Manhattan University provides students a beautiful campus with a close-knit community and easy access to New York City. Our excellent location offers a unique and safe way to experience one of the world’s greatest cities and all it has to give. Students are invited and expected to become involved on campus while studying at MU and to participate in efforts to build a global Lasallian community as well as individual international awareness. Students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of campus activities that include intramural sports, student clubs, and a broad variety of social events and opportunities to engage in volunteer work.

Read on for more information about studying at Manhattan University as an exchange student!

General Information

Location: Riverdale, New York City. Located about 10 miles north of midtown Manhattan, our campus is a five-minute walk from the #1 subway line and a 40-minute subway ride to Times Square.

Contact for incoming exchange students: Regina Moores, Associate Director of Global Engagement: studyabroad@manhattan.edu 

Provisional 2025-2026 semester dates (includes final exam period):

• Fall semester:  August 25 - December 13, 2025
• Spring semester: January 21 - May 16, 2026

Application Process

Students must first be nominated by their home university and then must submit the following application documents to Manhattan University:

• Manhattan University application form (Online)
• Color copy of valid passport
• Official transcript of academic results from home university
• Language proficiency exam certificate
• Cover letter regarding motivation for study at Manhattan University

Once students are admitted to study on exchange at Manhattan University, they will need to additionally submit:

• Certificate of Financial Responsibility and recent bank statements that shows available funds
• Signed J-1 Health Insurance Compliance letter
• Manhattan University Health Forms
• Proof of Health Insurance (more information below)

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Incoming exchange students are required to submit the results of an English Proficiency Test as part of their application. Students can take any of the below accepted language proficiency exams and must receive the minimum score (or higher) indicated below:

• TOEFL minimum score of 80
• IELTS minimum score of 6.5
• TOEIC minimum score of 730
• Duolingo English Test minimum score of 105
• Cambridge English minimum score of 180

Equivalent results from alternative English language proficiency exams will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application Deadlines

• For Fall semester or academic year (August start): April 30
• For Spring semester (January start): October 18

Academic Information

Manhattan University encompasses three Schools:

1. The O'Malley School of Business (includes Accounting, Business Analytics, CIS & Law, Economics & Finance, and Management & Marketing)
2. The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences (includes Education, Computer Science, Biological and Chemical Sciences, Communication, Sound, Media Arts and Performing Arts, English, World Languages and Literatures, History, Political Science and International Studies, Kinesiology, Mathematics and Physics, Organizational Leadership, Radiation Therapy Technology, Religion and Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology)
3. The School of Engineering (includes Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Electrical & Computer, and Mechanical Engineering, and Air and Space Studies)

All undergraduate (Bachelor’s) academic programs are open to both One La Salle applicants and applicants from Manhattan University's exchange partners. Eligibility for specific programs will be determined based on the applicant’s academic background and qualifications. The language of instruction for all programs is English.

Housing Information

Incoming exchange students are required to reside on-campus for the duration of their time at Manhattan University. The Room & Board fees include the cost of living on-campus and a meal plan that covers the cost of eating at the on-campus dining hall and cafes. Students will be placed into residence halls that feature double- or triple-occupancy rooms; private rooms are limited in availability and for a higher fee.

Fees

Please see below for the current exchange student fees for the Spring 2025 semester. Updated fees for the 2025-26 academic year will be posted in April, 2025.

• Room Fee: US$5,775 per semester
  
  • Includes housing in a shared room on campus
• Meal Plan Fee: US$4,000 per semester
  • Includes a High Use meal plan of 315 entries to an unlimited buffet
• Comprehensive Fee: US$1,050 per semester
  • Includes all remaining fees such as the Information Services Fee and Campus Health Center Fee
• Residency Security Deposit: US$300
  • This security deposit is refunded after the end of the term less any room damages assessed

• This total includes the US$300 residency security deposit, which is refunded after the end of the term less any room damages assessed. The remaining US$10,825 is nonrefundable.

Students are asked to submit an initial non-refundable deposit of US$400 when they are officially accepted to the exchange program in order to secure their place at MU. This enrollment deposit goes towards the student's Room and Board Fees. The remainder of the fees are invoiced and typically due about one month before the semester begins.

Additional Expenses

In addition to the fees listed above, the following are estimated additional expenses for which incoming exchange students are responsible and for which they should budget:

• Visa fees: US$220 I-901 fee + US$185 machine readable visa fee
• Round-trip flights to New York City: varies widely depending on the student's home location
• Books & supplies: about US$600 per semester
• In-country transportation: about US$450 per semester
• Miscellaneous expenses: about US$600 per semester

Note that these expenses are not directly billed by Manhattan University; rather, they are additional costs that incoming students can expect to have over the course of their time in the United States.

Health Insurance

Exchange students are required to purchase or show proof of adequate insurance coverage for student visa purposes. You are strongly encouraged to consider policies that will provide comprehensive coverage for medical coverage while in the United States (injury, illness, hospitalization, outpatient care, emergency services, prescription drug coverage, laboratory services, mental health care, wellness services, chronic disease treatment, accident and personal liability, medical evacuation and repatriation expenses) as well as coverage for all travel arrangements (cancellations, curtailment, lost baggage, lost passport/documents, delayed departure). In order to stay compliant with your visa, your plan must cover at least US$100,000 for accidental/illness, US$25,000 repatriation, and have a deductible of US$500 or less. If you are unable to locate suitable insurance coverage, you are eligible to purchase the Manhattan University Student Health Insurance Plan (MC-SHIP). For more information, contact the Office of Global Engagement and Study Abroad.

Visa

All incoming students must apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa in the "Student (University/University)" category prior to arrival in the United States. This visa will allow program participants to legally enter the United States and to study there for the duration of their program. Students will be provided with the paperwork and documentation they will need to apply for this visa once they are officially accepted to the program. 

Although this page has been written and reviewed carefully, all responsibility for verifying the current accuracy of the information it contains rests with the reader. All listed information, requirements, values, and fees are subject to change.