Most international students will take the internet-based test (iBT) which ranges from 0 to 100 points. The minimum score for admission into many universities is 61 points on the iBT (500 points on the paper-based test or 173 points on the computer-based test).
Although some universities will have a minimum TOEFL score of 61 points, particular departments will require a minimum TOEFL score of 100 points on the iBT (600 points on the paper-based test or 250 points on the computer-based test) if the field of study requires high proficiency in English.
Departments that emphasize communication, such as Public Relations, Literature, and Journalism, tend to require 100 points on the TOEFL while department that emphasize math skills, such as the Sciences and Engineering, tend to have the same minimum TOEFL requirement as the university. Colleges or universities that are very selective will also require a much higher minimum score.
Sometimes a university will accept students with a minimum TOEFL score as low as 45 points on the iBT (450 points on the paper-based test or 133 points on the computer-based test), but in order to enroll with this minimum score students will need to demonstrate previous high academic standards and will be limited in the number of classes in which they can enroll.
A university that accepts students with lower TOEFL scores will also require students to enroll in an on-campus English as a Second Language (ESL) course and take the school’s own English proficiency exam. Based on results of this exam the school will decide if the student can register academic course work or if the students should take additional classes to further improve English skills.
The following table provides a guide to the minimum TOEFL score required for various fields of study.
Field of Study |
Minimum TOEFL score |
||
|
Internet-based |
Paper-based |
Computer-based |
Education |
100 |
600 |
250 |
Health Related Professions |
100 |
600 |
250 |
Journalism |
100 |
600 |
250 |
Business |
79 |
550 |
213 |
Nursing |
79 |
550 |
213 |
Agriculture |
61 |
500 |
173 |
Arts and Science |
61 |
500 |
173 |
Engineering |
61 |
500 |
173 |
Environmental Sciences |
61 |
500 |
173 |
Natural Resources |
61 |
500 |
173 |
