PTE Accepted Universities in USA 2027: Scores & List

PTE Academic remains a practical English-language test for international students planning to study in the United States in 2027. Many American universities accept it for undergraduate and postgraduate admission, but there is no single PTE score that works everywhere.

A score of 50 may be enough for one university, while another may ask for 60, 67 or more. Some departments also set a higher requirement than the university-wide minimum.

This guide focuses on PTE accepted universities in USA for 2027, current score requirements, PTE 50 options, undergraduate and Master's routes, MBA exceptions, F-1 visa considerations and the safest way to verify a university before you apply.

Is PTE Accepted in USA in 2027?

Yes. PTE Academic is accepted in USA by a large number of universities and colleges for international admission. Pearson currently says more than 1,500 institutions across the United States recognise PTE. The test uses a 10-90 scoring scale, and results are typically available within about 48 hours.

The test uses a 10-90 scoring scale, results are typically available quickly, and scores are generally valid for two years. Pearson provides further details through its current US PTE information and PTE Academic scoring guidance.

The short answer to does USA accept PTE? is therefore yes. The useful answer is more specific: acceptance depends on the university, study level and programme.

Arizona State University is a good example. Its published English requirements vary between general undergraduate admission, selected undergraduate programmes and graduate study. You can see the distinction in ASU's current international English requirements.

If you are still building a wider shortlist, start by planning your wider US study route before comparing English-test thresholds.

25 PTE Accepted Universities in USA for 2027

The following PTE accepted USA universities list uses current official university information available in August 2026. For international students preparing for 2027 entry, it provides a practical score-based shortlist.

Requirements can change, and a department may set a higher score than the university minimum.

University	State	Current PTE requirement	Level or note
University of Nevada, Reno	Nevada	46	Undergraduate minimum.
Kent State University	Ohio	48	Undergraduate minimum; conditional admission may be available below the direct-entry threshold.
University at Buffalo, SUNY	New York	50 UG / 55 graduate	University-level minimums; departments may require more.
Arizona State University	Arizona	53 UG / 60 graduate	Selected undergraduate programmes have higher requirements.
Temple University	Pennsylvania	53	General undergraduate direct admission; Fox applicants require 56.
Auburn University	Alabama	53	International undergraduate admission.
University of New Haven	Connecticut	53 UG / 50-53 graduate	Engineering graduate programmes start at 50; other graduate colleges generally require 53.
Hofstra University	New York	53	Undergraduate and general graduate English-proficiency minimum.
University of Delaware	Delaware	53	Undergraduate direct admission; PTE 52 or below can lead to its Academic Transitions pathway.
Rutgers University	New Jersey	53	Undergraduate minimum across New Brunswick, Newark and Camden.
University of South Florida	Florida	53	General graduate minimum.
DePaul University	Illinois	53	International undergraduate minimum.
Old Dominion University	Virginia	53	University English-proficiency minimum.
West Virginia University	West Virginia	53	Undergraduate and graduate minimum; programmes may set higher requirements.
University of Illinois Chicago	Illinois	54	Undergraduate and Graduate College minimum, with section-score requirements.
Pace University	New York	54	Direct undergraduate entry.
Florida State University	Florida	55	General graduate minimum.
Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	58	Undergraduate direct-admission minimum; 57 or below falls into conditional consideration.
Colorado State University	Colorado	58	Graduate clear-admission minimum.
University of Texas at San Antonio	Texas	58	Undergraduate minimum.
University of Minnesota Twin Cities	Minnesota	59	Undergraduate minimum for the Spring 2027 application period.
University of Arizona	Arizona	60	Undergraduate and Graduate College minimum.
Texas Tech University	Texas	60	Undergraduate and graduate minimum.
Clark University	Massachusetts	61	Current undergraduate proficiency indicator, not a guaranteed admission cut-off.
University of Texas at Dallas	Texas	67	General graduate English-proficiency minimum.

For examples at both ends of the range, the University of Nevada, Reno currently publishes a PTE requirement around 46 for undergraduate applicants, while UT Dallas publishes 67 for general graduate admission. You can verify these through Nevada Reno's international admission requirements and UT Dallas graduate admission guidance.

The University at Buffalo is especially useful for lower-score applicants because it currently publishes an undergraduate minimum of 50. Its graduate requirement is higher. See Buffalo's international English-proficiency requirements.

Here's the interesting part: a lower PTE requirement does not automatically mean easier admission. English proficiency is only one threshold. Your academic results, prerequisites, funding and programme competitiveness still matter.

Students comparing institutions beyond English requirements can compare strong US university options, while those focused on state-funded institutions can explore public university choices.

Minimum PTE Score for USA Universities in 2027

There is no national minimum PTE score for USA admission. The university sets its own English-language standard, and the exact programme can raise it.

A practical planning guide looks like this:

PTE score	What it can mean for your shortlist
Below 50	Direct-entry choices are limited; pathway or conditional routes may be more realistic
50-54	Some direct undergraduate options become available
55-59	Wider undergraduate choices and several graduate routes
60-64	A useful range for many graduate applications
65-69	More competitive graduate and business-school options
70+	Relevant to programmes with demanding English requirements
75+	Stronger territory for selected highly competitive postgraduate or MBA programmes

Think about it this way. If your score is 55, do not ask whether 55 is "good for America". Ask which universities accept 55 for your exact degree.

That small change produces a much more useful shortlist.

PTE 50 Score Accepted Universities in USA

Yes, a PTE score around 50 can work in the United States.

The University at Buffalo currently lists 50 as the undergraduate minimum for admission consideration. Kent State lists 48, while the University of Nevada, Reno lists 46. University of New Haven engineering graduate programmes list 50.

Conditional routes matter too. Colorado State requires 58 for clear graduate admission, while several universities offer conditional or pathway options when applicants fall below their normal direct-entry threshold.

So, if you have PTE 50, build three groups: direct-entry choices, genuine pathway options and retake options. That is safer than relying on an old PTE 50 list with no programme context.

USA PTE Score Requirement for Bachelor Applicants

For international students, there is no single USA PTE score requirement for bachelor admission. Current undergraduate examples range from 46 at the University of Nevada, Reno to 61 as Clark University's current proficiency indicator, with several institutions clustered around 50-54.

USA PTE Score Requirement After 12th

Students applying after Year 12 can find several universities around the 50-54 range, including Buffalo, ASU, Auburn, Temple, Rutgers, DePaul, Pace and UIC.

UIC, for example, currently publishes an overall PTE requirement of 54 alongside section-level conditions. You can confirm the current details through UIC's international undergraduate requirements.

A student with PTE 53 may therefore meet one university's general requirement but fall short for a specific programme at another.

Course choice matters.

If you are returning to education after a break, review how US institutions may view a study gap separately so this page remains focused on PTE acceptance.

PTE Accepted Universities in USA for Masters and MS

For international students, PTE accepted universities in USA for masters generally use the same principle: the university publishes a baseline, then departments can set stricter requirements.

Current graduate examples include:

University	General or published PTE requirement
University at Buffalo	55
Florida State University	55
Colorado State University	58
University of Arizona	60
Texas Tech University	60
University of Texas at Dallas	67

These figures come from the institutions' current graduate admissions information.

The Graduate School minimum may not be your final requirement. Research, teaching, clinical and communication-heavy programmes often set tighter standards.

If you have not chosen a subject yet, choose an MS subject before building your university shortlist. It keeps the decision in the right order: course first, university second, score fit third.

PTE for MBA Applicants

MBA applicants should check the business school itself rather than assuming the parent university's PTE policy applies.

Harvard Business School currently accepts PTE when an English-language test is required. HBS does not publish a formal minimum, but it discourages applicants with a PTE score below 75. See Harvard Business School's international applicant guidance.

Kellogg MBA PTE Academic Accepted?

Not under Kellogg's current Full-Time MBA English-proficiency policy.

Kellogg currently lists TOEFL, IELTS and the Duolingo English Test when an English test is required. PTE Academic is not included in the current list. You can verify this in Kellogg's international MBA requirements.

Giving a correct negative answer here is more useful than putting a famous business school into an inaccurate PTE table.

PTE Accepted States in USA: Where Can You Study?

PTE is not accepted or rejected at the state level. Universities set their own admissions rules. Still, students often search for PTE accepted states in USA because location affects cost, work opportunities and university choice.

The verified list above includes options in New York, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Massachusetts and West Virginia.

New York has a particularly useful cluster in this guide, with Buffalo, Hofstra, Pace and RIT. Texas includes UTSA, Texas Tech and UT Dallas. Arizona includes ASU and the University of Arizona.

Choose the course first. Then use score, location and affordability to narrow the list.

Is PTE Accepted in USA for Study Visa?

PTE can support an F-1 route when your university accepts it as evidence of English proficiency for admission.

However, the US government does not publish one universal PTE minimum for an F-1 student visa. Your university decides whether you satisfy its admission requirements, after which an eligible institution can issue the Form I-20 needed for the visa process.

The current student visa application fee is $185, according to the US Department of State's student visa guidance. F and M students also generally pay a $350 I-901 SEVIS fee, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A strong PTE score therefore does not approve a visa by itself. Admission, financial evidence, Form I-20 documentation and the visa assessment still matter.

For the stages after admission, visa support after university admission is a more appropriate place to explore the wider process.

How to Check the PTE Academic Official Acceptance List for Universities

Do not rely on a third-party university list alone.

Pearson provides an official institution acceptance finder. Use it to identify whether an institution recognises PTE, then open the university's own admission page and check the exact programme.

Before paying an application fee, confirm:

1. The university accepts PTE Academic.
2. Your programme accepts the test.
3. Your overall score meets the requirement.
4. You meet any section-score requirements.

Use an acceptance list to discover options. Use the university to make the final decision.

PTE Score for USA: Validity, Sending Scores and Retakes

The PTE score for USA follows Pearson's standard PTE Academic rules unless a university applies a stricter requirement.

PTE uses a 10-90 scoring scale. Scores are shared digitally, and the normal validity period is two years from the test date.

If your first result is too low, you can retake PTE after receiving the previous result. For 2027 applicants, taking the test early gives you room to adjust rather than discovering a score problem close to a university deadline.

If you are still deciding between English tests, compare PTE with TOEFL. Students avoiding IELTS can also review other English-test routes into US universities without mixing those separate search intents into this page.

2027 Planning, Fees and Funding

For 2027 entry, taking your first PTE attempt during 2026 gives you room for a retake and reduces the chance of an English-test result becoming the reason you miss an early university or scholarship deadline.

A sensible sequence is straightforward: shortlist universities, verify the programme-level PTE requirement, take the test, submit applications, then prepare financial and visa documents after admission.

Application costs vary. For example, the University of Delaware currently charges a $75 undergraduate application fee, while the University of New Haven lists a $50 graduate application fee. These are current examples, not universal US fees.

A PTE score normally proves English proficiency rather than directly earning a scholarship. If funding will shape your shortlist, look for funding opportunities in the US separately.

You should also plan student health cover alongside tuition and living costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PTE accepted in USA?

Yes. Pearson says more than 1,500 institutions across the United States recognise PTE. Check your exact university and programme before applying.

Does USA accept PTE?

Yes. Many US universities use PTE Academic as an accepted English-proficiency test for international admission.

What is the minimum PTE score for USA?

There is no national minimum. In the verified examples above, current scores range from 46 for undergraduate admission at the University of Nevada, Reno to 67 for general graduate admission at UT Dallas.

Is PTE 50 accepted in USA?

Yes, at some universities and study levels. Buffalo lists 50 as its undergraduate minimum, while other institutions offer direct or pathway options below or around this range.

Is PTE 55 enough for USA?

It can be. Buffalo and Florida State both publish general graduate PTE minimums of 55, although individual departments may require more.

Is PTE 60 enough for USA?

For many options, yes. The University of Arizona and Texas Tech publish 60 in current English-proficiency requirements, and ASU uses 60 for general graduate admission.

Which universities accept PTE after Year 12?

Examples in this guide include Nevada Reno, Kent State, Buffalo, ASU, Auburn, Temple, Delaware, Rutgers, DePaul, Pace and UIC.

Is PTE accepted in USA for masters?

Yes. Buffalo, Florida State, Colorado State, Arizona, Texas Tech and UT Dallas are among the current graduate examples in this guide.

Does Harvard Business School accept PTE?

Yes. HBS accepts PTE when an English test is required. It has no formal minimum, but it discourages applicants with a PTE score below 75.

Does Kellogg MBA accept PTE Academic?

Kellogg's current Full-Time MBA English-proficiency policy does not list PTE Academic. It currently lists TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo where an English test is required.

Is PTE accepted in USA for study visa?

A university can accept PTE to satisfy its English-language admission requirement. There is no universal federal PTE minimum for the F-1 visa itself.

How long is PTE Academic valid?

Pearson says PTE Academic scores are generally valid for two years from the test date. Always check whether your university applies a stricter validity rule.

Conclusion

The PTE accepted universities in USA for 2027 cover a wide range of score requirements, so no single PTE score works for every applicant. Your target should match the university, study level and exact programme you want.

Check the official admissions requirement before paying an application fee, especially when a department sets a higher score than the university minimum. For 2027 entry, verifying your shortlist early gives you time to retake PTE, adjust your choices and apply with a score that genuinely fits your course.