Please see below chart for minimum score required for a full undergraduate admission:
English Language Proficiency Requirements
Minimum score
TOEFL Internet-Based
61
IELTS*
5.5
Pearson Test of English (PTE)
Overall Score of 51
Common European Framework (CEFR)
B2 or higher
Cambridge English Language Assessment
B2 or higher
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
160
Duolingo
100
ACT**
20
SAT**
1030
**Although an ACT or SAT exam is not required for international undergraduate admission, UNK strongly encourages students to submit one of these exam scores if possible. An ACT English of 20 or SAT critical reading score of 494 will meet the English proficiency requirement regardless of total score. Further, UNK uses ACT and SAT scores in course placement and consideration for Honors Program eligibility and Academic Merit Scholarships.
Unofficial test scores will not be accepted. Students submit official test scores in the following ways:
submit the official score report issued to them by the testing company
have scores sent directly to UNK from the testing center or company
submit a high school transcript showing successful completion of a CEFR level of B2 or higher.
Students with scores lower than the minimum requirements, or in a country where these tests are unavailable, can apply to UNK’s English Language Institute. If accepted into this program, you will take an English Placement Exam upon arrival to campus. The result of this exam will determine placement in intensive English classes on a full- or part-time basis.
If you do not meet the English proficiency requirement, you can still come to UNK by applying to the English Language Institute.
Arrange for official TOEFL results to be mailed from ETS (UNK code is 6467) to the following address:
University of Nebraska at Kearney International Admissions West Center, 267 1917 West 24th Street Kearney, NE 68849
*Official IELTS Academic scores may be used to fulfill the English Language Test requirement. We will only accept official scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center via the E-Delivery service.
At the time of test-taking, please specify University of Nebraska Kearney, International Admissions as a score recipient. Our address, for the electronic record only in order to identify us in the IELTS system is:
University of Nebraska at Kearney International Admissions West Center, 267 1917 West 24th Street Kearney, NE 68849
Score reports ARE NOT to be sent to this address. We DO NOT accept paper Test Report Forms, nor do we verify Test Report Forms (TRF's).
For more information and to register for the test, please visit www.ielts.org.
Applicants are exempt from the English Language Proficiency Requirement if they meet any of the following criteria:
Earned a high school diploma, Associates of Arts, Associates of Science or bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university. Please note that completion of an Associate of Applied Science or a GED does not waive the English Language Requirement.
Earned a diploma from an International Baccalaureate Program with a Grade 5 or above at the Higher Level.
Completed the equivalent of a high school education or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in one of the following countries:
Australia
Fiji Islands
New Zealand
Belize
Guyana
United Kingdom
Canada
Ireland
West Indies
English Speaking Africa*
English Speaking Caribbean*
*To determine if your country applies, please contact our admissions office at intladmin@unk.edu.
Students from universities and institutions that are members of an Exchange Partnership agreement with UNK from one of the following countries or regions can provide an official letter/statement from their home university attesting to English Language Proficiency:
The Netherlands
Germany
Sweden
Denmark
Czech Republic
Finland
Iceland
Austria
Switzerland
Indian Subcontinent
This attestation must show that a CEFR level of B2 or higher has been achieved.
• Students from universities through the UNK Exchange Partnership Agreement will be allowed to submit an Institutional TOEFL (ITP) exam score of 530 or higher for a non-degree undergraduate program. TOEFL ITP will not be accepted for students applying for a degree-seeking undergraduate program.
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