International Students

Who is an “International Applicant”?

It is not about where you live. It is about your citizenship or permanent residency.

If you are a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder), or if your asylee or refugee status has been approved, you should apply as a domestic student.

If you do not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, or if your asylee or refugee status is still pending, you should apply as an international student.

Not sure about your legal status? Talk with your parents or legal advisor to confirm. Please note that either deliberate or accidental misrepresentation of your citizenship status may result in your application being withdrawn.

If your permanent residency is still pending, go ahead and apply as an international student. Once your residency is approved, let us know right away. You will need to submit a copy of your updated documentation.

International First Year Applicants

FALL 2026 ADMISSION: Deadlines: Important Dates to Remember

Application Path:	Apply By:	Decision By:	Enroll By:
Early Decision	November 1	December 1	March 1
Early Action I	December 1	January 15	May 1
Early Action II	January 15	March 1	May 1
Regular Decision	March 15	April 1	May 1

Choosing your path to Principia

There’s no one right way to apply—that’s why we offer several options to fit your timeline and comfort level. Whether you're ready to commit early or need more time to decide, there’s a path that’s just right for you. Take a look and choose the approach that feels like the best next step on your journey to Principia.

Early Decision

If Principia feels like the right fit, why wait?
Applying Early Decision is a great way to reduce the stress of the college search. You’ll be among the first to hear back (months earlier than if you apply Regular Decision) and gain peace of mind knowing your plans are set.

Early Decision is a commitment: if you're admitted, you agree to enroll at Principia and withdraw any applications you’ve submitted to other colleges. That’s why students typically apply Early Decision to just one school.

If you're ready to take that step, the Early Decision application deadline is November 1. We’d be honored to be your first choice.

Early Action

Want to apply early but keep your options open?
Early Action might be the right path for you. You’ll get an earlier admission decision from Principia but you’re still free to apply to other colleges and take your time deciding what’s best for you.

We offer two rounds of Early Action:

1. Apply by December 1 (Early Action I) and hear back by January 15
2. Apply by January 15 (Early Action II) and get your decision by March 1

It’s a smart way to stay ahead, without feeling rushed.

Regular Decision

 Taking your time? No problem.
If you’re applying Regular Decision, just submit your application by March 15, and you’ll hear back from us by April 1. You’ll have until May 1 to let us know your decision.

We’ll be here when you’re ready.

Required Application Materials

1. Common Application or Principia Application

• You can apply through the Common Application and adding Principia College to your college list. Alternatively, you can also complete the Principia Application. We charge an application fee of $75. The fee cannot be waived and is non-refundable.  

2. Official Transcript  

• What do you mean by “transcript”?  
  • We are looking for a document (i.e., mark sheet, progress report, grade sheet, report card) that shows us what subjects you have studied each year of high school and the grades/marks you earned in each subject. 

• What are the options for submitting an official transcript?
  • This document will need to be sent to us by your high school guidance counselor (or other appropriate school administrator) by email.
     
  • Your counselor can send your transcript as an attachment to an email sent to international admissions intladmissions@principia.edu. The cover letter email should indicate it is being sent by the school, not you (the student), so we can accept the documents as official.  

Please Note: All academic records and examinations must be in English

3. Official External Exam Results

Depending on the education system in your country, we may require official results from national or international external exams. Examples include: O-Level, A-Level, SSSCE, WAEC, NECO, HSEB, SLC, KCSE, IGCSE, SPM, IB, ICSE, HSC, AISSCE, and CXC.

This is not a complete list. If other exam results are needed for your application, we will let you know on a case-by-case basis.

4. English Language Proficiency Requirement – Official TOEFL, DUOLINGO and /or IELTS English test 

To thrive at Principia, international students need to be confident using English at a university level. Since we do not offer ESL support, demonstrating English proficiency is an important part of the application process.

We accept official scores from the following tests:

• IELTS – minimum score: 6.5

• TOEFL iBT – minimum score: 80

  • Principia’s institution code is 1630

  • Only the TOEFL iBT is accepted.

  • MyBest Scores are not accepted.

• Duolingo English Test – minimum score: 115

Please note: Official score reports are required for all English proficiency tests.

Financial Aid for International students

At Principia College, international students are considered for merit-based scholarships. These awards are based on the information you provide in your application and through conversations with your admissions counselor.

We know finances can play a big role in your college decision, and we are here to help you explore your options. Many Principia students receive merit awards that recognize academic achievement, leadership, and potential.

Optional Application Materials

SAT/ACT Scores  

We believe in seeing students as their whole, unlimited selves—not just as test scores. That is why standardized tests are not required for admission.

However, submitting SAT or ACT scores is completely optional and can strengthen your application—especially when it comes to academic scholarships. A strong score may increase your eligibility for a higher award level.

Not sure whether to submit your test scores? Here are a few things to consider:

• If your scores reflect your academic ability, go ahead and submit them.

• If your scores are not a strong representation of what you can do, you can choose not to submit them.

• If you earned a score that meets or exceeds your goals, especially one that may help with scholarships, it is worth submitting.

• A high test score can help balance a lower GPA by giving us more insight into your academic readiness.

Score requirements if you choose to submit:

• SAT minimum score: 1010

• ACT minimum composite score: 19

We will always consider your best scores. That means we superscore your ACT composite and your SAT Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) sections.

If you have questions, we are happy to talk through your options.