University of Pennsylvania GRE requirements (2026)
GRE policy varies by school at Penn: Engineering makes it optional, the Wharton MBA requires the GRE or GMAT, and Arts and Sciences requirements differ by individual program.
About University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin. It is home to the Wharton School and the Penn Engineering school, among several graduate and professional divisions.
QS World University Ranking 2026: #15
GRE requirement by program
University of Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Penn Engineering (SEAS) graduate programs PhD and masters | Optional The Penn Engineering admissions FAQ states 'the GRE is optional for all of our graduate programs' and that there is no required minimum score, which covers the CIS PhD and masters programs. | gradadm.seas.upenn.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer and Information Science (CIS) PhD and MSE | Optional CIS is part of Penn Engineering, whose admissions page states the GRE is optional for the current cycle and 'won't hurt your application if you choose not to take it.' | gradadm.seas.upenn.edu | Jun 2026 |
Wharton School (MBA) | Required Wharton's application guide states 'All applicants must submit results of either the Graduate Management Admission Test ... or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)' with no minimum score and no preference between tests. | mba.wharton.upenn.edu | Jun 2026 |
Penn Carey Law (JD) | Optional Penn Carey Law was an early adopter of the GRE for JD admission and accepts either the LSAT or the GRE. Applicants who have taken the LSAT are generally expected to report it; the GRE is accepted as an alternative. Confirm the current cycle's testing policy on the admissions page. | law.upenn.edu | Jul 2026 |
Penn Graduate School of Education (GSE) Masters and PhD | Varies by program GRE policy at Penn GSE is set program by program. Many master's programs have made the GRE optional or no longer require it, while some doctoral programs may still request scores. Confirm on the specific program's admissions page. | gse.upenn.edu | Jul 2026 |
School of Arts and Sciences (Graduate Division) PhD and masters | Varies by program The SAS graduate admissions FAQ states 'There are several programs that no longer require GRE scores' and directs applicants to check each individual program's website for details. | sas.upenn.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 02 07 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 Pennsylvania?
There is no single University of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvaniawith the GRE policies at other top programs. Each page is sourced from the university's own admissions pages and dated.