You can study in the USA without IELTS. American universities set their own English rules, and most accept other proof: the TOEFL, the Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic, school-leaving English grades, SAT or ACT English scores, or a waiver if you are from an English-speaking country or studied in English. Some also admit you conditionally and let you take English classes after you arrive.
What you cannot do is assume one rule fits every school. The University of Iowa waives the test for citizens of 35 listed countries but does not take Duolingo at all. The University of Arkansas takes Duolingo, but its graduate school refuses a country waiver to degree holders from India, Nigeria or Kenya. Below are the exact rules, checked on each university’s admissions pages, so you can study in the USA without IELTS and know what to send.
Ways to study in the USA without IELTS
| Route | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo English Test | Online test taken at home, results usually within two days | Not every university accepts it; Iowa’s undergraduate page does not list it |
| TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic | The most widely accepted alternatives | TOEFL moved to a new 1 to 6 score scale in January 2026, so check which scale a university quotes |
| Country waiver | Citizens or graduates of listed English-speaking countries skip the test | Each university keeps its own list, and some exclude countries where English is only the language of teaching |
| School English grades | IGCSE, A-Level, IB, WASSCE or similar English results | Minimum grades differ, and some schools decide case by case |
| SAT or ACT English score | A strong reading and writing score counts as proof | Thresholds range from SAT 480 to 600 depending on the school |
| Conditional admission | You are admitted to your degree and take English classes first | You only move to full admission after passing the required level |
US universities that accept students without IELTS (undergraduate)
These figures come from each university’s own admissions pages. Where a university is not shown in a column, its page did not state that option.
| University | Duolingo | Other tests | Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Dayton (Ohio) | 105 | TOEFL iBT 4 (70 on old scale), PTE 50, SAT ERW 480, ACT English 21, Cambridge C1 160, iTEP 4.0 | Secondary diploma from an English-teaching school in Australia, Belize, English-speaking Caribbean, English-speaking Canada, Ghana, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore or the UK |
| Drexel University (Pennsylvania) | Accepted (score not published) | TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Cambridge; SAT ERW 600 or ACT English 27 waives the test | English is your first language, or at least three full years of high school taught mainly in English |
| University of Iowa | Not listed | TOEFL iBT 4.0 (new scale) or 80 (old scale), SAT 540, ACT English 21, IGCSE English grade C, IB HL English A 5 | Citizens of 35 listed countries who list English as their first language, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, South Africa and Jamaica |
| University of Arkansas | 110 | TOEFL iBT 79, PTE 58, SAT ERW 500, ACT English 19, Cambridge C1 176, iTEP 3.9 | Native English speakers; WASSCE, IGCSE or IB results can support a case-by-case waiver |
Arkansas also offers conditional admission. If you meet the academic and financial rules but not the English one, you are admitted to your degree and complete its intensive English sequence first, moving to full admission after a B average in the top level. Iowa admits some students with required English as a Second Language courses instead of refusing them, and lets them test out of those courses in their first week.
Study in the USA without IELTS for a master’s or PhD
Graduate rules are usually stricter, and departments can set higher scores than the university minimum.
| University | Duolingo | Other tests | Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Dayton | 110 | TOEFL iBT 4.5 (80 on old scale), PTE 60, IELTS 6.5, Cambridge C1 160, iTEP 4.5 | Bachelor’s or higher from an English-teaching institution in the same country list as undergraduates (Nigeria and Ghana included) |
| Drexel LeBow College of Business | 115 preferred | TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, PTE Express, IELTS 6.5 | Bachelor’s from a recognised English-speaking country, or five years’ full-time work in the US |
| University of Arkansas | 110 (not accepted by the Walton College of Business) | TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS Academic 6.5, Cambridge C1 176, iTEP 3.9 | Degree from a country where English is both official and native; WASSCE, IGCSE or IB at grade B or above with the Graduate Dean’s approval |
Check the country list
Arkansas’s graduate school says a degree from a country where English is only the official language of instruction, such as India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Nigeria or Kenya, does not earn a waiver. Dayton accepts degrees from Nigeria and Ghana. Same documents, different answer.
Scholarships you can pair with a no-IELTS admission
Many US scholarships for international students come from the university itself and are decided from your admission file, so the English route you use for admission is the one that counts.
- Drexel University merit aid: every international undergraduate applicant is considered automatically, with no separate form, and awards arrive with the admission offer. Need-based aid needs the CSS Profile.
- University of Dayton: scholarship information for international undergraduates sits on its international tuition and costs page; Dayton’s application deadlines are 1 May for fall and 1 November for spring.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: funds graduate study, research and young professionals from more than 160 countries, about 4,000 people a year. You apply through the Fulbright Commission or US Embassy in your own country, and English testing rules are set country by country, so ask your local office whether a test is needed.
I have left out award amounts that circulate on other sites for Dayton, Clark, American University and Cornell, because I could not confirm them on the universities’ current pages. Check the figure on the university’s own aid page before you count on it.
How to apply without IELTS, step by step
- Shortlist by English rule first: open each university’s English proficiency page and note whether it takes Duolingo, which country list it uses, and whether it offers conditional admission.
- Pick your proof: if you qualify for a waiver, gather the evidence (transcript, certificate, school letter). If not, book a test the university accepts, and check whether Duolingo is on its list before choosing one.
- Send scores officially: most universities want scores sent from the testing body. Dayton, for example, uses institution code 1834.
- Prepare transcripts and translations: non-English documents need certified English translations.
- Prepare proof of funds: for an F-1 or J-1 visa, Dayton asks for bank evidence covering the first year, dated within six months. Sponsored students add a guarantee letter.
- Get your I-20 and apply for the visa: the university issues Form I-20 after you confirm enrolment, and you then book your F-1 visa interview.
Most applications also ask for recommendation letters. Our recommendation letter samples show what a strong one looks like. If you also want to compare a fully funded Canadian option, see our Lester B. Pearson Scholarship guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a US student visa without IELTS?
Yes. The visa depends on your Form I-20, and the university issues that once it has admitted you on whatever English proof it accepts, whether that is Duolingo, TOEFL or a waiver.
Which US universities accept Duolingo instead of IELTS?
Many do, including Dayton (105 undergraduate, 110 graduate), Arkansas (110) and Drexel. Iowa’s undergraduate admissions page does not list it, so always check the specific school.
Is WAEC English accepted instead of IELTS in the USA?
At some schools. Arkansas considers WASSCE results for a waiver case by case, Dayton waives the test for graduates of English-teaching schools in Nigeria and Ghana, and Iowa exempts Nigerian and Ghanaian citizens who list English as their first language.
Can I study for a master’s in the USA without IELTS?
Yes, with Duolingo, TOEFL or PTE, or with a waiver if your bachelor’s degree is from a country on the university’s list. Graduate departments can ask for higher scores, so check your programme’s page as well.
Sources and updates
English requirements come from each university’s admissions pages: the University of Dayton’s undergraduate English proficiency options and graduate English proficiency page, the University of Iowa’s English proficiency requirements, Drexel University’s FAQ for international applicants and the LeBow College of Business graduate application requirements, and the University of Arkansas’s international admissions pages and undergraduate catalogue. Dayton’s deadlines, fee and visa documents come from its international undergraduate admission page. Fulbright details come from the Fulbright Foreign Student Program site. Checked on 24 October 2026. Scores and waiver lists change, so confirm with the university before you book a test.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
