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Minimum IELTS Score For USA Universities: Recommended IELTS Scores For US Universities

Updated on 01 February, 2024

Pragya Sharma

Pragya Sharma

Sr. Content Editor

ielts score for usa

When it comes to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score for USA, you should keep a few factors in mind. The IELTS band score for USA varies between zero to nine and remains specific for every type of skill. The score will be increased to 6.5 if you actually get 6.25, and it will be 7 for those getting 6.75. It will come down to 6, however, if you obtain 6.1. The score scale for each band score is basically the following: 

1. Expert user- 9 

2. Very good user- 8

3. Good user- 7 

4. Competent user- 6 

5. Modest user- 5 

6. Limited user- 4 

7. Extremely limited user - 3 

8. Intermittent user- 2 

9. Non-user- 1 

10. Did not attempt- 0

Recommended IELTS Score For USA

Here’s taking a closer look at the Times Higher Education World Rankings and minimum IELTS score for USA’s leading institutions.

Institution’s Name

World University Ranking

Minimum IELTS Cut Off (Undergraduate Courses)

Minimum IELTS Cut Off (Postgraduate Courses)

California Institute of Technology

2

7

7

Harvard University

2

7

7

Stanford University

4

Reach out to the admissions office

Reach out to the admissions office

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

5

7

7

Princeton University

7

Reach out to the admissions office

7

University of California, Berkeley

8

7

7

Yale University

9

7

7

The University of Chicago

10

7

7

Columbia University

11

7

7

University of Pennsylvania

13

7

7

Johns Hopkins University

13

7

7

University of California, Los Angeles

20

7

7

Cornell University

22

7

7.5

Duke University

23

7

7

University of Michigan

24

7

7

Northwestern University

24

7.5

7.5

New York University

26

7.5

7.5

Carneige Mellon University

28

7.5

7.5

University of Washington

29

7

7

University of California, San Diego

34

7

7

Georgia Institute of Technology

45

Reach out to the institution

Reach out to the institution

The University of Texas at Austin

47

6.5

6.5

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

48

6.5

6.5

Washington University in St Louis

51

7

7

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

52

7

7

University of Wisconsin-Madison

58

6.5

7

Boston University

62

7

7

University of Southern California

63

6.5

6.5

Brown University

64

8

7

University of California, Davis

67

7

7

University of California, Santa Barbara

68

7

7

Emory University

82

Reach out to the institution

Reach out to the institution

Ohio State University (main campus)

85

6.5

7

University of Minnesota

86

6.5

6.5

University of Maryland, College Park

93

7

7

Michigan State University

93

6.5

6.5

The University of California. Irvine

98

7

7

Dartmouth College

99

7

7

Purdue University West Lafayette

105

6.5

6.5

Vanderbilt University

113

6.5

7

Pennsylvania State University

119

6.5

6.5

Case Western Reserve University

126

6.5

6.5

University of Virginia (main campus)

127

7

7

Georgetown University

130

7

7

Arizona State University

132

6

7

Rice University

136

7

7

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh campus

140

6.5

6.5

University of Rochester

142

7

Reach out to the institution

University of Arizona

150

6.5

7

University of Florida

154

6

6.5

Indiana University

167

6.5

6.5

Northeastern University

168

7.5

7

Tufts University

172

7

7

University of Notre Dame

183

7

7

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

190

6

6

Texas A&M University

193

6

6

University of California, Santa Cruz

201-250

7

7

Take a closer look at the IELTS score required for USA universities before applying to any of them. This will help you finalize institutions as per your eligibility. At the same time, those taking the IELTS examination soon will know about the ideal targeted score for gaining admission into leading universities. 

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What to do if the IELTS Band Score is Not High Enough?

There can be chances that your IELTS scores are less than the required marks. So, if you did not achieve the requisite IELTS band-wise scores, you can consider appearing for the examination once again. There are no limits with regard to taking this test. You can also reach out to the admission office at your chosen university and speak to the concerned personnel for more information. Try and see whether you will be accepted on the basis of the present score and whether they offer any exemptions. 

Once appeared, the IELTS score validity for USA universities is two years from the date of result declaration. You can also consider applying to other universities with low IELTS score requirements. You may also find an alternative program that needs a lower score in IELTS or a similar program at any other university. A different English proficiency examination like TOEFL or Duolingo test can be taken in case you do not have a high IELTS score. These tests are often accepted at several universities in the USA. 

Minimum IELTS Score For US Universities

There is no such thing as IELTS passing score in USA, but every university has its own eligibility score to qualify for the English proficiency test. Most of the universities in the USA accept an IELTS score of 6 to 6.5. However, to secure admission to a top-tier university in the USA, the student has to score at least 7. 

Read More About IELTS:

IELTS EligibilityIELTS RegistrationIELTS Syllabus
Academic IELTSIELTS Band ScoreIELTS Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 2IELTS Slot BookingIELTS Band Score Chart

 

Download IELTS Sample Papers

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much IELTS score is required for a scholarship in the USA?

One of the prerequisites of getting a scholarship in the USA is to secure a good IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT score. Though the minimum score required to apply for a scholarship in the USA differs from one institution to another, a minimum IELTS score of 6 is considered decent to apply for a scholarship.

What is the minimum band score for IELTS in the USA?

The minimum band score to secure admission to a university in the USA is 5.5.

Is 7 a good score in IELTS for the USA universities?

Yes, a band score of 7 in IELTS is considered good to get admission to most of the universities in the USA.

Who accepts IELTS scores in the USA?

IELTS scores are accepted in more than 3,500 institutions in the USA which include undergraduate, graduate, associate, boarding schools, associate, professional, and law programs.

What is the IELTS score for a USA student visa?

The US government offers an opportunity to all international students to study in the country, provided that they obtain a student visa first. To gain a US student visa, you have to furnish evidence of proficiency in English by passing an English language proficiency test. The IELTS score is recognized by more than 10,000 organizations, in 140 countries around the world. The IELTS score for a USA student visa is 6.5 as most educational institutions require a minimum band score of the same.

What is the IELTS score validity for the USA?

The IELTS score validity for the USA is for a duration of two years from the date of declaration.

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Some of the Top Universities in USA

Top Universities in USA
University of HartfordBridgewater State UniversityArkansas Tech UniversityWestern Carolina University
New Mexico State UniversityBoise State UniversityRider UniversityTouro University
Mercy CollegeCalifornia State University ChicoUniversity of AkronBowie State University
Long Island University BrooklynSoutheastern UniversityUniversity at Albany SUNYSpringfield College
University of IndianapolisUniversity of Alaska FairbanksCentral CollegeSouth Texas College
St Cloud State UniversityState University of New York at New PaltzWestern Kentucky UniversityJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice
Wilkes UniversityNorth Park UniversityUniversity of LouisianaWoodbury University
University of Texas at San AntonioMorgan State UniversitySam Houston State UniversityUniversity of Nebraska Kearney
University of Nevada Las VegasJohnson & Wales UniversityNorwich UniversityTarleton State University
University of Nebraska LincolnAppalachian State UniversityLouisiana Tech UniversityStetson University
Thomas Jefferson UniversityElmhurst UniversityKettering UniversitySalem State University
Minnesota State UniversityWest Texas A&M UniversityHawaii Pacific UniversityNorthern Michigan University
Ferris State UniversityUniversity of the Incarnate WordFlorida Polytechnic UniversityLesley University
University of WyomingUniversity of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEast Tennessee State UniversityDavenport University
University of North DakotaWest Chester UniversityEast Carolina UniversityClayton State University
University of MaineSouthwest Minnesota State UniversityDrake UniversityUniversity of Southern Maine
New Jersey City UniversityOhio Dominican UniversityBerkeley CollegeLIU Post
La Roche UniversityJackson State UniversityBall State UniversityWidener University
James Madison UniversityCampbell UniversitySaginaw Valley State UniversityUniversity of the Arts
California College of the ArtsUniversity of Mary Hardin BaylorIndiana Institute of TechnologySt Johns University
Roosevelt UniversityUtah Valley UniversityUniversity of New OrleansSouthern Utah University
Northwood UniversityUniversity of Northern IowaUniversity of Wisconsin StoutSalisbury University
University of Southern MississippiUniversity of CharlestonUniversity of Nevada RenoPoint Park University
University Of Nebraska OmahaSofia UniversityUniversity of St ThomasMetropolitan State University of Denver
Texas Wesleyan UniversityRegis UniversityUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaLoyola University New Orleans
Texas Christian UniversityMcNeese State UniversityRush UniversityHarding University
Tennessee Technological UniversityLindenwood UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityECPI University
Seattle Pacific UniversityLeTourneau UniversityLoma Linda UniversityBethel University
Oklahoma Christian UniversityLa Salle UniversityJacksonville State UniversityAnderson University
Middle Tennessee State UniversityArcadia UniversityColumbus State UniversityWhitworth University

 

Pragya Sharma

Sr. Content Editor

Pragya Sharma is a content developer and marketer with 6.5+ years of experience in the education industry. She started her career as a social media copywriter for NIELIT, Ministry of Electronics & IT, and has now scaled up as a 360-degree content professional well-versed with the intricacies of digital marketing and different forms of content used to drive and hook the target audience. She is also a co-author of 2 stories in an anthology based on the theme- women empowerment.

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