Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
SPU English requirements
From SPU's international undergraduate admissions page. It gives overall scores only.
| Programme | IELTS Academic | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 4 (79 pre-2026), PTE Academic 56, PTE Express 59, Duolingo 105, EIKEN Pre-Level 1 |
Waivers
First-year applicants can meet the requirement with SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550 (code 4694) or ACT Reading and English 20 (code 4476). Transfer students are waived after 45 or more quarter credits (30 semester credits) at a US college with a 3.0 GPA and a B or higher in English Composition I and II. Post-baccalaureate applicants are waived with a bachelor's degree or higher from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK or Ireland.
SPU does not waive the requirement on the strength of a letter from your school or college saying you were taught in English. Waivers by citizenship or IB and I/GCSE coursework are possible; ask international@spu.edu.
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Conditional admission and ALPS
SPU offers conditional admission to students who meet the academic requirements in every area except English. To convert it, submit a qualifying test score or complete level 5 at ALPS Language School, SPU's partner in downtown Seattle. SPU does not offer ESL classes on campus. It also offers conditional transfer admission through nine Seattle-area community college partners.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admission cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your SPU programme page and in your admission letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Seattle Pacific 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 does Seattle Pacific University require?+
IELTS 6.5 for international undergraduate admission.
Does SPU accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE Academic 56 or the PTE Express Test 59.
Does SPU offer conditional admission?+
Yes. You convert it with a qualifying score or by completing level 5 at ALPS Language School in Seattle.
Will SPU accept a medium of instruction letter?+
No. SPU does not waive English proficiency based on a school or college letter about English instruction.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the USA accepting IELTS 6.5
- Seattle University IELTS requirement
- Pacific Lutheran University IELTS requirement
- University of Washington IELTS requirement
- IELTS for the USA: scores by university
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 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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