Quick answer: USC publishes these English requirements on its official pages (checked October 27, 2026). Undergraduate admission: recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale. Graduate admission (university-wide): no minimum score. Full-time MBA: no minimum score.
TOEFL requirements at USC, program by program
| Program | Old scale (0 to 120) | New scale (1 to 6) | Section minimums | IELTS | MyBest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate admission | 100 (recommended) | 5.0 (recommended) | Old 0-120 scale: 20 in each section; new 1-6 scale: 4 in each section | 7 | Not stated | Official page |
| Graduate admission (university-wide) | No minimum | Not stated | None stated | Not stated | Not accepted | Official page |
| Full-time MBA | No minimum | Not stated | None stated | Not stated | Not stated | 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 admission
“TOEFL (or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition): for an exam taken prior to 21 January 2026, a minimum score of 100 and no less than a score of 20 in each section. For an exam taken on or after 21 January 2026, a minimum score of 5 and no less than a score of 4 on each section.* ... Applicants are admissible with scores below the recommended minimums, although at reduced rates of admission.”
USC calls these recommended minimums; the average TOEFL iBT for admitted students is above 111 (old scale) with 25 or higher in each section. A test is required of all non-native English speakers, with no waivers. Duolingo (130) only if you cannot sit an approved exam.
Graduate admission (university-wide)
“Important: USC does not set university-wide score minimums for graduate admission. The scores listed below are typically used for placement purposes only - to determine if an admitted student will need to take the International Student English (ISE) examination upon arrival at USC.”
No university-wide minimum; programs may set their own, higher minimums. Scores that exempt admitted students from the ISE exam: master's 90 (old) or 4.5 (new), PhD 100 (old) or 5 (new), with 20 (old) or 4 (new) in each section. MyBest is not accepted; all subscores must come from one sitting.
Full-time MBA
“English Proficiency Exams - Submission of English Proficiency exam (TOEFL or IELTS) results is required for most international applicants (U.S. permanent residents are excluded). Please review the USC English Language Proficiency Policies for details and exemptions.”
Marshall publishes no TOEFL minimum and points to USC's graduate policy, which sets no university-wide minimum. Marshall also waives the test for a bachelor's degree from a non-US institution whose sole medium of instruction is English, with official documentation.
What else USC says about English tests
- USC's TOEFL institution code is 4852 (no department code needed for graduate admission; Marshall also lists 4852). (source)
- USC undergraduate admission grants no waivers or exceptions to the English test requirement for non-native English speakers, including those already living in the US. (source)
- USC undergraduate: official scores from approved exams must be submitted within two weeks of your application deadline. (source)
- Other English tests for USC undergraduates (recommended minimums): IELTS 7, PTE 68, Cambridge C1 Advanced 185 with 169 in each skill; Duolingo 130 only if you cannot sit an approved exam. (source)
- USC graduate admission accepts the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, iBT Paper Edition and test-center iBT; scores must be dated within 24 months of the date you submit your application. (source)
How the new 1 to 6 scale applies to USC
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 admission, USC asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). USC 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 USC 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.
USC 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 |
| Cornell | Undergraduate admissions | 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 |
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.