Residency Requirements

Qualified applicants must have been a California resident for at least one year and one day prior to the first day of the term. California residency can be established by those who are a US citizen, a legal resident, or are in the US on a visa that allows for establishing California residency. Residency status is determined at the time of admission (supporting documents may be required).

Applicants who cannot establish California residency as defined above will be considered non-residents or international students.

In accordance with Assembly Bill 540, any student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, who meets all of the following requirements, shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges.

Requirements:

• The student must have attended a high school (private or public) in California for three or more years.
• The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the term (eg. Passing the GED or California High School proficiency exam.
• An alien student who is without lawful immigration status must file an affidavit with the college stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his/her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so. You may obtain the required form , 'Student Affidavit for Exemption from Nonresident Tuition', in the Admissions Office.
• Students who are nonimmigrants (for example, F, B visas, etc.) are not eligible for this exemption.
• Nonresident students meeting the criteria will be exempted from the payment of nonresident tuition, but they will not be classified as California residents. They continue to be nonresidents.

Student Status

New Student

A new student is one who has never enrolled at Mission College. High school students are always considered new students and must complete a new application for admission each term and submit it in person to the Admissions Office.

Continuing Student

A continuing student is one who was enrolled in at least one class in the previous semester at the West Valley Mission Community College District. These students do not have to complete a new admissions application to register.

Returning (Former) Student

A returning student is one who was not enrolled in a class during the previous semester,but has been enrolled in classes at this District in the past. Returning students must submit a new application for admission prior to registering for classes.

International Student

Visit the Institute for International Studies Web page for information and application(s).

The International Student Center, ISC, in Room S1-202, assists international students and potential students with admissions, immigration and advisement needs. Persons on F-1 International Student Visas and other kinds of visas, such as B-1/B-2 or J visas, may come to the Center for help. Our hours are daily 9:30-1:00 and 2:00-4:30. Students may also call (408) 855-5110 or email the office at iis@wvmccd.cc.ca.us

Students who hold H1-B or H-4 visas should go directly to the Admissions and Records office to register for classes and receive assistance.

Mission College also offers intensive English language instruction for international students who need to further their language skills before they are admitted to Mission College or West Valley College.The International Center provides information on this program.

To be admitted to Mission College's degree or certificate programs, international students need a 500 TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score or 173 on the CBT (Computer-Based TOEFL). Students who attend our intensive English program and pass our LINK class can be admitted to Mission College or West Valley College on a TOEFL-waived basis. For detailed information, please contact our office.

High School Student

Students, who wish to apply and register for Mission College classes, must obtain a parent and the high school principal's (or designee's) signature on the Concurrent Enrollment Form. The Concurrent Enrollment Form must be submitted to the College's Admissions Office, together with the student's application for admission. After the above, students can register for classes at the beginning of the week, two weeks before the first day of a term's classes; registration for high school students is available in-person, only.

A class's prerequisite requirements must be completed before enrollment into the class. If an assessment (placement) test is required for class enrollment, the student will need to secure a College (District) identification number to complete the test process. High School students can gain an identification number when they submit both the College application and the Concurrent Enrollment Form.