Discovering a home away from home

Morgane was impressed by the College's urban location
and the support found in a woman-focused environment. Read more »

One Campus—A World of Opportunity

Mills College is a small private college located on a beautiful and historic campus in the foothills of Oakland, California, with easy access to the culturally rich and diverse cities of Berkeley and San Francisco and the business and technology center of Silicon Valley.

Inspired by women from all ages and backgrounds, you will find a progressive environment for intellectual debate, in and out of the classroom. Professors will know both your name and your interests. You'll find a community committed to helping you succeed as a student and in your future career.

By combining a challenging liberal arts and sciences curriculum with more than 40 majors as well as opportunities to study in other countries, take classes at nearby colleges (such as the University of California at Berkeley), do internships, and conduct research, you will graduate knowing your own mind and how to put it to work.

Are you an international student?

You are an international student if you are a citizen of a country other than the United States and typically need a student visa to study in the U.S. (Permanent U.S. residents are not considered international students.)

Helpful Information:

Entering Class Profile

Average high school GPA	3.70
SAT range	1570–1870 (middle 50%)
ACT range	22–27 (middle 50%)
Total Student Body	1,510
Undergraduate women	926
Graduate women and men	584
States represented	48
Countries represented	12
Undergraduate students of color	39%
Undergraduates identifying themselves as multiracial	16%
Undergraduate resuming students (23 years of age or older)	22%

Requirements

Submit appropriate academic credentials for applying as a first-year or transfer student.

Additional required credentials:

Official results of all school-leaving examinations
Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) results. A minimum score of 550, or 213 CBT, or 80 IBT is required for regular admission. The TOEFL may be waived if the SAT Critical Reading Score is above 600.
School records in other languages must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
International Supplements (47k, pdf)
Bank statement showing the required minimum support as indicated on the International Supplements

Application Deadlines

Entering Semester	Application Plans	Application Deadlines	Notification Dates
Fall	Early Action (First-Year Students Only)	November 15	December
Fall	Priority Scholarship Consideration (First-Year Students Only)	February 1	March
Fall	Regular (First-Year Students Only)	March 1	April
Fall	Priority Scholarship Consideration (Transfers)	April 1	Late April
Fall	Transfer	April 1	Late April
Spring	First-Year Students Transfers	November 1	Early December

International Student FAQs

What is the Mills College calendar?
Mills operates on a semester calendar. The fall semester begins in late August and concludes in mid-December. The spring semester begins in late January and ends in early May. There are no summer session classes.

When should I apply?
You should begin the application process approximately one year before the semester in which you would like to enroll at Mills. Please see deadlines for application; for example, applications and all required credentials should be submitted by February 1 for enrollment in the fall term.

Is financial aid available for international students?
International students may receive Mills College merit scholarships. The student must provide the balance of the cost of education and living expenses.

Could I cross-register at another college or university?
Yes, all Mills students, after their first year, may participate in our cross-registration program to a maximum of four courses. You have 16 choices, including UC Berkeley, California College of the Arts, Saint Mary's College, CSU East Bay, and more.

Do many international students go on to graduate school after Mills?
Many Mills students, including international students, pursue graduate studies in the United States.

Can I get a job?
No, the regulations regarding your student visa prohibit employment, other than employment on campus. Unfortunately, Mills does not offer campus employment to international students.

Will I be lonely?
Mills offers a community where you can easily meet other students and establish friendships. By reaching out and joining clubs and activities, you will soon find that you barely have time to think about being lonely. Activities begin the moment you arrive on campus for Orientation, and the faculty and staff will help you to make the transition to college in the United States a smooth one.

Will I need a car?
Most residential students do not have cars. Public transportation is accessible at Mills. Mills operates a shuttle service to a nearby BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station as well as to the UC Berkeley campus. Mills students receive a bus pass for AC Transit, the public bus transportation system in the area.

How do I meet or speak to a Mills admission representative?
You may wish to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission via email or telephone to find out if we will have a representative in your area. You may also speak to an admission counselor by telephoning the Office of Undergraduate Admission between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Pacific standard time.

Where is Mills located?
Nestled in a residential neighborhood, Mills is approximately 10 km from downtown Oakland and 24 km from San Francisco.

What is the weather?
Mild, Mediterranean temperatures year round. Typically 18-23°C (65-75°F) during the day and cooler at night. In winter the temperature can drop to 10°C (50°F) at night. Usually 280 sunny days each year, and it never snows!

International Students In Their Own Words

Ziyong knew that she would flourish among a welcoming, diverse community in the San Francisco Bay Area. The personal attention she received from the College’s admission staff encouraged Ziyong to come to Mills from Guangzhou, China, and pursue her goal of a double major in music and psychology.

Meet more students »

MILLS FACT:

You will be connected to more than 20,000 Mills graduates.

When you graduate from Mills, you automatically become part of a global network of more than 20,000 alumnae, women working in media, medicine, science, education, politics, public service, law, business, and the arts. These connections will become a rich resource for advice as you pursue your professional passions.