AlmiDET

DET requirements

🇺🇸 Duolingo English Test requirements for United States

Around 3,000+ US institutions accept the DET, including 95% of the U.S. News Top 100 universities and all eight Ivy League schools for undergraduate admission.

Institutions accepting the DET
3,000+ institutions
Score scale
10–160

What score you need

Scores run on the 10–160 scale. US minimums range from ~90 at community colleges to 125+ at the most selective programs.

Over 75% of US graduate programs with high international enrolment also accept the DET. Each university — and often each program — sets its own minimum.

Score bands by tier

TierDET rangeExamples
Highly selective (Ivy League, top research)125+Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT tier
Strong universities115–125many state flagships, well-ranked privates
Mid-tier universities100–115regional universities
Community colleges / pathways90–105foundation & pathway providers

Universities that accept the DET in United States

  • Harvard University125+
  • Yale University125+
  • Stanford University125+
  • Columbia University
  • Duke University

Admission is not the same as the visa

For the F-1 student visa, USCIS does not mandate a specific English test. Your university issues the I-20 on its own admission criteria — so if your university accepted your DET, you are covered. The consular officer assesses your spoken English at the interview in person.

DET vs IELTS — cost

At ~$70 the DET costs far less than IELTS (~$245) and is accepted across nearly all major US universities — one of the most cost-effective routes for US applications.

Admission
Accepted at 95% of the U.S. News Top 100 and all Ivy League schools for undergrad.
Visa (F-1)
No specific test mandated; university admission generally satisfies the visa.

Sources

Universities in United States that accept the DET

Confirmed on Duolingo's accepting-institutions list, with course data from AlmiStudy. Each university sets its own DET score — confirm on its official page.

Showing 14 of 81 matched universities.

Common questions

Is the Duolingo English Test accepted in United States?
The Duolingo English Test is accepted for admission by a range of institutions in United States. Each university — and often each programme — sets its own minimum score on the 10–160 scale, so confirm the figure on the official admissions page.
What DET score do I need for United States?
There is no single national minimum. Requirements vary by university and programme; this page lists honest score bands by tier. Always confirm the current figure with your specific programme.
Does the DET work for a United States student visa?
Admission and visa are separate. A test accepted for university admission is not automatically accepted for the visa. See the admission-versus-visa note on this page and confirm with the official authority.

Plan the rest of your move for United States

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The Shamool pledge

AlmiDET is part of the AlmiWorld family. 25% of our sales go to the Shamool Foundation to support students who cannot afford fees and tests — so the work you do here helps fund a place for someone else.

AlmiDET is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Duolingo. All practice material is original and never copied from the Duolingo English Test. Acceptance figures and score bands change — always confirm the current requirement on the official university or government page before you rely on it.