International Students Requirements
For non-US citizens seeking an undergraduate degree. Full nine-step process including NAFSA-endorsed transcript evaluation, TOEFL English proficiency, and TB screening upon arrival. Apply 4 months ahead to accommodate I-20 processing.
Your JSU journey starts here
Jackson State University® is an environment that inspires you to grow, learn, and reach beyond the ordinary. This is a “home away from home” where every student can find their place.
Our team in Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment is committed to assisting prospective international students and their families through the acceptance and enrollment process by providing essential information to help students successfully transition into the university.
Test-Optional Policy Notice · 3 Years Stale
The published policy statement reads: “Jackson State University is test optional for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years.”
Note: This is 3 years out of date — a new staleness bucket among JSU admissions pages. The main International page shows 2023-2024/2024-2025 (2 years stale — fresher than this REQUIREMENTS page). This confirms the Requirements sub-pages are less frequently updated than the main /admissions/ pages. Please contact Undergraduate Admissions at 1-866-843-3578 to confirm the current test-optional policy for international students.
Content is duplicated on another page
This page duplicates /admissions/international/
The nine-step process content on this page (
/admissions/requirements/international-students/)
is essentially identical to the main
International admissions page at
/admissions/international/.
The only differences are:
• This page uses the title “International
Students Requirements” instead of just “International”.
• This page’s test-optional statement is 3 years
stale (2022-2023/2023-2024), while the main page’s
is 2 years stale (2023-2024/2024-2025).
• The main International page is the more current source for international admissions. This Requirements URL appears to be an older, less-maintained duplicate.
Recommendation: JSU should either consolidate this Requirements URL to redirect to the main International page, or differentiate it by making it a true requirements-only page (like the Freshman Requirements page, which is minimal and links to a PDF).
Go to Main International PageFour key international requirements
International applicants have four distinctive requirements beyond the standard freshman/transfer process.
Apply 4 Months Ahead
Apply four (4) months prior to intended semester to accommodate I-20 completion.
NAFSA Evaluation
International transcripts must be professionally evaluated by a NAFSA-endorsed service.
English Proficiency
TOEFL scores required (IBT 69/CBT 194/PBT 525) unless one of 4 exemptions applies.
Financial Support
Certified Declaration of Financial Support covering one academic year.
Nine steps to enroll at JSU
Complete these nine sequential steps to enroll as an international student at Jackson State University.
Visit Our Campus
Are you ready to visit our beautiful Jackson, MS campus? Join us for a tour and explore life at Jackson State. Your visit will consist of a brief orientation session and a 1½ hour walking tour. Tours are conducted by recruitment office staff and student ambassadors.
During our tour, prospective students and visitors learn about undergraduate admission requirements, degree options, housing, student life and the legacy of the university. You’ll get a glimpse of some notable campus buildings including our JSU Student Center, residential facilities, recreation center and library.
Get Admitted to JSU
Submit your Application for admission
Please allow at least 7-10 business days from the receipt of all required documents for an admission decision. However, international students are encouraged to apply four (4) months prior to the intended semester of enrollment to accommodate the completion of all documents (i.e. I-20).
Submit required documents (First-time freshmen and Transfer students)
Please DO NOT submit transcripts, certificates or other documents. Only submit the documents listed below.
International transcripts must be professionally evaluated in order to complete your application. All transcript evaluations must include a course-by-course evaluation with a grade assigned to each course, cumulative equivalent GPA, degree equivalent, and translation into English, if necessary.
We recommend that applicants use the following NAFSA-endorsed services:
World Education Services
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
Educational Credential Evaluators
International Education Evaluations, Inc.
These companies are endorsed by NAFSA: The Association of International Educators. Choosing another evaluation service, or sending transcript evaluations that do not contain the requirements listed above, may delay the application process.
Proof of English Proficiency
TOEFL is required at one of the following minimum scores:
69
TOEFL IBT
194
TOEFL CBT
525
TOEFL PBT
The following are exempt from the English Proficiency Requirement:
Non-citizens graduating from a high school in the United States.
Applicants transferring from a college in the United States who have the 30 required transfer hours.
Students from English speaking countries as defined by JSU Global — United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Nigeria, Ghana, and certain Caribbean Islands. See list of TOEFL-exempt countries →
Students who successfully complete JSU’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
Certified Declaration of Financial Support
A Certified Declaration of Financial Support must be submitted to show sufficient funds to cover expenses for one academic year. Please submit to JSU Global after admittance to the university.
Financial Support & International Services
P.O. Box 17103
Jackson, MS 39217
Send Immunization Record
All students born after December 1956 who plan to attend classes on one of JSU’s campuses must submit proof of immunization compliance for measles, mumps and rubella. Online students are exempt.
Additional TB Screening Required
In addition to the immunization requirement, international students are required to have two screening tests for tuberculosis exposure once arriving to the country: an IGRA blood test and a chest X-ray. These tests must be performed in the United States not more than six weeks before the start of classes. Tests performed outside the United States cannot be accepted.
A copy of your immunization record (or your state’s immunization compliance form) can be submitted directly to the JSU Health Center:
Apply for Campus Housing
Housing applications are available at
www.jsums.edu/housing.
The office is located in Campbell College Suites-North.
How to Apply — 11-Step Housing Application Process
- Visit your JSU PAWS account.
- Enter your J# (ex.
J00000000) and NET ID Password. - Select the “Student” tab at the top of page. Then, select the “Housing” link.
- After selecting the “Housing” link, you will select “THD: JSU Housing Self-Service.”
- After selecting “THD: JSU Housing Self-Service,” you will be directed to the THD Housing Self-Service Portal.
- Your login information will be as follows: Username:
one\J#(ex.one\J00000000) · Password: NetID. - You will be directed to your own personal Student Housing Portal. Select “Apps & Forms” and then select the housing application for your classification.
- Agree to the “Terms and Conditions” by signing your name and clicking “Continue.”
- Proceed to answer all questions.
- You will be directed to pay your specified housing fee.
- Your final step will be paying your fee. Please note that your housing application will not be processed without receiving payment.
$100 non-refundable housing application fee (New and Transfer Students) or $75 room reservation fee (Returning Students).
New Student Orientation / Register for Classes
If you are a traditional readmit student taking a class online or on campus, you will need to complete New Student Orientation before registering for classes. For more information regarding New Student Orientation, please visit jsums.edu/orientation. If you will be enrolled in an online program, please contact JSUOnline.
The source text uses the phrase “traditional readmit student” on this page, which is a copy-paste from the Readmit page (where the wording is correct). On this International Requirements page, readmit is inappropriate — international students are not readmit students. The correct phrasing would be something like “All international students” or “First-time international students”. Same error appears on the main International page.
Complete Registration or Set Up Payment
“Completing Registration” is the phrase used to describe the Business Office acknowledgement or verification of how fees are to be paid for the current semester. Once this information is officially communicated to the Business Office, we will accept the charges and payments for the current semester which in turn protects the student’s classes from being purged.
Two Ways to Officially Communicate
- Automatic Registration Complete — Once a student has selected classes (along with housing and meal plan), the system will review all eligible accepted financial aid. If the remaining balance is less than $200, registration will be completed automatically.
- Online Payment Plan — The plan divides the balance due into four (4) installments. The initial installment plus $100 (the deferment fee) is required to complete registration. The remaining three installments are due in 30-day increments.
Late fees of $70 begins on the 1st day of class. Complete registration on time to avoid additional charges.
Verify Status via JSU PAWS
- Select the “Student” tab.
- Select “Registration”.
- Select “Fall Registration Service”.
- Select “Check Registration Status”.
- If registration is complete, a congratulatory message will be displayed.
- If not, a message will display instructing you to your next required step.
Get Your Student Identification
To enhance the safety and security of the campus community, faculty, staff and students are required to obtain a University-issued photo ID card. The University mandates that all faculty, staff, and students display his/her ID card visibly at all times while on campus. International students are able to obtain their ID after Step 6 registration is complete.
The source states: “First-year students are able to obtain their ID after registration is complete (Step 8).” But on this 9-step page, Step 8 is Move-in-Day — NOT registration completion. Registration completion is Step 6. This is a copy-paste from the HSE/Home-Schooled 12-step pages where Step 8 IS registration. Rebuild corrects the reference to Step 6 and updates “First-year students” to “International students”. Same error appears on the main International page — this is the 5th page in this session with the Step 8 self-referential error.
Move-in Day
Hundreds of JSU Students, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteer to help the newest Jacksonians and their parents move into the residence halls. Please call (601) 979-4302 for more information on Move-in Day.
Welcome Week Experience
Welcome Week is a seven-day program that assists first-year students with the academic and social transition to college life. Building on Jackson State University’s foundation, first-year students will connect with other students, faculty, and staff.
All first-year students are expected to attend Fall Orientation/Welcome Week Activities. The week is a collaborative effort among the many departments under Student Success.
Priority deadlines
Two schedules — Traditional and JSUOnline
Priority Deadlines
- Fall Semester August 21st
- Spring Semester January 15th
- First Summer Session May 27th
- Second Summer Session June 26th
Priority Deadlines
- Spring – 1st 8 Weeks January 7th
- Spring – 2nd 8 Weeks March 4th
- Summer May 15th
- Fall – 1st 8 Weeks August 20th
- Fall – 2nd 8 Weeks October 11th
Explore all student types
Freshman
You have never attended a college or university, or you attended a college or university for the first time in the prior summer term.
Student TypeTransfer
You are entering JSU for the first time, but previously attended another postsecondary institution.
Student TypeReadmit
You previously attended JSU, but did not attend during the previous fall or spring semester.
Student TypeInternational
You are a non-US Citizen seeking an undergraduate degree. This excludes students graduating (or transferring) from a college or high school in the US.
Student TypeJSUOnline
You are interested in online degree programs and general education courses which allow students to conveniently earn a quality education and work toward achieving long-term career goals.
Student TypeOther Student Types
Learn about admissions for transient, non-degree seeking, dually enrolled, homeschooled, GED, and post-baccalaureate students.
Support for all students
Common admissions forms
Ready to Apply?
Contact JSU Global at 601-979-1611 or international@jsums.edu for personalized guidance on international admission requirements.
Contact Information
1400 J.R. Lynch Street
P.O. Box 17103
Jackson, MS 39217
Undergraduate Admissions
P.O. Box 17330
Jackson, MS 39217