International Admission Requirements

International students seeking direct admission must satisfy all application requirements for incoming freshmen, transfer students, or graduate students, including the application fee, as well as the additional requirements listed below. Additional Pathway and Academic English programs are available for those needing extra support with their English skills.

Required Documentation

The University requires the following documentation for all international students:

  • Unofficial academic records, from all schools attended (in original language and an official word for word English translation)
  • English proficiency score
  • Passport

If accepted to the University, we will require official academic records from all school attended.

Additional Documentation

Freshmen

International freshman students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores unless they have attended a U.S. high school for three or more years. However, submitting SAT or ACT scores may make you eligible for scholarships at the University.

Transfer Students

Graduate Students

  • GRE or GMAT scores, if applicable to your program
  • Degree certificate and/or diploma, if applicable in your country
  • Additional supporting documents, if applicable to your program

View more information about your intended graduate program and the requirements.

Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts

Students interested in majors within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts should review additional admission requirements for those specific programs.

View Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Admissions Requirements

Declaration of Finances

Federal regulations require proof of financial resources to pay for the first year of study at Illinois State. An electronic bank statement or letter dated within 6 months of acceptance is required.

Submit Declaration of Finances

English Proficiency

Non-Native English Speaking Countries

International students are required to submit English proficiency scores, dated within two years of application, from one of the accepted testing agencies unless English waiver qualifications are met.

We require the following minimum scores:

  • TOEFL internet-based (iBT): 81
  • TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
  • New TOEFL (beginning January 2026): 4.5
  • IELTS overall band score: 6.5
  • Duolingo: 110
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA): 55
  • Michigan English Test (MET): 58

 Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores for admission.

PDF copies of test scores can be used for application evaluation. If admitted, students are required to have official test scores sent electronically to Illinois State University directly from the testing agency.

English Proficiency for Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The State of Illinois requires non-native English speaking teaching assistants to show proof of English Proficiency. The minimum criteria for English proficiency are:

  • TOEFL iBT minimum speaking score of 26
  • TOEFL Essentials minimum speaking score of 9
  • IELTS score of 8.0 overall
  • Duolingo English Test minimum Conversation score of 140

English Proficiency Guidelines

To determine if you are eligible to receive a waiver, refer to our English Waiver Guidelines. For assistance with English Waiver Guidelines contact InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu.

Waiver Eligible Anglophone Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Irish Republic
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales)
  • African (Anglophone): Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • Commonwealth Caribbean (Anglophone): Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago

Higher National Diploma (HND)

A Higher National Diploma (HND) is not considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Students whose highest earned degree is HND are eligible to apply to our undergraduate transfer programs. 

Global Access to Online Degree Programs

When applying, international students applying to a fully online program must agree to our international online and hybrid programs disclosure and disclaimer statements. Due to limited on-campus courses, immigration documentation cannot be issued for students seeking F-1 or J-1 status.