Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 4 November 2026
Bethel's minimums by level
From Bethel's undergraduate international page and its international graduate students page. Neither page lists IELTS section minimums.
| Programme | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 80 or paper-based 550 |
| Graduate | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 80 or Essentials 8, PTE Academic 55 |
When the test is waived
For undergraduates, the page says that if English is not your primary language you must take the TOEFL or IELTS, but that you do not need to submit test scores if you attended a US high school or a high school where instruction was in English.
For graduate applicants, the page says the requirement can be waived if you received an undergraduate or higher-level degree at a US college or university. The page names TOEFL, IELTS and PTE Academic as accepted tests and does not list Duolingo.
Free test: are you at Bethel University's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Checking your programme
Bethel's seminary and some health programmes post their own pages, and a degree such as physician assistant studies sets its own international applicant rules. If your course has a separate page, use that figure over the general one.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Bethel programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Bethel University publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score does Bethel University need?+
IELTS 6.5 for both undergraduate and graduate applicants, according to the international pages.
Does Bethel accept PTE Academic?+
Graduate applicants can submit PTE Academic 55. The undergraduate page lists TOEFL and IELTS.
Can Bethel waive the English test?+
Undergraduates from a US or English-instruction high school need no score. Graduate applicants with a US degree can be waived.
Does Bethel accept Duolingo?+
Neither international page lists Duolingo.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the USA accepting IELTS 6.5
- Hamline University IELTS requirement
- Augsburg University IELTS requirement
- IELTS for the USA: scores by university
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 5669 guides
Guide updated on 4 November 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy