The University of Southern California sets a university-wide baseline TOEFL score for international applicants, but individual schools — Marshall Business, Viterbi Engineering, Annenberg, and the School of Cinematic Arts — layer on their own, often higher, expectations. TOEFL iBT is accepted alongside IELTS Academic across all USC schools.
Does USC Accept TOEFL?
Yes. USC accepts TOEFL iBT as proof of English proficiency for international applicants at both undergraduate and graduate level. IELTS Academic is accepted as an equivalent alternative.
TOEFL MyBest Scores: USC's official policy varies by programme; many graduate departments will consider MyBest superscores if that is what appears on the ETS score report, while others require a single-sitting score. Confirm with the specific school before applying.
USC TOEFL Requirements by School
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (Undergraduate)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| University-wide minimum | ~90–100 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–115 among admitted international students |
| Notes | Applies to most Dornsife majors; strong majors (Economics, Psychology, Political Science) attract highly qualified international applicants |
Marshall School of Business
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL (undergrad) | ~100 iBT |
| Minimum TOEFL (MBA/graduate) | ~100 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–115 |
| Notes | Marshall's case-based, discussion-heavy pedagogy places weight on Speaking scores specifically |
Viterbi School of Engineering
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL (undergrad) | ~90–100 iBT |
| Minimum TOEFL (graduate/MS) | ~90–100 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–115 |
| Notes | Viterbi enrols one of the largest international graduate cohorts at USC, particularly in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering |
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | ~100 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–113 |
| Notes | Journalism and Communication Management programmes expect strong Writing and Speaking given the discussion- and interview-based coursework |
School of Cinematic Arts
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | ~100 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–115 |
| Notes | Portfolio and interview weigh heavily alongside English proficiency; Speaking fluency matters for collaborative production work |
USC TOEFL Requirements — Summary Table
| School | Typical Min Overall | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dornsife (Letters, Arts & Sciences) | ~90–100 | 100–115 |
| Marshall School of Business | ~100 | 100–115 |
| Viterbi School of Engineering | ~90–100 | 100–115 |
| Annenberg (Communication & Journalism) | ~100 | 100–113 |
| School of Cinematic Arts | ~100 | 100–115 |
These figures reflect typical, published-range guidance rather than a single official USC-wide number for every programme. Always confirm current thresholds directly with the school you are applying to.
TOEFL Per-Section Strategy for USC
Speaking — Marshall, Cinematic Arts, and Annenberg
USC's business, media, and film programmes are built around collaborative, discussion-heavy formats — case studies at Marshall, pitch sessions in Cinematic Arts, and interview-based work at Annenberg. A Speaking score below 22 is a real weak point in these applications.
Target: Speaking 24+ for Marshall, Cinematic Arts, and Annenberg.
Writing — Dornsife and Annenberg
Strong analytical and journalistic writing is expected in Dornsife's humanities/social science majors and throughout Annenberg. Aim for Writing 24+.
Reading and Listening
A competitive USC application across any school should show Reading and Listening scores of 24+. Scores below 20 in either section are worth specifically addressing through additional preparation.
Minimum vs. Competitive at USC
USC's stated minimums (roughly 90–100 iBT depending on programme) are lower than what most successful international applicants actually present. Competitive applicants typically score:
- Marshall (undergrad and MBA): 100–115
- Viterbi graduate (MS in CS/EE): 100–115, reflecting the large, highly qualified international applicant pool
- Cinematic Arts: 100–115, alongside a strong creative portfolio
- Dornsife: 100–115 for the most selective majors
Rule of thumb: Target at least 100 for any competitive USC programme, and 105+ for Marshall or Viterbi's most sought-after majors.
TOEFL vs. IELTS for USC
USC treats TOEFL and IELTS as broadly equivalent across schools. The choice generally comes down to preference and test-centre access.
| Feature | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Fully computer-based | Computer + face-to-face or video Speaking |
| Speaking | Recorded responses | Live examiner interview |
| Score range | 0–120 | 0–9 (half-band increments) |
| Results | 4–8 days | 3–5 days (online) |
| MyBest / Superscore | Accepted at some, not all, USC programmes | N/A |
Score Validity at USC
TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. USC requires scores to be valid at the time of application.
How to Prepare for a USC-Level TOEFL Score
Reaching 100–115 requires solid, consistent performance across all four sections.
Speaking (target 24–30):
- Respond fully within the allotted time and stay on topic
- Independent tasks: state a clear opinion supported by two specific reasons
- Integrated tasks: summarise the lecture or reading accurately with natural transitions
Writing (target 24–30):
- Integrated task: accurately reflect the lecture's relationship to the reading passage
- Independent task: develop a clear, well-organised position with concrete examples
Reading and Listening (target 24–30):
- Practise with authentic academic texts and lecture-style recordings
- Focus on inference and detail questions, which tend to be the most commonly missed at this score band
Common Mistakes USC TOEFL Applicants Make
Applying with only the general minimum. A 90–100 clears the university-wide floor but is below what competitive Marshall and Viterbi applicants typically present.
Assuming MyBest applies everywhere. Policy varies by school at USC — verify before relying on a superscored result.
Under-preparing Speaking for Marshall and Cinematic Arts. Both programmes are highly collaborative and discussion-driven; a low Speaking subscore stands out even with a strong overall total.
A USC TOEFL score in the competitive range (100–115) removes English proficiency as a concern and lets the strength of the rest of the application — academics, portfolio, or essays — carry full weight.
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