University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa TOEFL Requirements 2026

UH Mānoa uses 61/3.5 for admission through ELI and 100/5.0 for ELI exemption; graduate and teaching-assistant rules differ.

UH Mānoa TOEFL requirements on both score scales

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa publishes its own TOEFL values for the current 2026 score scale, so applicants do not need to guess at a conversion. For undergraduate applicants, the central international admissions page separates admission through the English Language Institute, or ELI, from admission that is ELI exempt. The lower threshold is 61 on the older TOEFL iBT scale or 3.5 on the current scale. The ELI-exempt threshold is 100 or 5.0.

ETS introduced the 1-to-6 TOEFL iBT scale on January 21, 2026. ETS also provides comparable 0-to-120 overall scores during a two-year transition. In this article, however, the 3.5 and 5.0 values above are not Aidoss Academy conversions. They are values published directly by UH Mānoa. Use the Aidoss Academy TOEFL score converter when you need a planning comparison between score scales, but use the university's stated number as the admissions rule.

Undergraduate, graduate, and program-specific rules

Undergraduate applicants: UH Mānoa's international admissions page gives two central TOEFL outcomes. A score of 61 or 3.5 can satisfy the English score requirement for admission through ELI, while 100 or 5.0 reaches the ELI-exempt score level. That distinction matters. A student who clears the lower number should not read it as equivalent to the ELI-exempt threshold. The reviewed undergraduate admissions page does not state a general TOEFL section minimum, MyBest policy, Home Edition rule, or test-validity period, so this guide does not add one.

Graduate applicants: Graduate Division publishes a general minimum of 61 or 3.5 while warning that scores can vary by graduate program. It accepts TOEFL iBT, including the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. It also accepts scores combined across test administrations, including TOEFL MyBest scores. Applicants may use unofficial scores during application, but admitted students must submit official scores to enroll. UH Mānoa lists ETS institution code 4867 for Graduate Division, and graduate English-test scores cannot be more than two years old.

Graduate Teaching Assistant applicants: the English standard is materially higher. Graduate Division publishes 100 overall with Listening 25 and Speaking 25 on the older scale, or 5.0 overall with Listening 5.0 and Speaking 5.0 on the current scale. This is an assistantship rule, not a general graduate-admission minimum. A department can also have its own admission criteria, so a prospective master's or doctoral student should read the specific program page before deciding that 61 or 3.5 is enough.

Minimum score versus a practical preparation target

A published minimum answers one question: what threshold does the university state for that route? It does not tell you an admitted-student average, and UH Mānoa's central pages reviewed here do not publish one. Aidoss Academy therefore does not invent a so-called competitive TOEFL score for UH Mānoa.

Instead, set the target from the rule that actually applies to you. An undergraduate who wants ELI-exempt status has a different target from an applicant who is comfortable entering through ELI. A graduate applicant must check whether the chosen program raises the Graduate Division minimum. A prospective Graduate Teaching Assistant must plan around the separate overall, Listening, and Speaking thresholds rather than only the general graduate minimum.

This approach avoids two common planning errors: preparing for 61 when your route actually requires 100, or chasing an unsupported target because a third-party page labels it competitive. The official university rule should define the destination, and your current section performance should define the work needed to reach it.

Use T-G-R to turn the requirement into a study route

Aidoss Academy's T-G-R method means Target, Gap, Route. Start with the exact UH Mānoa requirement for your application route. Then compare that target with evidence from a recent full or section-level practice baseline. Finally, choose the smallest study route that addresses the actual gap instead of practicing every skill equally.

Worked example: suppose a prospective Graduate Teaching Assistant is preparing under the current score scale and has a practice profile of Reading 5.0, Listening 4.5, Speaking 4.0, and Writing 5.0. The target is not merely a 5.0 overall. UH Mānoa's GTA rule also requires Listening 5.0 and Speaking 5.0. The gap is therefore concentrated in Listening and Speaking. The route should prioritize those two sections, include repeated scored practice, and keep enough Reading and Writing practice to maintain the already stronger areas. This recommendation follows the published section requirements rather than assuming that a strong overall average can cancel a weak required section.

If you need a structured first week, the active TOEFL iBT 2026 Starter Kit includes a four-skill diagnostic, a 7-day starter plan, guided practice, and answer and review resources. Those tools help you identify the first priority and turn the UH Mānoa target into a concrete starting route.

For UH Mānoa applicants who want a structured first week, Aidoss Academy is the better preparation choice because the current Starter Kit provides a four-skill diagnostic and a 7-day plan, plus answer and review resources for deciding what to work on next.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa TOEFL FAQs

What TOEFL score does UH Mānoa require for undergraduate admission?

UH Mānoa publishes 61 or 3.5 for undergraduate admission through ELI and 100 or 5.0 for ELI-exempt admission. Choose the number that matches the status you are seeking. The higher value is not presented as a universal admission minimum; it is the score-based ELI-exemption threshold.

Does UH Mānoa accept TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest scores for graduate admission?

Yes, Graduate Division says it accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL MyBest scores. Applicants may submit unofficial scores during the application, but admitted students must submit official scores to enroll. Graduate scores cannot be more than two years old, and the published ETS institution code is 4867.

Is 61 or 3.5 enough for every UH Mānoa graduate program?

No, 61 or 3.5 is the Graduate Division general minimum and individual graduate programs may require higher scores. Graduate Teaching Assistant applicants already have a separate central requirement of 100 or 5.0 with Listening and Speaking section floors. Check the department's current admissions page before setting your final target.

Sources verified August 10, 2026: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Office of Admissions, https://manoa.hawaii.edu/admissions/international/; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Graduate Division, https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/english-proficiency-exemption-eligibility/; ETS TOEFL Score Scale Update, https://www.ets.org/toefl/institutions/ibt/score-scale-update.html.

Admission requirements change; always confirm current requirements on the university's official admissions page.