Quick answer: Yale publishes these English requirements on its official pages (checked October 27, 2026). Yale College (undergraduate): recommended band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (PhD and master's): no minimum score. MBA: no TOEFL required.
TOEFL requirements at Yale, program by program
| Program | Old scale (0 to 120) | New scale (1 to 6) | Section minimums | IELTS | MyBest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale College (undergraduate) | 100 (recommended) | 5.0 (recommended) | None stated | 7 | Not stated | Official page |
| Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (PhD and master's) | No minimum | Not stated | None stated | Not stated | Not stated | Official page |
| MBA | Not required | Not required | 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.
Yale College (undergraduate)
“If you are a non-native English speaker without two or more years of enrollment in an English-medium school, you are required to submit scores from an English proficiency test, in addition to fulfilling Yale’s standardized testing requirement with ACT or SAT scores. ... Yale’s most competitive applicants typically earn a score of 5 or higher (for tests taken after January 21, 2026) or at least 100 (for tests taken before January 21, 2026).”
A test is required for non-native speakers without two or more years in an English-medium school, but 100 (old scale) or 5 (new scale) are typical scores of the most competitive applicants, not a cutoff. IELTS: most competitive applicants have 7 or higher.
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (PhD and master's)
“Although the Graduate School does not have test minimums for admission, individual departments may have a minimum requirement and will use these scores when they review your application.”
No school-wide minimum; check the department. Incoming doctoral students below the Speaking score needed to teach (TOEFL Speaking 26 on the old scale, 5.5 on the new scale, or IELTS 8.0) must attend a summer English program in August before matriculation.
MBA
“Is the TOEFL, PTE Academic, or IELTS required for all international applicants? No, the TOEFL, PTE Academic, or IELTS exam is not required for international applicants.”
Yale SOM does not require an English test; its application guide says the video questions are used to assess communication and English language skills.
What else Yale says about English tests
- Yale College accepts self-reported scores for review; admitted students who enroll must provide official results matching their self-reported scores. (source)
- Yale College says applicants can take the TOEFL iBT at home or at a test center. (source)
- Other English tests at Yale College (scores of the most competitive applicants): IELTS 7 or higher, Duolingo English Test at least 120, Cambridge English 185 or higher on C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency or B2 First. (source)
- Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences TOEFL institution code is 3987; no department code is needed. (source)
- Yale GSAS exemption: an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, with at least three years in residence there. No exemptions are made on the basis of an advanced degree. (source)
- Yale GSAS accepts only IELTS Academic; IELTS General Training, IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. (source)
How the new 1 to 6 scale applies to Yale
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 Yale College (undergraduate), Yale asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). Yale 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 Yale 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.
Yale compared with similar universities
| University | Program | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | Undergraduate (first-year) admissions | band 5.0 or 90 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 |
| 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.