Missouri State English requirements at a glance
Sources: the Office of International Services English proficiency page and graduate application checklist. Scores must come from one test session on a single report. Upload them to your application and send official scores using school code 6665.
| Level | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (option 1) | 5.5 | 61 | 95 | Not listed |
| Undergraduate with prescribed courses (option 2) | 4.0–5.0 | 42–60 | 60–90 | Not listed |
| Graduate | 6.0 | 79 | 110 | Not listed |
Graduate admission: IELTS 6.0
Graduate applicants must show high B2 English: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 110, Linguaskill 169 or LanguageCert Academic 67. A TOEFL section below 15, an IELTS band below 5.0, or a Duolingo subscore below 110 means you take a matching LCR 297 or LCR 397 English course in your first semester. PTE Academic does not appear on Missouri State's current lists. See the graduate checklist.
Free test: are you at Missouri State 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.
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Undergraduate options and exemptions
Undergraduates meet low B2 with TOEFL 61, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 95, Linguaskill 162 or LanguageCert Academic 62. With a high B1 score (TOEFL 42–60, IELTS 4.0–5.0 or Duolingo 60–90) you are admitted in full if you meet the other requirements, but must take prescribed courses in your first semester. See English proficiency.
Citizens of exempt countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines and the UK, do not need a test. Applicants who completed at least one year of full-time secondary or post-secondary study in the US, in an English-speaking country, or at another accredited institution where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempt at the discretion of the Office of International Services.
Student visa and next steps
The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement Missouri State 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 Missouri State English proficiency page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Missouri State 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 do I need for a master's at Missouri State?+
IELTS 6.0 overall. A band below 5.0 adds an English course in your first semester.
Does Missouri State accept PTE?+
PTE is not listed on the university's current English proficiency pages, which name TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Linguaskill and LanguageCert.
Can I get into Missouri State with IELTS 5.0?+
As an undergraduate, yes: IELTS 4.0–5.0 gives full admission with prescribed first-semester courses.
Can an English-medium degree exempt me?+
It may. At least a year of full-time study where English was the primary language of instruction can exempt you, at the Office of International Services' discretion.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for the USA
- TOEFL to IELTS converter
- UMSL IELTS requirement
- Webster University IELTS requirement
- Saint Louis University IELTS requirement
- All 1393 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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