Getting a good score in the IELTS test (at least 5.5, though it depends on each college’s own requirements) will allow you to study at most universities in the USA.
However, IELTS is not the be all and end all of English Language Assessment Tests for studying in the US. The long story, short: Yes, you can study in the USA without IELTS.
There are plenty of alternative tests, which we’ll go into in more detail below. If you’re interested, we’ve written a pretty comprehensive guide on entrance exams to study abroad, as well as the last guide you’ll ever need to ace your English language assessment test. Both are articles you should check out when you’re done with this one!
Now, let’s get into some more detail on studying in the USA without IELTS, how you can do it, and which universities are happy to accept other English language certificates.
Can I study in the USA without IELTS?
- What is IELTS?
- How to study in the USA without IELTS
- English Language Assessments
- 10 colleges offering admission without IELTS
- Summary
1. In case you missed it… what is IELTS?
You probably already know, but just in case... IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System.
And it’s exactly what it says it is - a test of your English level! It’s the most well known, and arguably the most universally respected assessment, accepted by pretty much all universities and employers around the world. Here’s a quick guide to IELTS scores.
While it’s accepted by US colleges and immigration authorities, it is still possible to study in the USA without IELTS in 2022.
2. How to study in the USA without IELTS?
To study abroad in the US, you have to meet both federal study visa requirements for immigration purposes, and university admissions requirements. That’s normal for studying anywhere overseas.
Here’s what’s important to know though: there is no federal requirement for people studying in the USA to have IELTS.
This means that your required English language certification is decided by your university (or college, since we’re talking about the USA here).
So that’s the first step. When considering any college, simply check which English language assessment they need, and who might be exempt from having to provide any English certificate at all.
For example, there are also plenty of schools which will allow you to study without IELTS (or an equivalent assessment) if you've studied at an English language medium school, and there are many which employ a Conditional Admissions Programme (CAP).
A CAP is a university-specific initiative which allows eligible international students to enrol on the condition that they will attend that college’s own English language programme, or another Intensive English Language Programme (IELP).
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3. English Language Assessments to study in the USA
So we know that IELTS is accepted by most universities in the USA, but here is a list of alternative English Language Assessment which may be accepted to allow you to study in the USA.
But remember to always check with your university first, as the entry requirements for international students change from one university to the next:
- TOEFL
- Cambridge Test (CAE / CPE)
- Duolingo English Test
- Pearson Test of English (PTE)
- ACT (American College Test)
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
- iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency)
4. 10 universities in USA offering admission without IELTS
We’d love to list every single college in the US at which you could study without IELTS, but there are nearly 4,000 colleges across the country, and English language assessment requirements can change from year to year, and from degree to degree!
However, here are 10 colleges we really like that can accept students without IELTS. We’ve also listed the alternative English language proficiency assessments accepted at each college.
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However it’s worth noting that some have a list of their own exemptions from any English language assessments at all, so check their own websites out too!
10 Top Universities to Study in USA without IELTS
| S No. | University | Alternate for IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American University, Washington DC | TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo English Test |
| 2 | State University of New York | Conditional (IELP), ACT, SAT |
| 3 | University of Illinois at Chicago | TOEFL, PTE |
| 4 | University of Central Florida | TOEFL |
| 5 | University of New Orleans | Conditional (IELP), TOEFL, Duolingo English Test |
| 6 | University of Colorado | TOEFL, Duolingo English Test |
| 7 | UMASS, Boston | TOEFL, SAT, ACT, Duolingo English Test |
| 8 | The University of Utah | TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, ACT, SAT |
| 9 | University of Dayton, Ohio | Conditional (IELP), TOEFL, iTEP, PTE, SAT, ACT, Duolingo English Test |
| 10 | Auburn University, Alabama | TOEFL, Conditional (IELP) |
5. In summary: Studying in the USA without IELTS
It’s more than possible to study abroad in the USA without an IELTS certificate, it just depends on the university’s own requirements. Almost 100% of the time, some demonstration of English proficiency is needed, which makes sense, since you’ll be studying in English!
So now that you know more about your options for studying in the USA, maybe it’s time to start preparing for life there in the future? We’ve written a handy article on the 10 highest paying part-time jobs for international students in the USA, in case you need to work while you study!
Achieve your highest IELTS score!
Signup for your free IELTS masterclass with Edvoy.
Learn from the best of the best teacher with over 17 years of experience.
