If you are aspiring to study abroad, without a doubt, one of your top destinations will be the United States. Isn’t it?
Being the world's top study abroad destination and observing the highest number of students worldwide, most of the courses taught in universities have English as their language of instruction. So, to make sure that international students can keep up with the instructional language of their curricula, universities in the US have made it mandatory to take one of the recognised globally standardised English tests, and IELTS happens to be the top pick in that lot.
While taking IELTS is one of the first steps to achieving your dream of studying abroad, many aspirants end up scoring a low band and start questioning their choice to study abroad. We ask - “Should you really give up on your dream to study abroad?”
Absolutely not! If you have scored between 6.0 and 6.5, you are certain enough that most colleges and universities will accept your application. But if you have an IELTS score of 5.5, don’t worry!
With a rich database to sort from using machine learning, Yocket Premium will help you reach your dream university in the US that suits your IELTS score! With a personal counsellor helping you out with profile building and application processes, the counselling is curated JUST FOR YOU. Don’t let anything be a hurdle to your dream of studying abroad - become a Premium Yocketer today.
Here is a list of the top universities in the USA accepting IELTS 5.5, along with other required details like student visas and more!
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Overview of IELTS 5.5 Score for US Universities
Since you are already on this blog, we think you know what the IELTS exam is. But if not, no worries! The IELTS test is a language-based exam and skill ability tool for international students that can assess their English language proficiency to study abroad. It is a language test used in colleges and universities in the US to determine the English language ability of a student. The IELTS scores are rated on a scale of 1.0 to 9.0 for each section. Reading, listening, writing, and speaking are added together to create the IELTS composite score.
Now, getting an IELTS score of 5.5 won't put you on the top radar for admission. However, there are various universities in the USA accepting a 5.5 IELTS score. Apart from the test, universities also look at your GPA, statement of purpose, letter of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and other things before offering admission to 5.5 band colleges in the US in 2024.
Do you know about profile building? That’s exactly the catch! But, more often than not, aspirants are not aware of what exactly they should be doing to make their profile stand out in piles of applications. You’ve got a problem? We have the solution. With Yocket Premium, your profile is analysed against your dream university, the course you wish to pursue, and a lot more. You receive counselling to build your profile in the best way possible to get admission. Yocket doesn’t want you to miss out on your dream to study abroad; rather, excel and reach even further! 🎉
So, what are you waiting for?
Now get to what you are here for!
Top 10 Universities in USA Accepting IELTS Score of 5.5 Band
Many universities assess the IELTS scores to determine the eligibility of students in different programs and expect them to meet the cut-off score. Here is the list of 7 universities in the US accepting IELTS 5.5 Band for master's and bachelor's programs:
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University Name |
Minimum IELTS Band Requirement |
|---|---|
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5.5 |
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5.5 |
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5.5 |
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5.5 |
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|
5.5 |
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|
5.5 |
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|
5.5 |
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University of Missouri |
5.5 |
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University of Evansville |
5.5 |
|
5.5 |
We get it that it’s difficult to find the university that best fits your criteria - the country you wish to go to or the course you wish to pursue! It’s easy to get lost in this flood of universities online. Yocket’s College Finder is just the solution for you! Just tell us what your requirements are and you will receive all the options available - universities that you can target, safer options, and even ambitious universities for you!
Now, while these are some of the best universities in the US accepting IELTS 5.5 Band, let’s dive deeper into select universities from this list:
1. California State University, Los Angeles
The California State University is a public institution situated in Los Angeles. With more than 20,000 undergraduate enrollments, it is one of the largest public universities in California. The CSULA uses a quarter-based academic system. According to IELTS, CSULA offers undergraduate admission to students with an IELTS score of 5.5 bands. The same goes for 6.0 bands for a graduate degree programme.
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1401+ |
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Location |
Los Angeles, California |
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Average Annual Fees |
USD $28,000 (INR 23,34,000) |
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Popular Courses |
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Top Universities in the US Without IELTS or TOEFL for International Students
2. University of Hawaii, Hilo
The University of Hawaii at Hilo, abbreviated as UH Hilo, is a public-funded university in Hilo, Hawaii. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of Hawaii system. UH Hilo is home to 3400 students, of which 2.5% are international students. The university acceptance rate is 52%.
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386 |
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Location |
Hilo, Hawaii |
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Average Annual Fees |
USD $21,402 (INR 17,84,000) |
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Popular Courses |
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3. University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee provides world-class education to 27,000 students. As one of the nation’s top research universities, UWM partners with leading companies in Wisconsin and beyond to advance knowledge, bring new discoveries to market, and prepare students for work in a global economy. It is important to note that the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, offers conditional admission with an IELTS score band of 5.5. You will have to check if your graduate program considers conditional admission or not. And if you do get in with a conditional admission, you will be required to enrol full-time in the UWM Intensive English Program.
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1001 - 1200 |
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Location |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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Average Annual Fees |
USD $24,614 (INR 20,52,000) |
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Popular Courses |
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4. Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University (CMU) is a public research institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. CMU offers over 200 academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The university is committed to providing a comprehensive education to its students, which includes hands-on learning experiences, research opportunities, and a supportive community. You should also note that CMU offers admission to aspirants with an IELTS score band of 5.5 under stipulations.
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1201 - 1400 |
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Location |
Michigan, US |
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Average Annual Fees |
USD $26,370 (INR 21,98,000) |
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Popular Courses |
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5. University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi is a state flagship university that inspires and educates a diverse and vibrant community. Members are able to intellectually, socially and culturally thrive through its transformative experiences. The liberal arts college, with almost 40 degree programs, is committed to being both proactive and responsive in mitigating barriers so that every graduate reaches their full potential.
You should note that aspirants with 5.50 IELTS may be admitted but are required to enroll in IE 090 English for International Students and IE 091 Academic Writing Lab for International Students during their first term of enrollment at the university. And, if necessary, they need to enrol in subsequent terms until they complete the courses successfully. Successful completion of IE 090 and IE 091 means the student must receive a C grade or higher on both courses, IE 090 and IE 091. This will get you successful admission to the University of Mississippi.
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1001-1200 |
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Location |
Oxford, Mississippi |
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Average Annual Fees |
USD $25,886 (INR 21,58,000) |
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Popular Courses |
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And if you are looking for top universities in the US offering the best placements, make sure to check out this video and more on our YouTube channel:
So, while these are the top universities offering the best courses and great ROIs for an IELTS score of 5.5 Band, what about your visa process? Well, let’s have a look at it.
USA Student Visa Process With 5.5 Band Scores
Getting a student visa for the US requires you to have a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four sections of IELTS band requirements and an overall score of 6.5. The exact scores vary from program to program. With an IELTS score of 5.5, it is quite possible that you can get into a 5.5 IELTS score university in the US. While there is no hard-and-fast rule for it, students are always advised to have an IELTS score of 6.0 for a higher chance of getting their student visa to the US.
However, if you have good test scores in other exams like the SAT or GRE, a strong profile, and sufficient proof of financial resources, you can definitely secure an I-20 admission form from the university.
From the Desk of Yocket
While a good IELTS score is necessary to chase your dream of studying in the US, it is definitely not the only criterion to be met! It is vital to note that US universities with IELTS 5.5 or higher not only look at your scores but also consider your profile for admission. Achieving a good grade will surely increase your chances of admission to the IELTS 5.5 band universities in the US for MS or any other degree, provided that you have a strong profile in additional requirements such as SOP, LOR, etc.
And if you are ambitious enough to take that step and go to the US regardless of just your IELTS score, you are in the right place! With Yocket Premium, you not only get your profile built by our top-of-the-field counsellors, but you also get guidance for making a strong application that will get you the admission you are looking for.
Remember! Do not lose hope with just your IELTS score. There’s a lot more that you can do to secure your admission to your dream college!
