What GRE score do you need for Stanford?
Stanford does not publish a GRE cutoff, and policy varies sharply by program: some require the GRE, some are optional, and some are GRE-blind. Here is the honest answer, plus how to check your program. Start with the percentile calculator.
There is no official Stanford GRE cutoff
Stanford does not release a minimum GRE score for any graduate program. Anyone quoting a single 'Stanford number' is guessing.
Admissions at Stanford are holistic. Research fit, recommendations, statement of purpose, and transcripts carry most of the weight. The GRE, when required at all, is one factor among many.
Do not trust any site that lists a precise 'Stanford GRE minimum.' Stanford has never published one. Treat those figures as fabricated.
What you can plan around is the ETS percentile a competitive applicant tends to land in. More on that below.
Required, optional, or GRE-blind: it depends on the program
Many Stanford departments dropped or relaxed the GRE in recent cycles. Always confirm on the specific program's admissions page, because these policies change year to year.
| Program (examples) | GRE policy for recent cycle |
|---|---|
| Graduate School of Education | Not required; may submit if you feel it helps |
| Many engineering MS programs | Varies by department; several have dropped the requirement |
| Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy | Waived; review is GRE-blind |
| Statistics (MS and PhD) | GRE General Test required |
| Graduate School of Business (MBA) | GMAT or GRE required |
Some programs are 'GRE-optional,' meaning scores are read only if you send them. If your score is strong, submitting can help; if it is weak, you may be better off omitting it where allowed.
Unsure whether the test even applies to you? See is the GRE required and GRE waiver for how to handle optional and waived programs.
What competitive applicants actually score
When a Stanford program does require or read the GRE, it competes against an elite pool. Aim high in the section that matters for your field.
Use official ETS percentiles, not invented cutoffs. A 165+ in your key section is roughly the 95th percentile on Verbal and a strong showing on Quant, which is the practical target for top programs.
Percentiles differ by section: Verbal and Quant are not equivalent at the same scaled score because the Quant pool skews higher. A STEM or business applicant generally needs a higher raw Quant score to stand out, while a humanities applicant leans on Verbal.
| Section | Score | ETS percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal | 160 | 84th |
| Verbal | 162 | 89th |
| Verbal | 165 | 95th |
| Quant | 162 | 57th |
| Quant | 165 | 67th |
| Quant | 168 | 81st |
For STEM-heavy Stanford programs, treat a high Quant score as the priority. A 168+ Quant (81st percentile) signals far more than a 165 (67th) in that pool.
How to set your Stanford GRE target
Work backward from your specific program, then build the score that clears the realistic bar.
- Open your exact program's admissions page and confirm whether the GRE is required, optional, or not accepted this cycle.
- If it is read at all, target the 90th+ percentile in your field's key section (Verbal for humanities, Quant for STEM and business).
- Map any score to its percentile with the percentile calculator so you know where you stand.
- Take a full-length mock test to get an honest baseline before you commit to a target.
- Close the gap with focused Quant and Verbal practice.
If you are aiming for a high total, our how to get 330 in GRE guide breaks down the section splits that elite programs respect.
Common questions.
Find out where your score actually stands
Stanford gives you no cutoff to chase, so anchor on percentiles. Check yours, then build the score your program respects.