Average GRE Scores for Top GRAD Schools

Average GRE Scores for Top GRAD Schools

One of the most frequently asked question “What do I need to score on the GRE to get into grad school?” There are typically two answers to this question that students prepping for the GRE are accustomed to hearing.

Read More : Top Universities in USA for GRE Scores(305–310)

Answer #1: “It depends.”

OK. Depends on what?

Remember that the Verbal (V) and Quantitative (Q) portions of the GRE are scored between 130-170, and the average score falls somewhere around 150-152. The Analytical Writing (AW) section of the GRE is scored between 0 and 6 in half-point increments, and the average hits somewhere around 3.5.

Now, using the abbreviations established above, let’s break down some real data to help you determine which grad school programs accept which average GRE scores. Maybe your top grad school program will even be on the list!

Education

If you are looking to apply to education programs:

• UC Berkeley’s average scores for admitted applicants last year were 159 V, 154 Q, and 4.4 AW. 

• Similarly, Harvard reports that successful M.Ed. applicants scored on average around 158-159 V, 155-156 Q, and 4.5 AW. 

• NYU’s averages, according to US News and World Report, were 156 V and 153 Q.

Engineering

For top graduate programs in engineering:

• Princeton reports that its average GRE scores for admitted students are 161 V and 162 Q. 

• Harvard showed that its average scores for successful applicants to the engineering program are 161 V, 165 Q, and 4.3 AW. 

• USC’s averages in engineering are 155 V and 159 Q.

Psychology

For getting a grad degree in psychology:

• UCLA recommends scores in the range of 162-164 V, 161-163 Q, and 4.5-5.0 AW. 

• UC Berkeley reports that average GRE scores in its psychology program are 161 V, 161 Q, and 4.5 AW. 

• The University of Minnesota says that its most recent psychology class had scores averaging 160 V and 156 Q.

MBA

As we’ve discussed before, many business schools now accept the GRE as well as the GMAT, so here are some relatively new guidelines about what GRE figures really mean when applying to an MBA.

• The average applicant to the Yale School of Management scores 160 V and 162 Q. 

• At the University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Management, the average scores are 153 V and 153 Q. 

• At UPenn’s Wharton School, average scores came in at 162 V and 167 Q.  

For more information on the average GRE scores for grad school programs, as well as grad program rankings by field, you can check out the Top Universities in USA for GRE Scores(305–320)

For a more general look at the average scores of other test-takers by field, you can also look at ETS’ snapshot, which compiles the past three years of GRE test data into a series of handy charts. And if you’re curious about percentiles, you can use the ETS’ chart on the percentile rates of varying scores.

So what about the second popular answer to: “What do I need to score on the GRE to get into grad school?”

Answer #2: “As high a score as possible!”

Remember that the numbers shared here are simply average GRE scores from average candidates. It goes without saying that you probably don’t want to settle for average. You want your application to stand out and impress the admissions committee, and you want a chance at earning scholarships and other financial aid. Having a high GRE score is an excellent way to do just that.