Resident Tuition Rates for the Duration of Graduate Program

International students are eligible for resident tuition rates for the duration of their graduate program. This tuition amount is available starting with the very first semester of enrollment and is reflected in the estimated expenses noted below. Undergraduate deficiency courses will be charged at the standard non-resident rate.

Every year Minnesota State University, Mankato welcomes and enrolls students representing almost 70 nations. We look forward to reviewing your credentials. As an international applicant, please use the information contained on this page as a supplement to the general application instructions. Information concerning international student services is available at the International Student Office.

Applicants must possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree to be considered for graduate programs at Minnesota State Mankato.  The degree must be earned at an institution recognized and approved to award the degree.  International students are not typically admitted as non-degree seeking students.

The Following Documents are Necessary for Admission to The College of Graduate Studies

• Complete the online Application . All applications must be completed online.
•  $40.00 non–refundable application fee. Applications will not be processed until payment is received.
• International applicants must submit the required[PDF] financial affidavit (74 KiB).  Please note that a graduate assistantship most likely not cover the entire cost of attending Minnesota State University, Mankato. 
• One official transcript or mark sheet of all undergraduate and graduate coursework and verification that you received a degree. International applicants must possess the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree in order to be considered for graduate programs at Minnesota State Mankato. Submitted documents are not returned to the applicant. If you were educated overseas and are submitting a detailed credential evaluation (see next bullet item), official transcripts are not required at the time of application. Official final degree verifying transcripts will be required if the degree has not been awarded at the time of application.
•  A credential evaluation prepared by a reputable credential evaluator. Minnesota State Mankato will accept evaluations prepared by a National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services member. Applicants using World Education Services to evaluate credentials should be particularly careful to ensure that the evaluations are delivered to the correct campus address, and are advised that there are often delays in receiving WES evaluations. (Applicants to the Communication Studies, English, French, Spanish, Urban and Regional Studies, and Urban Planning programs are not required to submit a professional credential evaluation.)  Each credential evaluation agency has different names for different services.  The evaluation, regardless of what it is called by the evaluation agency, must include a detailed listing of the courses completed while you were enrolled at the overseas institutions, the grade received in each course, and an overall evaluation of your cumulative coursework at each institution.  International applicants who will not have earned a degree prior to applying to a graduate program should request that the evaluation agency note the US equivalency of the anticipated awarded degree.  Evaluations must be sent directly from the evaluation service agency. Photocopies are not accepted. 

Applicants from Nigeria:   Due to an exceptionally low number of student visa approvals for Nigerian applicants, Minnesota State University, Mankato requires that applicants from Nigeria register with an EducationUSA advising center. EducationUSA is an organization of non-profit advising centers that are supported and/or endorsed by the U.S. Department of State. Their purpose is to provide assistance to students who wish to study in the United States. Students who work with EducationUSA are more informed about the visa process and more likely to be successful in obtaining a student visa. Applicants applying from Nigeria must ask their EducationUSA advisor to send an email message to grad@mnsu.edu, confirming registration with EducationUSA. The email confirmation must be sent from the EducationUSA address. Photocopies of membership cards are not accepted.  Students already in the United States are not required to provide this documentation.

Standardized Tests

The standardized tests required by each academic program are noted in the graduate program admission requirements section of the University's Web page.

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – International students must demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting TOEFL or IELTS results.  IELTS results must be from the Academic and not the  General Training module.  Please consult the program web pages or the web pages of the College of Graduate Studies and Research for the minimum scores required by each individual program.  Unless otherwise noted a score of at least 500 on the written test or 61 or better on the Internet–based exam is required, although most graduate programs require significantly higher TOEFL and IELTS scores. Applicants from countries where English is the SOLE OFFICIAL language of instruction (Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada-except Quebec, England, the Gambia, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, and Wales) are typically not required to submit TOEFL results.
• The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required by some academic programs. 
• MBA and accounting applicants must submit GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) results.

All test scores must be submitted directly by the testing agency. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for Minnesota State Mankato is 6677. Photocopies are test scores are not accepted.

Deadlines for Application to the College of Graduate Studies

These deadlines may change without notice. Please note that some programs have earlier application deadlines. Please consult the specific graduate program Web page or The College of Graduate Studies Web page for departmental deadlines. If you wish to be considered for financial assistance, you are encouraged to apply no later than February 1 for the fall semester.

Minnesota State Mankato does not typically accept international student applications during the summer session.

Estimated Expenses and Financial Assistance

International students are eligible for in–state tuition rates during their entire length of study at Minnesota State Mankato.

• Estimated tuition and fees for the nine–month academic year: $7424
• Nine–month room and board: $7768
• Books, supplies, insurance and other expenses: $3500
• Total estimated expenses for school year (nine months): $18,692*

*The MBA, MSW, MAT, and doctoral programs currently charge a higher tuition rate and applicants to those programs must demonstrate additional financial support beyond $21,265. Estimated expenses are based on eight or more credits per semester. Current rates are available on the Student Financial Services web page.

Financial Assistance

Minnesota State Mankato offers a limited number of assistantships for first–year international students. These assistantships include a stipend and a tuition scholarship.  Please not that most graduate assistantships do not cover the entire estimated cost of attendance. Applicants receiving a graduate assistantship should plan on demonstrating the availability of at least 3,000$ in order to receive an I-20 form. 

 Submitted documents are not returned to the applicant.

Information concerning international student services is available at the International Student & Scholar Services.