How to Get Your Foreign Degree Evaluated for U.S. Universities

Getting Your Foreign Degree Evaluated

Applying to a U.S. university as an international student involves several steps, and one of the most important is getting your foreign degree evaluated. Colleges and universities in the United States need a clear understanding of your educational background so they can compare your qualifications to U.S. academic standards.

For a strong foundation on how evaluations work, you may want to read our guide, “Everything You Should Know About International Degree Evaluation Explained“

That article explains the meaning and purpose behind credential and foreign degree evaluation.

In this blog, we focus specifically on U.S. universities—what they expect, how to prepare your documents, and how to complete the evaluation process successfully.

Why U.S. Universities Require Degree Evaluation

Universities in the United States review thousands of international applications every year, and each applicant comes with unique academic systems, grading scales, credit structures, and credentials.

A foreign degree evaluation helps universities:

• Understand the academic level of your international degree
• Translate your grades or marks into the U.S. grading scale
• Compare your coursework to U.S. degree requirements
• Determine whether you meet admission standards
• Process applications fairly and consistently

Without this evaluation, admissions teams would not be able to properly compare your education to U.S. standards, and many applications would remain incomplete.

Types of Evaluations Universities Commonly Accept

Not all evaluations are the same, and most universities specify which one they prefer.

Understanding the difference will save you time and prevent delays.

The two most common types of academic evaluations services are:

• Document-by-document evaluation – Summarizes your degree and its U.S. equivalent. This is sometimes used for general admissions or verification.
• Course-by-course evaluation – Lists every course you completed, the number of credits, and your converted GPA. This is the most detailed format and is the one U.S. universities request most often.

If a university does not specify which type is required, the safest option is usually a course-by-course evaluation, especially for graduate school or competitive programs.

Documents You Need to Prepare

Proper preparation makes the evaluation process faster and easier. Collect your documents early to avoid delays caused by missing or incomplete records.

Universities usually require:

• Diploma or degree certificate
• Official academic transcripts or mark sheets
• Secondary school records (for undergraduate applicants)
• Certified English translations if your documents are not in English
• A copy of your passport or government ID

Review your documents carefully before submitting them. Make sure that all names, dates, and school information are accurate and consistent across your records.

How to Submit Your Degree for Evaluation

Once you have your documents ready, you can submit them to a credential evaluation service through their online portal.

The submission process usually involves:

• Creating an online account with your evaluator
• Choosing the correct evaluation type
• Uploading clear scans or images of your documents
• Uploading certified translations when necessary
• Paying the evaluation fee

Always double-check whether the university wants your documents sent directly from the evaluation agency. Some institutions refuse documents that come from applicants instead of evaluators.

How Universities Receive and Use Your Evaluation Report

After the evaluation is complete, the credential evaluation service will send the official report either to you or directly to the university.

Your evaluation report may include:

• The educational institution(s) you attended
• The degree(s) you earned and when
• The U.S. academic equivalent of each degree
• A list of courses with credits and converted GPA
• Explanatory notes to help admissions officers interpret your transcript

Admissions departments use this report during the application review process to determine whether you meet program-level requirements.

Why Use Veri Eval for University Admission

Veri Eval provides reliable, accurate, and clear course-by-course and document-by-document evaluations that U.S. universities trust.

Our reports follow widely accepted academic comparison standards and are designed to help admissions committees understand your true level of achievement.

Benefits of choosing Veri Eval include:

• Fast processing times
• Clear, easy-to-read evaluation reports
• Secure online document submission
• Professional evaluators experienced in international credentials
• Membership in respected organizations such as NAFSA, ATA, and TAICEP

You can start right now by completing our Free Pre-Evaluation on the Veri Eval website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What type of evaluation do U.S. universities prefer?

Most universities require a course-by-course evaluation because it includes detailed course information, credit conversion, and a U.S. equivalent GPA.

2. Can I submit my application before my evaluation is complete?

Some universities allow you to submit the application first, but they will not review it until they receive the official evaluation. Always check the school’s policy.

3. Do U.S. universities accept evaluations from Veri Eval?

Veri Eval provides reports that meet the academic standards used by U.S. institutions. Many programs accept evaluations from multiple recognized services, including Veri Eval.

4. How long does the evaluation process take?

Most evaluations are completed in a few business days once all documents are received. Processing times may vary depending on the complexity of your records.

5. Do I need translations for my documents?

Yes. If your documents are not in English, you must provide certified translations. Evaluators cannot complete a foreign credential evaluation without understanding the content.

6. Can I use one evaluation report for multiple universities?

Yes. Most applicants use the same evaluation report for several schools as long as the receiving institutions accept evaluations from your chosen service.

7. How do I start the evaluation for university admission?

You can begin by completing the Free Pre-Evaluation available on the Veri Eval home page. This will help you understand what type of evaluation you need before submitting your documents.