From the hill in West Seattle where South Seattle College sits, you can look across the Duwamish waterway to downtown. It's one of the three Seattle Colleges, and many international students spend two years here on an associate degree before transferring to a four-year university. It also teaches applied bachelor's degrees and hands-on trades, including culinary arts, wine technology and, at the Georgetown campus near Boeing Field, aviation maintenance.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Official website: southseattle.edu
Public community college
One of the three Seattle Colleges
West Seattle and Georgetown
Associate and applied bachelor's
$10,000 – $13,000
International students, full-time tuition over three quarters
$16,000 – $22,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on southseattle.edu before you apply.
Associate of Arts (University Transfer)
Associate DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
Associate in Business (Transfer)
Associate DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
Culinary Arts
Associate DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Associate DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 61
BAS Hospitality Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Two-year transfer degrees that lead into Washington's public universities.
Wine technology courses through the Northwest Wine Academy.
Aviation maintenance training beside Boeing Field in Georgetown.
Many students transfer to universities such as the University of Washington to finish a bachelor's degree.
Trade graduates work in restaurants, aircraft maintenance shops and building services around Seattle.
F-1 students can use OPT after completing an associate or bachelor's degree.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
The main campus has views toward downtown and the Seattle Chinese Garden on its grounds. There are no dorms, so most international students choose a homestay or share an apartment nearby.
West Seattle feels like a neighbourhood, not a city centre, with Alki Beach and a water taxi to the downtown piers. Seattle rent is high, so sharing is the norm.
Form I-20 issued by South Seattle College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
South Seattle College accepts international applications all year. Apply two to three months before the quarter you want, or earlier if your visa interview wait is long. Students transferring from another US school follow a shorter process.
The year runs in quarters: fall (September), winter (January), spring (April) and a shorter summer term. Most international students start in fall or winter.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from South Seattle College first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
University transfer associate degrees are the most popular choice, followed by business, culinary arts and aviation maintenance. You need secondary school completion and English at about IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 61; students below that can begin with English classes. BAS programmes need a relevant associate degree.
Scholarships for new international students are limited. Some students become eligible for Seattle Colleges Foundation awards after a quarter or two, so ask the international office once you are enrolled.
