TOEFL Requirements for Colleges in 2024: What Score Do You Need?
TOEFL Requirements for Colleges: Determining the required TOEFL score for college admissions can be pivotal for international students aspiring to study in English-speaking countries. Each institution sets its standards, making it important to research specific score requirements.
Colleges and universities provide minimum TOEFL score expectations on their official websites or through direct inquiry. International applicants should aim to meet or exceed these scores to enhance their chances of admission. Understanding TOEFL requirements is crucial for planning and preparing effectively for successful college applications.
Table of Content
- What is a good TOEFL score for Colleges and Universities?
- US Colleges and Universities TOEFL Score Requirements
- Required vs. Recommended TOEFL Scores
- How to find TOEFL score requirements for your college or university choices?
- How to set a TOEFL score goal ?
- TOEFL Requirements for Colleges- FAQs
- What is the TOEFL?
- Why do colleges require TOEFL scores?
- What is a good TOEFL score?
- How can I find TOEFL score requirements for colleges?
What is a Good TOEFL Score for Colleges and Universities?
Understanding the TOEFL requirements of your desired universities is important for achieving your academic goals. A good TOEFL score meets or exceeds the minimum requirement set by the institutions you’re applying to. It’s advisable to aim for the highest required score among your chosen schools to maximize your chances of admission.
The TOEFL score expectations can vary widely, with prestigious universities often demanding scores of 100 or above, while others accept scores in the range of 60 to 80. Some institutions may not require TOEFL scores at all for certain programs. Researching and aligning your TOEFL goals with the specific requirements of your target colleges is essential for a successful application process.
US Colleges and Universities TOEFL Score Requirements
In this detailed list, we’ve compiled 64 popular US universities and colleges, arranged alphabetically for your convenience. Each institution’s ranking according to US News, along with its TOEFL score requirements for both undergraduate and graduate admissions, is provided.
It’s important to note a few key considerations:
- The stringency of TOEFL score requirements varies among schools. While some institutions may reject applicants who fail to meet these criteria, others may offer conditional or regular admission despite lower scores.
- Graduate program TOEFL score requirements often differ by department or program, occasionally necessitating higher scores than those stipulated by the university as a whole.
- Some schools or programs exclusively accept TOEFL iBT scores, disregarding TOEFL PBT or revised TOEFL paper-delivered scores. However, given the prevalence of the TOEFL iBT, this distinction is generally inconsequential.
Here are the TOEFL score requirements for various colleges and universities in the United States:
Colleges Name |
US News National Ranking |
Undergraduate TOEFL Score Requirement |
Graduate TOEFL Score Requirement |
---|---|---|---|
Amherst College |
2 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
N/A |
Andrews University |
289 |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
80 iBT |
Bentley University |
1 |
90 iBT (100 recommended), 577 PBT |
100 iBT |
Boston University |
42 |
90-100 iBT to be competitive |
On iBT
|
Brandeis University |
42 |
Scores on an English language proficiency exam are required, but no minimum score requirement is specified |
Varies |
Brown University |
14 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
90 iBT, 577 PBT |
Bryn Mawr College |
28 |
100 iBT |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
9 |
Submission of iBT score is required, No minimum score requirement |
English proficiency exam scores are required |
Carleton College |
9 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
86 iBT, 580 PBT |
Carnegie Mellon University |
26 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
Varies |
Claremont McKenna College |
6 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
N/A |
Columbia University |
3 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
Varies, but usually 100 iBT or 600 PBT |
Cooper Union |
1 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
None |
Cornell University |
18 |
Recommended 100 iBT or 600 PBT |
On iBT
|
Duke University |
12 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
Varies, but usually 90-100 iBT |
Emory University |
21 |
100 iBT |
Varies |
Florida Institute of Technology |
206 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
79 iBT |
Franklin & Marshall College |
43 |
Submission of iBT score is required |
N/A |
Georgetown University |
23 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
90 iBT, 550 PBT |
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
35 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
Varies, but usually 80-100 iBT or 550-600 PBT |
Grinnell College |
13 |
None, but most students score 104-112 iBT |
N/A |
Harvard University |
2 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
Varies |
Harvey Mudd College |
25 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
N/A |
Illinois Institute of Technology |
124 |
90 iBT, 550 PBT |
Varies, but usually 70-90+ iBT or 550-600+ PBT |
Johns Hopkins University |
9 |
Recommended on iBT
|
Varies |
Lynn University |
53 |
71+ iBT, 525+ PBT |
80+ iBT, 550+ PBT |
Macalester College |
27 |
None, but most students score 100+ iBT or 600+ PBT |
N/A |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
4 |
90 iBT (100 recommended), 577 PBT (600 recommended) |
Varies, but usually 90 iBT or 577 PBT |
Michigan State University |
80 |
60 iBT/500 PBT for conditional admission, 79 iBT/550 PBT for regular admission |
70 iBT/520 PBT for provisional admission, 80 iBT/550 PBT for regular admission |
Middlebury College |
9 |
None, but most students score 109 iBT |
N/A |
Mount Holyoke College |
34 |
None, but average score is 100+ iBT |
N/A |
New School |
133 |
92-100 iBT |
Varies, but usually 92-100 iBT |
New York University (NYU) |
30 |
100 iBT or 600 PBT to be competitive |
Varies |
Northeastern University |
49 |
99-112 iBT |
Varies |
Northwestern University |
9 |
iBT score is required |
Varies |
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) |
63 |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
Purdue University |
53 |
80 or 88 iBT |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
Princeton University |
1 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
None |
Rice University |
16 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
90 iBT, 600 PBT |
Skidmore College |
36 |
96-97 iBT, 590 PBT |
N/A |
Stanford University |
6 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
Varies, but usually 89-100 iBT, 575-600 PBT |
Suffolk University |
188 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
Swarthmore College |
3 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
N/A |
Trinity College |
44 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
100+ iBT |
Tufts University |
30 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
Varies |
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) |
22 |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
87 iBT, 560 PBT |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
20 |
100 iBT or 600 PBT to be competitive |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
35 |
Recommended 83 iBT |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
University of Chicago |
6 |
Recommended 100 iBT or 600 PBT |
Varies, but usually 90-104 iBT |
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
47 |
None, but average score is 102-110 iBT |
79 iBT/550 PBT for limited status admission, 102+ iBT/610+ PBT for full status admission |
University of Michigan |
27 |
100 iBT, 600 PBT |
Varies |
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) |
8 |
100+ iBT or 600+ PBT to be competitive |
Varies |
University of Rochester |
34 |
100 iBT (107+ recommended), 600 PBT |
Varies |
University of San Francisco |
103 |
65 iBT (80 recommended) |
Varies |
University of Southern California (USC) |
24 |
100 iBT |
None, but 90-100+ iBT recommended |
University of Tulsa |
143 |
70 iBT, 525 PBT |
80 iBT, 550 PBT |
University of Washington |
58 |
76 iBT (92+ recommended) |
Varies |
Washington University in St. Louis |
16 |
90-100 iBT |
Varies |
Wellesley College |
4 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
N/A |
Wesleyan University |
20 |
100 iBT |
N/A |
Williams College |
1 |
None (TOEFL not required) |
N/A |
Yale University |
4 |
100 iBT or 600 PBT to be competitive |
Varies |
Required vs. Recommended TOEFL Scores
When applying to universities, it is important to understand the distinction between required and recommended TOEFL scores. While meeting the minimum required score is essential for eligibility, aiming for the recommended score can significantly enhance your chances of admission. Recommended scores indicate a higher level of English proficiency, which is valued by universities.
Achieving the recommended score demonstrates your readiness to succeed in an English-speaking academic environment. However, if you only meet the minimum requirement, your application may still be considered, particularly if other aspects are strong. Therefore, while meeting the required score is necessary, aspiring for the recommended score is advantageous for securing admission to top universities.
How to Find TOEFL Score Requirements for Your College or University Choices?
It is important for students to conduct thorough research when selecting schools to apply for admission. This includes checking not only the university’s minimum TOEFL score but also their recommended scores and whether specific scores are required for each section of the TOEFL. Sometimes, contacting the university directly may be necessary to obtain their TOEFL score requirements and other pertinent information. Universities and colleges may have varying TOEFL score requirements depending on the type of program or degree being pursued.
Undergraduate programs
For undergraduate programs, colleges and universities typically provide minimum and/or recommended TOEFL scores applicable to all undergraduate programs. To simplify the search process, ETS offers a database of universities and colleges accepting TOEFL scores, which can be searched by location or school.
Graduate programs
Graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees, often have their own predetermined TOEFL score requirements, which may differ from those of the university or college. These programs tend to be more competitive and may have higher TOEFL score requirements. It is advisable to check the specific TOEFL score requirements for each graduate program of interest.
How to Set a TOEFL Score Goal ?
These three steps can help you determine your TOEFL score goal:
- Create a chart: Make a chart listing all the colleges or universities you’re interested in, along with their required TOEFL scores, minimum scores, recommended scores, and any other important details. This will give you a clear overview of what scores you need for each institution.
- Research online: Look up the TOEFL score requirements for each college or university on their official websites or through online resources. Pay attention to whether they have separate requirements for undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Set your goal: Identify the school with the highest required TOEFL score from your list. Use this score as your target goal. Aim to achieve or exceed this score to maximize your chances of gaining admission to all of your desired institutions.
TOEFL Requirements for Colleges- FAQs
What is the TOEFL?
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test that measures English language proficiency for non-native English speakers.
Why do colleges require TOEFL scores?
Colleges require TOEFL scores to ensure that international students have the necessary English language skills to succeed in their academic programs, as English is the primary language of instruction in most colleges and universities.
What is a good TOEFL score?
A good TOEFL score depends on the requirements of the college or university you’re applying to. Generally, a score that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of your chosen institution is considered good.
How can I find TOEFL score requirements for colleges?
TOEFL score requirements for colleges can usually be found on their official websites, in the international admissions section. You can also contact the admissions office directly for specific information.