GRE requirements · United States

Duke University GRE requirements (2026)

At Duke, 12 graduate programs require the GRE and more than 50 list it as optional. Self-reported scores become a required part of the application once submitted.

Updated 12 Jun 2026Last checked 12 Jun 20264 min read

About Duke University

Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Its Graduate School groups programs into GRE-required, GRE-optional, and alternate-test categories.

GRE requirement by program

Duke University sets its GRE policy by program, so there is rarely a single university-wide answer. Below is each program we have checked, with its status, a link to the program's own admissions page, and the date we last confirmed it.

Program	Status	Official source	Last checked
The Graduate School All graduate programs	Varies by program 12 programs require the GRE; 50+ list it as optional. Self-reported scores become required once submitted.	gradschool.duke.edu	Jun 2026

Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 12 06 2026). Policies change between cycles; always confirm on the linked official page before you apply.

Not the program you need? The status is set department by department. Use the three-step check on the is the GRE required page to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.

Should you submit a GRE score?

Where Duke University marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above the program's admitted-student median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that median, your effort is usually better spent on the required parts of the file. Where a program is Not accepted, do not send a score, it will not be reviewed.

Unsure where you would land? Sit a free full-length mock and convert your scaled score to its exact official percentile before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the program. Twelve Duke graduate programs require the GRE and more than fifty make it optional. Confirm your program on Duke's GRE scores page.

No. Duke states that self-reported scores become a required component of your application once submitted, so only send a score you want considered.

Every status here is read from the program's own admissions page and dated. Policies change between cycles, so always confirm on the linked official page before you apply. See our editorial standards for how we source and date claims.

GRE policy is set program by program, so two departments at the same university can differ. Use the three-step check on our is the GRE required guide to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.

If you can score at or above the program's admitted-student median, a strong score is a low-risk way to add a signal, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that, focus on the required parts. A free mock is the fastest way to see where you would land.