I-20 Requirements

After you have been admitted to ISU, the next step is to provide proof of funding. The information below will provide a clear picture of what one year at ISU costs and how to show the funding required for your I-20 or DS-2019. Costs vary for some programs.

Estimated Costs for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

Estimates below cover a typical academic year and are used to determine the minimum funding you must show. They do not include summer enrollment or any of the program-specific professional fees.

Student Level	Nonresident Tuition and Fees*	Room and Board	Health Insurance	Books and Supplies	Total
Undergraduate	$28,240	$7,336	$1,600	$1,000	$38,176
Graduate	$30,840	$7,336	$1,600	$1,000	$40,776

Dependents: Add $6,000 per year for each dependent (spouse or child) who will hold F-2 status

*These are estimated expenses and are subject to change; see https://www.isu.edu/tuition/ for the most updated information.

Program-Specific Fees

Some degrees charge additional professional or program fees. Check the current list and add any amount that applies to your program.

How to calculate your minimum funding

Start with the Total for your level in the table above.
Add $6,000 for each F-2 dependent.
Add any program-specific fees that apply to your degree.

Example: Undergraduate with one spouse in a program that has $1,418 in professional fees
$38,176 + $6,000 + $1,418 = $45,594.

I-20 Funding Requirements

Students applying for F-1 must, under U.S. immigration regulations, demonstrate sufficient funding to cover at least one academic year of study. The Form I-20 is required to apply for a student visa and to enter the United States. The I-20 cannot be issued until proof of adequate financial resources has been received and verified. Financial documents must be recent, original, and show liquid funds. To meet this requirement, submit the Declaration of Financial Support Form along with official bank documentation as part of your admission materials.

Documentation to Submit

If you are currently on, or will be applying for, an F-1 visa, the following will be required. Submit all documents to ipomail@isu.edu.

Passport Copy: Submit a copy of the biographical page of your current passport.
Verification Form: Complete the online Verification Form. This information is used to verify details needed for your I-20.
Declaration of Financial Support Form (DFS): Submit the Declaration of Financial Support Form signed by your sponsor providing financial support covering your first year tuition and living expenses. If you have multiple sponsors, submit a separate DFS for each.
Bank documentation (bank statements or bank letters) showing the minimum amount of funds as required on the Declaration of Financial Support above.
1. Must be dated within the past 6 months.
2. Bank letters must be on bank letterhead and signed and/or stamped by a bank official.
3. The funds must be liquid. Evidence may NOT include anticipated income or funds from non-liquid assets such as property ownership or investments.
Official award letters from any government sponsorships, agencies, or ISU funding in the form of tuition waivers, scholarship awards, athletic scholarships, or graduate teaching/research assistantships or fellowships.

Please understand that providing falsified, altered, or fraudulent financial documents is strictly prohibited at Idaho State University. Submitting such documents will result in the denial of your Form I-20 or DS-2019 and may also lead to the cancellation of your admission to the university.

Transferring From Another U.S. Institution?

In addition to providing proof of funding as described above, students currently on an I-20 from another U.S. school will need to submit the following items as part of the SEVIS transfer process. Send all items to ipomail@isu.edu.

SEVIS Transfer Release Form (PDF) completed by your current international student advisor.
Copy of your current I-20 from your previous school
Copy of your current Visa (excluding students from Canada)
Copy of your current I-94 card