Average GRE Scores: Full Statistics

Roughly 319,100 individuals looking to apply to graduate school took the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) in 2022-2023.^{Note Reference [1]} Graduate programs use the GRE to gauge test-takers’ reasoning and analytical skills.

The GRE is a general graduate admissions exam, unlike the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which are particular to professional schools in medicine, business, and law, respectively.

Recently, the GRE has been declining in popularity. However, many graduate programs still accept the GRE, and in many cases, prospective students can take it in place of the GMAT, and, more recently, the LSAT.^{Note Reference [3]}

If you are considering applying to graduate school, you may need to take the GRE. Read on to find out more about average GRE scores by school and section in this report.

There are two sections on the GRE: verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. Each section is worth up to 170 points, and the highest total possible score is 340.^{Note Reference [4]}

In 2022-2023, the average verbal reasoning score was about 151, and the average quantitative reasoning score was 158.^{Note Reference [1]}

The average analytical writing score was 3.4 out of 5 for tests taken in 2022-2023.^{Note Reference [1]} The analytical writing section is separate from your total score.

While the GRE has two sections, the test is graded as a whole. In other words, you can’t take your best score for one section and combine it with your best score for the other section from another test.

Percentiles matter because they show how you fared against other test-takers. Some programs state GRE percentile cutoffs rather than a specific score. The physical therapy program at California State University, Northridge, for example, requires applicants to score within or above the 50th percentile on at least one of the GRE sections if a candidate has a GPA below 3.0.^{Note Reference [5]}

Percentiles also allow admissions committees to compare candidate profiles across different exams. If one candidate took the GMAT and another took the GRE, for example, they could look at percentiles to see where each candidate stood amongst other test-takers of the same application cycle. Between 2019 and 2022:

You must score higher on the quantitative reasoning section to break into the top 10% of test-takers. A score of 169 or higher was required to put you at the 90th percentile between 2019 and 2022. Those who scored higher than 156 were in the 50th percentile of test-takers.

Earning a perfect score on the verbal reasoning section put test-takers in the top 1%, but a perfect score on the quantitative reasoning section put them in the top 6%. This difference shows that collectively, GRE test-takers tend to perform better on the quantitative reasoning section, making it harder to get in a higher percentile.

Unlike the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning section scoring scales, the analytical writing scale goes up in half-point increments.

Between 2019 and 2022, a score of 5.0 or higher put you in the top 10% of test-takers. However, a one-half point drop to 4.5 put you near the top 20%. This means that every half-point has a big impact on where you stand against other test-takers. A score of 4.0 put you just slightly above the 50th percentile.

The number of GRE test-takers appears to be trending down, going from over 700,000 in 2011 to around 319,100 in 2023.

Since many graduate programs use the GRE in admissions, you may want to narrow in on average GRE scores by field of study. In this report, we explore average GRE scores for different graduate majors, as well as law school, business school, and health and sciences programs.

The following table is primarily based on the GRE scores of seniors, and non-enrolled college graduates, and master’s degree holders who took the exam between July 2022 and June 2023.

Remember, GRE requirements differ depending on the program. For example, Yale University’s graduate school of arts and sciences requires test scores for economics, East Asian languages and literatures, and architecture. However, scores are optional for philosophy, applied math, and archaeological studies.^{Note Reference [7]}

Departments across different schools also differ in their requirements. For example, while Yale requires students applying to the mechanical engineering program to submit GRE scores, Columbia University’s engineering department does not require the GRE.^{Note Reference [8]}

Be sure to check out not only your school’s general GRE requirements but also your specific program’s. Also, find out if your program of choice plans to drop its GRE requirements. A growing number of schools no longer require standardized test scores, and sometimes programs will state on their website that the GRE will become optional in the following application cycle or two.

The GRE can be used for several health sciences programs, but it’s often not required. In this report, we explore physician assistant (PA), physical therapy (PT), speech-language pathology (SLP), and master of science in nursing (MSN) programs and their GRE requirements.

While programs may or may not require applicants to submit test scores, they all have a set of prerequisites — or coursework to be completed before starting classes. Some of these courses are listed below each field. However, the exact prerequisites differ between programs.

Many top physician assistant programs no longer require standardized testing, including Emory University, University of Colorado, and Drexel University.

Some of the top programs that do require GRE scores list the averages on their websites:

While most programs no longer require test scores, most do require a list of undergraduate science courses a student must take before applying. The required courses differ by program, but generally include courses in biology, chemistry, and human anatomy and physiology as part of the prerequisites.

As with many physician assistant programs, many physical therapy programs do not require GRE scores. Instead, they may place emphasis on clinical hours that demonstrate an adequate amount of exposure to work in the field.

Required courses may also include human anatomy, human physiology, statistics, and physics. However, different programs will have different sets of prerequisites.

Out of the top PT programs, the majority now do not require the GRE. Many do not even consider scores.

The University of Pittsburgh, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Emory University all list the GRE as either optional or no longer factored. The University of Delaware simply states that its minimum GRE requirement is a score at or above the 50th percentile.

Most top SLP programs do not require the GRE, including programs at the University of North Carolina, University of Pittsburgh, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Arizona, and Boston University.

Some schools may consider scores if they are sent. However, this is specific to each school. The University of Iowa, for example, does not require or factor in GRE test scores.^{Note Reference [12]}

Vanderbilt University’s SLP program does require test scores. For the incoming class of 2019-2020, the average total GRE score was between 317 and 319, and the average GPA was 3.9.^{Note Reference [13]}

Note that GRE requirements may differ within departments at the same school. For example, GRE scores are required for all Ph.D. applicants. However, it is optional for master’s program applicants.^{Note Reference [14]}

Many top MSN programs no longer require the GRE. Some programs accept scores, while others will not even consider them. The GRE is not required for MSN programs at Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, and Vanderbilt University.

Other schools have specific conditions. For Yale University’s School of Nursing, applicants do not need to submit GRE scores if they have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.^{Note Reference [15]} Those with a cumulative or weighted GPA lower than 3.0 are required to submit GRE scores and must score above the 50th percentile on all sections to be eligible for admission.

The Ohio State University also requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 but does not require the GRE.^{Note Reference [16]}

Emory University states that there is a preference for candidates with GPAs of 3.0 or higher. It does not require the GRE.^{Note Reference [17]}

Most law schools now accept the GRE in place of the LSAT. As with the LSAT, top programs require near-perfect GRE scores.

The majority of MBA programs accept either the GMAT or GRE. The vast majority of accepted applicants appear to have submitted GMAT scores. For the University of Chicago, for example, 31% submitted GRE scores, and 66% sent in GMAT scores.^{Note Reference [19]} Dartmouth University’s Tuck School of Business had a slightly more even split with 42% submitting the GRE, and 58% submitting the GMAT.^{Note Reference [20]}