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Frequently asked questions

About Pierce College

What type of institution is Pierce College and where is it?
Pierce College is a two-year university-level institution (known as a "community college") located in the beautiful state of Washington, near the world-famous city of Seattle. It is a very lovely place, because we have the mountains, the sea, lakes, fresh air, green forests, and natural beauty, all in one place!
What are the differences between Pierce College Fort Steilacoom and Pierce College Puyallup?

The two college campuses are about 30 minutes drive apart. Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is the larger and older college, with about 4500 students. Pierce College Puyallup is newer and smaller, with about 2500 students.

At this time, there are far fewer international students at Puyallup. University transfer classes in general are available at both colleges, but specific special programs may be located at only one college. Please inquire for your particular interest.

How to apply

See "Apply!" for forms, requirements and application procedures.

What is the cost for applying to Pierce College?
There is a one-time $30 US application fee. This fee is much lower than it is for most other two-year and four-year institutions.
How can I get an application form?

If you would like an application form, you can send us your mailing address in your home country and we can send you all our informational materials and an application form.

The form and information are also available online; see "Apply!" for details. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 in order to view or print the application form. You can download Acrobat Reader for free.

Costs, jobs and scholarships

How much will it cost to attend Pierce College?

The cost of studying at Pierce College is about HALF the cost of studying at a four-year university. You can save a lot of money by studying at Pierce College for your first two years of university study!

Tuition and fees generally cost between US$2000 and US$2600 per three-month quarter; book costs vary widely. See "Tuition & fees" for more details.

How much will living expenses cost?
See "Living Expenses" for information about housing, medical, and leisure activity costs.
Can I work while I am studying at Pierce College?

Students with F-1 student visas cannot legally work outside of Pierce College.

There is work available on campus for international students, but it is not easy for international students who are still learning English to find a job. Generally it is much easier to find work on campus after graduating from the Intensive English Program (IEP), because the jobs on campus require you to speak English very well.

If you wish to work on campus after you graduate from the IEP (or if you have a TOEFL® score of at least 500/173), there may be opportunities to do so.

But you should know that because there are not many jobs, there is no guarantee of work, and for this reason, you should have sufficient funds available upon your arrival to the U.S.A. to finance your education and live here without having to work.

Does Pierce College offer a scholarship to international students?
Any international student from Latin America who plans to study at Pierce College for at least six months (two quarters) may apply for a scholarship of $1000 (paid at $500 per quarter for each of two quarters). You must submit an application and be accepted to Pierce College (either university-level classes or the Intensive English Program), and then, once accepted, you may apply for the scholarship.

Course placement

How will I know what level of English classes to take?
We give a test of English language proficiency to all Intensive English Program students upon their arrival at Pierce College. This test is to see what your level of English is so that we can place you in the classes that are best for you.
What are the requirements to be accepted and register for university-level classes at Pierce College?

Students who graduate from the Intensive English Program (IEP) do not need to take the TOEFL® in order to register in our regular college classes.

You may enter directly into our college classes without attending or graduating from our IEP if you have an official TOEFL® score of at least 500 (paper test) or 173 (computer test). The score may not be more than 3 years old. You will need to submit original copies of your TOEFL® score (not photocopies) with your application.

Timing and schedule

When can I start my studies at Pierce College?
You may start your studies in September, January, April, or June.
How is the Pierce College calendar organized?

Our terms are called quarters. Each year we have Fall quarter, Winter quarter, Spring quarter, and Summer quarter, which begin in late September, early January, the end of March, and mid-June.

Fall quarter is the beginning of the school year, but students can enter or leave at the beginning or end of any quarter. Registration for classes and the payment of tuition and fees are done quarter by quarter. This system is very flexible.

How long will it take for me to finish the Intensive English Program?

The length of time it takes for you to complete the IEP depends on your experience, motivation, and how quickly you learn:

  • how much English you already know when you begin your studies
  • what your goals are
  • how hard you work to achieve them
  • how much effort you put into your studies
  • whether you participate in extra curricular activities such as Theatre or the International Club
  • whether you live with an American family (where you can get more practice speaking English), alone, or with friends from your own country in an apartment.

Many students need only one quarter in the IEP before they are ready to enter regular college classes, and others may need three to six quarters to complete the program. There are many variables for each individual.

Transferring to other schools

What does "University Transfer Degree" mean?

"University Transfer Degree" means that you can finish your first two years of university study at Pierce College for about half the cost of attending a four-year university.

After finishing your first two years of study at Pierce College and earning your Associate Degree of Arts and Sciences, you may then transfer to a four-year university and study for only two more years to receive your Bachelor's Degree.

By doing this, students can save up to $15,000 in tuition and fees for their undergraduate education!

What four-year universities can I transfer to after attending Pierce College?

The great majority of Pierce College transfer students transfer to universities in this state, such as Washington State University and Pacific Lutheran University. Some go on to the University of Washington, which is harder to get into.

Many students transfer to universities in Oregon or California. In general, a Pierce College AAS will transfer easily in the western half of the USA. However, many of our students have transferred to universities in the eastern U.S., too, but on a case by case basis.

Your success in tranferring depends on your grades and your recommendations. It is very unusual to transfer from here to high-prestige universities, of course, although occasionally an individual student does so. If you have a specific university in mind, please let us know very early on in your stay here. That way, we can help you collect specific information for your personal plan.