For the longest period, the United States has been a popular study-abroad destination for students. They lead the pack because they have a multitude of cutting-edge educational institutions that provide high-quality education and research facilities.
Even though the TOEFL iBT was once widely used in the United States, IELTS is now accepted by over 3400 institutions, including boarding schools, associate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and law programmes. There are numerous prestigious universities that accept a 6.5 band IELTS score.
Let us look at a few universities that accept an IELTS score of 6.5.
| University | Courses accepting 6.5 band score |
|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | The University of Wisconsin-Madison, founded in 1848, is an open research university that is the largest and oldest in Wisconsin. Engineering, agriculture, education, business, media, law, and medical studies are among the major subjects covered by the degree programmes.Most undergraduate programmes, including B.Arch and LLB, require only a 6.5 band score. However, entrance to MS, MFA, MA, and LLM programmes requires a 7 band score, while MBA/PGDM admission requires a high band score of 7.5. |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in the Illinois cities of Urbana and Champaign. In over 15 academic areas, the institution provides over 150 undergraduate and 100 graduate and professional programmes. A 6.5 band score is required for undergraduate courses. MBA and MEng require a 7 band score, whereas MS demands a 7.5 band. |
| Purdue University | Purdue University is recognised for its engineering programmes and has been placed among the greatest public universities in the United States of America by various institutional rankings. Purdue University’s undergraduate acceptance rate is 75%, 23% for graduate programmes, and 2% for professional degree programmes. There are a few of Masters courses, such as MFA, that accept a 6.5 band score, and most graduate programmes, including BDS, require a 6.5 band score. A 7.5 band is required for admission to the MS and MBA programmes. |
| University of Southern California | The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, popular among students interested in technology, international business, and the arts. Most of their graduate programmes, as well as several Masters programmes such as MBA and MS, can be entered with a 6.5 band score. An overall band of 8 is necessary for the MA public relations and advertising and the MA global communication. |
| University of Minnesota | The University of Minnesota is one of just five universities in the United States that houses an engineering school, a medical school, a law school, a veterinary medicine school, and an agriculture school on the same campus. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is ranked 185 in the world by QS World University Rankings for 2023. The University of Minnesota has over 150 majors and 135 minors throughout its eight freshman-admitting and five upper-division campuses. Degree programmes require a 6.5 band score, while MS programmes require a 6.5 band score as well. MBA and MArch require a 7 band score, whereas admittance to MFA requires a 7.5 band score. |
| Ohio State University | Through its numerous colleges, Ohio State University provides over 280 degrees and programmes. A 6.5 would be sufficient for admittance into degree programmes, however most Master’s programmes, including MS and MBA, require a 7 band. |
| Pennsylvania State University | Pennsylvania State University is one of the top public research universities in the United States. Graduate programmes require only 6.5 band, and most master’s degrees, including MS and MBA, require only 6.5 band. |
| Michigan State University | For more than 165 years, MSU has been pushing the frontiers of excellence in research and teaching. Most graduate courses and some master’s programmes, such as MS, require a 6.5 band score, whereas admittance to MBA schools requires a 7 band score. |
| University of Pittsburgh | The University of Pittsburgh is a prestigious public research university that was founded in 1787. While many bachelor’s programmes require a 7 band score, such as Bsc Health Information Management, Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Neuroscience, Psychology, and Applied Mathematics. Masters courses in MIM and MS require only a 6.5. |
| Vanderbilt University | As a world-renowned research university, it offers a unique blend of education and research. Many Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, MS, and MIM programmes require a 6.5 band.Bachelor of Science in Engineering MBA and several MA programmes require a 7 band. |
| Indiana University | The university is a public institution with campuses around the United States. Indiana University is placed #339 in the QS Global World Rankings for 2023. There are around 550 different Icourses at the undergraduate, graduate, and PhD levels, including a substantial number of certificate programmes. All graduate degrees, including BA, B Tech, BSC, and BBA, require only a 6.5 band. Most Masters courses require an overall 7 band. |
| University of Arizona | Students can pick from over 300 undergraduate majors and graduate degrees, as well as applied learning possibilities. Bachelor’s and certificate programmes require a 6.5 band score, whereas Masters courses require a 7 band score. |
What are ivy league universities?
The Ivy League is a sports conference comprised of eight private universities in the northeastern United States. The colleges all compete against one another in a variety of student athletic activities. The Ivy League colleges
are all historic and prestigious universities. Seven of them were established during America’s colonial period and all have a great academic reputation, attracting top students from around the world. Over a third of US Presidents attended Ivy League schools, and they have a substantial share of Nobel laureates.
The Ivy League Universities in US are as follows:
| University | Location |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | Massachusetts |
| Yale University | Connecticut |
| Princeton University | New Jersey |
| Columbia University | New York |
| Brown University | Rhode Island |
| Dartmouth University | New hampshire |
| University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| Cornell University | New York |
Why are these universities of such high reputation?
The Ivy League universities have a great academic reputation and tradition, but they also have large endowments that ensure ongoing investment; collectively, they are said to control endowments worth nearly $150 billion, with Harvard alone having more than $40 billion. They use a lot of resources to attract smart, hardworking, and career-minded students from all over the world.
Furthermore, because they have a strong presence in numerous professions ranging from law and medicine to electrical engineering and business, these colleges greatly assist students in their professional lives. A degree from one of these schools will open many possibilities for you in the future. Finally, learning in one of these schools provides students with an identity and recognition throughout their lives, which motivates many students to do their best in order to gain admission to one of these eight universities.
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- Universities accepting IELTS 6.5 in the UK
- Countries Accept IELTS 6.5 For Nurses
- Universities accepting IELTS score 6.5 in Australia
- Universities accepting IELTS score 6.5 in New Zealand
Can I get into an ivy league university with a 6.5 IELTS score?
With a 6.5 band score, it is nearly hard to gain admission to an Ivy League university. For undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and doctorate programmes, they require a least overall band 7 score. Since they are prestigious colleges, at least nine students are usually rejected for every one accepted.
If you are planning to get 7+ band score on IELTS this blog will help you, How to Get a 7+ Score in IELTS?
As these universities exclusively accept the best of the best, the chances of an average student with average academic abilities are essentially non-existent. The Ivy League, steeped in history, academic excellence, and, of course, sporting rivalry, offers a range of universities that would be difficult to beat, whatever you study at them.
Can I get a scholarship to the US with an IELTS 6.5 ?
If you need a scholarship to the United States, you must have an overall IELTS score of 7 with no less than 6 bands in each module. If you obtain a 6.5 overall band, you are eligible to apply to a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
There are, however, a number of scholarships that are based on your academic performance, publications delivered, and professional experience. Without an IELTS 7 band, this may not guarantee you a scholarship, but it is an excellent alternative to attempt.
Can I study in the US without IELTS?
You can study in the United States without taking IELTS. However, this is only feasible if you meet certain criteria, such as:
- A letter from your previous university stating that you completed your English course.
- English should be a required subject in high school.
- If English was the official language in the country where you last studied, IELTS might not be necessary.
- Universities may need preparatory classes, known as IELP or Intensive English Language Program.
If IELTS is too difficult for you, many prestigious universities allow other English proficiency exams. Let’s have a look at a couple of them:
| University | Alternative Examinations |
|---|---|
| Rice University | Duolingo |
| National Louis University | PTE ( Pearson’s Test of English) |
| University of New Orleans (UNO) | ELI(English Language for International) |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Duolingo, PTE, Cambridge English Scale |
| University of North Alabama | TOEIC(Test of English for International Communication) |
| California State University | Cambridge English Test, IB, ELS or PTE Academic |
| Northwood University | Cambridge English Test, IB, ELS or PTE Academic |
| University of Arkansas | PTE, Duolingo or iTEP (Integrated Teacher Education Programme) along with Cambridge Assessment English |
| University of Delaware | ELS |
| Rice University | Duolingo |
Conclusion
Even though there are some universities in the United States that accept a 6.5 band score, the options are fairly limited in comparison to other nations that as the United Kingdom and Canada. If the United States is your preferred destination for higher education, a 7-band score will provide you with an abundance of options for universities.
