University Park, Pennsylvania, US
Pennsylvania State University: English test requirements
Penn State publishes one set of minimums for undergraduates, accepting TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo, and a separate graduate policy that accepts only TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic, with a lower provisional-admission route. Programmes may set higher graduate scores.
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 6.5
PG 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5 / 80
PG 4.5 / 80
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 120
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate (first-year and transfer)
Applies to international students whose native language is not English. TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo scores must be less than two years old and sent officially by the testing service. TOEFL MyBest is not accepted. English can also be shown with SAT, ACT, GCSE or GCE, IB, four years of US high school, or Penn State's Intensive English Communication Program.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4.5 (exams taken after 21 January 2026) / 80 (exams taken before 21 January 2026) | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | Accepted |
“Duolingo English Test (DET): A minimum score of 120 is required”
Penn State international students: admission requirements
Graduate
All international applicants must submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic unless exempt (for example a degree from a listed English-speaking country, or Penn State's Intensive English Communication Program). Individual programmes may require higher scores. Applicants just below these scores may be considered for provisional admission with required English coursework in the first semester; the policy lists TOEFL 4.5 with speaking 3, or TOEFL 4 with speaking 3.5, or IELTS 6.0 for that route.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (exams from 21 January 2026) / 80 (exams before 21 January 2026) | speaking 3.5 or higher (exams from 21 January 2026) / 19 or higher (earlier exams) | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listThe page says applicants must submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic and names no other test. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listThe page says applicants must submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic and names no other test. |
“Applicants must have a composite score for the IELTS Academic Test of at least 6.5.”
Graduate Council policy GCAC-305: admission requirements for international students
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · International first-year applicants (no cycle dates given)
Optional
Scores are not required unless used as proof of English proficiency. If submitted, the highest combined score from a single test date is used, with no superscore.
“Penn State is test-optional, so submitting scores is not required for your application”
GMAT / GRE · Smeal one-year residential MBA (the residential full-time route listed on the Smeal site)
Optional
The page states that no GMAT or GRE is required to apply to this programme.
“Simple Admissions: No GMAT or GRE required to apply”
Other tests the university lists
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 570 or ACT English 24 (undergraduate)
- GCSE or GCE English language grade A, B or C
- IB English A score 5 or higher
- Penn State Intensive English Communication Program certification
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest (undergraduate)
“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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