Skip to main content

San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley

SMCCCD Home San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley Admission

Admission

We specialize in university transfer admission (UTA). International students begin their college education with us as first year freshmen and then transfer to a 4-year institution as a junior to earn their Bachelor's Degree. All of our university transferable courses are articulated (recognized as their credit courses) with 150+ universities in our College University Partnership (CUP). Further, most of the CUP universities would guarantee admission of our students! Compared to students who apply directly for universities as freshmen, called university freshmen admission or UFA, our transfer students increase their chances of admission to a 4-year university from 30% to over 80%, while saving up to $69,000 in tuition!

Apply Now

Eligibility

This program is a good fit for students who have at least a TOEFL 56 or IELTS 5.5.

Students who are under 18 years old without a high school diploma can still apply if they meet one of these requirements:

  • Students who wish to enter our colleges by completing the Cambridge O Levels or the IGCSE must successfully complete at least 5 courses with grades of C/4 or better. We will not accept students who take these as independent or private candidates. We must see the examination results before we can admit students, but we will accept preliminary results. Once the official results are available the student must submit those to the International Program Office at respective colleges. 
  • Chinese students who have completed grade 11 and have filled out the High School Equivalency Form    .
  • Chinese students who have completed the Joint Exam of High School Completion (gao-zhong-jie-ye-shui-ping-kao-shi, AKA HuiKao 会考). 

Admission Requirements

 

Application

Steps to Apply:

  1. Create an online application account.
  2. Upload all supporting documents to your online application.
  3. Pay the $50 non-refundable application fee (waived for GOL applicants)
  4. Submit your application online. 

It will take 5-10 business days to process your application. You will receive an admission email if you are eligible and your application is complete.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2026

  • Applying from Outside the United States: November 15th, 2025
  • Transferring from Inside the United States: January 1st, 2026
  • Global Online Program (GOL): January 1st, 2026

Fall 2026 – Application will open on November 16, 2025

  • Applying from Outside the United States: July 1st, 2026
  • Transferring from Inside the United States: August 1st, 2026
  • Global Online Program (GOL): August 1st, 2026

*If you wish to apply past the application deadline, please contact international@smccd.edu to discuss your options.

Program Dates

Spring 2026

  • Semester Start Date: January 12th, 2026
  • Semester End Date: May 21st, 2026

Fall 2026

  • Semester Start Date: August 17th, 2026
  • Semester End Date: December 19th, 2026

Program Details

  • Associate degrees, transfer programs, and short-term certificate programs are offered.
  • 140+ university partners, where the majority offer Transfer Admission Guarantees (TAG) and transfer scholarships.
  • Opportunities for OPT & CPT (internship) in Silicon Valley.
  • Preparation for success at a 4-year university.
  • Access to health center, library, student support services, student clubs, cross-cultural activities, international counselors, and visits to local universities and attractions. 

Cost Breakdown

Costs are estimates based on the 2025-2026 academic year and are subject to change.

Expenses Semester Year
*Tuition (12 units @ $376 per unit) $4,512 $9,024
*Enrollment Fee (12 units @ $46 per unit) $552 $1,104
*Health Insurance (different rates for Fall & Spring)

$1,170 (Fall $975/ Spring & Summer $1,365)

 $2,340
Living Expenses (based on a shared room with meals for 10 months in the San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley Homestay Program.) $6,875 $13,750
**Other $3,141 $6,282
Total $16,250 $32,500

* International/Nonresident tuition, enrollment and health insurance fees will be charged directly by the college at each semester.

** See "Line Item Summary of Costs"

 

Line Item Summary of Costs

International Program Expenses Semester Year
Books and Supplies $500 $1,000
Local Public Transportation $500 $1,000
Miscellaneous

$2,141

 $4,282
Total $3,141 $6,282

Housing Options

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4
private room with meals private room without meals shared room with meals shared room without meals
$1,775/month $1,275/month $1,375/month $875/month

Once admitted into the program, students can apply for homestay through the Homestay Referral Program. Visit smccd.edu/international/housing/student for more information. 

For other housing resources like hotels, AirBnB, and apartments, check our Housing Resources.