Graduate Admission Testing Information & Waivers

The College of New Jersey Office of Graduate Studies currently requires standardized test scores as part of the application

review process.

1. The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is required for applications to a master’s degree program unless the applicant meets

the below waiver criteria.

2. International applicants must submit the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam if English is not their

native language

a. For acceptance into graduate programs, The College of New Jersey requires a minimum score unless otherwise

stated below of: 90 TOEFL iBT; 6.5 IELTS; C1 CEFR Certification

b. For conditional admission, policy requires the following scores for admittance into graduate programs: 75

TOEFL iBT; 5.5 IELTS; B2 CEFR Certification

3. Standardized test scores are considered official when they are received:

a. Electronically from the testing agency

b. In hard copy directly from the testing agency

c. Through direct verbal verification by the Office of Graduate Studies and ETS

in the case of the GRE

4. Admissions does not accept self-reported test scores as official

Note: A student exempt from the GRE may still be required to pass a Basic Skills Test in order to enter a

teacher certification program

For master’s or non-degree certification programs leading to initial teacher certification,

candidates must meet the Fall 2015 State of New Jersey basic skills requirement*.

Applicants for matriculation into initial teacher certification programs (master’s level or non-degree certification program level)

--Candidates must either provide official GRE scores with a minimum Verbal score of 155 (min. 530 if taken before 8/1/2011) and

minimum Math score of 156 (min. 720 if taken before 8/1/2011) or pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (5712,

5722, 5732). (These can be taken at the same time under the test code Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Test 5751. Students

wishing to take the tests individually can register for (5712, 5722, 5732).

--If an applicant to a master’s degree leading to initial teacher certification otherwise meets the GRE waiver criteria, that applicant may

choose to take either the GRE (and earn a minimum Verbal score of 155 [min. 530 if taken before 8/1/2011] and minimum Math score

of 156 [min. 720 if taken before 8/1/2011] or the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (5712, 5722, 5732). (These can be

taken at the same time under the test code Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Test 5751. Students wishing to take the tests

individually can register for (5712, 5722, 5732) (with passing scores as determined by the State).

*Requirements and minimum scores are subject to change based on state regulatory changes.

For MA Counselor Education programs, the GRE is waived for those candidates who have already earned a

graduate level degree (master’s or other higher-level degree) or students with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher.

For the MEd Educational Leadership: Instruction program offered in conjunction with

Regional Training Center, the following GRE policy applies:

--any candidate who would like to strengthen his/her application is encouraged to take the GRE

--candidates with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below a 3.0 are strongly encouraged to take the GRE

--candidates who already hold a master’s degree typically would not take the GRE

The GRE is to be waived for applicants to master’s degree programs (see exceptions

above) if the applicant meets one of the following criteria:

--already has an earned graduate level degree (master’s or other higher-level degree);

--earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA;

--earned a bachelor’s degree from another regionally accredited college/university (and NLN- or CCNE-accredited for nursing) with at

least a 3.2 cumulative GPA;

--is a current undergraduate at TCNJ with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA; or

--earned at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA (with no grades lower than B) at TCNJ through 2 graduate courses (courses may be specified

by a program – for nursing, one of the two courses must be NURS 504/ Advanced Pathophysiology) in any non-matriculated status or

through a certification program – the most recent academic experience at TCNJ will prevail

Exceptions to minimum score requirements for TOEFL, IELTS, CEFR

--Literacy program requires higher scores than the standard university minimum. Literacy score requirements are:

- 100 TOEFL iBT

- 7 IELTS

- C2 CEFR Certification

--Global programs do not require any test requirements on international tests

--Counselor Education requires no minimum test score on international tests

(for updates, see https://graduate.tcnj.edu/apply/)

Last updated: 11/26/2019