Welcome to MBA Myth Busters: the series in which we review and disprove the popular myths surrounding graduate business education.
Myth: In order to get into a top MBA, candidates need a perfect score on their GMAT or GRE.
Is it true? Of course it isn’t!
This isn’t to say that a high GMAT or GRE isn’t a good thing—having one will help you stand out in the admissions process, demonstrate your quantitative and verbal abilities, and nudge your application further towards success. Plus, GMAT averages influence how a school ranks, which means they are inclined to favor candidates who score highly in this area. But it isn’t enough on its own to secure a spot on your dream MBA and, to reiterate, it does not need to be perfect.
Applications to business schools are considered holistically, with the GMAT and GRE existing as just one part of a wider picture of who you are as a candidate. If your scores aren’t what you wish they were, there are other opportunities to show off your quantitative and verbal abilities in the application process. You can take some quantitative classes, for example, gaining certificates to show your abilities in statistics, accounting, or finance; you can leverage quantitative-heavy undergraduate coursework; or you can demonstrate suitability through relevant work experience. The optional essay is often the perfect place to include and explain this evidence to the admissions committee.
GMAT Averages
At top business schools, like those covered by Clear Admit, candidate GMAT scores range from 600 upwards. Below you can find the average GMAT scores for three years’ worth of classes at top U.S. MBA programs:
| U.S. School | Class of 2026 | Class of 2025 | Class of 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University W.P. School of Business | 698 | 702 | 684 |
| Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business | 696 | 705 | 702 |
| Columbia Business School | 732 | 730 | 729 |
| Cornell University SC Johnson Graduate School of Management (2 Year Program) | 710* | 710* | 710* |
| Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business | 727 | 726 | 726 |
| Duke University Fuqua School of Business | 660-760** | 670-760** | 680-760** |
| Emory University Goizueta School of Business | 705 | 709 | 700 |
| Georgetown University McDonough School of Business | 696 | 695 | 697 |
| Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business | 689 | 694 | 690 |
| Harvard Business School | 740* | 740* | 730* |
| Indiana University Kelley School of Business | 683 | 685 | 679 |
| Michigan State University Broad College of Business | 615 | 665 | 670 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 730* | 730* | 730* |
| Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management | 733 | 731 | 729 |
| NYU Stern School of Business | 733 | 732 | 733 |
| Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business | 690 | 698 | 673 |
| Owen Graduate School of Business of Vanderbilt University | 703 | 687 | 690 |
| Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business | 694 | 702 | 702 |
| SMU Cox School of Business | 712 | — | 694 |
| Stanford GSB | 738 | 738 | 737 |
| UC Berkeley Haas School of Business | 730* | 733 | 729 |
| UCI Paul Merage School of Business | 675 | 675 | 660 |
| UCLA Anderson School of Management | 714 | 650* | 711 |
| University of Chicago Booth School of Business | 729 | 728 | 729 |
| University of Georgia Terry College of Business | 698 | 668 | 672 |
| University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business | 728 | 719 | 720 |
| University of Minnesota Curtis L. Carlson School of Management | 649 | 680* | 690* |
| University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School | 707 | 696 | 706 |
| University of Rochester Simon Business School | 620-730** | 600-700** | 610-720** |
| USC Marshall School of Business | 722 | 722 | 732 |
| UT Austin McCombs School of Business | 704 | 704 | 706 |
| UVA Darden School of Business | 718 | 716 | 720 |
| UW Foster School of Business | 700 | 710* | 710* |
| Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School | 706 | 696 | 670 |
| The Wharton School | 732 | 728 | 733 |
| Yale School of Management | 730* | 720* | 725* |
*Median GMAT score.
**80% GMAT range reported.
At top business schools in Europe, the average GMAT scores range from 640 to 702.
| European School | Avg. GMAT |
|---|---|
| Cambridge Judge | 697 |
| Esade | 660 |
| ESMT Berlin | 640 |
| HEC Paris | 690 |
| IESE Business School | 580 to 750 |
| IMD Business School | 680 |
| INSEAD | 700 |
| London Business School | 702 |
| Oxford Saïd Business School | 680* |
*Median GMAT score.
If you completed the GMAT Focus edition and your score ends in a 5 rather than in a 0, please refer to Coming to Grips with the New GMAT Scores and our comprehensive score conversion chart.
GRE Scores
Finally, here is a look at the average GRE scores for top U.S. MBA programs.
| U.S. School | Avg. GRE |
|---|---|
| Arizona State University W.P. School of Business | 311** |
| Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business | 323 |
| Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business | 322 |
| Georgia Tech Scheller | 318 |
| Georgetown University McDonough School of Business | 319 |
| Harvard Business School | 326* |
| Indiana University Kelley School of Business | 319 |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 316-338 |
| Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management | 325* |
| NYU Stern School of Business | 328 |
| Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business | 317 |
| Owen Graduate School of Business of Vanderbilt University | 318 |
| Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business | 316 |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 327 |
| UC Berkeley Haas School of Business | 323* |
| University of Chicago Booth School of Business | 324 |
| University of Georgia Terry College of Business | 314 |
| University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business | 321 |
| University of Minnesota Curtis L. Carlson School of Management | 308 |
| University of Rochester Simon Business School | 302-329 |
| USC Marshall School of Business | 324 |
| UT Austin McCombs School of Business | 321 |
| UVA Darden School of Business | 321 |
| University of Washington Foster School of Business | 319 |
| The Wharton School | 325 |
| WUSTL Olin | 327 |
| Yale School of Management | 330* |
*Median score
**Class of 2025
