Irvine Valley College | International Students

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Bold Possibilities Begin at Irvine Valley College.

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Why Choose IVC?

#1
University Transfer Rate In California

Safe
Located in one of the "safest cities in America" (FBI’s Safest Cities in America list since 2005)

Save Money!
Tuition is nearly half the cost of university tuition

Beautiful
Close to beautiful Southern California Beaches

160+
Majors In the Arts and Sciences to Choose from

University Transfer

IVC is #1 for university transfer in the state of California! IVC also transfers the most students to the UC system from Orange County and transfers the most students to UC Irvine. But you can transfer to any university in the United States! Our academic counselors, Transfer Center and Honors Program will help make sure you are taking the right classes to successfully transfer to university.

2 Years at IVC + 2 Years at University
= Bachelor’s Degree at a fraction of the cost

Visit the IVC Transfer Center to learn more about university transfer support at IVC!

Academics

IVC offers over 160 majors leading to the Transfer degree, Vocational degree or Certificate. Majors are offered in a variety of fields in both the Arts and Sciences. Curious to learn more?

Find Your Path and explore what IVC has to offer.

IVC offers small class sizes ensuring you will have more opportunity to interact with and learn from our distinguished faculty. IVC faculty are experts in their fields and include authors, scientists, artists, designers, musicians, Fulbright scholars, and entrepreneurs.

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Laura
from Colombia:

Completed Optional Practical Training (OPT) in Social & Behavioral Sciences

"The classes at IVC helped to develop my critical thinking skills and improve my English. The experience with the professors was really good! They will help you when you have questions about the class and they have office hours. Office hours were very helpful especially for me as an international student because I could always go to office hours to ask questions to better understand the concepts."

Expenses

As a community college, our tuition rates are 30-70% less than university! You complete the same courses at the community college and work towards your bachelor’s degree, while saving money. Start at Irvine Valley College and get a US bachelor’s degree at half the cost!

View Tuition & Fees for more information about IVC estimated costs.

Scholarships

IVC offers merit-based scholarships for all students.

Visit IVC Scholarships for more information.

Student Services

International students will find many services at IVC. Click on the links below to learn more about the support available at IVC:

Student Services Support

Academic Support

Health and Wellness Resources

International Student Support

IVC’s International Student Program is designed to assist students from the time you apply until you graduate and transfer. Our dedicated team is available to answer your questions and assist you in finding the resources you need to be successful. We also offer workshops and events for students offering opportunities to make friends and learn important information that will help you as an international student.

International Student Program

Internship Opportunities

Community college students benefit from an additional year of internship opportunities through Optional Practical Training (OPT). You can build your resumé after getting your degree or before you transfer to university!

International students get 1 year per degree level to work in a job directly related to their major – known as OPT. You are then eligible for an additional year of OPT once you reach the university.

If you are looking to build your job skills and resumé while you study in the US, the community college pathway will allow you to have more opportunities for OPT!

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Paula
from Brazil:

Completed her degree in Computer Languages and then did one year of OPT before transferring to UC Irvine.

After I graduated from IVC, I applied for OPT (Optional Practical Training) and I did a one-year internship at a company in Los Angeles. OPT lets you work in the US in your major so you get working experience after you complete your program. […] The skills I learned at IVC were fundamental to get the experience and do the work. You remember what you learned in your classes and apply what you learned to the job. It was very satisfying.

Student Experience

“Choosing Northbridge Commonwealth University was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Coming from Lagos, Nigeria, I was looking for a university that would challenge me academically while also making me feel at home. From my first week on campus, I found a supportive community of professors and classmates who encouraged my ideas and celebrated my background. The small class sizes allowed me to build real connections, and the career services team helped me secure a summer internship in public health research. Northbridge has given me the confidence to lead, learn, and think globally.”
-Amina Okafor, B.S. Public Health, Class of 2026

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Student Life

Student life at Irvine Valley College is very dynamic with over 60 different student clubs available for students to join. The Office of Student Life plans campus events throughout the year that celebrate different cultural traditions and hosts activities for students to join and have fun!

The International Student Program offers monthly activities for our students including picnics, hiking, beach trips and visits to nearby amusement parks and cities.

Explore More:

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Visiting Irvine? We would love to show you the campus. Email us at iso@ivc.edu to request a campus tour.

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Experience SoCal

Located in Southern California, or SoCal, Irvine sits among a vibrant and diverse region known for its sunny weather, picturesque beaches, and iconic landmarks.

Irvine boasts many parks, 400+ miles of bike trails, and outdoor shopping and dining locations like the Spectrum you can enjoy. The best part, Irvine is only 15 minutes from the beautiful California beaches like Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. And of course, Disneyland is only 15 minutes from campus.

Our diverse community is ready to welcome you! Learn more about Irvine at Destination Irvine.