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!
Free to apply! No application fee.
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:
- Create an online application account.
- Upload all supporting documents to your online application.
- 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
Summer 2026
Transfer F-1 (Applying within the US) - May 1, 2026
Global Online Learning (GOL) - May 1, 2026
Note: Summer 2026 is only available for Transfer F-1 and GOL students.
Fall 2026
New F-1 (Applying from outside the US) - July 1, 2026
Transfer F-1 (Applying within the US) - August 1, 2026
Global Online Learning (GOL) - August 1, 2026
Spring 2027 - Application will open on July 2, 2026
New F-1 (Applying from outside the US) - November 15, 2026
Transfer F-1 (Applying within the US) - January 1, 2027
Global Online Learning (GOL) - January 1, 2027
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 |
Scholarship Opportunity
The Sir Cyril Taylor Memorial Scholarship is available for underrepresented or disadvantaged students from any of the 56 Commonwealth countries who wish to study at San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (Cañada College, College of San Mateo, or Skyline College) for Spring 2026. Click here to find out more!
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.