Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 4 November 2026
College of Staten Island graduate minimums
From the College of Staten Island's graduate international applicants page. It says the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo exam is required of students for whom English is a second language.
| Test | Minimum required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic only) | 6.5 overall band |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 |
| TOEFL ITP (at the College's English Language Institute) | 550 to 600 |
| PTE | 53 |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 |
Conditional admission
The College's conditional admission page says applicants who are otherwise admissible but have no proof of English proficiency may apply for conditional admission. The requirement must then be met by taking the institutional TOEFL at the College and submitting the required score.
It adds that some graduate programmes will consider conditional admission, and directs you to the graduate admissions office for details. Applicants apply to the English Language Institute (ELI) following its own instructions.
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Programme requirements and how to check
The graduate page notes that some programmes ask for extra documents such as letters of recommendation, entrance exams or a personal statement, and that the Doctorate in Physical Therapy applies through PTCAS. Read your programme's own page for those.
The IELTS figure on this page applies to graduate admission only. Undergraduate international applicants have separate pages.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your the College of Staten Island programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the College of Staten Island (CUNY) 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 the College of Staten Island need for graduate study?+
An overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5. The page says only Academic scores are accepted.
Does CSI accept PTE or Duolingo?+
Yes. The page lists PTE 53 and Duolingo 100.
Can I be admitted without a test score?+
Conditional admission is possible for otherwise admissible applicants, who then take the College's institutional TOEFL and submit the required score.
Does CSI accept IELTS General Training?+
No. The page says the College will only accept the Academic exam scores.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the USA accepting IELTS 6.5
- Baruch College IELTS requirement
- Hunter College IELTS requirement
- John Jay College IELTS requirement
- IELTS for the USA: scores by university and visa
- 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.
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