International Student Office

This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

We are a community of learners, educators and professionals, and look forward to you joining us in your transformational academic journey and personal growth experience.

Subject to eligibility requirements and legal provisions, Sofia University accepts qualified candidates from all over the world through the F-1 Visa program.

If you are already present in the United States under another eligible valid nonimmigrant visa status category, we also accept applicants seeking the Change of Status to the F-1 Nonimmigrant Classification (subject to additional statutory requirements and adjudication from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – USCIS).

Additionally, current active international students enrolled in good standing at other academic institutions in the United States can choose to join Sofia University as F-1 Student Transfers and continue their studies with us (subject to eligibility, transfer-in, and admission requirements/procedures).

Sofia University has two campuses; one is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Silicone Valey at Palo Alto, the world-famous capital of information technology, business and entrepreneurship, and a second one in the beautiful Costa Mesa of the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.

Bring your passion for learning, as well as desire for academic excellence and success, and enroll in our program(s) certified and currently offered for attendance by F-1 International Students:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), a graduate degree program that normally takes about 2 years to complete and costs in total approximately $27,000 (tuition and fees)

• Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS), a graduate degree program that normally takes about 2 years to complete and costs in total approximately $28,000 (tuition and fees)

• Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA), a doctorate degree program that normally takes about 3 years to complete and costs in total approximately $57,000 (tuition and fees)

All our courses are organized and offered in academic quarters, and we have 4 annual preset start dates, for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

F-1 International Students must meet the federally-mandated requirements for full time enrollment and satisfactory academic performance, attendance and progress. At Sofia University, F-1 International Students must enroll, pursue and complete at least 3 consecutive quarters of full-time coursework during any 12 calendar month period; during each of those school quarters, F-1 International Students must successfully enroll, pursue, and complete at least 2 courses of 3 units each (6 units per quarter); at least one of those 3-unit courses must be completed in-person on campus, and maximum 3 credits can be completed by attending online/remote coursework.

In addition to the regular admission requirements that all applicants and students must meet, F-1 International Students must also satisfy additional eligibility requisites and provide supplemental documentary evidence, as normally mandated under the federal regulation for each individual situation.

Book an appointment for a virtual advisory session one-on-one with our Designated School Officials (DSO), call us (888-820-1484, x 10907), send us an email (DSO@Sofia.com), or see us on campus! Team ISO is here to address all your questions about your international student journey in the United States, from admission to graduation and beyond – including, but really not limited to course selection, graduation requirements, F-2 Dependents, living in California, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM options, vacation, international travel, U.S. (re)admission, emergencies, and so much more. (Try us, we might even speak your language!)

While Sofia University does not offer or intermediate housing or living arrangements, the neighboring areas and communities adjacent to our campuses in Palo Alto and Costa Mesa, provide plenty of choices sure to fit your needs – as a common sense recommendation, we urge everyone to cautiously research, compare, and seek help for understanding costs, terms and conditions, before making significant payments and entering into legally-binding contractual agreements.