Get Your Online Master’s — No GRE Required

If you want to attend graduate school, you probably know about the GRE or GMAT requirements for applying. Thankfully, you may not need to spend money or time on the GRE, as many master’s programs no longer require you to submit scores on your application.

Many online and in-person master’s programs don’t require the GRE, so you can hop into a program without having to study for or pay for an exam for grad school.

We’ve rounded up 30 programs in 10 different subjects to help you start your search.

The GRE General Test is a standardized test similar to the SAT or ACT that measures your reading, writing, and math skills, as well as your critical thinking capabilities. Historically, graduate schools have used this test as part of admissions into master’s programs.

“GRE scores are a common measuring method that allows universities to compare students who went to different colleges and took different classes,” says Ben Paris, a test prep tutor. “The GRE measures some skills that really matter, such as reading comprehension.”

However, lately, the test has been slowly sunsetting throughout higher education as more universities make it optional, if they require it at all.

If you take the test, the questions will test your skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing. Testing time is just over two hours. It costs $220 to take the test, and there are additional fees if you reschedule or want additional scoring reports.

Master’s degrees can open up a higher salary potential than a bachelor’s degree — and in some cases, like social work, open up a whole new career. Here are 10 popular online master’s programs that don’t require the GRE.

Accountants are in charge of handling a company or client’s finances. They are some of the most vital parts of a client’s business, as they ensure there are no gaps in financial records and that all the money is coming in and going out properly. They may also serve as consultants and advise others on optimal money management and practices.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for accountants and auditors is projected to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033.

One of the hottest degrees in the business world is a master’s degree in business administration (MBA), and it generally leads to higher salaries, with some boosting wages by at least 50%.

An MBA builds professional leadership skills and helps prepare you to lead in your company or self-owned business. While many jobs don’t require an MBA, many greatly value the degree and the skills you learn from it.

With a seemingly ever-growing tech world, computer science program graduates remain in demand. These graduates primarily explore coding, website design, user interface (UI) design, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI).

With the rise of AI, most programs have begun to implement machine learning and other best practices to utilize AI in coding to ensure students stay ahead of the curve.

Communications master’s degree programs focus on the art and skill of communication in the personal and business world.

Communication is considered a widely applicable discipline. With a master’s degree in this subject, you can become a liaison between companies, a public speaker, a public relations director, or even go into filmmaking, journalism, and graphic design.

This rapidly growing field is also evolving into “financial technology” or “fintech.” A master’s in finance can help prepare you to use emerging technologies like AI to become an expert in finance for people and companies.

You can become a financial analyst, financial examiner, budget analyst, personal finance advisor, or finance manager.

Master’s in marketing program graduates typically work in firms that advise, create, and execute marketing strategies for clients.

You can also work in-house at a business and organize branding strategies, search engine optimization (SEO), paid search, and other ways to get your business out to more people.

Nursing is one of the most valuable and in-demand careers right now. As the nation faces a nursing shortage, especially in rural areas, the BLS projects employment for registered nurses to grow by 6% from 2023 to 2033.

You can choose to pursue different paths within the field, like nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nurse practitioner. This group of nursing professionals earned a median annual salary of $129,480 in 2023, according to the BLS.

Social work is one of the few careers that requires you to earn your master’s before you enter the field. Graduates of master’s in social work (MSW) programs most commonly go into social work and mental health counseling — both of which require licenses.

Social work can be an emotionally rewarding and taxing career, ideal for empathetic problem-solvers.

Like social workers, many people with a master’s in psychology degree can go into social work and counseling. However, the degree also opens many opportunities in academia, healthcare, medical school, and client-facing psychological services.

Even if you don’t pursue a doctoral degree or even enter the psychology field, you’ll join the workforce with a greater knowledge of how people work and how to communicate effectively.

A master’s in public health (MPH) program focuses on investigating infectious diseases and preventive programs, finding ways to detect diseases and other conditions, and educating the public about the best health and wellness practices to benefit the community as a whole.

Whether or not you submit your GRE scores depends on your other application features and personal preference. A lot of times, a GRE-optional school or program will not penalize you for not submitting it.

These schools typically take other admissions factors into account:

If you scored well on the GRE, it certainly doesn’t hurt to submit your scores, and it could help give admissions evaluators more context and reasons to select you for admission.

But, if you don’t choose to submit test scores, it may not hurt your chances of getting into a program — especially if you have a high GPA or other standout application components.

“A strong score can help set you apart from your competition,” says Paris. “A very low score could make it look like you’re not ready for a program, which is why it’s important that you do your best on the GRE, if you take it at all.”