New York, US
Columbia University: English test requirements
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering first-year applicants and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) each have one set of minimums. Columbia's other graduate schools are not covered here. Undergraduates can meet the requirement without an exam in some cases, including a high SAT or ACT reading score.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG 7.5
PG 7.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 5.5 / 105
PG 5.5 / 100
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 135
PG 135
Undergraduate (Columbia College and Columbia Engineering)
One set of minimums for all first-year applicants. The page gives separate TOEFL figures by test date. No exam is needed if English is the home language, English was the main language of school instruction throughout secondary school, or the SAT or ACT reading and writing results reach the page's thresholds (SAT Reading and Writing 700 or higher; ACT English or Reading 29 or higher).
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (also IELTS Academic for UKVI) | 7.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (including Special Home Edition) | 5.5 (new 1-6 scale, tests on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 105 (0-120, tests on or before 20 Jan 2026) | AcceptedWhole-sitting scores only; MyBest scores are not accepted. Multiple results may be sent. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 135 | Accepted | |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 191 | Accepted |
“If you meet one or more of the above criteria, you have fulfilled Columbia’s English language proficiency requirement”
Columbia Undergraduate Admissions: English proficiency requirements
Graduate (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences only)
These are the GSAS minimums. The requirement depends on the official language of the country where the bachelor's degree was earned, not on citizenship, and applies where English is not the sole official language. Scores older than two years are not accepted and must arrive within two weeks of the deadline. A waiver can be requested for a master's or PhD from a country where English is the sole official language, or for an English-taught undergraduate degree. These minimums cover GSAS programmes only.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 5.5 (new 1-6 scale, test dates after 21 Jan 2026) / 100 (0-120, test dates before 21 Jan 2026) | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listThe GSAS page names only TOEFL, IELTS and the Duolingo English Test. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 135 | Accepted |
“Scores more than two years old are not accepted.”
Columbia GSAS: information for international applicants (English proficiency requirement)
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants, 2026-27 cycle
Optional
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are test-optional for this cycle. Applicants who choose to send scores may submit SAT or ACT; scores are superscored.
“We will remain test optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.”
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants, 2027-28 cycle
Required from August 2027
SAT or ACT becomes a requirement from August 2027 for first-year and transfer applicants, with a waiver available on request at the time of application.
“Columbia will require standardized testing starting in August 2027.”
GMAT / GRE · MBA (Columbia Business School)
Required
Every applicant must self-report a valid GMAT (Exam or Focus Edition), Executive Assessment or GRE score, valid for five years; an official score is needed if admitted. Only the highest score is considered and sub-scores from different exams are not combined. The page states no English test requirement.
“All applicants must submit a self-reported valid GMAT*, Executive Assessment, or GRE score when submitting an application.”
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest scores
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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