US Bachelor's Entry Requirements at A-State: GPA, English, Cost

"What GPA do I need to study in the US?" is one of the most common questions we get from students weighing an application to Arkansas State University (A-State). The good news: A-State's entry bar is more accessible than a lot of online chatter suggests. This article breaks requirements into three clear groups — academics, English proficiency, and finances — and clears up the mix-up many families make between the GPA needed for admission and the GPA needed for scholarships.

Three groups of requirements to prepare

Every application to A-State rests on three pillars: (1) a transcript showing GPA at or above the minimum, (2) proof of English proficiency through one accepted test or score, and (3) financial documentation so the university can issue the I-20 needed for your visa. Requirements differ slightly between undergraduate and graduate admission, so confirm which level applies to you before comparing numbers.

Academic requirement: how high does your GPA need to be?

For undergraduate admission, the minimum GPA is 2.3 on a 4.0 scale. For graduate admission, it's 2.75. This is the admission threshold — the bar your file needs to clear to be considered — and it is not the same as the GPA needed for scholarships, which we'll cover below.

Requirement	Undergraduate	Graduate
Minimum GPA	2.3/4.0	2.75/4.0
TOEFL iBT	61	79
IELTS	5.5	6.0
Duolingo English Test	110	120
SAT (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing)	550	—
ACT (composite)	21	—

English requirement: pick the test that fits you

You don't need TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo all at once — hitting any one of the thresholds above satisfies the English requirement. If you studied a curriculum taught in English or already have a qualifying SAT/ACT score, that can also stand in for a separate English test at the undergraduate level. If your scores are a bit uneven across tests, use the admission checker tool to see exactly where your file stands.

Not quite there on English yet? Start with ELA

If your English score falls short, you can still enroll through A-State's English Language Academy (ELA) — a six-level program with roughly an 11:1 student-teacher ratio, accredited by CEA. Once you complete ELA, you don't need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to move into your degree program. A full ELA semester currently runs around $6,522, though this figure can change term to term, so confirm current pricing with the Vietnam Office or email ELA@AState.edu before budgeting. Details are on the English/ELA page.

Financial requirement for the I-20 — don't skip this step

Alongside academics and English, the university needs proof of sufficient funds to cover at least one year of study and living costs before it can issue your I-20, the document required for an F-1 student visa. The exact figure required varies by term and program, so we're intentionally not quoting a fixed number here — contact the Vietnam Office to confirm the current amount for your intended intake. You should also budget for one-time items such as the application fee, international enrollment deposit, and health screening fee, all detailed in your official admission packet.

The common mix-up: admission GPA versus scholarship GPA

This is where a lot of families get confused. A 2.3 GPA only gets your file considered for admission. To receive the International Freshman Scholarship or Transfer Scholarship (each worth $3,000/year, and not combinable), you need a GPA of at least 3.25 — the Transfer Scholarship also requires 24 transferable credit hours. There are also merit awards tied to SAT/ACT scores, ranging from $1,000–$4,000 a year, but renewing them each year requires a 3.5 GPA. In short: meeting the admission bar does not automatically mean you qualify for a scholarship — the two thresholds are separate. See the full picture on the scholarships page.

Ready to get started?

A-State is currently accepting applications for Spring 2027 (deadline November 1, 2026), Summer 2027 (deadline March 2, 2027), and Fall 2027. Because tuition, fees, and deadlines can change year to year, double-check the latest figures before you submit your final application. Full requirements by degree level are on the undergraduate admissions page, or run your profile through the admission checker to see what's still missing. For a personalized review — including how to document funds for your I-20 — contact the Vietnam Office, email study@astate.edu.vn, or call the hotline at 097 586 1994. Our team in Vietnam can review your file before you apply.

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash