Stanford University GRE requirements (2026)
GRE policy at Stanford is set program by program. Its MBA requires a GMAT or GRE score with no waiver; many graduate programs are optional or do not require the GRE.
About Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research university in California, known worldwide for its engineering and computer science programs and its Graduate School of Business.
GRE requirement by program
Stanford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Graduate School of Business (MBA) | Required Either the GMAT or the GRE is required, with no waiver path stated for the 2025-26 cycle. | gsb.stanford.edu | Jun 2026 |
Most other graduate programs PhD and masters | Varies by program Policy is set by each department. Confirm your specific program on Stanford's graduate admissions page. | gradadmissions.stanford.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 Stanford 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.