English Proficiency

United States Citizens or Permanent Residents

Regardless of citizenship, applicants may be required to demonstrate proof of English language proficiency if they do not have a degree from an institution where the primary language of instruction is English.

International
Students

Proof of English language proficiency is required in cases where there are official languages other than, or in addition to, English. 

English Proficiency Test Scores

U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International Students may submit English proficiency scores directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions at Colorado State University, 1062 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo or Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic should be submitted with institution code 4075. Photocopies will not be accepted.

  • When the CSU graduate degree program is taught in the student’s native language, the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or the PTE Academic requirement will be waived.
  • Students are exempted from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic requirement if the official language of their country is solely English, or if they have recently earned a degree at a university in the United States, or if they have recently earned a degree from a university in a country on the English Language Proficiency Exempt List maintained by the Graduate School as published below. 

English language proficiency testing is not required for applicants who are citizens of the following countries:

  • Anguilla (UK)** 
  • Antigua** 
  • Australia
  • Island of the Bahamas** 
  • Barbados**
  • Barbuda** 
  • Belize 
  • Canada* 
  • Dominica** 
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia 
  • Ghana
  • Grand Cayman
  • Grenada**
  • Guyana** 
  • Ireland 
  • Jamaica** 
  • Liberia 
  • Mauritius 
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand 
  • Nigeria
  • Republic of Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • St. Kitts and Nevis** 
  • St. Lucia**
  • St. Vincent and Grenadines** 
  • Trinidad & Tobago** 
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
  • Zambia

*Canada – TOEFL IS REQUIRED FROM QUEBEC
**English Speaking West Indies

English language proficiency testing is not required for applicants who have U.S. citizenship or nationality and are residents of an official U.S. territory or are citizens of Freely Associated States of the U.S. including:

  • American Samoa
  • Guam
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Micronesia
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Palau

Minimum Test Scores

CSU requires that proficiency in the English language be demonstrated either by the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or and PTE Academic tests prior to admission.

  • TOEFL (including the TOEFL My Best Score) minimum score – 550 (paper based), 80 (Internet based)
  • IELTS (including the IELTS OneSkills Retake) minimum score – 6.5 
  • Duolingo minimum score – 120
  • PTE minimum score – 58

Official scores, taken within two years prior to admission, must be submitted directly from the testing agency. 

Note: Your department may have higher TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo/PTE score requirements.

CSU Graduate Admissions does NOT accept test scores from:

  • General IELTS
  • IELTS indicator
  • iTEP
  • TOEFL Essentials
  • TOEFL ITP

Please review the Graduate & Professional Bulletin for detailed information regarding English proficiency and other requirements.