PTE Score for USA 2026: Masters and Bachelor's Minimums

There is no single PTE score for the USA. Each university sets its own minimum for admission. On the official pages we checked on 2026-10-09, graduate minimums run from 48 to 64, with some programme tiers as high as 68. The two firm undergraduate minimums we found are 56 and 60; Mount Holyoke has no minimum but reports an average above 68. Pearson says more than 1,500 US institutions recognise PTE Academic. For a student visa, the school's admission comes first, and the school's English rule is the one that counts.

PTE score requirements for the USA at a glance

Official PTE Academic minimums at US universities

These numbers are from each school's own admissions page, checked on 2026-10-09. Schools change their rules, so check the page before you book.

Pearson's own US page has a search tool for other institutions. Use it, then confirm the number on the school site.

Masters in the USA: how to read the number

Most US graduate schools set one minimum for the university, and some departments ask for more. Use this order:

1. Check the graduate school's English page for the overall minimum.
2. Check your department or programme page for any higher figure.
3. Check whether the school accepts PTE Academic Online, which some do.
4. Check how long the score stays valid. Buffalo, Case Western and Texas Tech all say two years.

Pace University shows how one school can list several figures. Its pages list PTE scores of 52, 60, 61 and 68 for different programme tiers. Find your own programme tier before you assume a number.

Bachelor's in the USA

Undergraduate pages are fewer and less consistent. Seattle Pacific sets 56 and Texas Tech sets 60. Mount Holyoke publishes no minimum, only an average of over 68 for admitted students, so treat that as a target, not a cut-off. Texas Tech does not accept PTE General or PTE Young Learners results, so check which PTE product the college names.

Is PTE accepted in the USA?

Yes, at many universities. Pearson's US page says PTE Academic is recognised by more than 1,500 US institutions, and it names test centres in cities such as New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. Pearson also claims recognition for some US nursing and healthcare routes. These are Pearson's statements. They do not replace a school's admission rule or a licensing body's rule.

Does the USA accept PTE for a student visa?

A student visa for the USA follows admission. You need the school's admission first, and the school decides whether PTE Academic meets its English rule. We did not find a US government page that sets a PTE score for a student visa, so do not rely on a score quoted by an agent or a forum. Use the admission page of your school as the source of truth.

PTE Academic is the test for US study

US universities use PTE Academic for admission. PTE Core is for permanent residence and citizenship applications to IRCC in Canada. Some UK routes use other PTE products. Check the exact product name on the school's page, because a PTE Core result is not the same as a PTE Academic result.

Worked example: an overall score of 60

Take a PTE Academic overall score of 60 and compare it with the minimums in the table:

• Binghamton (53): meets it.
• University at Buffalo (55): meets it.
• Missouri S&T (58): meets it.
• Case Western Reserve (61): one point short.
• SIU Carbondale (64): four points short.

For undergraduate study, 60 meets Texas Tech's minimum but sits below the over-68 average Mount Holyoke reports (it has no formal minimum). The same score can be enough for one school and not another, so the target school decides.

How to check a school's PTE requirement

1. Search the school name with "English requirements" and open its graduate or international admissions page.
2. Find the row for PTE Academic and write down the overall minimum and any per-skill minimums.
3. Check the programme or department page for a higher figure.
4. Check how long the score is valid and whether the school takes PTE Academic Online.
5. Book the test only after you have the number in writing from the school.

Our PTE to IELTS converter can give a rough IELTS equivalent if your school accepts IELTS too. It is an estimate.

Next steps

• Compare countries that accept PTE and PTE and IELTS for study abroad.
• Read PTE vs IELTS before you choose a test.
• Check which PTE test you need if you also plan to apply in Canada or the UK, using the PTE score for UK and PTE score for Canada pages.
• Use the PTE score chart to see how each score maps across skills, and read the passing score for PTE.
• Prepare for the speaking and writing sections with the speaking practice hub and the write essay practice.
• Check where your practice estimates stand on the progress page, and try a PTE mock test. These are estimates, not official scores.
• See how an IELTS band lines up with PTE on IELTS to PTE, or read the PTE score for Australia guide if you are comparing countries.

Frequently asked questions

What PTE score do I need for the USA?

There is no single PTE score for the USA. Each university sets its own minimum. On the pages we checked, graduate minimums run from 48 to 64, with some tiers as high as 68, and undergraduate minimums are 56 and 60 (Mount Holyoke has no minimum, only an average above 68).

Is PTE accepted in the USA?

Yes. Pearson states that PTE Academic is recognised by more than 1,500 US institutions. These are Pearson's claims, so confirm each school's rule on its admissions page.

Does the USA accept PTE for a student visa?

A student visa follows admission to a school. The school sets the English requirement, and the admission comes first. We did not find a US government PTE score for student visas.

Which universities in the USA accept PTE?

Many do. The table above lists ten universities with their official minimums. Pearson's US page also has a search tool for other institutions.

What is the PTE score requirement for masters in the USA?

It depends on the school. The graduate minimums we checked run from 48 at Kent State to 64 at SIU Carbondale. Pace University lists tiers from 52 to 68 by programme.

What is the PTE score requirement for bachelor's in the USA?

The undergraduate minimums we checked are 56 at Seattle Pacific and 60 at Texas Tech. Mount Holyoke has no minimum, only an average above 68. Check each college, because they differ.

Is 60 enough for the USA?

It depends on the school. A 60 meets several graduate minimums, including Binghamton, Buffalo and Missouri S&T, and Texas Tech's undergraduate minimum. It is below Case Western's 61 and SIU's 64.

Is PTE Academic or PTE Core needed for the USA?

PTE Academic. US universities use it for admission. PTE Core is for Canadian immigration applications.

USA mein PTE ka kitna score chahiye?

There is no single number for the USA. Graduate minimums on the pages we checked range from 48 to 64, and undergraduate minimums are 56 and 60 (Mount Holyoke reports an average above 68 but no minimum). Use your school's English page for the exact number.

Amerikay PTE score koto lagbe?

Each US university sets its own score, so there is no national figure. Check your target school's English requirement, then compare your PTE Academic overall and skill scores with it.

Is a 50 PTE score enough for USA masters?

It depends on the school. A 50 is below the graduate minimums we checked at Binghamton, Buffalo, Missouri S&T, Case Western and SIU. It is above Kent State's conditional minimum of 46, but still below its standard 48.

Is PTE harder than IELTS for the USA?

Neither test is required across the USA. Many schools accept both, so choose the test that suits your skills. Compare them on the PTE vs IELTS page.