What IELTS score do you need for Sam Houston State University?

The graduate catalog says the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo is required of non-native speakers of English, and that applicants from non-English-speaking countries must present at least 79 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS. It does not give a Duolingo minimum. See the SHSU graduate catalog.

Test waivers are considered for applicants who completed an undergraduate program or earlier degree coursework where English was the language of instruction. SHSU confirms the language of instruction from your transcripts, or from the country being on its official English language nations list, and the Office of Admissions then decides on the waiver. An Indian or Pakistani degree taught in English can therefore qualify, but only after that review.

Freshmen, transfers and US-college transfers with fewer than 30 transferable hours need TOEFL iBT 69, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 100, unless their school is in a listed country. Other routes include ACT English 27, SAT Verbal 600, IB English SL 4, Cambridge O-Level English at C, a C in English Composition I at a US college, or an intensive English program recognised by SHSU. Waivers may be considered where high school or college was taught in English. See the international checklist.

The official English language nations list includes Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Singapore, the Philippines, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh are not on it. See the SHSU list.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement SHSU 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 SHSU graduate catalog page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.