New Jersey’s community colleges are “open door” institutions that admit all high school graduates, those holding state-issued high school equivalency diplomas, and all other persons who have the ability to benefit from post secondary education. Ocean County College is a rolling admissions institution. Students may apply online at www.ocean.edu as early as possible, up to one year prior to the start of the semester. Acceptance will be considered when all the necessary steps have been completed.

The candidate is responsible for the completion of all admission requirements:

• File a formal application for admission. Applications are valid for the length of time indicated in Policy #5124.  Students who are re-applying must meet the criteria outline in Policy #5124.
• Comply with the requirements of Policy #5165, College Skills Assessment Program (degree-seeking, high school, and gifted elementary school students ONLY).
• Submit a valid Immunization Record Form against measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B as per the New Jersey Administrative Code (all new and continuing fulltime students taking face-to-face classes in the state of NJ only).
• Students meeting the criteria outlined by the New Jersey Administrative Code that do not submit valid immunization records will be considered conditionally accepted for their first semester.

All applicants for admissions should:

• Be able to furnish proof of residency that is properly validated as outlined in Policy #5102, Ocean County Residents, Policy #5104 New Jersey Residents, or Policy #5106, Out-of-State Foreign Students. Proof of residence may be substantiated by such documentary evidence including but not limited to a driver's license, motor vehicle registration, or voter registration card bearing an Ocean County address.
• Send official transcripts to the Office of Registration and Records from any college previously attended.

Admission to the College does not imply admission to all programs.  Admission to specialized programs requiring external clinical experiences or programs bound by contractual regulations may be limited and subject to additional criteria and restrictions. Admission to Early College and Dual Credit Programs will require additional documentation from the student, high school staff, and/or parents.

International Students

In order for an international student to attend Ocean County College, the following requirements must be met prior to acceptance and our issuing an I-20 Student Visa form:

1. Submission of a completed admissions application. The address on the application should indicate where the student would be living while attending Ocean County College.
2. All minors, under 18 years of age, must show proof of high school diploma or United States equivalent and are required to have a sponsor. A minor’s admissions application must be signed by the student and by the sponsor.
3. A notarized affidavit from a United States citizen or an authorized agency attesting to the assumption of responsibility for the international student during the period the individual intends to remain in the United States. The affidavit of support must be a completed I-134 found at www.uscis.gov.
4. Satisfactory performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required as evidence of proficiency in English. If the exam is taken on a computer the passing score is 173 and if paper based, the passing score is 500. TOEFL iBT passing score is 61. Students who currently reside in the United States under some type of visa can submit the following TOEFL scores: a score of 127 or high on a computer based test, 443 or higher on a paper-based test or a passing score of 43 or higher for the TOEFL iBT. An additional test of language skills will be required and students will have to take additional English courses depending on their scores. All international student applicants must meet this requirement. For more information concerning this test and the location of the nearest testing center, contact them online at www.toefl.org. If you don’t have access to the web, you can write to the Educational Testing Service or call at 609-771-7714.
   
   Educational Testing Service
   P.O. Box 6151
   Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA
5. The cost of tuition for an international student will be the same as that of an out-of-state or foreign resident, regardless of residency. Documented funds for educational and living expenses must be shown in a bank account or other readily convertible assets excluding real estate and other fixed assets. See budget below.
6. An international address from the student’s country of origin, with a photocopy of their current Visa and Passport, is required for identification purposes. Students must also note what type of current Visa they have if they are already in the United States.
7. Since Ocean County College is a non-residential institution, the student must make arrangements for room, board, and transportation. It is the responsibility of the student to arrange this prior to the start of classes.
8. When applying for the Spring Semester, we must receive all completed paperwork by November 15th. When applying for the Fall Semester, we must receive it by July 15th.
9. 1. Students who are transferring their F-1 Visa into Ocean County College must also complete the Notice of Intention to Transfer form and submit a copy of all I-20s they have received from their current and previous schools.
   2. Student who will be receiving their first I-20 must pay the SEVIS fee at www.fmjfee.com.

Ocean County College abides by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) regulations regarding the reporting of international students. While attending Ocean County College, all international students must be full time-students. International students are required to register and complete a minimum of 12 credits each semester.