Cornell University is an Ivy League research university spanning agriculture, engineering, hotel administration, law, medicine, industrial relations, business, and the humanities. TOEFL requirements vary across Cornell's colleges — with a 100 undergraduate minimum and 77–100 range across graduate programmes.
Does Cornell Accept TOEFL?
Yes. Cornell accepts TOEFL iBT across its undergraduate and graduate programmes. IELTS Academic is also accepted.
TOEFL MyBest Scores: Cornell's Graduate School does not accept TOEFL MyBest. A single valid sitting is required. Verify with the specific college for undergraduate.
Cornell TOEFL Requirements — Undergraduate
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | 100 iBT |
| Per-section minimum | No formal floor published |
| Competitive score | 109–120 |
| Notes | Some colleges within Cornell may have slightly varying requirements |
Cornell TOEFL Requirements — Graduate
Graduate School (General)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | 77 iBT (minimum) |
| Typical programme floor | 100 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–120 |
| Notes | Individual departments typically require 100+ |
Cornell Graduate School's published minimum of 77 iBT is one of the most accessible in the Ivy League — but most departments and colleges set their own higher requirements.
College of Engineering
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| PhD/MEng Computer Science | 100 | 107–120 |
| PhD/MEng Electrical and Computer Engineering | 100 | 104–120 |
| PhD/MEng Mechanical Engineering | 100 | 100–115 |
| PhD/MEng Chemical Engineering | 100 | 100–115 |
| PhD/MEng Operations Research (ORIE) | 100 | 100–115 |
College of Arts and Sciences (Graduate)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| PhD Economics | 100 | 107–120 |
| PhD Politics | 100 | 107–120 |
| PhD Sociology | 100 | 104–115 |
| PhD History | 100 | 110–120 |
| PhD English | 100 | 110–120 |
| PhD Psychology | 100 | 104–115 |
| PhD Mathematics | 100 | 107–115 |
SC Johnson College of Business
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (Johnson) | No formal minimum | 109–120 |
| Master of Management | 100 | 104–115 |
| MS Finance | 100 | 104–115 |
| MS Accounting | 100 | 100–115 |
| PhD in Management | 100 | 107–120 |
The Cornell MBA (Johnson) is a top-20 global programme. No formal TOEFL minimum is published — but competitive non-native speaker admits typically score 109–120 given the programme's leadership and discussion-based format.
Cornell Law School
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| LLM | 100 | 107–120 |
| JSD | 100 | 107–120 |
Weill Cornell Medicine
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MD | No formal minimum | 113–120 |
| MS/PhD Biomedical Sciences | 100 | 104–115 |
| MPH | 100 | 100–115 |
Cornell Bowers CIS (Computing and Information Science)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MPS Information Science | 100 | 104–115 |
| PhD Information Science | 100 | 104–115 |
Cornell ILR School (Industrial and Labor Relations)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MILR | 100 | 104–115 |
| PhD Labor Relations | 100 | 104–115 |
School of Hotel Administration (SHA)
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MPS Hospitality Management | 100 | 104–115 |
Cornell TOEFL — Summary Table
| School / Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 100 | 109–120 |
| Engineering (MS/PhD) | 100 | 100–120 |
| Arts & Sciences (Humanities PhD) | 100 | 110–120 |
| Johnson MBA | No minimum | 109–120 |
| Cornell Law (LLM) | 100 | 107–120 |
| Weill Medicine (Graduate) | 100 | 104–115 |
| Hotel Administration | 100 | 104–115 |
| ILR | 100 | 104–115 |
TOEFL Per-Section Strategy for Cornell
Writing (target 24–30)
Cornell's Humanities PhDs and Law programmes require strong analytical writing. Hotel Administration and ILR expect professional communication. Writing 22 is the practical minimum; competitive applicants score 24–30.
Speaking (target 24–30)
Cornell's MBA is discussion-based. Hotel Administration emphasises communication skills. ILR programmes involve negotiation and advocacy contexts. Speaking 24+ is competitive for these tracks.
Reading and Listening (target 25–30)
Both sections should be strong for competitive Cornell applications. A score below 22 in either would stand out.
Score Validity at Cornell
TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Cornell's graduate deadlines typically fall in December. The Cornell undergraduate Common App deadline is January 2.
TOEFL vs. IELTS for Cornell
Both accepted equally. Cornell's per-test equivalents: TOEFL 100 = approximately IELTS 7.5.
Common Mistakes Cornell TOEFL Applicants Make
Relying on the Graduate School's 77 iBT floor. The published Graduate School minimum of 77 is not what departments actually require — most Cornell departments expect 100+. A 77 overall submission will likely result in rejection regardless of academic strength.
Underestimating the Johnson MBA bar. "No minimum" does not mean language is not evaluated. Cornell Johnson's discussion-based format expects verbal fluency from day one. Score 109+ to remove language as a concern.
Weak Writing for Humanities. Cornell's English and History doctoral programmes require writing at a publishable academic level. Writing 20–22 alongside a 100 overall is a specific application weakness.
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