IELTS score for USA universities. And universities that don’t require IELTS scores

Colleges and Universities, Study Abroad Requirements

IELTS score for USA universities. And universities that don't require IELTS scores

Indian students love studying in the U.S. Here’s proof:

Indian students form 18% of all international students in the U.S. in 2021.

The percentage meant that Indian students form the second-largest group of international students in the U.S.
The U.S. embassy offered more than 62,000 student visas in the summer of 2021 alone.

Here are the three principal reasons Indian students choose the U.S. for studying:

The U.S. is home to 25 universities in the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2022. The top 5 universities are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (QS World University Ranking 1), Stanford University (QS World University Ranking 3), Harvard University (QS World University Ranking 5), California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (QS World University Ranking 6), and University of Chicago (QS World University Ranking 10).
The U.S. government allows international students to work full-time (40 hours a week) during summer sessions, holidays, and vacations. Furthermore, the U.S. government allows international students to work part-time (20 hours a week) as well.
The U.S. universities have academic flexibility such as the option to study several subjects before choosing a major at the undergraduate level and transfer admission which stands for transferring credits from one university to another university.

One of the criteria to study in the U.S. is a good IELTS score for USA universities. Here’s the IELTS exam format:

However, now you can have questions. What is the ideal IELTS score for USA universities? Can I study in USA without IELTS score? Are there universities in USA that offer admission without IELTS scores?

This article will offer all the answers. In the next seven minutes, learn all about IELTS scores for USA universities. This complete guide will talk about:

What’s the ideal IELTS score for USA universities
Which universities offer admission without an IELTS score
What to do if your IELTS band score is low
How to study without an IELTS score for USA universities
What documents do you need to show to get a student visa without IELTS score for USA universities

However, even after reading the article, you can still feel overwhelmed. You might still have questions. You might still wonder which universities in USA without IELTS would be best for you.

The only information source you have are your relatives who passed out 20 years ago and random blogs on the internet written by someone who has read five other blogs on the topic.

Can you put your trust in them? You know the answer already.

That’s when you need additional help.

That’s when you need AI by your side.

That’s when you need SelectRight.

More on SelectRight later. Back to discussing everything about IELTS scores for USA universities for now.

Note: the information is true at the time of writing. That’s November 2022.

IELTS score for the USA universities – a complete guide

Ideal IELTS score for the USA universities

The right answer, it depends on the particular university.

However, most U.S. universities want a 6 to 6.5 IELTS score to offer admission. Furthermore, top-tier universities in the U.S. want at least a 7 IELTS score to offer admission.

Check out the table below to find out the ideal IELTS score for these 10 USA universities.

University	QS World University Ranking	Minimum IELTS Cut-off for Undergraduate Courses	Minimum IELTS Cut-off for Postgraduate Courses
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	1	7	7
Stanford University	3	7	7
Harvard University	5	7	7
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	6	7	7
University of Chicago	10	7	7
University of Pennsylvania	13	7	7
Yale University	14	7	7
Columbia University	19	7	7
Princeton University	20	7	7
Cornell University	21	7	7.5

Universities that offer admission without IELTS scores

Check out the table below to find out 10 universities that offer admission without IELTS scores and which alternate English proficiency exam scores they accept instead.

University	Alternate English proficiency exam score they accept
Northwood University	PTE Academic/IB/EIKEN/Cambridge English Test
University of Dayton	Duolingo/PTE
State University of New York	Cambridge English Scale/Duolingo/PTE
University of Delaware	English Language for Internationals (ELI)
University of New Orleans (UNO)	English Language for Internationals (ELI)
Drexel University	You must join the University Preparation Summer Program or FCBP Program
California State University	PTE
University of North Alabama	TOEIC
National Louis University	PTE
University of Colorado	Duolingo

This list is non-exhaustive. Furthermore, the universities can insist you join their introductory courses such as the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) to increase your English proficiency.

Things to do when the IELTS band score is low

Your IELTS score is less than the required marks. Here are 5 ways you can go about it next:

Reappear for the IELTS examination. You can give the exam as many times as you want.
Reach out to the admission office of your chosen university and speak to the designated person to decide what to do. The university can choose – at its own discretion – to accept you on the basis of the present score.
Think about applying to other universities with lower IELTS score cut-offs.
Search for universities that accept other English proficiency exam scores such as TOEFL and Duolingo.
Find an alternative program in the same or a different university that accepts a lower IELTS score.

Note that you must be proficient in English to get a student visa.

Scenarios where you can study without IELTS score for the USA universities

Check out the four scenarios where you can get admission without an IELTS score:

If the country where you finished your last education has English as its official language, an IELTS score might not be required.
You can ask your previous university for a letter stating the graduate course you passed was in English.
Many universities in the U.S. offer admission without IELTS scores. However, they can insist you enroll on their introductory courses such as the Intensive English Language Program (IELP).

Many summer programs in the U.S. allow international students to join to increase their English language proficiency.

Documents you need to show to get a student visa without IELTS score for USA universities

Check out the documents you need to submit:

I-20 form
Valid passport copy
Accommodation proof
DS-160 confirmation page
CV or resume
Academic transcripts
Healthcare coverage
SEVIS application payment receipt
Passport size photograph

Note that you must be proficient in English to get a student visa. Thus, you must submit another English proficiency test score such as TOEFL to get a student visa.

Feeling overwhelmed about which universities in USA without IELTS score to choose? We feel your situation. That’s why we at SelectRight are here to help.

At SelectRight, we offer:

Unbiased and personalised university recommendations based on more than 6 million data points across over 10,000 STEM, MBA, and CS programs.
Actionable and latest tips from the alumni and current students of your chosen university.
Expert guidance on each stage of your application processes such as SOP review, application review, and LOR review.

If you want to know more, drop us a mail at grad@gradright.com to begin a conversation with our education and financial advisors.

FAQ

Can I study in USA without an IELTS score?

Yes. You can study in USA without an IELTS score at selected universities that accept other English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL and PTE.

Which universities in USA admit students without IELTS scores?

Check out 5 universities that allow students to study in USA without IELTS scores:

University of Delaware
State University of New York
University of New Orleans (UNO)
University of Dayton
California State University

Furthermore, there are many other universities in the U.S. that allow students to study in USA without IELTS scores.

Can I get a scholarship without an IELTS score?

If English is your native language or if you hold a bachelor’s degree with English as the language of instruction, you can get a scholarship without an IELTS score.

In which country an IELTS score isn’t needed for a study visa?

Here are 5 countries that issue study visas without an IELTS score:

The U.S.
The U.K
Australia
Canada
Germany

There are many other countries that offer student visas without an IELTS score.

Is it possible for Indian students to study at universities in USA without IELTS scores?

Yes. Many U.S. universities allow Indian students to study in USA without IELTS scores. Here are 5 of them:

Drexel University
National Louis University
University of North Alabama
University of Iowa
Northwood University

Furthermore, there are many other universities in the U.S. that offer admission without IELTS scores.

IELTS scores for USA universities – SelectRight is here to help you

We have gathered all the information about IELTS scores for USA universities in this article. However, prior to that, you must choose a university first. However, choosing one from the thousands of universities is a humongous task.

You can’t depend on your uncle’s advice who passed out 30 years ago or on random blogs on the internet with half (or worse, misinformation). Sounds exhausting already? That’s when SelectRight comes to your rescue.

At SelectRight, we offer:

A University Finder Widget that allows you to download the program details of the top 500 universities with information such as loan probabilities, the correlation between exam scores and the education loan interest rates, and ROI calculations.
An Instagram page that shares live sessions with both the alumni and current students from reputed universities, virtual campus tours, and exclusive GradRight events and scholarships.
A series of webinars showing you the process of shortlisting universities and the ways to reach out to and interact with the alumni from the universities.

If you want to know more, send us an email at grad@gradright.com to talk to our education and financial advisors.