What TOEFL score do you need for Penn State?

Undergraduate scores must be official and come directly from the testing service, and TOEFL scores must be less than two years old. The name on your test must match the name on your application. Penn State undergraduate admissions does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores.

The Graduate School's FAQ says international applicants must submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic unless an exemption applies. GCAC-305 was revised on 21 January 2026 to set the TOEFL requirements on the new 1 to 6 scale.

For comparison, the undergraduate page and GCAC-305 both set IELTS Academic at 6.5, with 6.0 for graduate provisional admission.

Graduate applicants in the provisional ranges above may be admitted provisionally. To be fully admitted, they must complete specified English coursework with a grade of B or higher in their first semester, chosen according to the weak areas in their test results. Completing Penn State's Intensive English Communications Program with certification also meets the graduate requirement.

Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Penn State programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.