Northwestern University GRE requirements (2026)
Northwestern's GRE landscape is split: The Graduate School says departments decide, and the result ranges from Economics, which requires the GRE, to Computer Science and History, which do not require it (and in CS do not even consider master's scores).
About Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university near Chicago whose doctoral and master's programs are administered through The Graduate School (TGS). TGS leaves GRE requirements to individual departments rather than imposing a single standard.
GRE requirement by program
Northwestern 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 (TGS) / central policy PhD and masters | Varies by program TGS states: "Some departments may accept or require the results of the GRE test. Please visit your program's website to determine their requirements." Scores must be no more than five years old and sent directly from ETS (institution code 1565). | tgs.northwestern.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer Science (PhD and MS) PhD and masters | Optional For master's applicants, "GRE scores are neither required nor considered in applications." For PhD applicants, "GRE scores are not required, but will be considered in applications if you wish to submit them." GREs were not required for 2025-2026 CS doctoral or master's applications. | mccormick.northwestern.edu | Jun 2026 |
Economics, PhD PhD | Required The department states: "The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for all applicants applying to the Ph.D. program in economics." Scores must be reported directly by ETS to be considered official. | economics.northwestern.edu | Jun 2026 |
History, PhD PhD | Not accepted The department states: "We do not require the GRE for Admission... you are not required to submit your scores, and our admissions process does not take your GRE scores into account." It advises applicants not to submit scores. | history.northwestern.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 20 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 Northwestern 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.