What GRE scores do you need for graduate school in 2024-2025?
GRE score requirements vary significantly by field and program type. For STEM PhD programs at research universities, a Quantitative score of 163+ (74th percentile) is typically expected. For humanities PhD programs, a Verbal score of 160+ (86th percentile) is competitive. Most master's programs have lower thresholds, with many requiring 150+ across both sections. Scores are always evaluated in context with GPA, research experience, and letters of recommendation.
Graduate school applicants frequently ask the wrong question about GRE scores: "What is the minimum?" The more useful questions are "What is the median for admitted students at my target programs?" and "How do admissions committees use this score relative to other application components?" This guide addresses both, drawing on ETS score data, program-reported statistics, and the published views of admissions professionals.
The 130-170 Scale: Understanding What Each Score Means
The GRE General Test reports Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores on a 130-170 scale in one-point increments. Scores are reported with percentile ranks that indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored lower.
GRE Verbal Reasoning Percentiles (Based on ETS 2021-2024 Data)
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 170 | 99 |
| 167 | 98 |
| 165 | 96 |
| 163 | 92 |
| 161 | 89 |
| 160 | 86 |
| 158 | 80 |
| 155 | 69 |
| 152 | 55 |
| 150 | 46 |
| 148 | 37 |
| 145 | 27 |
| 142 | 17 |
| 140 | 12 |
The mean Verbal score across all test-takers is approximately 150-151. This population includes all GRE test-takers, the majority of whom are applying to graduate programs — not a general population average.
GRE Quantitative Reasoning Percentiles (Based on ETS 2021-2024 Data)
| Score | Percentile |
|---|---|
| 170 | 96 |
| 167 | 88 |
| 165 | 82 |
| 163 | 74 |
| 160 | 61 |
| 158 | 53 |
| 155 | 39 |
| 152 | 27 |
| 150 | 20 |
| 147 | 12 |
| 144 | 6 |
The mean Quantitative score across all test-takers is approximately 153-154 — notably higher than Verbal. This asymmetry exists because a large share of GRE test-takers come from STEM fields, which tends to inflate the Quant distribution.
Score Distributions by Field
ETS publishes intended field of graduate study data for GRE test-takers. These represent the pool from which programs draw applicants, not the admitted student pool — but they provide meaningful benchmarks.
| Intended Field | Mean Verbal | Mean Quant | Mean AWA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | 151 | 163 | 3.5 |
| Engineering | 149 | 163 | 3.2 |
| Computer Science | 149 | 162 | 3.2 |
| Biological Sciences | 152 | 155 | 3.7 |
| Social Sciences | 153 | 150 | 3.9 |
| Humanities | 157 | 147 | 4.1 |
| Education | 150 | 148 | 3.8 |
| Business | 150 | 153 | 3.6 |
| Health Sciences | 150 | 150 | 3.6 |
| Law | 156 | 152 | 4.1 |
These field-specific means are important context. A Verbal score of 155 represents the 69th percentile of all test-takers but the 50th percentile of humanities applicants — a meaningful distinction when assessing competitiveness.
Score Ranges for Top Programs by Field
Engineering PhD Programs
Top engineering PhD programs (MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley) report median admitted student Quant scores consistently between 165 and 170. The 25th percentile for admitted students at these programs is typically 163. Verbal scores are weighted much less; a Verbal score of 150-155 is acceptable when paired with a strong Quant score.
Computer Science PhD Programs
Strong CS PhD programs expect Quant scores of 165+ from admitted students. The field is heavily international in its applicant pool, and many admitted students score 167-170 on Quant. Verbal scores of 150-157 are typical for admitted students at top programs; this score range is not a barrier.
Humanities PhD Programs
PhD programs in English, history, comparative literature, and philosophy weight Verbal heavily. Programs at top research universities (Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Chicago, Berkeley, Michigan) typically report median Verbal scores of 162-167 for admitted students. A Verbal score below 160 is below the median admitted student at these programs and requires strength elsewhere.
Social Sciences PhD Programs
This category is heterogeneous. Quantitatively oriented programs (economics, political science with methods focus, quantitative sociology) expect Quant scores of 160-165. Qualitatively oriented programs expect strong Verbal scores (158-165). Psychology PhD programs typically expect both sections to be above 155.
Business (MBA) Programs
Most MBA programs have shifted toward GMAT Focus Edition, but still accept GRE scores. A competitive GRE for top-10 MBA programs converts to approximately 320-330 on the combined score (Verbal + Quant). Harvard Business School reports that the middle 80% of its GRE-submitting students scored between 153-170 on Verbal and 155-170 on Quant (2023-2024 class profile).
Public Policy and International Affairs
Programs such as Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs, and Columbia SIPA typically expect combined Verbal+Quant scores of 315-325 for competitive applicants. Verbal scores of 158+ are typical for admitted students.
"We evaluate GRE scores in the context of the applicant's undergraduate institution, their field of undergraduate study, and the overall competitiveness of the year's applicant pool. A score of 158 on Verbal from an applicant who majored in biochemistry is not the same as 158 on Verbal from an applicant who majored in English." — Graduate admissions director, research university, humanities division (ETS institutional survey on GRE use, 2023)
PhD Programs vs. Master's Programs: Different Weighting
PhD programs and master's programs use GRE scores differently. Understanding this distinction prevents both under-preparation and over-emphasis on score.
PhD programs at research universities typically use GRE scores as an initial screen. Programs with high applicant volume may filter any application below a threshold before detailed review. At these programs, scores matter most at the lower end — not to differentiate a 165 from a 168, but to identify applications below the threshold for detailed consideration.
Master's programs generally have lower score thresholds and more holistic review. Many professional master's programs explicitly state that GRE scores are one factor among many. Score significance also varies: a 155 at a program where the median admitted student scored 152 is genuinely competitive, whereas at a program where the median is 162, the same score represents a significant gap.
Programs That Have Dropped GRE Requirements
A substantial number of PhD programs eliminated the GRE requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic and have maintained optional status since. As of 2024-2025, survey data from the American Historical Association and American Sociological Association indicate that approximately 40-50% of PhD programs in those fields no longer require GRE scores, though many still accept voluntary submission.
STEM programs have been slower to drop requirements. As of 2024-2025, most top-25 PhD programs in computer science, engineering, and physics still require or strongly prefer GRE scores, though several (MIT EECS, UC Berkeley EECS, Carnegie Mellon CS) made scores optional in recent cycles.
The practical implication: if a program is GRE-optional, a strong score can strengthen your application, while a weak score should not be submitted. Voluntary score submission to an optional-GRE program effectively makes scores mandatory — programs will notice that an applicant with a weak score chose not to submit.
"When a program makes GRE optional, it signals that scores are not the primary driver of admissions decisions. But it does not signal that scores are irrelevant. A strong score submitted voluntarily demonstrates quantitative or verbal preparation for graduate work. We notice when strong candidates don't submit." — Dean of Graduate Admissions, research university (Public comment to Science Careers, 2022)
How to Evaluate Your Competitiveness
Step 1: Identify the five programs where you are most interested in applying. Not all five — the five strongest matches.
Step 2: Locate each program's reported average or median GRE score for admitted students. Most programs publish this in their admissions profile or graduate school common data set. Where programs do not publish, contact the admissions office directly — many will provide median scores on request.
Step 3: Compare your current score to the program's reported median. If you are at or above the median, your GRE score is not a concern. If you are 3-5 points below the median, assess whether the rest of your application is above average. If you are more than 5 points below the median in a section the program weights heavily, retaking is likely worthwhile.
Step 4: Assess the ROI of retaking. The GRE can be taken up to five times in a 12-month period, with a 21-day minimum between attempts. Most programs accept ScoreSelect, which allows you to send only your best test date scores. The expected score improvement from targeted preparation of 8-12 weeks is 3-7 points on each section.
How Programs Actually Use GRE Scores in Committee Review
Understanding the mechanics of how graduate admissions committees read GRE scores demystifies the "what score do I need" question. Most PhD programs use a two-stage review process.
Stage 1: Initial screen. Admissions coordinators or faculty designated as screeners review all applications. In high-volume programs (social psychology, clinical psychology, computer science), this initial screen may filter out applications based on minimum score thresholds before any faculty member reviews the full file. These thresholds are rarely published publicly but are real operational constraints at many programs.
Stage 2: Holistic committee review. Applications that pass the initial screen receive full committee review. At this stage, GRE scores are one input among many, and their weight depends on what the rest of the application shows. A GRE score 10 points below the program median is not disqualifying if research experience, publications, and letters of recommendation are exceptional.
The practical implication: score thresholds matter most for applicants to oversubscribed programs that cannot give every application a full read. At programs that receive 500+ PhD applications for 10 spots, a score below a screener's threshold may prevent the application from being seen by the faculty who would have found the research fit compelling.
The Research Fit Factor
For PhD programs in particular, research fit with specific faculty is often the most important admissions factor — and one that GRE scores cannot capture. Many admitted PhD students have GRE scores below the program's published average because a faculty member who wanted to advise them advocated for their admission. Conversely, high GRE scores alone rarely admit students who do not fit any current faculty's research agenda.
This is why the published "average GRE score" for a PhD program's admitted class can be misleading: it reflects the distribution of students who were admitted, including some who were admitted on the strength of research fit despite below-average scores.
"We receive 400 applications annually for 8 PhD spots. GRE scores help us manage volume in the first pass, but I have personally advocated for applicants with below-average scores because their research experience was exactly what we needed. Scores set a floor, not a ceiling." — Professor and graduate admissions coordinator, social science PhD program, major research university (ETS institutional survey, 2023)
Communicating a Low GRE Score in Your Application
If your GRE score is below the program's median, you have options beyond simply hoping the rest of your application compensates.
Address it directly in your statement of purpose if you have a genuine explanation — illness, significant test anxiety, or other documented circumstances. Brief, factual explanation is more effective than no mention, because silence leaves reviewers to speculate.
Demonstrate the relevant skills through other means. If your Quant score is low but your target program is data-intensive, including evidence of quantitative work (a statistics course grade, a research project involving regression analysis, professional data analysis work) provides direct counter-evidence.
Consider a quant supplement course. Some programs explicitly invite applicants with low Quant scores to demonstrate quantitative preparation through coursework taken after the GRE. A strong grade in statistics or calculus at a reputable institution directly addresses the concern.
Retake if there is time and the score gap is significant. The ROI of retaking diminishes as the score gap to the program median shrinks. Retaking to close a 10-point gap is usually not worth the preparation investment. Retaking to close a 20-point gap often is.
GRE Score Validity and Reporting
GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date. For applicants planning graduate school 2-3 years after their undergraduate degree, this typically means a test taken in the junior or senior year remains valid.
Score reporting: ETS allows you to send scores to four designated score recipients on test day at no charge. Additional score reports cost $30 each. The ScoreSelect option allows you to choose which test date's scores to send — either the most recent, or all score dates, or selected score dates (for any date after 2012).
| ScoreSelect Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Most Recent | Sends only the most recent test date |
| All | Sends all test dates taken |
| Any | Sends selected test dates |
Most applicants use ScoreSelect to send only their best date. Programs cannot see scores you choose not to send. However, some programs explicitly ask applicants to self-report all score dates on applications, independent of the official scores sent.
"Graduate applicants should not think of GRE scores as an absolute qualifier or disqualifier but as one quantitative signal among several. A score that is below the program median but accompanied by a strong research record, excellent letters, and a compelling statement can still result in admission. Scores matter most at the extremes — very high scores open doors, and very low scores close them." — Robert Alexander, Winning the Graduate Admissions Game. Oxford University Press, 2023.
References
ETS. Interpretive Data for the GRE General Test, July 2021 - June 2024. 2024. https://www.ets.org/pdfs/gre/gre-guide-table-1a-151a.pdf
ETS. Test and Score Data Summary for the GRE General Test, 2022-2023. ETS, 2023.
ETS. GRE Score Recipient Information — ScoreSelect. 2024. https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores/send.html
ETS. GRE Score Validity and Reporting Policies. 2024. https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores.html
Harvard Business School. HBS Class Profile 2023-2024. 2024. https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/class-profile
American Historical Association. GRE Requirements Survey Results. 2023. https://historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/
American Sociological Association. Report on GRE Requirements in Sociology PhD Programs. 2023. https://www.asanet.org/resources-and-tools/research/data/
Council of Graduate Schools. Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 2012 to 2022. CGS, 2023.
Peterson's. GRE Score Requirements by Graduate School and Program. 2024. https://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools
The Princeton Review. The Best Graduate Schools 2024. The Princeton Review, 2023.