Quick answer: Cornell publishes these English requirements on its official pages (checked October 27, 2026). Undergraduate admissions: band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale. Graduate School (professional master's minimum; same as research-degree Tier B): section minimums only. Two-Year MBA: band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale.
TOEFL requirements at Cornell, program by program
| Program | Old scale (0 to 120) | New scale (1 to 6) | Section minimums | IELTS | MyBest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate admissions | 100 | 5.0 | None stated | 7.5 | Not stated | Official page |
| Graduate School (professional master's minimum; same as research-degree Tier B) | Not stated | Not stated | Old 0-120 scale: Speaking 22, Reading 20, Listening 15, Writing 20. New 1-6 scale (interim, tests from January 2026): Speaking 4, Reading 4, Listening 3.5, Writing 4 | 7.0 | Accepted | Official page |
| Two-Year MBA | 100 | 5.0 | Old 0-120 scale: 25 in each section | 7.0 | Not accepted | Official page |
Checked on each official page on October 27, 2026. Old scale: TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 21, 2026. New scale: tests taken from that date.
Undergraduate admissions
“TOEFL iBT - minimum competitive score for exams taken prior to January 2026: 100. For exams taken January 2026 or later: minimum score of 5.0, recommended score of 5.5”
The page calls these minimum competitive scores and recommends 5.5 on the new scale. Exempt examples: US citizens, applicants whose first language is English, or at least four years at a school where English is the primary language of instruction.
Graduate School (professional master's minimum; same as research-degree Tier B)
“Professional Master’s Degree Applicants (M.Arch., M.Eng., M.F.S., M.H.A., M.I.L.R., M.L.A., M.M.H., M.P.A., M.P.H., M.P.S., M.R.P., M.S.L.S., M.S.B.A.) IELTS Academic: An overall band score of at least 7.0 TOEFL iBT* Score requirements for exams taken before January 2026 Speaking: 22 or higher Reading: 20 or higher Listening: 15 or higher Writing: 20 or higher Interim score requirements for exams taken beginning January 2026 Speaking: 4 or higher Reading: 4 or higher Listening: 3.5 or higher Writing: 4 or higher”
Cornell's Graduate School sets section minimums only, no total score. Research-degree applicants need the same section scores (Tier B); Tier A, which clears them to be a TA without assessment, needs Speaking 27 (old) or 5.5 (new). The page says these apply to 2026-27 admission only and minimums are expected to increase for 2028. Fields may set higher requirements.
Two-Year MBA
“For entry into the residential MBA program at Johnson, the admissions committee seeks applicants who report one of the following minimum scores: 100 overall Internet-based TOEFL score with a minimum score of 25 in each section [or 5 for the Common European Framework of Reference level (CEFR)]”
The page labels the new-scale figure as "5 for the Common European Framework of Reference level (CEFR)". Applicants at or above 100 with 25 or less in a section may still apply but may be required to complete a summer English program. IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in Speaking and Writing; DET 120. MyBest and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted.
What else Cornell says about English tests
- Cornell's TOEFL institution code is 2098 for undergraduate admissions; scores are requested via ETS. (source)
- Johnson MBA TOEFL codes: institution code 2098 and department code 02. Cornell Graduate School applicants use institution code 2098 with no department code (code 99, Undecided, if ETS requires one). (source)
- Cornell undergraduate deadlines for required materials: November 13 for Early Decision and January 19 for Regular Decision. Self-reported scores may be used for initial review; admitted students must send official results. (source)
- Other English tests for Cornell undergraduates (minimum competitive): IELTS Academic 7.5, Duolingo English Test 130, Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 191. (source)
- Cornell's Graduate School accepts only IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT (not Duolingo, PTE or TOEFL Essentials); at-home versions are allowed only if no safe in-person option is available. The Graduate School accepts MyBest scores, but individual fields may not. (source)
- Johnson MBA waiver: citizens of the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana or Canada; a degree from one of those countries; or documented English-only instruction for a university degree elsewhere. Citizens of India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong or Singapore are not exempt by citizenship. (source)
How the new 1 to 6 scale applies to Cornell
Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT scores are reported in bands from 1 to 6. Each band covers a range of old scores, so the same old minimum can sit anywhere inside a band.
- For Undergraduate admissions, Cornell asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). Cornell itself publishes band 5.0, which matches.
- For Two-Year MBA, Cornell asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). Cornell itself publishes band 5.0, which matches.
| Band | Old score (from) | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 114 and above | C2 |
| 5.5 | 107 and above | C1 |
| 5.0 | 95 and above | C1 |
| 4.5 | 86 and above | B2 |
| 4.0 | 72 and above | B2 |
| 3.5 | 58 and above | B1 |
Source: ETS score scale update. This is the ETS comparison, not a university requirement. Convert your own scores with our TOEFL score converter.
What score should you aim for?
Our advice (not an official Cornell rule): treat the published number as a floor. Aim half a band above the minimum for your program, so for a band 5.0 requirement plan for 5.5 on your practice tests, so one weaker section on test day does not take your overall score under the line. Check section minimums too: an overall band can hide a low Speaking or Writing score.
Cornell compared with similar universities
| University | Program | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | Undergraduate (first-year) admissions | band 5.0 or 90 on the old scale |
| Yale | Yale College (undergraduate) | recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale |
| Penn | Undergraduate admissions | recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale |
| UC Berkeley | Undergraduate admission (international) | band 4.5 or 90 on the old scale |
| UCLA | Undergraduate admission | recommended band 5.0 or Above 100 on the old scale |
All universities: TOEFL requirements by university.
Prefer a teacher? Epic Exam Prep, the team behind PrepDrills, has taught TOEFL courses since 2010, one to one or in small groups.
By Jaclyn Caruana, MBA, co-founder of Epic Exam Prep. Requirements change: always confirm on the official pages linked above before you apply.