GRE requirements · United States

New York University GRE requirements (2026)

GRE policy at NYU varies widely by school and program: the Tandon engineering programs are GRE-optional, the Graduate School of Arts and Science leaves it to each department, and Stern requires a standardized test for the full-time MBA with waivers available.

Updated 12 Jun 2026Last checked 12 Jun 20264 min read

About New York University

New York University is a large private research university founded in 1831, with its main campus around Greenwich Village in Manhattan and degree-granting portal campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. It enrolls a large international student body across schools including Tandon, Stern, Steinhardt, and the Graduate School of Arts and Science.

QS World University Ranking 2026: #55

GRE requirement by program

New York 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
Tandon School of Engineering (graduate programs) masters and PhD	Optional Tandon states all of its programs are GRE optional and the GRE is not required for admission to any graduate program.	engineering.nyu.edu	Jun 2026
Computer Science MS (Tandon) masters	Optional The GRE is not required; applicants who meet certain conditions are not required but encouraged to submit a score.	engineering.nyu.edu	Jun 2026
Computer Science MS (Courant, GSAS) masters	Optional Courant states the GRE is recommended for its MS-CEI computer science program but is not mandatory, and the GMAT cannot substitute.	cs.nyu.edu	Jun 2026
Graduate School of Arts and Science (most programs) masters and PhD	Varies by program GSAS does not set a university-wide GRE rule; each department sets its own requirement, so some programs require the GRE while others do not.	gsas.nyu.edu	Jun 2026
Stern School of Business (Full-time MBA) MBA	Required Stern states a valid standardized test score is required for all Full-time MBA and Luxury and Retail MBA applicants, though waivers may be requested.	stern.nyu.edu	Jun 2026
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development masters and PhD	Varies by program Steinhardt sets GRE policy per program rather than school-wide, and many programs have dropped the requirement in recent cycles: its testing-requirements page notes scores are only needed if your specific program requires them, and MA programs such as International Education, Education and Social Policy, and Media, Culture, and Communication no longer require the GRE. Confirm the requirement for your specific program.	steinhardt.nyu.edu	Jul 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.

What GRE score do you need for New York University?

There is no single New York 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 New York 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 New York Universitywith the GRE policies at other top programs. Each page is sourced from the university's own admissions pages and dated.

Stanford University Yale University University of California, Berkeley Princeton University Columbia University in the City of New York Cornell University Carnegie Mellon University University of California, Los Angeles University of Michigan, Ann Arbor California Institute of Technology

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the school and program. Tandon engineering programs are GRE optional, the Courant computer science MS recommends but does not require it, and GSAS departments set their own requirements, so some require the GRE and others do not.

Yes. Stern requires a valid standardized test score (GMAT, GRE, EA, LSAT, MCAT, or DAT) for full-time MBA applicants, though applicants may request a test waiver, and the Andre Koo Tech MBA is test optional for 2026.

No. The Tandon CS MS is GRE optional, and the Courant CS master's program recommends the GRE but does not make it mandatory.

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.