Many students I have taught in the past have been hesitant about taking IELTS, saying that they need to do TOEFL or TOEIC to gain entrance into American universities. It is true that TOEFL and TOEIC have changed over the years to better reflect the academic side of studying. However, contrary to popular belief, IELTS is recognised in American institutions. Many students believe that they won't get into and American university with IELTS. For a while now, however, many institutions in America have accepted good scores in IELTS. Currently there are nearly 2,000 institutions in the US which accept IELTS as a sound foundation in the academic English skills needed for tertiary study. This means that worldwide, there are over 6,000 colleges and universities which recognise the exam. And quite right too!
So, if one of your reasons for not taking IELTS is that you want to go to university in the USA, rather than the UK or Australia, then you no longer have much of an excuse.
If the university you want to go to in America still doesn't recognise IELTS, I believe this may change in the near future. So, keep checking and enrol on an IELTS course today, and get that university place you've been looking for.