We can help you get where you want to be! Kirkwood international students have been admitted to top universities, including University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Purdue University, University of Arizona, Georgetown University, University of California and many others.
Overall, our students have transferred to more than 200 colleges and universities across the U.S., so you really can go anywhere when you start at Kirkwood!
You'll gain the necessary qualifications and credits for admission while at Kirkwood and then transfer as a third-year junior. Although admission can be competitive, many universities offer a transfer pathway whereby students need only follow the steps, get good grades and be guaranteed admission.
Upon finishing two years at Kirkwood, international students have many options for transfer and are encouraged to get personalized advising at the Kirkwood Advising and Transfer Center.
There are many opportunities for international students to earn transfer scholarships to a four-year college or university. The options below are a sample of what can be available for international transfer students, if the school you'd like to attend isn't listed, contact their admissions office or the Global Learning Office for more information.
Click each listing to expand.
Iowa City, Iowa
Four-year public research university
Scholarships
International Transfer Scholarships
Conditional Admission
UI offers a 2+2 Guaranteed Graduation plan
TOEFL Requirement
Accepted, but not required - see TOEFL alternatives.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Four-year private liberal arts institution
Scholarships
$22,000 International Student Scholarships for all transfer international students; $1,000 Kirkwood Community College transfer scholarship; Athletic/Music/Special Talent Scholarships (amounts vary, awarded by coaches) Mount Mercy International Scholarships and Grants
Conditional Admission
2.5 GPA; test requirements waived if attended at least two semesters at a college or university in the U.S.
Mount Mercy International Admission Page
TOEFL Requirement
Minimum score 79; also accept IELTS (6 minimum score), SAT (1200 minimum score) and Duolingo (95 minimum score)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Four-year liberal arts institution
Scholarhips
Scholarships up to $36,000 per year
Conditional Admission
Minimum 2.5 cumulative college GPA and completion of A.A. degree
TOEFL Requirement
Not required if transferring from Kirkwood
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Four-year public liberal arts university
Scholarships
International Scholars Award up to $6k; $1k Transfer Scholars Awards; $1k Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
Accepted but not required - see TOEFL alternatives
Ames, Iowa
Four-year public research university
Scholarships
Merit-Based Scholarships up to $8k, PTK scholarship up to $2k (stackable)
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
English proficiency exam required, unless B or higher in course
Mount Vernon, Iowa
Four-year private, liberal arts institution
Scholarships
International Transfer Scholarships from $23,000 – 30,000 per year
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
Accepted, but not required - see application requirements
Waverly, Iowa
Four-year private Lutheran college
Scholarhips
Wartburg International Scholarships
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
One test score required; choose from SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, or EIKEN
Menomonie, Wisconsin
Four-year polytechnic university
Scholarships
International Student Tuition Scholarships up to $5k/year (renewable each year); Foundation scholarships
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo required, unless grade C or better in course equivalent Composition 1
Fayette, Iowa
Four-year private, but not-for-profit liberal arts university
Scholarships
Up to $5,500 per year: https://uiu.edu/admissions/transfer-scholarship
Conditional Admission
Conditional Admission is offered at Upper Iowa
TOEFL Requirement
Not required if college GPA is > 2.0 and have completed 24 or more college-level semester credits from Kirkwood
Decorah, Iowa
Four-year private, residential, liberal arts college
Scholarships
Merit-Based and Need-based Scholarships
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo; may be waived pending review of Kirkwood transcript
Des Moines, Iowa
Four-year private university
Scholarships
Merit-based Presidential Transfer Scholarship (up to $26,000/year); merit-based Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship ($28,000/year); need-based International Student Grant (up to $7,000/year); other scholarships
Conditional Admission
Not required; can apply beforehand through the Drake Admission Partnership Program (DAPP)
TOEFL Requirement
TOEFL 71
IELTS 6.0
Duolingo 105
Lincoln, Nebraska
Four-year public research university
Scholarships
https://admissions.unl.edu/cost/scholarships/#scholarships/G
Conditional Admission
Conditional admission is offered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
TOEFL Requirement
TOEFL, IELTS, ACT, SAT, or Duolingo is accepted
Columbia, Missouri
Four-year public university
Scholarships
Up to $20,000 per year
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
For most programs, 24 Kirkwood credits (or more) meet the requirement
Maryville, Missouri
Four-year public university
Scholarships
$7,516 Northwest International Achievement Scholarship (2.75 GPA); Stackable Transfer Scholarships ($1,000 for 3.0 to 3.29 GPA, $1,500 for 3.30 to 3.49, $2,500 for 3.5 to 4.0); $3,500 Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship (3.5 GPA, PTK member, have 42 transferable credits from Community College)
Conditional Admission
AA degree from Kirkwood waives the core at NWMSU
TOEFL Requirement
61; waived if complete English Comp 1 and 2 with grade C or better
Springfield, Missouri
Four-year public university
Scholarships
Out-of-State Tuition Waiver; Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Transfer Academic Scholarship, and Transfer Excellence Scholarship
Conditional Admission
N/A
TOEFL Requirement
English requirement waived if completed more than 1 year of study in the U.S.
Edwardsville, Illinois
Four-year public university with undergraduate and graduate degrees
Scholarships
GEO Award: A 50% tuition discount to international students who enter SIUE with a 3.0 GPA
Conditional Admission
Conditional Admission is offered at SIUE
TOEFL Requirement
72; Duolingo 110, IELTS 6.0; waived if have a valid 2-year associates degree
Global Learning
Phone: 319-398-5579
Email: international@kirkwood.edu
On campus: 2008 Iowa Hall