Is TOEFL 80 a good score?

A TOEFL score of 80 is good enough for universities that set their minimum at 80 or lower, such as Arizona State University and the University of Florida. It falls short at universities that require 86 or higher.

Can I get into a top-50 US university with TOEFL 80?

Yes, you can get into top 50 US universities like Penn State and Ohio with TOEFL 80 or higher for graduate programs. Programme-level requirements can be higher, so check exact requirements before applying.

Should I retake TOEFL if I have 80?

If your TOEFL score is 80, retake it only if your shortlisted programmes ask for a higher total or section score. Keep your score if your target universities, such as Oregon State and Monash, accept it.

What is TOEFL 80 on the new scale?

A TOEFL score of 80 falls in band 4.0 on the new 1 to 6 scale, which covers totals from 72 to 85. Some universities, such as Penn State, treat an old 80 as band 4.5.

Can I get admission with a TOEFL score below 80 at universities with higher cut-off?

Yes, some universities admit applicants with a TOEFL score below 80 through pathway programs. For example, Oregon State considers graduate applicants scoring 60 to 79 for conditional admission.

List of Universities Accepting TOEFL Score 80 (Band 4.0) & Below

A TOEFL score of 80 or lower can qualify you for admission to several colleges and universities abroad. Universities in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Egypt accept TOEFL scores of 80 or lower for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

This guide covers colleges accepting TOEFL scores of 80 and below, including universities in the USA, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Key Highlights:

A TOEFL score of 80 is accepted at Penn State, California, Melbourne, Auckland, and 49 more universities.
Most universities in New Zealand accept a TOEFL score of 80 for admission to their undergraduate programmes.
Oregon State University, Michigan State University, Pacific University, and the University of Montana offer transitional or pathway options to applicants who get a TOEFL score below 80.

Is a TOEFL Score of 80 (Band 4.0) Considered Good?

A score of 80 or less (equivalent to a band of 4.0 or lower on the updated 1-6 scale) on the TOEFL exam is generally considered acceptable for community colleges and regional state universities. However, it is below average and not considered a good TOEFL score for top-tier universities.

On the traditional 0-120 scale, an 80 corresponds roughly to the 47th percentile (meaning you scored about average or slightly below the global mean of 86).

Here is what a TOEFL score of 80 or less means by institution type:

Top Universities (Ivy League, Russell Group): Usually require 100 to 120 (or band 5.0 to 6.0+). A score of 80 is well below their minimum cutoffs.
Average to Good Universities: Frequently look for scores in the 80 to 100 range (or band 4.5 to 5.0). An 80 meets the lower end of many general undergraduate or master's program minimums, so you qualify to apply, but won't stand out.

New TOEFL Scoring Scale

ETS introduced the new 1-6 TOEFL score scale on 21 January 2026. A legacy total score of 80 falls within band 4.0, which covers scores from 72 to 85, while band 4.5 starts at 86. However, some universities can set different requirements under the new scale.

For example, Penn State and the University of California require a TOEFL score of 4.5 (86+) for exams taken on or after 21 January 2026, while they accepted a score of 80 for earlier exams. Therefore, your eligibility can also depend on when you took the TOEFL, not just the score you received.

Top Colleges Accepting TOEFL Scores 80 and Below

Several universities in the USA, Australia, the UK, and Germany accept TOEFL scores of 80 or under for their undergraduate and graduate programmes. Every national university in New Zealand accepts a TOEFL score of 80 for its undergraduate programmes, while postgraduate programmes generally require 90 or higher. Most TOEFL-accepting universities in Canada do not accept a TOEFL score of 80 or lower.

The table below provides a list of colleges that accept TOEFL scores of 80 and below.

Country	University	Graduate TOEFL Score (Old and New Scale)	Undergraduate TOEFL (Old and New Scale)
USA	Arizona State University	79 (4.0)	61-79
USA	Penn State University	80 (4.5)	-
USA	Michigan State University	80 (4.5), provisional admission 70 (3.5)	79 (60-78 for provisional admission)
USA	Ohio State University	79	-
USA	Oregon State University	80 (60 to 79 for transitional admission)	-
USA	University of California, Davis	80 (4.5)	80 (4)
USA	University of California, Irvine	80 (4.5)	80 (4)
USA	University of Florida	-	80
USA	University of Texas at Austin	79 (4)	79 (4)
USA	East Texas A&M University	79	79
USA	Texas A&M University	80	80
USA	Texas A&M International University	69	69
USA	Texas A&M University, Texarkana	71	71
USA	UT Dallas	80 (4)	80 (4)
USA	Georgetown University (select programmes)	80 (4)	80 (4)
USA	University of Pacific	80 (4.5)	80 (4.5)
USA	Pacific University	79 (78-53 for transition program, 52 or less for English Language Learning Program)	79 (78-53 for transition program, 52 or less for English Language Learning Program)
USA	Pittsburgh State University	68	68
USA	Bowling Green State University	80 (4)	71 (4)
USA	Cleveland State University	78 (4)	78 (4)
USA	East Tennessee State University	79 (4)	61 (3.5)
USA	University of New Mexico	79 (4.5)	68 (4.0)
USA	University of Tulsa	80	70
USA	University of Montana	80 (71 for provisional admission)	70 (52 for English pathway program)
USA	Golden Gate University	79	60
USA	Indiana State University	79	61
UK	University of East Anglia	79 (4)	79 (4)
Australia	University of Melbourne	79	79
Australia	University of Wollongong	79	79
Australia	Monash University	79	79
Australia	University of Newcastle	-	70
Australia	RMIT University	79	79
Australia	Australian National University	80	80
New Zealand	University of Auckland	-	80
New Zealand	University of Canterbury	-	80
New Zealand	University of Otago	-	80
New Zealand	Auckland University of Technology	-	80
New Zealand	University of Waikato	-	80
New Zealand	Victoria University of Wellington	-	80
New Zealand	Massey University	-	80
Belgium	KU Leuven	79	79
Hong Kong	Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	80 (4.5)	80 (4.5)
Egypt	American University in Cairo	71	-
Germany	Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich	72(4)	-
Germany	Freie Universität Berlin	42-80	42-80
Germany	University of Freiburg	44-71 (3-3.5)	44-71 (3-3.5)
Germany	University of Tübingen	79	79
Germany	Humboldt University of Berlin	72	-
Germany	University of Regensburg	80	-
Germany	RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau	79-80	-
Germany	University of Hamburg	72	72
UK	London Metropolitan University	72	72
UK	University of Hertfordshire	72-79	72-79
UK	University of the West of Scotland	78	78
UK	University of West London	72 (4)	72 (4)
UK	Edinburgh Napier University	80 (4)	80 (4)

Note: Individual departments can set higher scores than the university-wide figure mentioned in the table, so confirm the exact requirement on your programme's page.

Factors To Consider With a TOEFL Score of 80

These five factors can determine whether a TOEFL score of 80 leads to an admission offer.

Published Minimum vs. competitive score: A published TOEFL minimum of 80 serves as an eligibility filter, not an admission target. Universities may prefer higher scores when assessing applicants. So a strong GPA, focused statement of purpose, and balanced section scores can strengthen your application beyond simply meeting the minimum requirement.
Conditional Admission: Some universities consider applicants who fall below the standard minimum if they complete an English preparation programme. Oregon State offers transitional admission to graduate applicants with scores of 60 to 79, while Otago offers the English for Otago pathway to applicants who narrowly miss its requirement.
Section Minimums: A total TOEFL score of 80 does not guarantee eligibility at universities that also have section-wise requirements. So always check the programme’s English language requirements for additional prerequisites.
MyBest and Validity: Several universities like Ohio State, Texas A&M, the University of California, Otago, and Oregon State do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores. If a university does not accept MyBest scores, you must meet its required overall and section scores in a single attempt.

From the Desk of Yocket

Many universities accept a TOEFL score of 80 at the university level. However, programme-specific requirements, section minimums, and the new TOEFL scoring scale can change the final eligibility. Check all three for your target programme before building your shortlist.

Yocket Prep can help you prepare for the exam with structured study resources and practice materials. Use these resources to identify areas for improvement, strengthen your weaker sections, and work towards the score your shortlisted programmes require.