South University requires that all students possess and demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency required to substantially benefit from the programs offered. Applicants who completed high school or postsecondary education outside of the United States, in a country where English is not the official language, must meet one of the following:
- Holds a U.S. high school diploma or U.S. General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or international high school diploma, e.g., U.S. military base, business/diplomat expat community, etc., in which instruction is delivered primarily in English.
- Holds the equivalent (evidenced by credential evaluation) of a U.S. high school diploma from overseas institution in which instruction is delivered primarily in English.
- Completes (with passing grades in all courses) a minimum of two (2) academic terms at a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution in which instruction is delivered primarily in English.
- Completes (with passing grades in all courses) English 101 and 102 at a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution in which instruction is delivered primarily in English.
- Presents acceptable English Language Proficiency test scores meeting the minimum required levels set forth below.
Equivalent/Alternative English Language Programs/Test±
| ELP Test | Diploma | AS/BS | Grad |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL - Paper | 480 | 500 | 550 |
| TOEFL - i-BT (internet based test) | 54-55 | 61 | 79-80 |
| American College Testing (ACT) English Paper | 17 | 19 | 21 |
| EF International Language Schools | C1 | C1 | C2 |
| ELS Language Schools | Level 108 | Level 109 | Level 112 |
| iTEP | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (Also known as the MELAB or Michigan Test) | 73 | 80 | 85 |
| Pearson | 42 | 44 | 53 |
| Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Verbal Score** | 420 | 526 | 572 |
| Students from Puerto Rico: Prueba Aptitud Academica (PAA) English Proficiency Section | 453* | 526 | 572 |
| TOEIC (Academic Test) | 650 | 700 | 750 |
| I.E.L.T.S. (A Cambridge University Exam) | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Duolingo*** | N/A | N/A | 105 |
*The scale for The Prueba Aptitud Academica has changed and now closely reflects the SAT.
**As of April 2005, the SAT verbal test is replaced with the SAT critical reading test.
***Duolingo is only accepted for graduate programs.
±The University will evaluate other tests and programs on an individual basis to determine eligibility for English Language Proficiency.