IELTS is one of the widely accepted examinations for determining a student’s proficiency in English.  Here’s the IELTS exam format:

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However, the exam comes with its own set of issues:

• The IELTS score has an expiration date. The IELTS score or the IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) remains valid for 2 years from the date of the result declaration.
• Applicants must pay $190 to take the test, which is quite expensive.
• A few IELTS exam centers still don’t offer computer-delivered IELTS test. It can be an issue for many who are more comfortable with computer over paper tests.

Now you have questions. 

• What is the ideal IELTS score for the USA universities? 
• Can I study in the USA without IELTS score? 
• Are there universities in the USA that offer admission without IELTS scores?  

This guide will offer all the answers. In the next seven minutes, learn all about IELTS scores for the USA universities. This complete guide will talk about:

• What’s the ideal IELTS score for USA universities
• Which universities offer admission without an IELTS score
• What to do if your IELTS band score is low
• How to study without an IELTS score for USA universities
• What documents do you need to show to get a student visa without an IELTS score for USA universities

However, even after reading the article, you can still feel overwhelmed. You might still have questions. You might still wonder which universities in the USA without IELTS would be best for you.

The only information source you have are your relatives who passed out 20 years ago and random blogs on the internet written by someone who has read five other blogs on the topic. 

Can you put your trust in them? You know the answer already. 

That’s when you need additional help. 

That’s when you need AI by your side.

That’s when you need SelectRight.

More on SelectRight later. Back to discussing everything about IELTS scores for USA universities for now. 

Note: the information is true at the time of writing. That’s November 2022.

IELTS score for the USA universities – a complete guide

Ideal IELTS score for the USA universities

The right answer, it depends on the particular university. 

However, most U.S. universities want a 6 to 6.5 IELTS score to offer admission. Furthermore, top-tier universities in the U.S. want at least a 7 IELTS score to offer admission.

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Check out the table below to find out the ideal IELTS score for these 10 USA universities.

Universities that offer admission without IELTS scores

Check out the table below to find out 10 universities that offer admission without IELTS scores and which alternate English proficiency exam scores they accept instead.

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This list is non-exhaustive. Furthermore, the universities can insist you join their introductory courses such as the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) to increase your English proficiency.

Things to do when the IELTS band score is low

Your IELTS score is less than the required marks. Here are 5 ways you can go about it next:

• Reappear for the IELTS examination. You can give the exam as many times as you want. 
• Reach out to the admission office of your chosen university and speak to the designated person to decide what to do. The university can choose – at its own discretion – to accept you on the basis of the present score.
• Think about applying to other universities with lower IELTS score cut-offs.
• Search for universities that accept other English proficiency exam scores such as TOEFL and Duolingo.
• Find an alternative program in the same or a different university that accepts a lower IELTS score.

Note that you must be proficient in English to get a student visa.

Scenarios where you can study without an IELTS score for the USA universities

Check out the four scenarios where you can get admission without an IELTS score:

• If the country where you finished your last education has English as its official language, an IELTS score might not be required.
• You can ask your previous university for a letter stating the graduate course you passed was in English.
• Many universities in the U.S. offer admission without IELTS scores. However, they can insist you enroll in their introductory courses such as the Intensive English Language Program (IELP). 

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• Many summer programs in the U.S. allow international students to join to increase their English language proficiency. 

Documents you need to show to get a student visa without an IELTS score for USA universities

Check out the documents you need to submit:

• I-20 form
• Valid passport copy
• Accommodation proof
• DS-160 confirmation page
• CV or resume
• Academic transcripts
• Healthcare coverage
• SEVIS application payment receipt
• Passport size photograph

Note that you must be proficient in English to get a student visa. Thus, you must submit another English proficiency test score such as TOEFL to get a student visa. 

Feeling overwhelmed about which universities in the USA without an IELTS score to choose from? We feel your situation. That’s why we at SelectRight are here to help.

At SelectRight, we offer:

• Unbiased and personalised university recommendations based on more than 6 million data points across over 10,000 STEM, MBA, and CS programs.
• Actionable and latest tips from the alumni and current students of your chosen university.
• Expert guidance on each stage of your application processes such as SOP review, application review, and LOR review. 

If you want to know more, drop us a mail at grad@gradright.com to begin a conversation with our education and financial advisors. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I study in the USA without an IELTS score?

Ans: Yes. You can study in the USA without an IELTS score at selected universities that accept other English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL and PTE.

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Q2. Which universities in the USA admit students without IELTS scores?

Ans: Check out 5 universities that allow students to study in the USA without IELTS scores: 

• University of Delaware
• State University of New York
• University of New Orleans (UNO)
• University of Dayton
• California State University

Furthermore, there are many other universities in the U.S. that allow students to study in the USA without IELTS scores. 

Q3. Can I get a scholarship without an IELTS score?

Ans: If English is your native language or if you hold a bachelor’s degree with English as the language of instruction, you can get a scholarship without an IELTS score. 

Q4. In which country an IELTS score isn’t needed for a study visa?

Ans: Here are 5 countries that issue study visas without an IELTS score:

• The U.S.
• The U.K
• Australia
• Canada
• Germany

There are many other countries that offer student visas without an IELTS score. 

Q5. Is it possible for Indian students to study at universities in the USA without IELTS scores?

Ans: Yes. Many U.S. universities allow Indian students to study in the USA without IELTS scores. Here are 5 of them:

• Drexel University
• National Louis University
• University of North Alabama
• University of Iowa
• Northwood University

Furthermore, there are many other universities in the U.S. that offer admission without IELTS scores.

IELTS scores for USA universities – SelectRight is here to help you

We have gathered all the information about IELTS scores for USA universities in this article. However, prior to that, you must choose a university first. However, choosing one from the thousands of universities is a humongous task. 

You can’t depend on your uncle’s advice who passed out 30 years ago or on random blogs on the internet with half (or worse, misinformation). Sounds exhausting already? That’s when SelectRight comes to your rescue. 

At SelectRight, we offer:

• A University Finder Widget that allows you to download the program details of the top 500 universities with information such as loan probabilities, the correlation between exam scores and the education loan interest rates, and ROI calculations.
• An Instagram page that shares live sessions with both the alumni and current students from reputed universities, virtual campus tours, and exclusive GradRight events and scholarships. 
• A series of webinars showing you the process of shortlisting universities and the ways to reach out to and interact with the alumni from the universities. 

If you want to know more, send us an email at grad@gradright.com to talk to our education and financial advisors.

Now that you know all the details about IELTS scores for U.S. universities, we hope the information will help you make the best choice.