International Students

Four cadets smiling and walking

International Student Applicants

 

The California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) is one of six state-sponsored maritime academies and one federal maritime academy in the United States of America. We are the only maritime academy located on the west coast of North America.

The Academy is part of the 23 state university campuses in the California State University (CSU) system. Within this group of 23 schools, we are the only focused academy and the smallest campus with approximately 925 students - also known as cadets. As a four-year college, we offer seven bachelor's degree programs described at this webpage.

  • Degrees with no international restrictions - Five of our Bachelor's Degree Programs (Business Administration - International Business and Logistics, Global Studies and Maritime Affairs, Mechanical Engineering - General Option, Facilities Engineering Technology, and Oceanography) have no restrictions for international students.

  • Degrees with some international restrictions - Three Bachelor's Degree Programs (Marine Transportation, Marine Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering - U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Option) do have a certain restriction for international students. While it is possible for an international student to receive any of these three degrees, the U.S. Coast Guard licenses required with these programs are not available to international students.

    The U.S. Coast Guard requires that only those with U.S. Citizenship may receive a license to be an engineer or deck officer on a U.S. flagged vessel. This means international students may receive a degree from the California State University Maritime Academy but can NOT be an engineer or deck officer on a U.S. flagged vessel. In order to be an engineer or deck officer on an internationally flagged vessel, an international student would need to leave the U.S. after earning our degree and follow the procedures of other countries to receive a license to sail on their vessels.

  • Fall 2024 (apply from October 1, 2022 to November 30 for all majors (degree programs)
  • The application website is www.calstate.edu/apply. It's also known as Cal State Apply. On that system we are known as "Maritime Academy."
  • An online credit card payment of $70.00 USD is required to submit the application.

  • Transfer Credit - College transfer credit is not accept from international universities unless they are international branch campuses of U.S. accredited universities.  This usually means all international students must take our full four-year program in their selected major.
  • Financial Aid - Financial aid or assistance is not available to international students at Cal Maritime.

 

Full List of Items Required to be Evaluated for Acceptance and be Issued a U.S. I-20 Immigration Document

To be evaluated and possibly receive an offer of admission at the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), international students must supply the following items:

  • A completed online admission application filled out between October 1 and December 4 of the year before entry is desired at www.calstate.edu/apply
  • The $70.00 USD application fee (payable by credit card as you submit the online application)
  • Official, translated academic transcripts from all high school and colleges you have attended sent as an attachment to admission@csum.edu. 
  • A brief paragraph-length description, composed by the applicant, describing the reason the applicant wants to attend and graduate from California State University Maritime Academy with the selected degree.  This can be sent as an attachment to admission@csum.edu. 
  • A completed and signed affidavit of financial support indicating the ability to afford expenses totaling from $38,000 to $48,000 USD per year (varying by degree program and year)  by either yourself or your financial sponsor. This can be sent as an email attachment to admission@csum.edu
    • A letter from a bank indicating sufficient funds must accompany the affidavit. An offer of admission and U.S. I-20 immigration document cannot be offered without this document.. This can be sent to admission@csum.edu as an attachment.
  • The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is required* for all applicants whose native language is not English**.  Scans of the official score reports can be sent as attachments to admission@csum.edu. 
    • The TOEFL or IELTS must be taken within the last 2 years.
      The minimum required TOEFL 61 (Internet-version) or score is a 500 (paper version)
    • The minimum required IELTS score is 6.0

      * An automatic waiver of TOEFL or IELTS will be given to graduate applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree from a U.S. institution of higher education.

      ** An SAT or ACT score may be substituted for the TOEFL or IELTS if your country of citizenship is
    • Antigua
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Barbuda
    • Belize
    • Canada (except Quebec)
    • Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Liberia
    • Mauritius
    • New Zealand
    • Sierra Leone
    • Solomon Islands
    • South Africa
    • St. Lucia
    • Trinidad & Tobago
    • Uganda
    • United Kingdom
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
       

Contact

Cal Maritime Admission Office
200 Maritime Academy Drive
Vallejo, CA 94590

Apply at calstate.edu/apply

admission@csum.edu
707-654-1330
707-515-0778 (text)
Office Hours: M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mayo Hall