit based scholarships at the time of admission. International students that wish to be considered for need-based funding will also need to complete and return the International Financial Aid form here. Please scan and email the form to Admissions Department admissions@annamaria.edu. Scholarship and financial aid awards will be posted in your admissions portal.
Student Billing and Payments For International Students
Anna Maria College aims to make student bill payments as easy as possible for international students. In order to make payments easy, we have partnered with Flywire. Flywire makes international payments safe, easy, and dependable.
Please go to our Student Accounts – Payment Options page here to view your payment options. Please note the section at the bottom of the page for International Wire transfers via Flywire.
Important Information
Scholarships
We recognize outstanding secondary school achievement and service through scholarships. Citizens of any country are eligible for these funds, which range from U.S. $68,000 to $80,000 over the course of a student’s four years at Anna Maria College. We also offer International Student grants and scholarships ranging from to $5,000 to $22,500, renewable each year, to students who have excelled in the classroom and in extracurricular activities and/or community service. International students are automatically considered for academic scholarships when they apply for admission.
Financial Aid
At Anna Maria College, we’re committed to keeping our tuition affordable and to offering a highly personalized financial aid process that puts our top quality, four-year private education within reach of most students. We offer academic scholarships and grants as well as limited financial aid to international students based on a combination of financial need and academic performance. All International Students are considered for merit based scholarships at the time of admission. International students that wish to be considered for need-based funding will also need to complete and return the International Financial Aid form here. Please scan and email the form to Admissions Department admissions@annamaria.edu. Scholarship and financial aid awards will be posted in your admissions portal.
Admissions Language Partner Programs
Anna Maria College has English Language Partnerships with language schools that assist students with language transition into the college academic programs at the College. These schools provide students with the English Language skills needed to transition seamlessly into the undergraduate programs at the College. Both programs are structured to limit the need for standardized testing for participating students. Students that do not participate in one of the programs below, will need to submit testing to support English proficiency.
Anna Maria College Language Partners
ASC English located at 1106 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston MA
ASC- Downtown located at 65 Harrison Ave. 6’th Floor in Boston MA
Approach USA Boston located at 196 Harvard Ave. #02, Boston, MA
Anna Maria College also offers conditional admission options for students with testing scores below these ranges. ASC students who meet all of the admissions requirements except for Anna Maria College’s language proficiency requirement (as described above) may be accepted to Anna Maria College pending successful completion of agreed upon language proficiency in ASC’s ESL or TOEFL Programs. Anna Maria College will accept the ASC “Level 5” with a Certificate of Completion and a letter of recommendation from the ASC staff in support of the students’ English capabilities in place of a TOEFL, IELTS score, along with required admissions materials. Admissions interviews are available in person or by SKYPE.
EF Language Schools in:
Boston – 200 Lake Street Boston, MA 02135
New York – 100 Marymount Avenue Tarrytown, NY 10591
San Francisco -2748 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109
EF students who meet all of the admissions requirements except for Anna Maria College’s language proficiency requirement (as described above) may be accepted to Anna Maria College pending successful completion of agreed upon language proficiency in EF’s ESL or TOEFL Programs. Anna Maria College will waive the TOEFL/IELTS testing for undergraduate students that have successfully completed the EF’s “C1 Level class.”
Admissions interviews are available in person or by SKYPE.
DACA & Undocumented Students
Anna Maria College is a diverse welcoming community. We encourage Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and undocumented students to apply for admission to the university. Deferred Action Qualifications:
In accordance with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you are eligible for deferred action status if you meet all of the following criteria:
- was under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
- came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
- has continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
- was physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making the request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
- entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
- is currently in school, has graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, has obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
- has not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and does not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Certain restrictions may apply for nursing students taking the Nursing Licensing exams. Please check with your state board of nursing to determine if there are restrictions in your state associated with nursing licensing.
For more information regarding deferred action, please visit the Department of Homeland Security, frequently asked questions page.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
Anna Maria College recognizes the rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Students who complete IB Diploma Program may apply for Anna Maria College credit and may be eligible to receive up to 32 credits. Official IB score reports should be sent directly from International Baccalaureate to the Anna Maria College Registrar’s Office. The College will evaluate and notify the student of accepted credit once scores are received. Students who complete the IB Diploma Program are eligible to receive up to 30 credits at Anna Maria College, which is equivalent to one full year of study, or sophomore status. Please note that under this policy, qualified students still must satisfy all requirements of their declared program of study as stated in the Anna Maria College catalog. In cases where accepted IB coursework does not meet the standards their declared program of study, the course(s) must be taken and passed with sufficient minimum grade or higher.
International Baccalaureate students who do not complete the Diploma Program are also eligible to receive credit for specific courses, which may be awarded for Higher Level or Standard Level courses with grades of 4, 5, 6, or 7. A maximum of 32 credits will be awarded. Credit may be applied to a major or minor only on the favorable written recommendation of the appropriate program director. IB course credit may not duplicate other credit granted, for example AP, CLEP, or transfer credit. To receive college credit students should have their International Baccalaureate Diploma or International Baccalaureate Higher Level examination scores sent to the Office of the Registrar.
The following tables provide general guidelines for use in evaluating International Baccalaureate course transcripts.
IB General Credit Guidelines
IB Course Level Awarded | Acceptable Score Range | Number of Credits |
Higher Level | 4 | 3 |
Higher Level | 5, 6, 7 | 6 |
Standard Level | 5, 6, 7 | 3 |
Theory of Knowledge | B, A | 3 |
IB Course Equivalency Table
Subject Name | SL Score 4 (only 3 credits given) | HL Score 5-7 (6 credits) |
Language & Literature | ||
Language A: Literature | ENG 104 | ENG 104 + 3 credits |
Language A: Language & Literature | ENG 104 | ENG 104 + 3 credits |
Language Acquisition | ||
Classical Languages | Global Language 1 | Global Language 1&2 |
Language B | SPN/FRN/ITL 101 | SPN/FRN/ITL 101 & 102 |
Individuals and Societies | ||
Business Management | BUS 260 | BUS 260 + 3 credits |
Economics | ECO 200 | ECO 200 + 3 credits |
Geography | HUM 216 | HUM 216 + 3 credits |
Global Politics | PSC 201 | PSC 201 + 3 credits |
History | HST 117 | HST 117 and 118 +6 |
Information Technology in a Global Society | BUS 316 | BUS 316 + 3 credits |
Philosophy | PHL 110 | PHL 230 + 3 credits |
Psychology | PSY 101 | PSY 101 + 3 credits |
Social & Cultural Anthropology | Elective | 6 credits elective |
Sciences | ||
Biology | BIO 103 | BIO 103 and 104 |
Chemistry | CHM 110 | CHM 110 and 111 |
Computer Science | MIS Elective | 6 credits elective |
Design Technology | Elective | 6 credits elective |
Physics | EC in Nat Science | ec in nat sci + 3 credits |
Sports, Exercise & Health Science | BIO 240 | BIO 240 + 3 credits |
Mathematics | ||
Further Mathematics | QR or MTH 127 | MTH 127 and 221 |
Mathematics | MTH 221 | MTH 221 and 222 |
Arts | ||
Dance | EC- Creativity & Imagination | EC- Creativity & Imagination + 3 credits |
Film | MCO 210 | MCO 210 + 3 credits |
Music | MUS 257 | MUS 257 + 3 credits |
Theatre | EC- Creativity & Imagination | EC- Creativity & Imagination + 3 credits |
Visual arts | EC- Creativity & Imagination | EC- Creativity & Imagination + 3 credits |
Advanced Placement AP College Board Testing
Students with the following Advanced Placement scores are eligible for transfer credit at Anna Maria College. The Registrar’s Office requires that official score assurance reports from the College Board. More information about requesting score reports is available on the College Board’s website. The table of credit that is awarded for each test can be found here.
Information for CLEP Exams
CLEP examinations are offered in over 34 subject areas and cover material generally taught in introductory college level courses. Students take CLEP examinations to bypass classes that they have prior knowledge of. CLEP credit varies at each Institution. CLEP exams are computer based, and consist mainly of multiple choice questions. Scores are generated and printed at the completion of exams except for those with essays. CLEP credit is awarded. For additional information on the classes and CLEP requirements please see the information at this link.
CLEP exams are administered in a number of different locations. To locate a test center please see the information at this link.
Test Optional Admission FAQs
What does it mean to be a “test-optional” institution?
The test-optional policy at Anna Maria College allows applicants the option to either submit or not submit their SAT or ACT scores for the purpose of the admission process. We believe students should present the fullest picture of their academic and intellectual accomplishments when applying for admission to Anna Maria College. If a student believes his/her standardized test scores will be valuable supporting information during the review process then the results might be submitted. Students who feel their high school record alone is a better indicator of their academic achievement and ability may choose to exclude their test scores from their application without penalty. Typically, about 60% of applicants still choose to submit their test scores to test-optional institutions.
Why choose to go test-optional?
For several years, Anna Maria College considered eliminating the submission of SAT or ACT scores as part of the admission application process. During this time, the College carefully monitored changes in testing policies in the marketplace as well as research related to the best predictors of student success. Research has confirmed that the combination of the strength of a student’s high school curriculum and grades are the strongest predictors of academic success in college. Our test-optional policy has reinforced the College’s commitment to understanding a student’s overall academic experience as demonstrated through the high school transcript, as opposed to performance on a single test or combination of tests. The test-optional policy encourages all students who have achieved success in high school to strongly consider Anna Maria College, regardless of their standardized test scores.
If I choose not to submit test scores, how is my candidacy for admission evaluated?
The evaluation of prospective students considers a range of factors that reflect an individual’s academic record. Carefully examined are the strength of the high school, the rigor of the curriculum, grades, teacher and counselor recommendations and extracurricular activities. Additionally, you have the opportunity to present your academic and personal achievements through written short answer and essay questions found in the application of through in admissions interview with a member of the admissions staff.
Does Anna Maria require anything in lieu of test scores?
There is no supplemental component in lieu of test scores. Your academic and co-curricular achievements are highlighted and examined during the application process. You are free to submit any additional information that reflects positively on your candidacy.
Am I eligible for scholarships without submitting standardized test scores?
Yes, all applicants are considered for all merit scholarships whether or not test scores are submitted.
How do I know whether or not to submit test scores?
The application process is designed for students to show our admissions staff why enrollment at Anna Maria College would make a great academic and personal fit. If you feel confident that your test scores accurately display your abilities and work ethic in the classroom, the scores could strengthen your application. However, if your test scores are not a good indicator of your academic achievement throughout high school, they are not required to be submitted.
How do I indicate whether or not I want my test scores to be considered for admission?
You can indicate your intentions on the Anna Maria College member page of the Common Application.
Meet Our Admission Team

Christopher Monteforte

Haley Deane


Karen Hubert




William Pekarski
