Required Financial Documentation for International Students
Nav Tool
In order to obtain an I-20 or DS-2019, all international applicants who plan to have F-1 or J-1 student visas are required to submit documentation of adequate financial support for at least the first year of study. Costs are outlined below. Support documentation can be in the form of bank statements. Please complete the Financial Certification & Immigration Information form to declare your finances.
Tuition, Fees and Estimated Living Expenses: International Students
[Printable pdf of this page and related frequently asked questions]
Tuition and Fees
2012-2013 Academic Year
The expenses listed below are estimated for the nine-month academic year only. Students who plan to remain in the United States during summer term should plan to have an additional $4,000 available for living expenses.
Undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate
United States immigration regulations require international undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students to complete a minimum of 12 credits per quarter. Many undergraduate students take more credits than are required. The cost for each additional credit is at most $526. See the Tuition & Fees page for more details about the cost of additional credits. Students are responsible to check with their departments about full time enrollment requirements and department tuition and fee charges which may exceed these estimates.
| Tuition for 12 credits per term | $18,756 | 3 quarters (9 months) at $6,252 per quarter |
| Fees + Health Insurance for 12 credits per term | $2,943 | 3 quarters (9 months) at $981 per quarter |
| Living expenses | $13,395 | Refer to annual cost of living breakdown below |
| Estimated cost for nine months | $35,094 | Undergraduate and Postaccalaureate |
Master's and Doctoral
United States immigration regulations require international master's and doctoral students to complete a minimum of nine credits per term. Many graduate students take more than the required number of credits each quarter. The cost for each additional credit is at most $687. See the Tuition & Fees page for more details about the cost of additional credits. Students are responsible to check with their departments about full time enrollment requirements and department tuition and fee charges which may exceed these estimates.
| Tuition for 9 credits per term | $15,579 | 3 quarters (9 months) at $5,193 per quarter |
| Fees + Health Insurance for 9 credits per term | $2,943 | 3 quarters (9 months) at $981 per quarter |
| Living expenses | $13,395 | Refer to annual cost of living breakdown below |
| Estimated cost for nine months | $31,917 | Master's and Doctoral |
Estimated Living Expenses
2012-2013 Academic Year
| TYPE OF EXPENSE | CALCULATION | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $600 per month for 9 months | $5,400 |
| Food | $350 per month for 9 months | $3,150 |
| Personal | $325 per month for 9 months | $2,925 |
| Books | $640 per quarter for 3 quarters | $1,920 |
| Total estimated living expenses* for 9 months | $13,395 | |
* Add $865 per month for a spouse; add $535 per month for each child.
Tuition, fees and estimated living expenses increase each year. The amounts reflected above are specifically for the 2012-13 academic year and reflect the highest tuition charges. Many departments charge different levels of tuition. Please check with your department before you arrive to be sure you are aware of what your actual expenses may be. While immigration regulations ask you to prove that you have the above amount available for each year of study at Portland State, your actual expenses may be more, or less, than our estimates depending on what you study and the number of credits in which you enroll. You may review the Tuition & Fees page for more information.
