City University of Seattle Admissions 2026: Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

City University of Seattle Admissions Deadlines 2026-2027

City University of Seattle runs four intakes per academic year, and overseas applicants have an earlier cut-off than domestic transfer students so that I-20 issuance and visa scheduling can complete on time. Dates below are pulled from the official CityU international application-process page. Since today’s date (1 August 2026) coincides with the Fall/October 2026 overseas deadline, that window has effectively closed for new international applications; the next live cycle is Winter/January 2027.

City University of Seattle’s primary intake for Indian students is Fall/October — most programs open here, and cohorts run in-person in Seattle plus online worldwide.

Planning note: Overseas applicants get a deadline three months before term-start so the school can issue an I-20 and give you room to book an F-1 visa slot at a US consulate in India, where wait times still run 4 to 12 weeks in most metros.

City University of Seattle Eligibility for Indian Students

City University of Seattle sets institution-wide academic and English floors that apply to nearly every program; some professional degrees layer additional prerequisites on top. Eligibility below reflects the university’s English proficiency and international admissions pages.

Academic Floors

• Undergraduate entry: Completed Class XII (or Indian equivalent) with roughly 60 percent aggregate; SAT and ACT are not required.
• Master’s entry: A recognised bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, which maps to roughly 65 percent in Indian marking.
• DBA entry: A master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA; a business degree is preferred but non-business exceptions are considered.
• GMAT/GRE: Not required for the MBA, MS in Computer Science, or DBA.

City University of Seattle English Requirements for Indian Students

CityU splits English requirements by degree level and by whether the applicant is joining the language-assisted pathway (with academic English support) or the standard, non-assisted route.

City University of Seattle IELTS Waiver for Indian Students

Indian applicants can waive the IELTS or TOEFL entirely if any of the following applies:

• Medium of Instruction: Official transcripts from a school or program where English was the primary language of instruction.
• Prior degree in English: A completed UG or PG degree taught fully in English.
• Transfer credit route: 30 to 45 quarter credits (about 20 to 30 semester credits) earned at an English-medium institution with a 2.0+ GPA.

Most Indian applicants from CBSE, ICSE, or English-medium state boards qualify under the MOI waiver, but you must submit a signed MOI letter from the school on official letterhead — CityU does not accept generic mark-sheet notations.

City University of Seattle Postgraduate Programs and Requirements

City University of Seattle offers master’s degrees across four schools: Business and Management, Technology and Computing, Education and Leadership, and Health and Social Sciences. Base international graduate tuition is $895 (₹85,643) per quarter credit across most master’s tracks; the Executive MBA runs a higher $1,180 (₹1.13 Lakhs) per credit. See the course-wise fees breakdown for a full program-by-program table.

Insider note: The MBA and MS in Computer Science are STEM-designated at CityU, which lets Indian graduates apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month post-completion OPT — a total of 3 years of US work authorisation.

Note: Program-specific entry requirements, fees, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official City University of Seattle international admissions page for your chosen program before applying.

City University of Seattle Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

City University of Seattle’s bachelor’s degrees run 180 quarter credits in total, typically finished in four years or in as little as two with transfer credit from an accredited Indian institution. International undergraduate tuition at the 300/400 level is $590 (₹56,458) per quarter credit; full-time load with insurance runs about $9,345 (₹8.94 Lakhs) per quarter.

Indian applicants can transfer up to 90 quarter credits (roughly two years) toward a CityU bachelor’s if they have completed part of an Indian undergraduate program at an accredited institution, subject to a course-by-course credential evaluation.

City University of Seattle MBA Admissions

The City University of Seattle MBA is a 39-credit core, extendable to 51 credits if you take one of the emphasis tracks (leadership, project management, marketing, financial management, or fintech for Vietnam-partner cohorts only). International MBA tuition is $895 (₹85,643) per quarter credit; the Executive MBA is priced separately at $1,180 (₹1.13 Lakhs) per credit. Program details are pulled from the official CityU MBA page.

MBA Eligibility and Round Dates

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, any discipline.
• No GMAT or GRE — CityU has permanently waived the standardised test requirement.
• Work experience: Not mandated for the standard MBA; Executive MBA expects 5+ years of managerial experience.
• English: IELTS 6.5 or accepted equivalent, or an MOI waiver.
• Start dates: October, January, April, and July — apply by the standard overseas deadlines (1 Aug, 1 Nov, 1 Feb, 1 May).

MBA Interview and Decision Timeline

CityU does not run a competitive interview round for the standard MBA — admission is decision-based on your application file. The Executive MBA and MA in Counseling do require an interview, typically over Zoom within 3 to 4 weeks of file completion.

Reality check: Because there is no test or interview filter for the standard MBA, your statement of purpose and financial proof carry more weight than at competitive US MBAs — the admissions office reads these closely to gauge fit and F-1 visa risk.

City University of Seattle Doctor of Business Administration Admissions

The DBA is City University of Seattle’s terminal doctoral degree for working business, non-business, and STEM professionals. It runs 91 quarter credits across 14 courses plus an 18-credit dissertation, taking a minimum of 3 years at 6 credits per quarter. Program details come from the official CityU DBA page. Tuition is $810 (₹77,509) per quarter credit.

DBA Eligibility and Structure

• Master’s degree with minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution.
• A business master’s is preferred; non-business masters accepted case-by-case.
• Delivered 100 percent online, cohort-based with October and April starts.
• Dissertation runs in three milestones: prospectus (3 credits), proposal (6 credits), dissertation (9 credits).

DBA Funding for Indian Students

CityU does not offer institutional stipends or research assistantships for DBA candidates in the way research PhDs at public US universities do. Funding routes for Indian applicants are limited to federal-loan-equivalent private education loans, employer sponsorship, and any CityU merit scholarship applied at admission. Explore CityU’s ranking band before committing to the DBA — a professional doctorate carries different signalling than a research PhD.

Before you apply: A DBA is a practitioner degree, not a research PhD — if your goal is a tenure-track academic career at a research-heavy university, a PhD elsewhere may serve you better. If you are a mid-career manager aiming for consulting, C-suite, or applied research, the DBA is a strong fit.

City University of Seattle Application Process

City University of Seattle’s international application is submitted online, and every stage — from file creation to I-20 issuance — is handled through the International Student Recruitment office at INTLinfo@cityu.edu. Expect an admission decision within 2 to 4 weeks of a complete file.

1. Create an account on the CityU international application portal and complete the online form.
2. Pay the application fee of $50 (₹4,785) by card on the international application portal.
3. Upload passport bio-page, Class XII or bachelor’s transcripts with certified English translations, and your degree certificate.
4. Submit English proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo/iTEP) or an MOI letter if you are exempt.
5. Email the Financial Declaration Form plus bank statement and sponsor affidavit to your admissions advisor.
6. Once admitted, submit proof of medical insurance and confirm your enrolment quarter to trigger I-20 issuance.
7. Book your F-1 visa appointment at the nearest US consulate in India and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $350 (₹33,491).

City University of Seattle Admission Decision Timeline

Most complete Indian files receive an admission decision within 2 to 4 weeks. Offers are typically unconditional if English proof and transcripts are already on file; conditional offers ask you to submit an outstanding score or clear a specific prerequisite before I-20 issuance. Deferrals to the next quarterly intake are granted routinely on written request.

City University of Seattle Documents Required for International Students

Prepare and scan the following paperwork in PDF form before you start the online application — assembling documents in advance shortens the admission-decision window and avoids I-20 delays.

• Passport bio-page with photo, personal details, and expiry date (minimum 6 months valid).
• Official transcripts from every institution attended, with certified English translations if issued in another language.
• Class XII marksheet and passing certificate for undergraduate applicants.
• Bachelor’s degree certificate and consolidated marksheet for master’s and DBA applicants.
• English test score report (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, or iTEP) or a signed MOI letter on school letterhead.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) outlining academic background, goals, and reason for choosing CityU.
• Resume or CV showing education, work experience, and any research or projects.
• Two academic or professional letters of recommendation (LORs) for master’s and DBA applicants.
• Financial Declaration Form plus bank statement and sponsor affidavit covering one year of estimated cost.
• Proof of medical insurance before class registration (CityU international insurance is $495 or ₹47,367 per quarter).

City University of Seattle Acceptance Rate

City University of Seattle follows an open-admissions policy: it does not publish a competitive selectivity figure because it admits most applicants who meet its stated academic and English thresholds. Third-party trackers estimate the effective acceptance rate at close to 100 percent for qualified applicants, based on the university’s stated admissions basis and open-enrollment structure.

What Open Admissions Means for Indian Applicants

Open admissions is not the same as "guaranteed entry". Your file still has to clear the academic floor (Class XII pass or bachelor’s with 3.0 GPA), the English floor, and — critically for F-1 visa purposes — the financial documentation test. Weak files are usually rejected at the financial or English stage, not on academic grounds.

Comparison with Competitive Seattle-Region Universities

By contrast, the University of Washington runs a sub-50 percent acceptance rate for out-of-state international undergraduates, and Seattle University sits around 78 percent. CityU sits at the access end of the Seattle-region spectrum, which is by design — it targets working adults and international transfers rather than 18-year-old traditional undergraduates.

Insider note: Because CityU is access-oriented, Indian applicants sometimes assume the degree is easy to earn. It is not — attrition inside the MBA and MS Computer Science cohorts runs meaningfully higher than at selective schools, so plan for the workload from day one.

USA F-1 Visa Guide for City University of Seattle

Indian students admitted to City University of Seattle apply for the F-1 student visa through the nearest US consulate — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad. Once CityU issues your I-20, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $350 (₹33,491), complete the DS-160 form, pay the $185 (₹17,703) visa application fee, and book a biometric plus interview slot. Bring your I-20, DS-160 confirmation, bank statements showing one year of funds, sponsor documents, admission letter, and academic records to the interview.

After arrival in Seattle, register with CityU’s International Student Office within 30 days and maintain full-time enrolment (12 credits UG, 6 credits PG per quarter) to keep F-1 status. STEM-designated CityU degrees (MBA, MS Computer Science, MS Data Science) qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12-month post-completion OPT.

2026 update: US consulates in India continue to run F-1 interview wait times of 4 to 12 weeks in most metros. Book your slot as soon as your I-20 arrives — do not wait for a specific date to open.