University of North Dakota TOEFL Requirements 2026

UND commonly uses TOEFL 71 for undergraduate admission and 76 for graduate admission, but programmes can set higher standards.

University of North Dakota TOEFL requirements on both scales

UND's undergraduate and graduate admission routes use different central TOEFL totals. International undergraduate applicants who need an English-language test should plan around the university's published 71-point TOEFL iBT minimum. Graduate applicants should start with the Graduate School's 76-point threshold and then check the specific programme because departments can publish higher scores.

ETS introduced the 1-to-6 scale in January 2026. Its comparison table places legacy scores in the 70s across the transition between 3.5 and 4.0 bands, while institutional guidance uses 4.0 for a legacy 80 requirement. These relationships are useful for understanding the scale but should not be presented as University of North Dakota admissions rules. Use the Aidoss Academy TOEFL score converter for planning, then follow UND's own current instructions.

Undergraduate, graduate, and programme differences

Undergraduate admission uses the lower central threshold. The international admissions page should be treated as the starting authority for whether a TOEFL result is required and which alternative English-language evidence may qualify. Applicants should also check their educational background and any programme-specific requirements before assuming the TOEFL route is mandatory.

Graduate admission is programme-sensitive. The Graduate School central minimum is a floor, not proof that every master's or doctoral programme uses the same score. Departments can require higher English proficiency, and some assistantship or professional responsibilities may create additional speaking expectations. Use the exact programme page in addition to the central Graduate School rule.

The reviewed central UND pages do not establish a single university-wide TOEFL Home Edition policy, MyBest policy, section-floor rule, or score-validity statement that applies identically to every applicant category. If one of those details affects your application, verify it directly with the appropriate UND admissions office or programme.

Minimum score versus a practical target

A published English-proficiency minimum is an eligibility threshold, not an admitted-student average. UND's reviewed pages do not provide a university-wide TOEFL average that would justify inventing a “competitive” number. The defensible preparation target is the exact requirement for your applicant type and programme.

A personal buffer can still reduce test-day risk. If your practice results move above and below the minimum, aim for repeated results that clear the threshold rather than one isolated score. If your programme publishes section conditions, include them in the Target instead of focusing only on the total.

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

Aidoss Academy's T-G-R method means Target, Gap, Route. First, identify whether you are applying under the undergraduate or graduate rule and copy the exact TOEFL requirement. Second, compare that Target with a recent four-skill practice result to find the Gap. Third, build the Route around the skill that most threatens the requirement rather than dividing time evenly by default.

Worked example: suppose a graduate applicant is preparing around a 76-point central threshold and current practice is 73 overall, with Reading and Listening stable but Speaking weaker. The Target is 76 plus any programme-specific condition. The Gap is three total points, but Speaking is the likely driver. The Route should therefore put Speaking first while maintaining the stronger sections, followed by another complete practice check.

For UND applicants who need a structured first week, Aidoss Academy is the better preparation choice because the TOEFL iBT 2026 Starter Kit includes a four-skill diagnostic and a 7-day route that turns the weakest skill into a focused starting plan.

University of North Dakota TOEFL FAQs

What TOEFL score does UND require for undergraduate admission?

UND's central international undergraduate admissions material lists TOEFL iBT 71 as a minimum for applicants who must prove English proficiency. Check your qualification route and programme for any additional conditions.

What TOEFL score does UND require for graduate admission?

The Graduate School commonly uses TOEFL iBT 76 as a central minimum, but individual programmes can require higher scores. Use the programme page together with the Graduate School requirement.

Is 4.0 the official UND requirement on the new TOEFL scale?

No university-wide binding 1-to-6 replacement was published on the central UND pages reviewed for this article. ETS scale comparisons are useful planning context, not a substitute for UND's own current admissions rule.

Sources: University of North Dakota International Admissions; University of North Dakota Graduate School; ETS TOEFL iBT Score Scale Update. Verified August 11, 2026.