English Proficiency Requirements

To be considered for admission to Columbia, you must be comfortable with rapid and idiomatic spoken English. Proficiency can be demonstrated in several different ways, including through English Language Proficiency exams.

Please note that demonstration of English language proficiency, including potentially through English Language Proficiency exams, is required. If there are questions around your English language proficiency when applying, you may be contacted for more information.

Options Other than English Language Proficiency Exams

There are several different ways to demonstrate that you are proficient in English on your application without an English Language Proficiency exam:

  • Your home language is English.
  • Your primary language of instruction at school has been English for the duration of your secondary school career.
  • You earned one or more of the following subsection scores on the SAT or ACT:
    • 700 or higher on the Reading and Writing section of the SAT (either paper or digital administration)
    • 29 or higher on the English or Reading sections of the ACT

English Language Proficiency Exams

If you meet one or more of the above criteria, you have fulfilled Columbia’s English language proficiency requirement and do not need to submit scores from an English Language Proficiency exam. If you do not meet the above criteria, you must take one of the below English Language Proficiency exams and provide your score to Columbia as part of your application.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

For exams taken on or before January 20, 2026, a minimum score of 105 on the internet-based test (iBT) of the TOEFL is necessary for admission to Columbia. For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026, a minimum score of 5.5 is necessary. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia by the testing service, using report code 2116. 

Columbia accepts only TOEFL iBT® scores by test administration date (e.g. full test administration results for one sitting) and does not accept MyBest™ scores. We will accept online results from the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition. You may send multiple results.

Please visit the ETS TOEFL web page for more information on this examination.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

A minimum score of 7.5 on the IELTS Academic or IELTS Academic for UKVI exam is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions by the testing service.

Please visit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for more information on this examination.

DET (Duolingo English Test)

A minimum score of 135 on the current DET is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions by the testing service.

Please visit the Duolingo English Test for more information on this examination.

Cambridge English Qualifications

A minimum score of 191 on the current C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency Cambridge English Exams is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions by the testing service.

Please visit Cambridge English for more information on these examinations.