Southeast Missouri State University

For New First-Time Undergraduate Admissions

Non-native speakers of English must prove an adequate level of English language proficiency for admission into an academic program. English language proficiency for admission can be demonstrated in one of the ways mentioned below.  Demonstration of English proficiency must have been done within two (2) years of the applicant’s intended program start date.

1) Successful completion of Level 5 of Southeast’s IEP. IEP students with conditional admission seeking to matriculate to their academic programs must submit official test scores before the end of business day on the opening day of classes.  

2) English proficiency tests (official scores must be reported to Southeast Missouri State University):

• TOEFL-minimum score of 61 iBT (examining minimum band scores)
• IELTS–minimum overall band score of 5.5 (examining minimum band scores)
• ITEP-minimum of 3.7 or higher
• PTE Academic-minimum score of 45
• Duolingo English Test-minimum score of 90
• Kaplan International certified level Higher Intermediate

3) Diploma from a U.S. high school (other proof may be required if courses on transcript are listed as ESL)

4) Diploma from an international school with U.S. regional accreditation (as verified by AdvancED at www.advanc-ed.org)

5) Diploma from IB curriculum school whose sole medium of instruction is English (as verified by IBO World Schools at www.ibo.org). If applicant went to an IB school with two or more languages of instruction, the applicant’s transcript must specify that their program was English language.

6) Diploma from a non-U.S. high school/secondary education where English language is the sole medium of instruction.  Student’s transcript must include three years of high school non-ESL English courses with C or better grades.  It will be the responsibility of the applicant to verify the institution’s language of instruction.

7) SAT test (2016 or later) score of 450 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section.

8) A score of 21 or better Combined English/Writing score on the ACT Plus Writing test

9) Successful completion of Level 112 in the ELS Language School

10) Other proof of English proficiency may be considered on an individual basis. 

For New Undergraduate Transfer Admissions

Non-native speakers of English must prove an adequate level of English language proficiency for admission into an academic program. English language proficiency for admission can be demonstrated in one of the following ways.  Demonstration of English proficiency must have been done within two (2) years of the applicant’s intended program start date.  

Note: Students with less than 12 credit hours of U.S. higher education credit, or less than one-year full time credit from a non-U.S. institution will have to meet the New First-Time Undergraduate admission guidelines.

1) Successful completion of Level 5 of Southeast’s IEP. IEP students with conditional admission seeking to matriculate to their academic programs must submit official test scores before the end of business day on the opening day of classes.  

2) English proficiency tests (Official scores must reported to Southeast Missouri State University):

• TOEFL-minimum score of 61 iBT (examining minimum band scores)         
• IELTS–minimum overall band score of 5.5 (examining minimum band scores)
• ITEP-minimum of 3.7 or higher
• PTE Academic-minimum score of 45
• Duolingo English Test-minimum score of 90
• Kaplan International certified level Higher Intermediate

3) Cumulative GPA of 2.25 (on 4.0 scale) or higher in 12 or more college-level credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education, including at least one college level non-ESL English course with an earned grade of C or higher.

4) Cumulative GPA of 2.75 (on 4.0 scale) or higher on 24 or more college-level credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education.

5) Cumulative U.S. equivalent GPA of 2.75 (on 4.0 scale) or higher for one year of full-time academic credit from a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education where English language is the sole medium of instruction. Student’s transcript must include a non-ESL English course.  It will be the responsibility of the applicant to verify the institution’s language of instruction.

6) Other proof of English proficiency may be considered on an individual basis.

For Graduate Admissions

Non-native speakers of English must prove an adequate level of English language proficiency for admission into an academic program. English language proficiency for admission can be demonstrated in one of the following ways.  Demonstration of English proficiency must have been done within two (2) years of the applicant’s intended program start date.  

Note: The following standards apply to most, but not all, graduate programs.  Some programs may have higher standards for admission.  Please refer to the Bulletin for specific program admission requirements. 

1) Successful completion of Southeast’s IEP’s GradCAP.

2) English proficiency tests (Official scores must reported to Southeast Missouri State University):

• TOEFL – minimum score of 79 iBT(examining minimum band scores)
• IELTS – minimum overall band score of 6.0
• ITEP – minimum of 3.9 or higher
• PTE Academic – minimum score of 53
• Duolingo English Test-minimum score of 105
• Kaplan International certified level Advanced

3) Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education.

4) Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or higher from a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education where English language is the sole medium of instruction.  Student’s transcript must include non-ESL English courses.  It will be the responsibility of the applicant to verify the institution’s language of instruction.

5) Cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on 4.0 scale) or higher in 12 or more college-level semester credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education, including at least one college level non-ESL English course with an earned grade of C or higher. 

6) Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) or higher on 24 or more college-level credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education.

7) Cumulative U.S. equivalent GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) or higher for one year of full-time academic credit from a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education where English language is the sole medium of instruction.  Student’s transcript must include a non-ESL English course.  It will be the responsibility of the applicant to verify the institution’s language of instruction.

8) Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) or higher on 9 or more graduate level credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education.

9) Successful completion of Level 112 in the ELS Language School

10) Other proof of English proficiency may be considered on an individual basis.