Office of Admissions
2 E. South Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Anyone who needs an F or J visa to enter the United States is considered an international student. Permanent residents (Green Card holders) are considered domestic students.
If you hold dual citizenship with the United States being one of the countries, you will be treated as a domestic student and should apply as such. Please mark that you are a 'U.S. Citizen’ on your application. If the United States is not one of your places of dual citizenship, please choose the country whose passport you will use for your visa application.
You will apply as an international student. Once your permanent residency is approved and granted, please communicate this with us and send us documentation. Once you do this, we can change your status to a domestic student.
No, undocumented/DACA students can apply using the domestic student application. Undocumented students residing in the United States should also complete the Financial Aid Application for Students Ineligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Knox does accept exchange students. For more information about this process, please contact Tim Foster in the Stellyes Center for Global Studies.
First-year and transfer international applicants can choose to apply to Knox College through one of the following three applications: the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the Knox College Application. None of these applications require an application fee.
Our applications typically open in early August. The due dates for each of the application cycles are listed in the table below.
More details on what these dates would mean for you are available here.
We'll consider the following information in evaluating your admission application:
If English is not your first language, you are required to submit scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or Duolingo English Test (DET). English proficiency may be demonstrated by any one of the following tests and scores:
| Test type | Minimum score required by Knox |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 |
| Duolingo | 110 |
Applicants are not required to interview with an admissions representative. You may, however, contact a member of the International Admissions team to schedule a meeting if you have additional questions.
International applicants can check the status of their application by using the Knox AppTracker. Here, you also have the ability to upload additional supporting documents for your application and any other documents required to apply. Any outstanding materials needed to complete your application to Knox can be found on the AppTracker checklist.
You would need to go to your AppTracker and respond to your offer of admission on your checklist.
The nonrefundable enrollment deposit is $300. Partial deposits will not be accepted.
Once your enrollment deposit has been received by Knox, you will request your I-20 via your AppTracker checklist by filling out the checklist item titled “Request Form I-20 For Your Student Visa Application.” You will be required to provide a copy of your passport and a bank statement issued from the last 3 months.
If you are currently studying on an F-1 visa, yes, you will need to submit an I-20 application. You will also need to request that your current institution transfer your SEVIS record to Knox College. If you are on a visa type other than an F-1, contact our office so we can advise you accordingly.
Most foreign nationals wishing to enter the United States are required to have a visa. International students who attend Knox College will typically require the F-1 Student Visa. To apply for an F-1 Visa, an I-20 is required, and before issuing the I-20, Knox College must review students’ financial resources and certify sufficient funding. Once you receive your I-20, you can proceed with applying for your student visa at your local U.S. embassy or consulate.
More information is located at these links: Obtaining Your Student (F-1) Visa (PDF), Preparing for Your F-1 Visa Interview (PDF), and Paying the SEVIS Fee (F-1 Students) (PDF).
If you are an international student already in the U.S., or plan to study at Knox College using a visa other than F-1, please contact the Office of International Student Services.
Congratulations! Now that you have received your F-1 visa, please ensure that you collect your official final high school transcript, contact your academic advisor to select your courses, fill out your immunization forms, fill out the Housing Agreement Form, and last of all, book your flight to Knox College!
Keep checking your Knox student email for onboarding instructions!
If you are traveling on the F-1 student visa, you may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the program start date listed on your I-20 (see "Program of Study"). Some students choose to travel to the U.S. to visit friends or family before traveling to Knox. You must arrive in the United States on or before the program start date. If you attempt to enter the U.S. after this report date, you may be denied entry. Please notify Alex Pia in the Office of International Services if your travel plans are delayed.
Transportation to campus is available on specific dates from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, the Galesburg Amtrak train station, and the Galesburg bus station. You can view these dates and submit your travel information on your Pre-Arrival Tracker.
If you will arrive early to Galesburg, or have family accompanying you, you'll need to make a reservation at a hotel in Galesburg. View information on local accommodations. Meals for new students are not provided on campus until orientation programs begin, so be prepared to enjoy many of the exciting restaurants within walking distance of campus if you will arrive early.
In most cases, early move-in is not possible. If you would like to request early access to dorms, please contact the Knox Office of Campus Life at campuslife@knox.edu.
For local transportation within Galesburg, we suggest using the Public Bus system. The City of Galesburg has launched a new app for the Galesburg Public Transportation fixed route bus system, available on Apple and Android app stores.
Be aware of the Move-In Schedule for your dormitories.
International students are invited to participate in an Intensive English Language Program prior to the fall International Pre-Orientation Program.
If your first language is not English, the program will be an excellent opportunity to improve your English language skills. The program will offer two weeks of course instruction to develop all English language skills, with particular emphasis on college-level writing and speaking. The course will be taught by a language specialist and writing tutor, and a program mentor will assist students inside and outside of class. Upon successful completion of the program, students can earn a 0.5 credit.
In addition, the Intensive English Language Program will provide opportunities to learn about Knox's academic and residential culture, make new friends, and explore Galesburg and surrounding communities before orientation begins.
There is a comprehensive program fee of $1,500 that will be billed directly to your student account. The fee will cover language instruction, meals, accommodations, transportation to off-campus excursions, and social programming.
You can register for IELP on your Pre-Arrival Tracker. Students accepted to the program will receive a final schedule upon arrival.
All new fall term international students who will enter the U.S. on a visa are required to attend Knox's International Pre-Orientation Program (IPOP).
During IPOP, you'll have a chance to recover from jet lag, get items you may not have been able to pack, open a bank account, set up your cell phone, and begin learning about what to expect in a U.S. college classroom. You'll also meet your new classmates and current students, as well as learn more about Knox and Galesburg. Following IPOP, international students will participate in New Student Orientation for all new students.
Permanent residents and U.S. citizens living abroad are also welcome to attend IPOP. Please contact the Office of International Student Services if you would like to attend.
There is also a $200 international orientation fee.
Knox students are automatically enrolled in accident insurance, but there is no automatic health insurance coverage. Knox international students should ensure that they are covered by a health insurance plan in the U.S., as an illness or injury can be very expensive without insurance. Please visit the “Insurance in the U.S.” webpage for more information. Also, be sure to fill out the Immunization form and submit it to health services at health@knox.edu.
In the U.S., there are two types of phones—contract phones and prepaid or no-contract phones. Most international students begin by using a prepaid or no-contract phone. If you are bringing an unlocked phone from home, you may be able to purchase a SIM card in the U.S. through AT&T.
If you plan to purchase a phone in the U.S., there are several options in Galesburg, including Walmart, where you can also find monthly no-contract plans through Straight Talk. Other local cell phone providers include Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular.
During our orientation program for new international students, you'll have a chance to set up a cell phone—whether you add a SIM card to an unlocked phone you're bringing, or purchase a new phone in the U.S.
Contract phones require customers to sign up for a two-year contract with a cell phone provider. Contract phones are generally free or subsidized. Most cell phone companies require a Social Security Number in order to sign up for a contract, although some may accept a cash deposit of several hundred dollars. International students can apply for a Social Security Number when they find a campus job. Once international students have a Social Security Number, it is possible to sign up for a contract phone plan.
During the International Pre-Orientation Program, our International Student Services team will help you in opening a bank account at one of the local banks in Galesburg. You will need your passport and a valid Social Security Number (SSN) to open an account. You may also choose to bank with other financial institutions, but be aware of the documentation they may require from you.
For accessing your money in the US, receiving money to your US bank account and bringing money safely to the US, please visit the following link - https://www.knox.edu/offices/international-student-services/life-in-the-united-states/banking.
The closest major airport to Knox College is the Quad City International Airport (MLI), located about 75 miles northwest of Galesburg in Moline, IL. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is also a common point of entry, located about 180 miles northeast of Galesburg. From these airports, you can arrange for transportation to campus by either booking a shuttle, renting a car, or taking a train to Galesburg. Please refer to the question "How do I get to Knox?" for more transportation details.
International college-bound student-athletes (first-year enrollees and transfers) who initially enroll full-time at an NCAA Division III school on or after Aug. 1, 2023, must have their amateur status certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Click here for further information.
International athletes can arrive in the United States 30 days prior to the start of their academic program. This allows sufficient time for athletes to adjust to the new environment, attend necessary orientations, and begin any required pre-season training sessions.
Knox College is home to 1,200 students, with over 20% of them being international students hailing from 59 different countries.
The average class size at Knox College is 11 students.
The top majors at Knox are Psychology, Business, and Computer Science.
Please see the map of countries represented on Knox’s campus below!
https://www.knox.edu/admission/apply-to-knox/international-applicants/international-frequently-asked-questions
Printed on Tuesday, November 5, 2024
