California State University Considers Dropping TOEFL Requirement for International Students
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
The California State University (CSU) system, which operates 23 campuses across the state, is considering a significant shift in its admissions policy for international students. CSU Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez has proposed replacing the mandatory TOEFL requirement with multiple recognized English proficiency assessments. The proposal, which will be presented for a formal vote at the Board of Trustees meeting in November, aims to remove barriers to higher education access while maintaining rigorous language standards.
Key Points
- The CSU system, serving approximately 470,000 students, currently has international students comprising only 2.5% of its total enrollment .
- Vice Chancellor Dilcie Perez (佩雷斯) presented the proposal, emphasizing it would replace single-test dependency with multiple recognized standards .
- The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the measure in November, with implementation potentially affecting future admission cycles .
- Proposed alternatives include AP and IB exam scores, Duolingo English Test, IELTS, and SAT scores—mirroring the University of California system's approach .
- The National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) forecasts California could lose over 7,000 international students this academic year .
Why It Matters
CSU anticipates losing approximately $1 billion (HK$7.85 billion) in tuition and living expenses from declining international student numbers . The policy change could help restore competitiveness against other U.S. universities while reducing financial burdens on applicants who currently pay between $170 and $400 for TOEFL registration fees .
CSU anticipates losing approximately $1 billion (HK$7.85 billion) in tuition and living expenses from declining international student numbers . The policy change could help restore competitiveness against other U.S. universities while reducing financial burdens on applicants who currently pay between $170 and $400 for TOEFL registration fees .