Admitted International Students

Admitted International Students/Pre-Arrival Information

Congratulations on your admission to Youngstown State University! Below you will find information that will assist you as you prepare for your arrival in Youngstown to begin your academic life at YSU. Everyone at the International Programs Office (IPO) is looking forward to welcoming you to campus for the Spring 2025 Semester.

OBTAINING YOU F-1 OR J-1 VISA:

Please follow this link to the International Programs Office for detailed information about Obtaining your F-1 or J-1 Visa

REGISTER FOR MANDATORY ORIENTATION:

Spring 2025 MANDATORY International Orientation will be from January 3 – January 4. Orientation is mandatory for all F-1 students and is designed to welcome students to YSU and help make your transition to campus as smooth and successful as possible. During the orientation program, we will be presenting key information on immigration matters, health insurance, campus resources and more.

Please be aware that all new international students must report on the first day of Orientation. Students that do not report on January 3 will have their YSU I-20 cancelled and will not be able to use this I-20 to enter the U.S.

You must register for Orientation by following the steps below:

ACTIVATE YOUR YSU STUDENT ACCOUNT:

If you have not already done so, you must activate your YSU student account prior to registering for Orientation and arriving to campus. This will give you access to the YSU Penguin Portal. Instructions to activate your YSU account were emailed to you. You will also find these instructions below.

Go to mypassword.ysu.edu.
Select Activate New Account.
Complete the process using your Username and Initial Password (YSU ID - #Y00XXXXXX)
If you need your account credentials, contact the International Programs Office at isss@ysu.edu.
If you have any technical issues, you must contact the IT Service Desk at +1-330-941-1595 or servicedesk@ysu.edu.

1) GO TO: ysu.edu/penguin-portal

2) LOG IN: Select "Penguin Portal" to log into your account utilizing your Username and the new Password you created. If you have any technical issues , contact the IT Service Desk (+1-330-941-1595, servicedesk@ysu.edu).

3) REGISTER FOR ORIENTATION: Once you are in the portal, click the link "REGISTER FOR ORIENTATION" on under the “New International Students Start Here” card.

4) SUBMIT YOUR RESERVATION: Once you complete your reservation, hit the "SUBMIT" button at the top of the page to confirm your session; your reservation is not guaranteed until submitted.

5) You must check your YSU student email for updates frequently.

YSU AIRPORT PICK UP:

YSU will offer airport pick up ONLY from Pittsburgh International Airport on Thursday, January 2 at 2:00pm, 6:00pm, and 10:00pm. To register for YSU Airport Pickup, please follow this link: YSU Airport Pick-Up Registration. Once you register, you will be required to follow this link to pay the $40 Airport Pick Up Fee to confirm your reservation. This cost compares to $90-$120 for a taxi or Uber/Lyft. To better accommodate requests to register for Pittsburgh Airport Pick up on January 2, the registration link has been re-opened until December 31 at 11 p.m. Students may also ask to ride the bus on January 2, by coming to the YSU check in table in the baggage claim area. Happy to accommodate, as long as seats are available.

If you will be arriving on another day/time and require airport transportation, please follow the links below for information about transportation to Youngstown from the nearest airports:

YSU STUDENT ACCOUNT:

All students must activate their YSU student account prior to arriving on campus. This will give you access to your YSU email, Penguin Portal and more!

HOUSING:

Youngstown State University has established an ON-CAMPUS HOUSING REQUIREMENT for ALL INCOMING UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS arriving during the Spring 2025 Semester.

For more information, please review our dedicated international student housing page here: Housing for International Students | YSU to see a comprehensive guide about living on campus, including details about the requirement, the $1000 housing scholarship, information about how you can prepare prior to arrival, move-in requirements, as well as information about requesting an on-campus housing exemption by following this link: International Student Housing Requirement: Request for Exemption (office.com). The DEADLINE to request an on-campus housing exemption is December 15, 2024.

International students are able to arrive and check-in at their designated residence hall starting on January 2nd- the same date as the international student airport shuttle service, coordinated by ISSS. International students arriving January 2ndand beyond will not be assessed a fee for early arrival and will be permitted to check in, provided they have met move-in criteria.

Students who arrive prior to January 2nd and students who have NOT met move-in criteria, will not be permitted to check-in and should plan on staying in a hotel. While there are several local hotels you could consider, the University recommends the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown at 44 East Federal Plaza, Youngstown, OH. You can call to inquire about reservations at +1-866-568-0896.

Regardless of move-in date, ALL move-in criteria (including student account payment in full or enrollment in University payment plan) must be complete.

$100 Early Arrival Meal Plan:

All new international undergraduate students and graduate students living on campus will be assessed a one-time $100 Early Arrival Meal Plan Charge.

This one-time charge approved by the YSU Board is specifically arranged to ensure new students have access to food and meals upon arriving to campus. We know how important it is to have access to meals after a long journey, so we want to make sure you have immediate access to meals and dining.
Additionally, any amount not used during the early arrival period can be used throughout the remainder of the spring semester! Please expect more information to be shared during Orientation week.

RESOURCES:

YSU Virtual Campus Tour

VACCINATIONS:

It is mandatory that you provide either proof that you have had a recent negative Tuberculosis (TB) test or that you have a test once you arrive at Youngstown State University. If you do not bring proof of a negative TB test, we will arrange for this testing during Orientation.

Please see the Student Health website for a memo from the doctor on immunizations.

You will be required to have the following vaccinations and must upload proof of immunizations to Youngstown State University.

If you will live on campus, you will be required to provide documentation to the University of your meningococcal and Hepatitis B vaccination status. This is a state law of Ohio.

T-dap: One (1) adult dose in the last 10 years
Hepatitis B: Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B OR lab report confirming immunity
MMR: Two (2) doses of MMR (second one must have occurred on or after first birthday) OR Two (2) doses of Measles, Two (2) doses Mumps, and One (1) dose of Rubella OR lab reporting confirming immunity for each.
Varicella: Two (2) doses of varicella OR Lab report confirming immunity
Polio: Four (4) doses of IPV or OPV. Only required for those students who will be younger than 18 at the start of the semester.
Meningococcal conjugate (ACWY): One (1) dose since age 16

TUITION & FEES:

Tuition and fees are calculated after you are registered for classes. Upon registration, an invoice will be sent to your YSU email account. You will be responsible for paying that invoice soon after receipt. The preferred method of payment by YSU is via an international wire transfer. For international transfers, YSU has two options. (1) Transfer Mate and (2) Flywire.

If you wish to bring a bank draft, use the tuition estimator for an estimate of your tuition costs. NOTE: The actual cost of tuition may vary depending on how many credits you register for and lab/course fees. You must be prepared to pay the difference upon arrival to campus and course registration.

HEALTH INSURANCE

All international students are required to purchase the YSU International Student Health Insurance Plan as a condition of enrollment at the university and will not be permitted to waive the coverage. Exceptions may apply for international students who are covered under a government sponsor or a select international organization, or who are covered as a US-based employee or a dependent of a US-based employee, with US-based health insurance provided through that employment.

The student health insurance will automatically be charged to the student’s account upon registration for classes.

ACCEPTING FINANCIAL AID AWARDS:

If you have been awarded an International Housing Award or Honors Award, you must accept your award through Financial Aid. To accept your award, follow the steps below.

Printable Version*

International student scholarships are awarded by academic year. The academic year at YSU starts in the Fall. Therefore, students who start their first semester at YSU in the Spring 2025 semester will not receive their tuition scholarship for the Spring 2025 semester.
If you were awarded a scholarship, it will start effective the Fall 2025 semester and is renewable for upcoming semesters as long as you are maintaining the required GPA.

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND PROOF OF DEGREE

To complete your admission and to be able to register classes for your second semester, all students who are admitted on the basis of unofficial academic credentials (scanned copies) must bring official transcripts and proof of degree to submit at International Orientation. See How to Submit Official Credentials for details

Useful Campus Links