20 Toefl Accepted Universities in USA Top Picks for 2026

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Top US universities for 2026, including Ivy Leagues and top-tier institutions, widely accept TOEFL iBT scores, typically requiring 90–100+ for competitive programs, while some accept 80+. Leading institutions like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Caltech generally require high scores (100+). The test is updating in early 2026, featuring a new, shorter format. 

Top 20 TOEFL Accepted Universities in USA (2026 Picks)
  • Harvard University: Typically requires a minimum iBT score of 80–100+.
  • Stanford University: Top choice, generally requires 90–100+.
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Frequently requires 90–100+.
  • Princeton University: Highly competitive, typically 100+.
  • Yale University: Requires 100+ for most programs.
  • Columbia University: Generally requires 100+.
  • University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley): Competitive, usually 80–100+.
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): Often requires 100+.
  • University of Chicago: Typically requires 100+.
  • University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): Generally requires 100+.
  • Cornell University: Requires 100+ for most, sometimes 90+.
  • California Institute of Technology (Caltech): Often requires 100+.
  • Northwestern University: Typically requires 100+.
  • Johns Hopkins University: Often requires 100+.
  • New York University (NYU): Generally requires 100+.
  • University of Michigan - Ann Arbor: Usually requires 84–100+.
  • University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin): Often requires 79–100+.
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech): Often requires 90+.
  • University of Southern California (USC): Generally requires 100+.
  • Carnegie Mellon University: Typically requires 100+. 
Key 2026 Considerations:
  • Minimum Scores: While top schools require 100+, many reputable institutions accept 80–90 (e.g., Georgetown, Florida).
  • Test Updates: As of Jan 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT is updated to a shorter, 4-section format with a 1–6 scale for each section.
  • Program Specifics: Always check individual department requirements as they may differ from the university-wide minimum.

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