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TOEFL Cut-Off for Top USA Universities

TOEFL iBT® Cut-off for Top USA Universities

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Key Highlights

To gain admission to top USA universities like MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Harvard, you'll need to meet TOEFL cut-off scores ranging from 80 to 110. This guide offers insights into the best universities in the USA based on the QS World Rankings 2025, details TOEFL iBT® score requirements, and highlights scholarships available for international students.

Check out: TOEFL iBT® Score Requirements for USA Study Visa

TOEFL Cut-off for Top 20 USA Universities

Here’s a detailed breakdown of TOEFL cut-off requirements for the top 20 US universities, along with their QS World Ranking for 2025:

University Name 

QS World Ranking 2025 

Overall TOEFL iBT® Score

Section-wise TOEFL iBT® score 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

1

90

-

Harvard University 

4

100

 

Stanford University 

6

89-100

 

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 

10

100

No less than 25 in each section 

University of Pennsylvania 

11

100

-

University of California, Berkeley (UCB) 

12

80

-

Cornell University

16

100

-

University of Chicago

21

100

Reading, Listening, and Writing - 26

Speaking - 22 

Princeton University 

22

108

Reading - 29

Listening - 28 Speaking - 24 

Writing - 27 

Yale University 

23

100

Listening - 28 Speaking - 28

Johns Hopkins University

32

100

-

Columbia University

34

100

-

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

42

87

Reading - 21

Listening - 17 Speaking - 24 

Writing - 25

New York University (NYU)

43

100 and above 

-

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 

44

88

Reading - 23

Listening - 23 Speaking - 21

Writing - 21

Northwestern University

50

71

-

Carnegie Mellon University

58

102

-

Duke University 

61

90

-

University of Texas 

66

79

-

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

69

79-102

-

Check out: What Your TOEFL iBT® Exam Scores Mean

Scholarships Available for International Students in USA

Here are some scholarships available for international students looking to study in USA:

1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

  • Coverage: Tuition, living expenses, airfare, and health insurance.
  • Amount: Varies by country.
  • Eligibility: International students pursuing a Master's or Ph.D.

2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

  • Coverage: Full funding including tuition, allowances, and travel.
  • Amount: Varies.
  • Eligibility: Professionals with leadership potential in public service.

3. Clark University Presidential Scholarships

  • Coverage: Full tuition, on-campus room, and board for four years.
  • Amount: Full tuition.
  • Eligibility: Exceptional academic and leadership potential.

4. East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship

  • Coverage: Tuition, books, housing, and a stipend.
  • Amount: Full funding for up to 24 months.
  • Eligibility: Graduate students from Asia, the Pacific, and the USA.

5. American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship

  • Coverage: Full tuition, room, and board.
  • Amount: Full tuition.
  • Eligibility: International students with leadership potential.

6. Yale University Scholarships

  • Coverage: Full funding depending on financial need.
  • Amount: Average need-based scholarship is over $50,000.
  • Eligibility: International students with demonstrated financial need.

7. University of Oregon ICSP Scholarship

  • Coverage: Partial to full tuition waivers.
  • Amount: Up to full tuition for 15 credits per term.
  • Eligibility: Based on financial need and academic merit

Looking to Boost Your TOEFL Score? 
Sharpen Your Skills with Our TOEFL Practice Tests, Designed by Experts!

How to Apply to Top Universities in USA as an International Student

Here are easy steps to help international students navigate the application process for USA universities: 

1. Search for universities: Look for different universities in USA that offer your interest program. Consider location, campus size, available majors, etc. Check its ranking and reputation in your field of study as well.

2. Check Admission Requirements: Every university has its own set of rules for international applicants. These may pertain to academic qualifications, test scores, language proficiency, etc. 

3. Take necessary tests: Most colleges and universities require some form of standardized test scores to be sent in with the admission application. For undergraduates, this usually translates into taking the SAT or ACT. Graduate students are often required to take the Graduate Record Examination, depending on graduate fields of study.

4. Language tests: If English is not your first language, you more than likely will have to take the TOEFL.

5. Gather documents: Get all documents that schools require, which include:

  • Academic transcripts
  • Test score reports
  • Passport copy

6. Financial supporting documents: Ability to fund studies in the US.

7. Draft your essays: Most universities require personal statements or essays. These should underline all your achievements and goals, stating why you have chosen this university.

8. Recommendation letters: Get professors or employers to write strong letters of recommendation on your behalf. Make sure you allow them enough time to write these.

9. Filling up the application forms: There is an application form to be filled up for each university. Fill them up carefully and check all the information before submitting.

10. Applying for aid: Seek scholarships, grants, or assistantships available for international students. Keep in mind that the choices are going to be less than what is available to US students.

11. Sending applications: Mail all the materials before the deadline. The mode of submission may be different for each university. 

12. Application for a Student Visa: After gaining admission, the next step is to apply for a U.S. student visa, which includes fulfilling all requirements and attending an interview.

We hope this guide has simplified the process of applying to top USA universities. With the right TOEFL score, you're one step closer to your dream university. Good luck with your applications!

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