Last Updated on January 19, 2023

Ohio Wesleyan is proud to welcome students from around the globe to our campus each year. International students make up about ten percent of our students and arrive here from over 60 different countries. To be among them, start your application here, following the instructions below.

1. Submit the Common Application or the OWU Online Application.  There is NO application fee.
2. One Essay should be submitted with the Common Application or our OWU Online Application.. You can choose the topic.  
3. English Language Proficiency:  We require all international students verify their English proficiency.  Please see the various English Proficiency options.  The University reserves the right to require additional English language instruction, if needed, upon arrival.
4. SAT Scores/ACT Scores are OPTIONAL for all students.  You will not be placed at a disadvantage if you are unable to submit standardized testing.  If you do wish to submit your testing, we would be pleased to consider your scores (SAT code 1594, ACT code 3316).  You may self-report scores but we will require official ones at the enrollment stage.  SAT/ACT scores are NOT required for Transfer Students.
5. Academic Records can be submitted through the Common Application website by the school or by email if sent directly from the school under their official email address. The official records should include each subject you study and the academic grade/mark or other evidence that you completed the course satisfactorily. Your record should contain an explanation of the grading system. They should be submitted in English or in the original language accompanied by a certified literal translation. 
6. One letter of recommendation is needed from a teacher, coach, or principal who is familiar with your recent academic performance. Submit via the Common Application website  Alternatively, you may send by email to [email protected].
7. Certification of Finances OR the International Student Financial Aid Application is required (see below).
8. Interviews:  although interviews are not required for students, we welcome the opportunity to get to know you better through a personal interview – a conversation with a counselor.  OWU offers several options for interviews:  

• InitialView Interview
• Duolingo English Test with interview
• Vericant for Chinese applicants only
• Virtual Interview with an Ohio Wesleyan Representative – offered after an application has been submitted.

If applicable, please include:

• External Exam Results: Official records such as O-levels, IB, IGCSE, ICSE, SPM, KCSE, and others that are administered by an educational examining board should be submitted in English or in the original language accompanied by a certified literal translation and should contain an explanation of the grading system. The document will need to come directly from the school, or you can send if it is stamped/certified by your school. Please send by email to [email protected]. 
• Statement of activities (if you are not currently enrolled): A short paragraph describing what you have been doing since leaving school. Please send by email to [email protected].
• Copy of Visa: A copy of your United States visa if you are already in the U.S. Please send by email to [email protected].
• The International Student Advisor’s Report: Please send by email to owuintl@owu.edu if you are currently a student at a U.S. college or university.
• Transfer Students: If you are currently or were previously enrolled in an international University and wish to have credits transferred to OWU, then we will need you to provide a report from a professional credential evaluation service of your choice (examples: www.wes.org, www.ece.org).
• Applicants from South Korea who have taken the College Scholastic Ability Test (known as the CSAT or Suneung): On a pilot basis, any student who has taken the CSAT in fall 2020 can use their score to apply to Ohio Wesleyan for admission as a full-time student in Fall 2021 or Winter 2022.  Check out their website for more information. In order for the Ohio Wesleyan University admissions team to get to know our South Korean applicants better, we have partnered with InitialView. You will need to submit your CSAT scores via Uway, participate in an InitialView interview/writing sample, and pay a one-time non-refundable fee of US$50. OWU will provide an admissions decision within five business days of receiving these materials. 
  
  We hope you’ll consider this option and learn how you can benefit from an undergraduate degree in the U.S. Visit InitialView’s website to learn more and schedule an interview. Please note that all South Korean applicants are still able to schedule an interview directly with the Ohio Wesleyan Office of Admission by contacting us at [email protected].
• Applicants from Mainland China: We are also using Vericant for interviews for our Chinese applicants.  Please visit their website for more information.

If you intend to request financial aid, it is recommended you show that your family can contribute at least US $22,000 per year towards your educational expenses (most students will need to contribute more than US$22,000 per year).

You will need to show at least this amount on page 5 of the ISFAA under Section F – Expected Support for Educational Expenses.

No, I am NOT requesting financial aid

If you are not requesting financial aid, you must print, fill out and email back to [email protected] the Certification of Finance Form and ensure that you have sufficient funds for the first year regardless of any possible merit scholarships. Please review Additional Costs and Fees.

Yes, I AM requesting financial aid

In order to apply for need-based financial aid, families of international students must fill out the International Student Financial Aid Application Form (ISFAA) by logging into your applicant status portal and clicking on the link “Evidence of Financial Support” or you can fill out the PDF version and send back by email to [email protected].

• Your application for admission will not be considered complete until the ISFAA has been received. Need-based financial aid or OWU Grant for international students is based on the information provided on this form.
• If a student is admitted without financial aid as a first-year student, he/she will not be eligible for financial assistance in subsequent years.

Additional Information

• We do not use the online CSS Profile but we can accept a PDF version which you can send to [email protected].
• OWU makes every effort to meet unmet need for accepted students as defined by evaluating the ISFAA.
• On campus student employment is possible up to 10 hours per week, however, jobs are not guaranteed.  International students are not allowed to work off campus, per U.S. Government regulations.

Merit Scholarships, Department Awards, and Need-Based Aid

Ohio Wesleyan offers both merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid to international students. No additional application is required for the merit-based scholarships as all applicants for admission are automatically considered. However, if you wish to apply for need-based financial aid, please complete the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application).

The specific amounts of scholarship money and financial aid received are different for each applicant and we work on a case-by-case basis. The range of financial assistance in 2020-2021 for international students is between $5,000 and $45,000 per year with an average scholarship of $30,000 per year.

Full scholarships are not available at Ohio Wesleyan and some family contribution is required each year. For more specific questions, please contact the Office of International Admission at [email protected].

Merit Scholarships

• Ohio Wesleyan International Baccalaureate Scholarship is awarded to international students who have shown a strong performance in the IB curriculum. Preference will be given to full diploma students, but those with IB certificates only will also be considered. Our suggested minimum in the IB is 30 points.
• Ohio Wesleyan Cambridge A Levels Scholarship is awarded to international students who have shown a strong performance in the Cambridge A Levels curriculum. Preference will be given to students taking the full A Levels program with exams, but those with Cambridge A Levels individual courses only will also be considered. Our suggested minimum in the A Levels are marks of C and B.
• Ohio Wesleyan International Methodist Scholarship is awarded to admitted international students who either come from a Methodist background or who have attended a Methodist secondary school or college prior to coming to OWU.
• Ohio Wesleyan Bashford International Scholarship serves as a general international scholarship to admitted international students who don’t qualify for our other three more specific international scholarships listed above.
• Rutherford B. Hayes Scholarship for citizens of Paraguay.  Ohio Wesleyan University will award one full tuition scholarship and up to five $40,000 scholarships to five admitted Paraguayan students who meet at least a B average (3.0/5.0 Paraguay curriculum or 3.0/4.0 US curriculum).  Students must also meet the minimum TOEFL requirement of 79 (6.5 for IELTS).

Department Awards

Merit awards are also conferred by various academic departments, including Fine Arts, Music, Theatre and Dance, Economics, and Education. These scholarships are awarded based on competitive review (portfolio, audition, interview) by respective departments. Awards vary.

Need-Based Aid

• International students may be eligible for need-based aid. Apply for financial aid by submitting the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) along with your application and other required documents during the application stage. 
• Application for financial aid is only reviewed at time of admission. Students cannot apply once enrolled.
• OWU makes every effort to meet unmet need for accepted students as defined by evaluating the ISFAA.
• On campus student employment is possible up to 10 hours per week. However, jobs are not guaranteed. International students are not allowed to work off campus, per US government regulations

Financial Aid, Scholarships, & Tuition

Financial Aid, Scholarships, & Tuition

Branch Rickey, one of our most famous alumni, believed if you have the skills, you should have the opportunity. We do too!

OWU is your partner for success in college and beyond

Our Admission and Financial Aid officers are here to work with you personally to consider every form of aid for which you may be eligible.

As your partner in education, we’re here to help make the Ohio Wesleyan experience possible for you. 

OWU offers merit scholarships ranging from $20,000 to full-tuition. Explore our merit scholarship program for more details about the award(s) for which you may qualify. 

You may use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your out-­of-­pocket cost for an Ohio Wesleyan education over four years. This tool is intended for domestic first-time, freshmen, or transfer students. Keep in mind, this is purely an estimate and is only as reliable as the data you enter.

For further information or questions about need­-based financial aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 740-368-3050 or [email protected].