Does your GRE score help you win funding?
Sometimes yes, often no. The GRE can factor into department-level merit aid and assistantships, but most big external fellowships ignore it entirely. Here is where your score actually moves money. See what counts as a good score first.
Where the GRE moves money, and where it does not
Funding splits into two buckets. The GRE matters in one and is irrelevant in the other.
| Funding type | Does the GRE matter? |
|---|---|
| Department merit aid and assistantships | Sometimes. Used by some programs as one input. |
| University-wide fellowships | Varies. Some pull GRE from your admission file. |
| Major external fellowships (e.g. NSF GRFP) | No. Most do not collect or review scores. |
Funding usually rides on admission. Most aid decisions reuse your application file, so a strong score helps mostly by getting you admitted to a funded slot in the first place.
Assistantships and merit aid
This is where a GRE score is most likely to do real work.
Some graduate programs weigh GRE scores when ranking applicants for teaching and research assistantships, tuition waivers, and named merit awards. Where it is used, it is one factor among GPA, recommendations, statement of purpose, and research fit.
- Practice varies widely: many programs have dropped the GRE; others still use it for ranking.
- When scores feed an internal cutoff or rubric, it is usually for ranking a funded cohort, not a public dollar formula.
- Verifiable specifics (whether scores are used, and how) live on the department's admissions or funding page, not in a national standard.
Treat the score as leverage for admission to a funded program. A higher percentile widens your options. Use the score simulator to set a realistic target.
Major fellowships usually ignore the GRE
The large, portable awards that fund grad students directly typically do not ask for a score.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), one of the most prominent US awards, does not require, accept, or review GRE scores. Reviewers evaluate only what you submit through the application: your research plan and personal statements.
Other well-known fellowships have moved the same direction. Many now make the GRE optional or do not collect it at all. Because policies change year to year, confirm on each program's current application page before you assume.
Do not skip studying because a fellowship ignores the GRE. The same score may still be required for admission to the program that hosts the fellowship.
Can't afford the test? The ETS Fee Reduction Program
Funding is not only about winning awards. ETS offers a discount on the test fee for those who qualify.
ETS runs a GRE Fee Reduction Program that gives eligible test takers a substantial discount on the General Test fee. It generally applies to US citizens and resident aliens who fall into specific categories.
- Financial need: college seniors or unenrolled graduates who demonstrate need via FAFSA.
- Unemployed individuals receiving or recently receiving unemployment benefits.
- Active Peace Corps volunteers.
- Participants routed through programs that serve underrepresented and first-generation students.
Eligibility rules, documentation, and the exact discount are set by ETS and can change. Check the official ETS Fee Reduction page for the current year before you apply.
How to use this when you plan
Spend your effort where the score actually pays off.
- List your target programs and read each one's admissions and funding page. Note whether the GRE is required, optional, or unused.
- If a program uses scores for ranking or merit aid, set a target above its typical admitted range and train toward it.
- If your funding path is external (like NSF GRFP), put your energy into research and statements, not the GRE.
- If cost is a barrier, check ETS fee reduction eligibility before you register.
Not sure if you even need a score? Start with is the GRE required and the GRE waiver guide before you pay to test.
Common questions.
Turn a strong score into more options
A higher percentile widens the programs and funded slots you can reach. Set a clear target and train toward it.