The programs that need a high GRE score are mostly Quant-heavy PhDs that still require the test: statistics, economics, and some physics, engineering and applied maths departments, where a Quant of 165 or more (the 67th percentile) is the usual target. Top MBA programs come next, with published GRE medians in the low to mid 160s. Most humanities PhDs, many master's programs and several of the most famous CS departments no longer require or even read the GRE, so a high score buys little there.
How to read this page: percentiles are the official ETS ranks from the table for test takers 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025, the same table our percentile calculator uses. Named-program policies were read on each program's own page on 5 October 2026 and can change every admissions cycle. Score ranges labelled directional are field norms, not published cutoffs.
One of the most common questions on GRE forums and Reddit is some version of: "I'm applying to [university]. What GRE score do I need?" The question is almost impossible to answer as stated, because the university is the wrong unit of analysis. The relevant unit is the program, and more specifically the field and degree level of that program.
The same university that expects a 167 Quant from applicants to its PhD program in economics may barely glance at GRE scores for its master's in social work. The department across the quad from an elite engineering program may have moved to test-optional admissions entirely. The variation is enormous and is routinely underestimated by applicants who treat "top school" as a uniform category.
The unit of analysis is the program, not the university. "Top school" is not a uniform category: weigh the GRE by the specific field and degree level you are applying to.
The myth that top schools categorically want high GRE scores persists because it is partially true in a few high-visibility fields and then gets incorrectly generalized to everything. A friend who got into a top-10 economics PhD with a 168 Quant tells you that a high GRE is essential. A friend who got into an MFA program at a respected program with a 152 Verbal tells you scores barely matter. Both are right about their own programs and wrong about each other's. The variation is not noise: it is systematic and predictable once you understand the logic behind it.
This post maps the landscape systematically. We will walk through why different program types use the GRE differently, what score ranges are genuinely competitive in each category, and how to do the field-specific research that produces a reliable score target for your actual application list. We will also cover what to do when your score falls short and whether options like waivers are realistic for your situation.
The Spectrum: From 'Score Doesn't Matter Much' to 'Score Is a Hard Filter'
Programs cluster into roughly four categories based on how much the GRE actually influences admissions decisions. These categories are not perfectly discrete and there is variation within each one, but they give you a useful map for thinking about your target programs.
| Category | How the GRE is used | Typical fields |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Secondary to portfolio | Functions mostly as a credential check, not a ranking tool. A threshold to show you can perform at the graduate level. | Architecture, fine arts MFAs, creative writing, some applied social work |
| 2. One factor among many | Read alongside GPA, letters, statement of purpose, and experience. A weak score can be offset by strength elsewhere. | Most social science master's, many professional master's degrees |
| 3. Practical screening filter | Used as a coarse first pass; applications below a threshold get less review time. Rarely a published policy. | STEM PhDs, economics PhDs, high-volume quantitative master's |
| 4. Close to a hard gate | A threshold below which an application is unlikely to survive initial review, regardless of research experience. | Elite economics, statistics, and some pure math-adjacent PhDs |
In the first category, your portfolio, writing samples, or prior creative work is the primary screening mechanism. A student who submits a 148 Verbal to an MFA in fiction is not at a significant disadvantage relative to a student who submits a 162 Verbal if the portfolios differ dramatically in quality. Admissions in these programs often describe the GRE as a threshold: they want to see that you can perform at the graduate level, not that you performed brilliantly on a standardized test.
The second category covers most master's programs in the social sciences and many professional master's degrees. A below-average score here can be offset by genuine strength elsewhere. An above-average score rarely tips the balance on its own but removes a potential concern. These programs are doing holistic review and the GRE is one signal among several.
In the third and fourth categories, applications below the threshold get less review time. The cutoff is rarely published, so ask current graduate students or coordinators rather than trusting the program website.
The third category uses GRE scores as a practical screening filter. When a department receives 500 applications for 15 PhD spots and every faculty member has a research agenda to maintain, they need a coarse first pass. The GRE Quant sub-score often serves that function. The threshold varies by program and year.
The fourth category includes a small number of elite, quantitatively rigorous PhD programs, particularly in economics, statistics, and some pure math-adjacent fields, where the GRE Quant score functions close to a hard gate. It is not a factor to be weighed against other things: it is a threshold below which your application is unlikely to survive initial review regardless of your research experience. These programs have applicant pools that skew extremely high on Quant, and the admissions process reflects that reality. We will cover economics PhD programs in particular depth below because they are the clearest example of this dynamic.
Many elite programs dropped their GRE requirement after 2020 and have not brought it back. A 2022 Science audit of PhD programs in eight disciplines at 50 top-ranked US universities found only about 3% still required the GRE, down from about 84% four years earlier. Before setting any score target, verify whether your specific programs still require the GRE. See is the GRE required? for a program-by-program breakdown.
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Verified program snapshots (checked 5 October 2026)
Ranges are only useful next to real policies, so here are seven named programs whose current GRE rules we read directly on their own websites. They show the full spread, from departments that ignore the test to ones that publish exactly how high their admits score.
| Program | GRE General Test policy | Published score data | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford Statistics PhD (Autumn 2027 entry) | Required. Math Subject Test optional but recommended | Average of recently admitted applicants: 162 Verbal, 169 Quant, 4.5 Writing. Highest score per section is considered across eligible test dates | A 169 Quant is the 85th percentile overall. This is the high-GRE end of the market |
| Yale Economics PhD | Required of all applicants | None on its application page; no minimum stated | Economics still leans on the test; expect a Quant-first read |
| Caltech Physics PhD (Fall 2027 cohort) | Recommended, not required. The Physics Subject Test is required | None published | In physics the subject test can matter more than the General Test |
| MIT EECS graduate programs | Not used in admissions, except for the LGO program | Not applicable | A high GRE buys nothing here |
| Stanford Computer Science PhD | Not required and not considered | Not applicable | Same: research and letters decide it |
| Harvard Business School MBA (Class of 2027 profile) | GRE or GMAT; no minimum and no stated preference. 44% of the class submitted the GRE | Medians 164 Verbal and 164 Quant; middle 80% from 158 to 168 Verbal and 159 to 169 Quant | A 164 is the 93rd percentile in Verbal but only the 63rd in Quant |
| Harvard Kennedy School MPP (2027-28 entry) | GRE or GMAT required unless waived: overall B average plus B+ in statistics or calculus and in intermediate economics | For the MPA/ID, HKS says applicants are most competitive with 160+ GRE Quant | Policy degrees want solid, not extreme, Quant. Note the waiver has its own deadline, already passed for 2027-28 entry |
Two patterns stand out. First, the departments most associated with high scores are split: statistics and economics still require and reward the test, while top CS departments have walked away from it. Second, the programs that publish numbers publish averages or medians, never minimums. A published average or median is a centre of gravity, not a floor, so a large share of those admits scored below it.
STEM PhD Programs: Where Quant Scores Matter Most
In computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, physics, and most engineering disciplines, the GRE Quant score is the sub-score that matters. The Verbal score is typically secondary, and the AWA score is almost never a significant factor. This reflects the role the GRE plays in these programs: a proxy for mathematical readiness, not for general academic ability.
Where top STEM PhD programs still read the GRE, competitive Quant scores typically run 165 to 170 (a directional field norm). The one hard number in this group comes from Stanford's Statistics department, which reports a 169 Quant average for recently admitted applicants. Applicants to these programs usually hold undergraduate degrees in the relevant technical field, so their Quant scores bunch near the top of the scale. In this context, a 160 Quant, which is exactly the 50th percentile of all GRE test takers, is below the competitive range even though it is a perfectly average score.
The relevant comparison is not against all GRE test takers. It is against the population of people who apply to PhD programs in technical fields, which self-selects dramatically. ETS's own score guide shows test takers intending to study the physical sciences averaging 162 Quant (July 2022 to June 2025 data), so a 160 is below the average of your would-be classmates before admissions even starts. If you conclude that the 50th percentile is fine because it is the overall middle, you are using the wrong benchmark.
| Program type (top-ranked schools) | Competitive Quant where the GRE is read (directional) | Verbal / other notes |
|---|---|---|
| CS PhD | 167+ | Often moot: MIT EECS and Stanford CS do not use the GRE at all |
| Statistics PhD | 167 to 170 | Stanford Statistics reports admitted averages of 162 Verbal and 169 Quant |
| Physics PhD (elite research universities) | 167+ | The Physics Subject Test can matter more: Caltech requires it for Fall 2027 and only recommends the General Test |
| Engineering PhD (EE, ME, ChemE) | 165 to 168 | Many departments optional; check each one |
| Applied mathematics PhD | 166 to 169 | Verbal rarely decisive |
One important caveat: many elite STEM programs have dropped the GRE requirement since 2020 and have not reinstated it. MIT's EECS department says it does not use GRE scores in admissions (the LGO program excepted). Stanford's Computer Science department says GRE scores are not required and not considered for PhD applicants, while Stanford Statistics still requires them. Caltech Physics, for the Fall 2027 cohort, recommends the General Test and requires the Physics Subject Test. Before you spend three months optimizing your Quant score, check whether your target programs still require the GRE. Visit is the GRE required? for more.
For STEM PhDs that still require the GRE, a 168+ Quant is the usual target for elite programs (a directional norm; Stanford Statistics' published 169 average is consistent with it). Anything below 165 is a meaningful disadvantage in the strongest applicant pools, even with excellent research experience.
Economics PhD: The Outlier Case
Economics PhD programs deserve special attention because they represent the extreme end of GRE score-dependence. No field treats the GRE Quant score as more of a determinative signal than economics PhD admissions, and this surprises many applicants who are accustomed to holistic review.
Top-10 economics PhD programs are the programs ranked roughly in the tier of Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Berkeley, Yale, Columbia, Penn, and Northwestern. Many still require the test (Yale's economics department, for example, requires the General Test of all PhD applicants), but few publish admitted-student averages. The widely repeated field norm is a Quant around 167 or 168 at the very top, with admits compressed in the 165 to 170 range. Treat those figures as directional rather than published.
| Quant score | What it means at a top-10 economics PhD (directional) |
|---|---|
| 167 or 168 | Commonly cited typical admit; a centre of gravity, not a floor. 167 is the 75th percentile overall |
| 165-170 | The compressed range where most admits are believed to sit |
| Below 165 | Severe disadvantage; often deprioritized at the screening stage even with excellent GPA, research, and letters |
| 162 | Committee may judge you likely to struggle in the first year's required coursework |
The reason for this is not arbitrary gatekeeping. Economics PhD programs at top-10 institutions teach graduate-level mathematical economics, statistical theory, and econometrics at a pace and depth that demands strong mathematical foundations, and the GRE Quant score serves as a rough proxy for that readiness. The risk-averse behavior is rational given the stakes: a PhD student who struggles in the first year is a problem for the department and for the student, so the committee would rather screen out an applicant whose score suggests that risk.
For applicants whose Quant score falls short, the strategic options are limited but real:
- Retake the GRE with targeted Quant preparation, the most direct path.
- Take additional undergraduate or graduate courses in real analysis, linear algebra, or proof-based mathematics, which signals mathematical readiness through a channel the Quant score was supposed to proxy.
- Apply to master's programs in economics or related quantitative fields first, where the bar is lower, and use strong master's performance as evidence of mathematical readiness before applying to PhD programs.
The economics PhD case is genuinely different from other fields. A Quant below 165 at top-10 programs is widely treated as a serious obstacle, not just a soft disadvantage, even though departments rarely publish a cutoff. If your target includes any top-10 economics PhD programs, plan for a 165+ Quant and prep accordingly. Use our GRE score simulator to model what score ranges are realistic for your timeline.
Master's programs in economics operate under different norms. Many strong master's programs in economics (including some housed at universities with elite PhD programs) are reported to admit students with Quant scores in the high 150s to low 160s, especially when other quantitative credentials are strong. The master's degree in economics is a different product serving a different population, and the admissions process reflects that.
Humanities and Social Science PhD Programs
English, history, sociology, political science, and anthropology PhD programs use the GRE differently from STEM and economics programs. In these fields, the Verbal Reasoning score carries more weight than the Quant score. The Quant score is typically read as a credentialing signal (is this person basically quantitatively literate?) rather than as a primary discriminating variable. A 145 Quant may raise eyebrows; a 155 Quant is typically fine.
For Verbal, competitive scores at the PhD level in humanities fields typically break down like this:
| Verbal range | How it reads at selective humanities PhD programs |
|---|---|
| 158 to 162 | Solid and comfortable for most selective programs |
| 163 to 167 | Genuinely strong and above the median at most programs |
| 168 to 170 | Exceptional and rarely necessary, but never hurts |
| Below 155 | A potential concern, where reading comprehension and vocabulary are directly relevant to the work |
The AWA score is more relevant in humanities PhD admissions than elsewhere. A 5.0 or above on AWA signals that you can write analytically and under pressure, a relevant signal for programs whose work is entirely writing-based. A 3.0 or below may prompt skepticism. On the ETS table a 4.0 is the 63rd percentile and a 4.5 the 85th, which is solid but unremarkable among applicants to writing-heavy fields; a 5.0 is the 93rd.
One major trend reshapes the humanities and social sciences GRE landscape: since 2020, many PhD programs in these fields have dropped the GRE requirement entirely and have not reinstated it. The rationale programs give is partly about equity and partly practical, a view that the GRE adds little over GPA, letters and writing samples in these fields. The scale of the shift is visible in the 2022 Science audit cited above, which found only about 3% of PhD programs in its sample still requiring the test. If a humanities program you are applying to still requires the GRE, it is increasingly an outlier among its peer programs.
Check is the GRE required? before assuming a humanities PhD program requires the GRE. A significant number of programs in English, history, and sociology dropped the requirement after 2020 and many have made the change permanent.
MBA and Business School Programs
Most top MBA programs now accept either the GMAT or the GRE, and have done so for a decade or more. The question of which test to take is a strategic one that depends on your strengths, your target programs, and how you score on each. For a detailed comparison of the two exams including structure, scoring, and which test favors which kind of test taker, see GRE vs GMAT.
If you are submitting a GRE score to an MBA program, know that the Quant sub-score carries significant weight, sometimes more than the Verbal, at quantitatively oriented programs. This parallels how GMAT Quantitative scores are interpreted. The M7 programs (Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Sloan, and Columbia) are where the bar is highest. Harvard Business School is a useful benchmark because it publishes the numbers: for its Class of 2027, 44% of students submitted the GRE, the medians were 164 Verbal and 164 Quant, and the middle 80% ran from 158 to 168 in Verbal and 159 to 169 in Quant. HBS also states there is no minimum GMAT or GRE score. These are ranges, not floors, and the GRE is one factor among many in business school admissions.
If your GRE Quant score is strong but your GMAT Quantitative score would be mediocre, the GRE is likely your better choice for MBA applications, and vice versa. Business schools that accept both generally say they have no preference (HBS states it explicitly), and ETS publishes a GRE comparison tool for business schools that predicts a GMAT score from GRE scores. Some programs use it and others do not. When in doubt, check the reported score distributions for your specific target programs and compare where you fall on each.
Specialized master's programs in business (master's in finance, master's in business analytics, master's in management) have more varied GRE policies. Quantitatively intensive programs like master's in finance at elite schools are commonly reported to expect Quant in the mid 160s (directional), where they require a test at all. Programs focused on management or strategy may be less score-dependent.
Master's Programs: The Most Variable Category
Master's programs are the most heterogeneous category on the GRE score spectrum. They range from effectively open enrollment (some online professional master's programs admit most qualified applicants) to highly selective with competitive applicant pools.
Generalizations across the master's category are unreliable, which means program-specific research is especially important here.
Professional master's programs (the MPP, MPA, and MSSW) typically have lower GRE thresholds than research-focused programs. Harvard Kennedy School shows how this works in practice: GRE or GMAT scores are required for its MPP and MPA, but either requirement can be waived for applicants with an overall B average and B+ grades in the relevant quantitative and economics courses, and the Mid-Career MPA does not require scores at all. For the more quantitative MPA/ID, HKS says applicants are most competitive with a GRE Quant of 160 or above, which is the 50th percentile overall. Professional experience and demonstrated policy interest often outweigh GRE performance at these programs.
Terminal master's programs in STEM fields (MS in data science, MS in engineering, MS in applied statistics) that are designed primarily as professional credentials rather than research training often have competitive Quant requirements in the 158-165 range, below the PhD threshold but above a casual baseline. Many of these programs are run partly as revenue generators for departments and have somewhat higher admission rates, but they still screen for quantitative competence.
State university master's programs versus private university master's programs can differ substantially in selectivity even when the programs are similarly well-regarded. A state flagship's master's in statistics may have a more generous admissions process than a private university's program in the same field, partly because of enrollment targets and funding structures. Do not assume private equals more selective at the master's level.
The test-optional trend is stronger at the master's level than the PhD level. Many master's programs eliminated GRE requirements during COVID and have not reinstated them. Others have moved to optional status, where submitting a score can only help. If you have a strong score, submit it even at optional-GRE programs. If your score is below the program's median, the optional designation gives you the choice to withhold it, though a missing score may itself be read as a signal depending on the program.
| Master's type | GRE emphasis and competitive range |
|---|---|
| Professional (MPP, MPA, MSW) | Lower GRE thresholds; professional experience often more important |
| STEM professional (MS data science, MS engineering) | Quant matters; typically 158-165 competitive range |
| Humanities/social science terminal | Verbal matters; many programs are test-optional post-2020 |
| Stepping stone to PhD | Treated more like PhD admissions in terms of selectivity |
| Online/hybrid professional | Often lower GRE emphasis; admission is more application-volume-driven |
How to Actually Find the Right Score Target for Your Programs
Generic score tables and blog posts can give you a starting framework, but the right score target for your specific application list requires program-specific research. Here is the process in sequence.
- Check the program's official admissions page for any stated GRE requirements, minimums, or reported averages. Many programs publish average GRE scores for recent admitted cohorts. This is your most reliable single data point.
- Email the graduate coordinator (not the admissions office, but the department-level coordinator, whose contact information is typically on the program's faculty or contact page) and ask specifically: 'What GRE scores are typically competitive for admitted students to your program?' They answer this question regularly and often respond helpfully with a real range.
- Look for publicly reported data from programs that participate in U.S. News graduate rankings. U.S. News has historically published school-reported GRE averages for some program types, though coverage is patchier now that many programs are test-optional. Cross-reference what you find on program websites with this data.
- Read recent applicant reports on GradCafe and Reddit (r/gradadmissions, field-specific subreddits). Search for the specific program and filter for data from the past two admissions cycles only. Scores from before 2023 may reflect a different applicant pool, a different program policy and the longer pre-September-2023 test.
- Calculate where your score places you relative to the realistic applicant pool, not the general GRE test-taker population. If a program reports median admitted Quant of 165, you need to understand what percentage of applicants score above and below that, not where your score sits in the overall ETS distribution. Our GRE percentile calculator can help you run these comparisons.
One underused resource: our university GRE requirement pages, which record program-by-program GRE policies with a link to each source page. Checking institutions like Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, UChicago, and Caltech tells you quickly whether a score is required, optional or ignored before you set a target.
Not sure if your current score is competitive for your target list? Try the GRE readiness check to get a program-by-program assessment, or the GRE score simulator to model where a score improvement would take you relative to your target programs.
Where your score sits: a Quant and Verbal ladder
Once you know which measure your field reads, this ladder translates a score into what it typically supports. The percentiles are official; the 'typically competitive for' column is directional guidance drawn from the program data above and common field norms, not a promise about any single program.
| Quant score | Percentile | Typically competitive for |
|---|---|---|
| 155 | 37th | Most professional master's, humanities and many social science PhDs where Quant is a literacy check |
| 160 | 50th | Policy degrees (HKS names 160+ for its MPA/ID), most MBA programs outside the very top, many STEM master's |
| 163 | 60th | Selective STEM master's, applied social science PhDs, many MBA programs |
| 165 | 67th | The common floor for Quant-heavy PhDs that read the GRE; near the HBS Class of 2027 median of 164 |
| 167 | 75th | Top economics and engineering PhDs (directional field norm) |
| 169 to 170 | 85th to 89th | Top statistics PhDs: Stanford Statistics reports a 169 average for recent admits |
| Verbal score | Percentile | Typically competitive for |
|---|---|---|
| 152 | 48th | STEM programs, where Verbal is rarely decisive |
| 155 | 64th | Most master's programs; the low end for humanities PhDs that still read scores |
| 158 to 162 | 76th to 88th | Solid for selective humanities and social science PhDs; matches the HBS middle-80% band |
| 163 to 167 | 90th to 97th | Strong at almost every program; above Stanford Statistics' 162 Verbal average |
| 168 to 170 | 98th to 99th | Exceptional and rarely necessary |
Read the two tables together and the asymmetry is obvious: the same 160 is the 50th percentile in Quant and the 82nd in Verbal. That is why a Quant target that sounds high, such as 165, is often only the price of entry in technical fields, while a Verbal score in the low 160s already puts you in the top fifth. Check any score of your own on the percentile calculator, and if you do not yet have a score, a timed free mock test gives you an estimated starting point with its official percentile.
When Your Score Isn't Competitive: Realistic Options
If your current score is below the competitive range for your target programs, you have several paths forward. The right choice depends on how far below the threshold you are, how much time you have, and what the rest of your application looks like.
A targeted retake is almost always worth considering when one sub-score is significantly below the threshold and the other is fine. ETS lets you test once every 21 days, up to five times in a rolling 12 months, and ScoreSelect lets you send only the sitting you choose, so a retake carries little admissions risk; the costs are time and the fee, which ETS lists at $249 in most of the world as of 5 October 2026. If your Quant is 158 and your target programs want 165+, three months of focused Quant prep is a reasonable investment before a retake. Use Quant practice materials to identify which content areas are limiting your score.
- Program-level GRE waivers are available at some schools for applicants who meet specific criteria, such as prior graduate degrees, significant professional experience, or strong grades in quantitative courses. Harvard Kennedy School's MPP waiver, which needs a B average plus B+ grades in statistics or calculus and intermediate economics, is a typical example, and it has its own request deadline. If you believe you qualify, ask early. If the obstacle is the test fee rather than the requirement, ETS's Fee Reduction Program is a separate thing, covered in our GRE fee waiver guide.
- Strategic school list adjustment is a legitimate option that test takers avoid because it feels like giving up, but it is often more rational than spending six months retaking the GRE. If your score is competitive at 80% of your target programs and below the threshold at 20%, adding additional programs where your score is competitive may serve your long-term interests better than chasing the top 20%.
- Some programs have rolling admissions, where applying earlier in the cycle (before the pool fills up) can improve your chances relative to applying at the same score later. If you are borderline on the score for a program with rolling admissions, apply early and let the rest of your application carry weight before the competition gets denser.
- Leveraging application strengths to offset a below-threshold score is possible at programs in the second category (holistic review) and unlikely at programs in the fourth category (hard filter). A compelling research statement and strong letters from faculty whose work aligns with the program's interests can matter significantly at holistic-review programs and matter very little at programs that screen on Quant first.
Be realistic about which category applies to your target programs before counting on your application strengths to carry you. Strengths that move the needle at a holistic-review program count for very little at a program that screens on Quant first.