October 11, 2026

UChicago TOEFL Requirements 2026: Minimum Scores (1–6 and 0–120)

UChicago does not publish one university-wide TOEFL minimum. Undergraduate applicants may omit a formal English test when proficiency is already clear, while graduate requirements vary by division and program.

Verified requirement

Undergraduate: No fixed TOEFL minimum is stated. English-proficiency scores are optional when the application already demonstrates strong English ability.

Graduate: Requirements are program-specific. Published old-scale examples range from 90 to 104, while some programs use section minimums instead of one total.

New 1–6 scale: UChicago publishes official program-specific requirements, including 4.5 or 5.0 totals and section rules that can reach 5.5 in Listening.

Section minimums: Examples include 25 or 26 on old-scale sections, or 5.0 to 5.5 on selected new-scale sections. The exact rule depends on the program.

Last verified July 17, 2026. Always confirm on the official graduate admissions page. Undergraduate applicants should also check the official College admissions page.

How the requirement works on the two score scales

UChicago is an example of why a single conversion number is not enough. The College does not require a formal English test from every international applicant, while graduate divisions publish their own thresholds. A score of 100 may fit one program but be below another program’s section rule, and a total of 90 may be sufficient for programs that list 4.5 or 90.

UChicago rule	0–120 scale	1–6 scale	Meaning
Lower published graduate thresholds	90	4.5	Used by several graduate areas; check whether sections also apply.
Common program band	95–104	About 5.0, with some official section rules	Includes programs using 95, 100, 102, or 104 totals.
Higher section expectation	25–26 per section	5.0–5.5 in named sections	A strong total does not replace a stated section minimum.

During the 2026–2028 transition, TOEFL score reports carry both scales. That means an old-scale requirement remains directly usable even when a program also lists a new-scale rule. Use the free Aidoss Academy score converter for an approximate reference, but treat UChicago’s program page as the controlling source because its official section rules are more specific than a general conversion band.

The approximate transition bands place 86–94 near 4.5 and 95–106 near 5.0. Those bands help with planning, but they do not turn a 100 requirement into a university-wide UChicago policy. Always read the row for the division or degree you are actually applying to.

How competitive is UChicago really?

For undergraduates, there is no published TOEFL cutoff to clear. The practical question is whether the application shows that the student can read, write, listen, and speak at the level needed for demanding college work. Submitting a score can strengthen that evidence, but UChicago states that a formal English test is not required when mastery is already represented elsewhere in the application.

For graduate applicants, the published number is a screening requirement, not a prediction of admission. A program asking for 90 may still evaluate academic writing, research fit, statements, and recommendations closely. A program with section minimums can reject an otherwise adequate total when one section falls short.

Build a realistic buffer rather than aiming at the exact floor. Moving from the 4.0 reference band of 72–85 to the 4.5 band of 86–94 normally calls for several weeks of focused sectional work, not a few days of general practice. A 104 target with 26-point sections requires a different plan from a 90 total with no stated section floor.

How to prepare for a 90–104 target at UChicago

Use the Aidoss Academy T-G-R routine: Target, Gap, Route. First, copy the exact total and section rules from your UChicago program page. Second, take one timed diagnostic and measure the gap in Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing separately. Third, route the first weekly practice block to the weakest required section, then use a second block for full-test pacing.

For example, a student targeting 100 with a Speaking score of 20 should not divide study time equally. If the program requires 22 in Speaking, the immediate route is repeated timed speaking sets, transcript review, and one specific correction goal per set. The total score matters, but the binding constraint is the section that is below the published rule.

Start with the free Essentials edition of Aidoss Academy’s TOEFL iBT 2026 Target Score Diagnostic Workbook to record a timed baseline and section gaps. Use the Complete Digital edition when you need the full diagnostic workflow for a program-specific 90–104 target.

UChicago TOEFL FAQ

Does UChicago require TOEFL for every undergraduate applicant? No. UChicago says students may submit an English-proficiency score, but formal scores are not required when English mastery is already shown in the application.

Is 100 the UChicago graduate TOEFL minimum? Not across the university. Some graduate programs use 100, while others publish 90, 95, 102, 104, or section-based requirements.

What should I do if one section is below my program minimum? Treat that section as the first study priority and plan a retest if the deadline allows. A higher total does not cancel an explicit section minimum.