Graduate Program - GRE/TOEFL Requirements
GRE General Score Requirements:
Guideline scores are: Verbal Reasoning 65%, Quantitative Reasoning 85%, Analytical Writing 60%.
In recent years, admission has become more competitive. For international students, the average percentile for the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing parts have exceeded 70% for most students gaining admission. All components of the application are considered in arriving at an admission decision.
The GRE is required for all students except those applying for the MCS, MCS-DE, or MSCN programs who have graduated from a US university majoring in Computer Science or Computer Engineering with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The General GRE test scores expire five years after the test date. Expired scores will not be accepted.
GRE Subject Score Requirements:
A recent score for the GRE Subject Test in Computer Science is recommended for all PhD applicants and for Master's (MS) level applicants who are seeking aid of any form. Guideline scores are 720 for PhD and 670 for MS admission. GRE Engineering and Mathematics Subject Tests are acceptable for MS applicants. GRE Subject test scores expire after five years.
TOEFL Score Requirements:
In order to be eligible for admission to the Graduate School at NCSU, all international applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a graduate program at NC State. This requirement can be met for most applicants in one of the following ways:
- Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section:
Listening15 points
Reading
20 points
Writing
20 points
Speaking
20 points - for admission to the Graduate School
23 points - for TA appointment where TA has direct verbal interactions with students
26 points - for TA appointment where TA presents lectures in the class or laboratory
- be a citizen of a country where English is an official language and the language of instruction in higher education;
- have successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year US College or university.
- TOEFL test date must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term.
TOEFL scores may be reported to us using institution code 5496 and department code 78.
Related Links:
You can find score comparisons for different versions of the TOEFL here.
Official GRE Web site
Official TOEFL Web site
