Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 31 October 2026
Northeastern TOEFL levels
From Northeastern's international undergraduate applicants page, the graduate international students page and the College of Engineering graduate admissions page. Graduate minimums and accepted tests vary by college.
| Level or programme | TOEFL iBT minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, test on or before 20 Jan 2026 | No minimum; middle 50% 102 to 110 | Not a cut-off |
| Undergraduate, test on or after 21 Jan 2026 | No minimum; middle 50% 5.0 to 5.5 | Overall and subscores |
| Graduate, College of Engineering | 79, or 4.0 on the 2026 scale | Minimum |
| Robotics, computer science concentration | Higher | Follows Khoury College's rules |
Northeastern's TOEFL rules
Undergraduates send scores to code 3667. Northeastern accepts the in-person iBT and the iBT Home Edition, but not TOEFL Essentials, the TOEFL iBT Paper Test or the TOEFL ITP. A valid score is no more than two years old from the test date, and Northeastern focuses on your most recent result.
The College of Engineering accepts the TOEFL iBT and Home Edition; send scores to institution code 3665, with no department code needed.
For comparison, admitted undergraduates' middle 50% on IELTS Academic was 7.5 to 8.0, and the College of Engineering sets IELTS at 6.5 overall.
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If your TOEFL score is below Northeastern's level
If you are below the College of Engineering minimum and are aiming for a Master of Science, the college encourages you to apply first to Northeastern's Global Pathways Program to build English and academic skills before engineering coursework.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Northeastern programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
Does Northeastern have a TOEFL minimum for undergraduates?+
No. It publishes a middle 50% range for admitted students: 102 to 110, or 5.0 to 5.5 on the new scale.
What TOEFL score does Northeastern's College of Engineering need?+
At least 79, or 4.0 on the 2026 scale.
What is Northeastern's TOEFL code?+
3667 for undergraduate admission and 3665 for the College of Engineering.
Does Northeastern accept TOEFL Essentials?+
Undergraduate admissions does not accept TOEFL Essentials.
Keep reading
Related
- Northeastern University IELTS requirement
- Stevens Institute of Technology TOEFL requirement
- What is a good TOEFL score?
- IELTS vs TOEFL for US universities
- All 3797 guides
Guide updated on 31 October 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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