Top US Graduate Program TOEFL Requirements
TOEFL requirements at US graduate programs vary by institution and by discipline within institutions. Minimum requirements represent the floor — the lowest score that will not result in automatic rejection. Competitive applicants at research-intensive programs typically exceed minimums by 5–15 points. Engineering PhD programs at top-10 schools (MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon): minimum typically 100–105; median admitted students often score 110+. CS PhD programs: similar to engineering. Economics PhD programs (top-20): minimum 100–105; departments often explicitly state that 'the minimum is for administrative eligibility, not for competitiveness.' Humanities PhD programs (English, History, Comparative Literature): minimum typically 100–105, with some departments specifying minimum component scores (e.g., Speaking minimum 26 for programs that may involve teaching assistantship). Medical school (MD programs, US): TOEFL not typically required for US MD programs, which require MCAT; international MD applicants typically apply through USMLE pathways. Public Health and Nursing: minimum typically 90–100. MBA programs at top business schools (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton): minimum 100–105; competitive candidates score 110+. Key principle: always check the specific graduate program's requirements page — not just the university's general graduate school minimum. Departmental requirements frequently exceed institutional minimums.