English Proficiency

Capital University requires students to demonstrate English proficiency before admission, with the exception of the ESL/Intensive English Program. 

ESL/Intensive English Program students do not need a test score for admission, but elementary proficiency is required. The ESL Program administers the institutional (paper-based) TOEFL to enrolled students at the end of fall, spring, and summer terms. 

Undergraduate Admissions

For undergraduate admission, you must demonstrate English language proficiency through one of the following test scores: 

Test scores must be official; we must receive them directly from the testing agency. If you upload your test scores yourself, they will not be considered official, and we won’t be able to use them to consider your application.

• Note: Students may upload IELTS and Pearson scores to be verified.

English test score MUST be from the last 2 years. If your test score is older than 2 years, please re-take a test.

English testing exemptions: 

You may be eligible to have this requirement waived if you meet one of the following criteria: 

1. You have completed 2 or more years of high school in the U.S.A. and earned a C grade (or better) in all years of standard English (not ESL/ELL). This must be shown on your transcripts.
2. You have earned a C or higher on the IGCSE or O-Level English (first language) Exam.
3. You have passed a full year of IB English Language & Literature or IB English.
4. You have completed a college-level English composition course, including College Credit Plus, and earned a C or higher.
5. You received a 3 or higher on the AP English Language and Composition test.
6. You are from one of the following first-language English countries:
   1. Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Eswatini (Swaziland), Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (Including British Overseas Territories (Anguilla; Bermuda; British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands; St Helena and St Helena Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha); South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands; Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Cyprus); Turks & Caicos) and Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands (Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey), Isle of Man)
7. WAEC results: For applicants from Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia, your test requirement will be waived if you have an A or B in English on the WAEC exam within the last 2 years.

If you have questions about exemptions or believe you qualify for an exemption, please contact Tessa Perry at tperry33@capital.edu.

Graduate Admissions

Proof of English proficiency is required for international applicants to graduate programs. If you are from one of the first-language English countries listed above, you may be eligible for a waiver. 

For all programs except the Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (ABSN) and the Capital Law school, minimum English test scores are: 

• TOEFL: 80 
• IELTS: 6.5 
• Pearson Test of English: 53 

For the ABSN and Law programs, minimum English test scores are: 

• TOEFL: 100 
• IELTS: 7.0 
• Pearson Test of English: 68 

Be sure to contact your admissions counselor to discuss the exact requirements for your graduate program.