English Language Requirements for Admission
International applicants whose first language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for admission to the University's undergraduate colleges.

TOEFL scores must be reported to the University directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the TOEFL. The institutional code for The University of Iowa is 6681 on the TOEFL.

Minimum TOEFL score requirements for admission

• Internet-based test (iBT): 80 with no subscore lower than 17
• Paper-based test (PBT): 530

Admitted students will also need to take an on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation unless they have a TOEFL score of 100 or higher on the iBT or 600 or higher on the PBT.

Alternatives to the TOEFL—minimum score requirements

• An ACT English subscore of 21
  • The institutional code for The University of Iowa is 1356 on the ACT.
• An SAT Critical Reading score of 540
  • The institutional code for The University of Iowa is 6681 on the SAT.
• An IELTS total score of 6.5, with no subscore lower than 6.0 (International English Language Testing System)
  • Ask the center where you took the IELTS to send your Test Report Form to The University of Iowa. (IELTS has no institutional code for The University of Iowa.)

Students who take the ACT, SAT, or IELTS as an alternative to the TOEFL will be required to take the on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation.

If your score is below our minimum requirement
Students whose scores do not meet the minimum TOEFL (or alternatives) are not considered for admission to the University. These students may apply for admission to the Iowa Intensive English Program (IIEP).