- F-1 degree-seeking applicants must submit one (1) of the following:
- TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) score of 71 or higher, or
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or higher.
- TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) score of 32 (minimum score of 8 in each skill), or
- IELTS score of 4.5 (minimum score of 4.0 in each skill).
- The applicant has completed at least one (1) academic year and graduated from a U.S. high school, then an official high school diploma or transcript can be submitted in place of official TOEFL or IELTS scores.
- The applicant is from an approved TOEFL exempt country. (Please visit https://www.collin.edu/advising/international/ for a list of exempt countries.)
Upon arrival at Collin College, all original immigration documents, including a valid visa (I-94 arrival/departure record), a valid passport, the I-20, and the local address form, will be copied and kept on file with ISO.
All applicants are required to take the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) and the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) prior to enrolling in credit classes.
Foreign transcripts will not be evaluated. I-20s will not be issued for students seeking entrance into the United States on a permanent basis.
Tuition and fees should be paid in full prior to the first class day unless the student has enrolled in Collin College’s installment payment plan. There is no federal or state financial aid available for international students.
Transfer international students within the United States (F-1 Visa)
The following deadlines must be met for transfer international students holding F-1 visas:
- Fall semester - July 15
- Spring semester - November 15
- Summer terms - April 15
In addition to the requirements listed in the International Student Admissions (F-1 Visa) subsection above, the following items must also be submitted:
- A copy of current I-20, passport with at least six (6) months validity, visa, and I-94.
- Transfer Verification Form from the international student advisor at the last college or university attended.
- Institutional TOEFL score reports of 525 (or higher) from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), the University of Dallas, or the University of Phoenix will be accepted in lieu of an official TOEFL score report. Applicants who can document graduation from the Intensive English Language Institute at the University of North Texas (UNT) or have completed Freshman English with a “C” or better will be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended in the United States with a minimum GPA of 2.0. To ensure enrollment, degree-seeking transfer applicants should submit admission requirements prior to the deadlines listed online at https://www.collin.edu/advising/international/.
For more information, contact ISO in person at the Plano Campus (Spring Creek) in Room G-103, by phone at 972.516.5012, or by email at iso@collin.edu. To download the required forms, go to https://www.collin.edu/advising/international/.
Returning Students
Former Collin College students who have not been enrolled at Collin College during the preceding 12 months will need to:
- Complete an updated application online at: https://www.collin.edu/admissions/.
- Provide an official transcript from all accredited institutions of higher education since last attending Collin College.
- Provide proof of exemption/waiver of TSI.
- Provide proof of meningitis vaccination, if needed.
- Complete mandatory campus safety training, if needed.
College Wide Identification (CWID) and Email
Students admitted to Collin College are issued a nine-digit College Wide ID (CWID) number to be used instead of their Social Security number to access their records when they are admitted to the college.
Official communication between students and faculty/staff is through the college wide email system, which is accessed through the campus portal CougarWeb. For login information, contact Student and Enrollment Services or visit http://www.collin.edu.
Academic Fresh Start
State law (Education Code, Sec. 51.931) allows students who are residents of Texas and who have academic credits earned 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which they seek admission to Collin College to have those credits or grades not considered in the admission decision. This allows students to begin a new course of study with a clear academic record.
Note: This is an all or nothing option. Students are not able to pick and choose which courses to include or exclude. If the “Academic Fresh Start” option is selected, credits for any courses taken 10 or more years ago will not be counted. This means that
- Courses taken previously cannot be used to fulfill new prerequisite requirements.
- Courses taken previously cannot be counted towards the new degree.
- Courses taken previously will not be counted in the new GPA calculations.
Students must complete the admissions process, including providing information on all colleges or universities previously attended and providing official transcripts from all schools attended.
Students under the Fresh Start provision must still meet the criteria for the Texas Success Initiative (https://www.collin.edu/studentresources/testing/availabletesting/tsi.html)
- Academic Fresh Start must be claimed upon application to Collin College and will not be applicable to currently enrolled students.
- Once the “Right to an Academic Fresh Start” provision has been claimed, and the student has enrolled, the provision cannot be reversed.
- An applicant may use the Academic Fresh Start provision only once at Collin College.
Applying for Academic Fresh Start
Students must submit an application for Fresh Start prior to enrollment at Collin College, preferably at the time of admission. The application is available through the Registrar’s Office. Students will not be granted Fresh Start until they have completed their admissions file. The application for Fresh Start should be completed, signed, and returned to the Registrar’s Office.
Approval of Fresh Start Application
The final authority on applying or interpreting the State law (Education Code, Sec. 51.931), Right to an Academic Fresh Start is the Registrar.
Effect on Financial Aid
Academic Fresh Start impacts only your academic record. For more information on the impact on financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs office.
New Student Orientation
While all First-Time In College students (freshmen) are required to complete New Student Orientation prior to registration, all students are encouraged to attend. The purpose of orientation is to provide a comprehensive overview of available campus services, resources, and opportunities. Students who are unable to attend the on-campus orientation can complete online orientation.
For additional information including dates and reservations, please call 972.881.5788, email orientation@collin.edu or visit the website at http://www.collin.edu/orientation.
Campus Safety Training
All entering freshmen and transfer students must complete online training on active shooter preparedness, campus safety, hazing, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and suicide prevention. This training must be completed prior to registration and can be accessed through CougarWeb.
For more information regarding the Mandatory Campus Safety Training hold, call 972.881.5902 or log into CougarWeb at https://cougarweb.collin.edu. For more information regarding the Campus Safety Training content and resources, call 972.881.5604 or email dos@collin.edu.
Hazing
Hazing is a criminal violation under Texas law and is prohibited at Collin College, on Collin College property, or while attending Collin College-sponsored activities on or off campus. A person commits an offense if the person engages in hazing; solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; recklessly permits hazing to occur; or has first-hand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student at Collin College, or has first-hand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean of students or other appropriate Collin College official. Collin College will develop and post in a prominent location on its website a report on hazing committed on or off campus by an organization registered with or recognized by Collin College. For more information on hazing and to view Collin College’s current hazing report, go to https://www.collin.edu/studentresources/deanofstudents/hazing.html.
Establishing Texas Residence for Tuition Purposes
To be considered a Texas resident for tuition purposes, students must have clearly established a domicile in Texas for the 12 months preceding enrollment. Documentation of Texas residency is required.
- An in-county student is an individual who is a resident of Texas and who resides in Collin County on or before the census date of the term.
- An out-of-county student is a resident of Texas who resides outside of Collin County on the census date of the term.
- An out-of-state student is an individual who has not resided in Texas for 12 months preceding registration. Most students on temporary visas will also be classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes. Contact Student and Enrollment Services for visas eligible for in-state residency.
The responsibility for registering under the proper residency classification is that of the student, and any question concerning the student’s right to classification as a resident of Collin County must be clarified prior to enrollment at Collin College. Students not documenting county or state residency prior to census date of the term will be charged the higher rate. Tuition refunds due to residency changes will only be made for college errors. Documentation submitted after census, see the academic calendar for date, which result in a residency change will be effective dated to the next semester. Changes of address, name, etc. must be reported promptly to Student and Enrollment Services. This enables students to receive registration and other information from various college departments and programs. Changes of address affecting residency should be reported promptly to the Admissions Office.
Students (age 24 and under) who are a dependent of a Texas resident should contact Student and Enrollment Services for more information.
Documents to Support Residency
Documentation of Texas residency will be required in order to pay in-state tuition. Generally, the following documents may be used in meeting residency requirements:
- Texas public, private, or high school transcript (if enrolled the last 12 months) showing three years of attendance and a graduation date.
- State identification card
- Texas driver’s license
- Voter’s registration card
Ad Valorem Waivers
Students who have not lived in Texas for the 12 months preceding registration, but who own residential property in Collin County, may be eligible for an ad valorem waiver. A copy of the deed or most recent property tax statement is required for verification. If this waiver is based on a student’s (under age 24) parents’ property ownership, go to Student and Enrollment Services for the proper form to complete. This form must be completed each semester until Texas residency has been established (12 months); ad valorem waivers expire and additional residency must be provided. Property owners on most types of temporary visas are not eligible for the ad valorem waiver. Students and/or their parents must generally be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible for an ad valorem waiver.
Testing Centers and Assessment Services
Testing Centers are located at the Celina, Farmersville, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Technical, and Wylie campuses for the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment for course placement, higher level math assessment, credit by exam testing, limited instructional testing, ESL assessments, and proctoring of correspondence exams. Collin College is a Pearson VUE testing partner and an official testing site for ACT (American College Testing Program), and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program).
Collin College codes for these tests are:- ACT, McKinney Campus (Central Park) 40460
- ACT, Plano Campus (Spring Creek) 42090
- CLEP 2290
The Testing Centers are monitored by surveillance equipment.
Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment is a program designed to determine if the student is ready for college-level course work in the general areas of English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics. The TSI mandates that all new students (unless otherwise exempt) entering Texas public colleges and universities be assessed in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. Based on assessment results, a student may either be enrolled in a college-level course that matches his or her skill level or placed in the appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve skills and prepare the student for success in college-level courses.
Students wanting to enroll only in English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework can do so without taking the TSI assessment.
Mandatory Pre-assessment Activity (PAA)
Before taking the initial TSI Assessment, a student must participate in a Pre-assessment Activity (PAA) located online. A Certificate of Completion should be printed at the end of the PAA and is required to take the TSI Assessment.
Exemptions
Students may seek exemption from TSI based on:
- an ACT Math score of 22 or higher and a combined English and Reading score of 40 or higher on exams taken on or after February 15, 2023
- an ACT Composite score of 23 or higher (with individual Mathematics and English scores of no less than 19) for exams taken on or before February 14, 2023,
- SAT scores with an Evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 480 or higher and a Math score of 530 or higher,
- Meeting the college readiness benchmark on either of the state’s approved High School Equivalency (HSE) tests taken on or after May 12, 2021:
- GED scores of 165 or higher on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test and 165 or higher on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test,
- HiSET* scores of 15 or higher on the Mathematics subtest and a score of 15 or higher on the Reading subtest and a score of 15 or higher on the Writing subtest (that includes a minimum score of 4 on the essay),
*The HiSET test will no longer be administered after 8/31/21; however, HiSET test scores are valid up to five (5) years from date of testing.
Note: ACT or SAT scores can be no more than five (5) years old. HSE test scores are accepted for up to five (5) years from the date of testing and can be taken in or out-of-state, only test date and related test score are applicable to the TSI exemption.
Partial Exemptions
Students with an ACT Math score of 22 or higher are exempt from TSI Math even if the student does not meet the English/Reading requirement. Students with a combined English and Reading score of 40 or higher are exempt from the TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) even if the student does not meet the Math requirement. These scores are for tests taken on or after February 15, 2023.
Students with an ACT Composite score of 23 (or higher) can be exempt from TSI Math with an ACT Math score of 19 (or higher) even if the ACT English score is less than 19. Students with an ACT Composite score of 23 or higher can be exempt from the TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) with an ACT English score of 19 (or higher) even if the ACT Math score is less than 19. These scores are for tests taken on or before February 14, 2023.
Students with an SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 480 or higher can be exempt from TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR). Students with an SAT Math score of 530 or higher can be exempt from TSI Math.
Students with a GED score of 165 or higher on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test can be exempt from TSI Math.
Students with a GED score of 165 or higher on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test can be exempt from TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).
Students with a HiSET* score of 15 or higher on the Mathematics subtest can be exempt from TSI Math.
Students with a HiSET* score of 15 or higher on the Reading subtest and a score of 15 or higher on the Writing subtest, including a minimum score of 4 on the essay, can be exempt from TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).
New students will be required to furnish Collin College with necessary proof regarding TSI status.
*The HiSET test will no longer be administered after 8/31/21; however, HiSET test scores are valid up to five (5) years from date of testing.
Waivers
Students can be waived from TSI requirements if they:
- are pursuing a Level I workforce certificate of no more than 42 hours. To obtain this waiver, the student must contact the director of testing and have a degree plan on file; or
- are serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, and have been serving for at least three (3) years preceding enrollment (documentation required); or
- have successfully completed College Preparatory courses. This waiver is only available for two years from the date of high school graduation. Successful completion of College Prep English/Language Arts allows for a waiver in TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR). Successful completion of College Prep Math allows for a waiver for TSI Math.
Temporary Waivers for Dual Credit Students
- PSAT-NMSQT
Dual Credit students with a PSAT-NMSQT administered after October 15, 2015, with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 460 or higher will be waived from TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).
PSAT-NMSQT administered after October 15, 2015, with a Math score of 510 or higher will be waived from TSI Math.
Dual Credit students only need to meet waiver requirements in the domain(s) for which they are enrolling. For example, ENGL 1301 , GOVT 2305 , HIST 1301 requires a qualifying waiver only in the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) domain. MATH 1314 requires a qualifying waiver only in the Math domain.
Mandatory Advising Holds
Students who are below college level in either the English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) or Mathematics Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) areas are required to meet with an advisor or complete an online survey during their first semester at Collin College. Students will be required to have regular contact with an advisor until they are TSIA complete in both areas. Students who do not place at the college level in both the English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics TSIA areas are required to meet with an advisor and register for the mandatory EDUC 1300 - Learning Framework course during their first semester at Collin College.
For more information, contact the Student and Enrollment Services Office at any campus.
Developmental Education (DE) Courses
Developmental Pre-college level foundational coursework in Mathematics, Integrated Reading/Writing, and English as a Second Language (ESL) is designed to enable students to achieve college success.
What is Developmental Education?
DE courses are designed to provide students with basic skills to achieve success in college-level courses and to pass the TSI (Texas Success Initiative) tests.
The instructional formats of DE courses vary and include online, lecture, hybrid, express and weekend. Most developmental education courses will be taught in a corequisite format in which the developmental content is taught along with the college course content.
Do DE credits apply to a degree?
Although students receive grades for DE courses, those DE courses do not apply toward a degree or certificate. The DE credit does not transfer to other institutions, and DE grades are not calculated as part of the student’s grade point average (GPA) shown on transcripts. However, DE grades are sometimes considered when applying for scholarships, financial aid, veteran benefits, etc.
Who is required to take DE?
If a student’s scores on the basic skills assessment indicate that a student would be better prepared by taking a DE course prior to or along with enrolling in a college-level course in a related field, the student must enroll in the DE course before or along with enrolling in college-level courses in that field of study. For students who do not place at college-level courses in both Texas Success Initiative (TSI) areas of reading/writing and mathematics, a meeting with an Academic Advisor is required as well as mandatory course registration in EDUC 1300 Learning Framework.
Co-requisite Courses
The developmental education program has evolved from independent courses to co-requisite courses explicitly connected to college courses due to HB 2223 in the 2017 Texas legislative. A co-requisite course is a developmental education course that must be taken with a math, English, history, or government course. Most developmental education students place into co-requisite courses.
DE LIMITS
DE courses may be taken for a combined total of no more than 18 credit hours without incurring additional fees of $50 per credit hour. This additional fee is applied because the state of Texas will not pay a state subsidy for any DE credit hours in excess of 18 credit hours. Dropping a developmental education course before census day will result in the credit hours for that course not counting toward the 18 credit hour limit.
Home school and high school students are not permitted to enroll in DE courses.
Developmental Education Departments
Developmental Mathematics
Collin College offers pre-algebra and algebraic skills courses to enable students to acquire a solid foundation for successful performance in college level mathematics courses. These courses are taught either prior to or in conjunction with college credit courses. MATH 0405 - Math Foundations prepares students to take corequisite courses in a pathway.
Developmental Math Pathways
All Developmental Math students are required to visit with an Academic Advisor to help determine the most appropriate path to meet their education/career goals as well as consideration for the requirements of potential transfer college or university programs. Students who are placed into Developmental Mathematics at Collin College have an option of two pathways to complete their Developmental Math sequence:
Algebra Intensive Path. This path supports students who enroll in MATH 1314 - College Algebra or MATH 1324 - Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences . Students who are seeking careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Business and Mathematics (STEM) fields should follow this path.
Quantitative Literacy Path. This path supports students enrolled in MATH 1342 - Elementary Statistical Methods or MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) . Students seeking liberal arts degrees in fields without a mathematical basis should follow this path.
Students must take an assessment (via the Testing Center) for placement purposes. Once placed in a course, many support services are provided to enable students to succeed. Among the services are the Math Lab, video tapes of lectures on specific topics, tutoring, study skills seminars, and scheduled review sessions.
Integrated Reading and Writing (INRW)
The ability to write clearly and accurately is critical to success in academic and professional pursuits. The Integrated Reading and Writing program provides instruction in all aspects of planning and producing academic prose in preparation for the TSI writing assessment and for ENGL 1301 . The rubric for this coursework is INRW. Courses are:
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Collin College offers English for speakers of other languages to build their confidence and skills in listening/speaking, grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary development, and study skills. Classes are designed for various interests, personal needs, academic needs, and skill levels. Collin college offers ESL courses in two formats: i) through the credit ESL program for students preparing to meet TOEFL/IELTS requirements to take college-level courses, and ii) through Continuing Education for students preparing to enter the workforce or to meet personal needs.
For Students Taking ESL courses in Preparation to Meet TOEFL/IELTS Requirements to Take College-Level Courses:
The ESL courses offered by Collin College for college credit are designed to prepare students with the language skills needed for English language proficiency and academic success. Instruction in credit ESL courses is provided at the intermediate, advanced and transitioning levels to provide students with the English language skills and cultural understanding necessary to succeed in college level courses and situations.
New students wanting to enroll in a credit ESL course must take the ESL New Student Assessment and meet with an advisor. ESL New Student Assessment scores are valid for one year. These scores are used for course placement only and do not affect the admission status of students. Students intending to take credit ESL courses can learn more about the assessment process from the ESL website at http://www.collin.edu/department/esl/ or by visiting the ESL Testing Coordinator in F-135 on the Plano Campus.
The ESL courses offered by the credit ESL program include courses in ESL Listening and Speaking (see ESLC courses), ESL Grammar (see ESLG courses), ESL Reading (see ESLR courses), ESL Writing (see ESLW courses) and some specific skills focused courses in Pronunciation and Accent Modification, Vocabulary and Idioms, and Test-taking & Study Techniques (see ESLX courses). For more information on each of these types of courses, see the course listing in the course description section of the catalog for each of the course types shown above.
For Students Taking ESL Courses in Preparation to Enter the Workforce or to Meet Personal Needs:
The ESL courses offered by Continuing Education include introductory, intermediate, and advanced level courses to improve English-language learning and communication skills in the workplace. Courses include listening, speaking, reading, and writing at six different levels to help students become fluent and proficient in English. Daytime, evening and weekend courses are offered every semester. Continuing Education’s ESL courses are organized to allow progression from one level to another upon successful completion of each course.
Students intending to take ESL courses to prepare to enter the workforce or to meet personal needs should contact Collin College’s Continuing Education Department by telephone at 972-985-3750 or by email at CEInfo@collin.edu, for information about free ESL placement testing and available courses.
The ESL courses offered by Continuing Education include: Accent Modification, Communication Improvement (Introductory and Levels 1-5), Grammar (Beginning through Advanced), Conversation (Beginning through Advanced), Pronunciation (Beginning through Advanced), and Reading & Vocabulary Comprehension (Beginning to Intermediate).
