What IELTS score do you need for Mississippi State University?

The Graduate School lists university minimums of TOEFL Essentials 6.0, TOEFL iBT 54 (old scale) or 3.5 (new scale), IELTS 4.5 or Duolingo 95. The College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Education's master's and doctoral programs need TOEFL 79 (5) or IELTS 6.5; the College of Business needs TOEFL 84 (5), IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 115 for master's and 130 for PhD. If you send more than one score, the highest counts. See international students.

The catalog sets out what lower scores mean. IELTS 6.5 (TOEFL 79) is regular admission, and an assistantship can be awarded. IELTS 6.0 means admission plus ESL 5323 Academic Research and Writing, still with an assistantship possible. IELTS 5.5 adds the 9-hour ESL 5120 immersion course, with no assistantship until it is done, and a spring or fall start only. IELTS 4.5 to 5.0 adds ESL 5110 too, with a fall start only. Below that you are not eligible. A retake score must reach the Graduate School at least five business days before classes start. See the graduate catalog.

You do not need a test with a degree from a US college, or if your high school certificate states English is the country's official first language, or with a degree from a university where English is the first language. The exempt-country list includes Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ghana, Jamaica, Nigeria and the UK; India and Pakistan are not on it.

Undergraduates show proficiency with TOEFL 71, IELTS 6.0, ACT English 19, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 510 or Duolingo 105. Some departments set higher bars: all engineering and accountancy majors, architecture, building construction science, geosciences, history, political science and several others need TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5. Business majors need 71 or 6.0. See the departmental table.

Only citizens of listed countries, such as Australia, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and the UK, are automatically exempt, and India is not listed. Intensive English training may not waive the requirement. Students who fall short enrol in the English Language Institute, a separate application, and move into degree courses after completing it. See international admissions.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement Mississippi State University sets for admission, which leads to your Form I-20. For the wider picture of studying in the US with each test, see IELTS for the USA and PTE for the USA.

Requirements change between admission cycles. Check the Mississippi State Graduate School international students page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.