Princeton University GRE requirements (2026)
GRE policy at Princeton is set department by department, ranging from required to not accepted, with many programs in engineering and the sciences no longer requiring or accepting scores.
About Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university founded in 1746, known for its strong emphasis on undergraduate teaching and doctoral research. Its graduate programs are administered centrally through the Princeton Graduate School.
QS World University Ranking 2026: #25
GRE requirement by program
Princeton 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 (most programs) PhD and masters | Varies by program The Graduate School sets no minimum GRE score and leaves the requirement to each department, so some programs require GRE scores while others are test-optional or do not accept them. | gradschool.princeton.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer Science PhD and masters | Not accepted The department states it is no longer either requiring or accepting GRE general exam scores. | cs.princeton.edu | Jun 2026 |
School of Engineering and Applied Science PhD and masters | Varies by program The school states its departments generally do not require GRE scores and are either test-optional or do not accept test scores, so applicants must check the specific department. | engineering.princeton.edu | Jun 2026 |
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering PhD and masters | Not accepted The MAE department does not accept GRE scores as part of the graduate application. | mae.princeton.edu | Jun 2026 |
Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD and masters | Unconfirmed for 2026 ECE follows the Engineering school's policy of being test-optional or not accepting scores, but the exact department wording could not be confirmed from the official page at the time of checking. | ece.princeton.edu | Jun 2026 |
School of Public and International Affairs (MPA) two-year Master in Public Affairs | Required SPIA states the GRE is required for the MPA program, while the MPP is not required and the PhD is optional. | spia.princeton.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 Princeton 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.