Duke University GRE requirements (2026)
At Duke, The Graduate School lets each program decide whether the GRE is required or optional, and it publishes that split centrally. A smaller set of programs require the GRE while many list it as optional. One important detail: Duke states that once a self-reported optional score is submitted, it becomes a required part of the application and cannot be withdrawn. Professional programs such as the Fuqua MBA accept the GMAT or the GRE. Always confirm the policy for your specific program.
About Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 1838. Its graduate education runs primarily through The Graduate School, with professional programs at the Fuqua School of Business and the Pratt School of Engineering, among others. The Graduate School groups programs into GRE-required and GRE-optional categories, while professional schools set their own testing policies, so GRE requirements at Duke are decided program by program.
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 PhD & master's programs) PhD and Masters | Varies by program Duke's Graduate School lists GRE policy per program, with some programs requiring it and many making it optional. It also states that self-reported scores become a required component of the application once submitted, so only send scores you want considered. Check your program's entry. | gradschool.duke.edu | Jul 2026 |
Fuqua School of Business (MBA) MBA | Optional Fuqua accepts the GMAT, the GRE, or the Executive Assessment for its MBA programs and offers test-waiver consideration in some cases. Confirm which tests are accepted for your specific Fuqua program and the current waiver policy on the Fuqua admissions page. | fuqua.duke.edu | Jul 2026 |
Pratt School of Engineering — Electrical & Computer Engineering (graduate) PhD and Masters | Varies by program Pratt's ECE graduate programs follow The Graduate School's per-program model, and the GRE has been listed as optional for several Pratt degrees in recent cycles. Confirm the requirement for the specific ECE degree on the department's graduate admissions page. | ece.duke.edu | Jul 2026 |
Department of Computer Science (PhD and MS) PhD and Masters | Unconfirmed for 2026 Duke Computer Science admits through The Graduate School and has treated the GRE as optional in recent cycles, consistent with the broader trend across CS graduate programs. Verify the current requirement on the department's graduate admissions page before submitting scores. | cs.duke.edu | Jul 2026 |
Department of Economics (PhD and MA) PhD and Masters | Unconfirmed for 2026 Economics doctoral and master's programs nationally often continue to weigh the quantitative GRE heavily, and Duke Economics sets its policy through The Graduate School. Because this can change each cycle, confirm whether the GRE is required or optional on the department's admissions page. | econ.duke.edu | Jul 2026 |
Department of Biomedical Engineering (graduate) PhD and Masters | Varies by program Duke's Biomedical Engineering graduate programs follow The Graduate School's per-program policy, with the GRE listed as optional for several tracks in recent cycles. Confirm the current requirement for the specific BME degree on the department's admissions page. | bme.duke.edu | Jul 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 02 07 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.
What GRE score do you need for Duke University?
There is no single Duke University GRE cutoff, because programs admit on the whole application and most do not publish a hard minimum. In practice, aim for a score at or above the admitted-student median for your specific program, which some departments share in a class profile or on request. A percentile around the 80th or higher on the section that matters most to your field, Quant for STEM and economics or Verbal for the humanities, is a safe target wherever a score is worth submitting.
Where Duke University marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above that median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below it, 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.
GRE requirements at other universities
Compare Duke Universitywith the GRE policies at other top programs. Each page is sourced from the university's own admissions pages and dated.