University of Washington GRE requirements (2026)
The UW Graduate School itself does not require the GRE, leaving the decision to each program. In practice many high-demand programs have dropped it: the Allen School (CSE) PhD will not even consider scores, Epidemiology has permanently eliminated the requirement, and Computer Information Science and the Foster MBA are GRE/test-optional.
About University of Washington
The University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle. Graduate admissions are overseen by the UW Graduate School, while individual programs determine their own testing requirements.
GRE requirement by program
University of Washington 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 / central policy PhD and masters | Varies by program The Graduate School policy states it does not require GRE scores for admission, but that graduate programs may require GRE scores or other field-related tests for use in the admission review process; the decision rests with each program. | grad.uw.edu | Jun 2026 |
Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering (PhD) PhD | Not accepted The Allen School PhD eligibility page states the PhD admissions committee will not consider GRE scores, there is no benefit to providing them, any scores received will not be referenced during review, and there is no GRE requirement for the program. | cs.washington.edu | Jun 2026 |
Epidemiology (MPH, MS, PhD) MPH, MS and PhD | Optional A department announcement states the Department of Epidemiology has permanently eliminated the GRE requirement for applicants to its Master of Public Health, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs; the GRE is no longer required, and the announcement does not state whether voluntarily submitted scores are reviewed. | epi.washington.edu | Jun 2026 |
Foster School of Business — Evening MBA Masters | Optional The Evening MBA admissions page states Foster offers the option to apply 'Test Optional' for Autumn 2026 entry without a standardized test score; applicants may submit GMAT, GMAT Focus, GRE, or Executive Assessment scores but are not required to. | foster.uw.edu | Jun 2026 |
Information School (PhD) PhD | Optional The iSchool PhD admissions FAQ states GRE scores are optional with no minimum score requirements, though applicants with a lower GPA are encouraged to submit official scores. | ischool.uw.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.
What GRE score do you need for University of Washington?
There is no single University of Washington 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 University of Washington 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 University of Washingtonwith the GRE policies at other top programs. Each page is sourced from the university's own admissions pages and dated.