Average GRE Scores for Graduate Schools by Popular Programs

The GRE is a standardised test widely used for graduate school admissions. In 2022–2023, roughly 319,100 individuals took the GRE to show their reasoning and analytical skills for potential graduate programs. Unlike professional school entrance exams like the MCAT, GMAT, or LSAT (for medicine, business, and law, respectively), the GRE serves as a general assessment for a wider range of graduate programs.

While the GRE’s popularity has declined in recent years, it remains a significant factor in many graduate admissions decisions. Notably, the GRE can often be used in place of the GMAT, and more recently, even the LSAT, for certain programs. If you’re considering graduate school, the GRE may be part of the application process. This blog will dig deeper into average GRE scores, both overall and by program and section.

A Quick Overview of the GRE Score Range

The GRE consists of three sections: GRE Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Both the Verbal and Quants are scored on a scale of 130–170 points, with one-point increments. This means your maximum possible score on each section is 170, and the highest total score you can achieve on the entire GRE is 340 (170 points each for verbal and quantitative reasoning). The GRE Analytical Writing section is scored separately on a scale of 0–6 in half-point increments.

What is the Average GRE Score?

Looking at historical data from 2022–2023, the average score for Verbal Reasoning was around 151, while the average score for Quantitative Reasoning was slightly higher at 158. The average score for the Analytical Writing section in 2022–2023 was 3.4. Unlike the other two sections, your Analytical Writing score isn’t added to your total GRE score. It’s important to note that these are just averages, and your individual score could be higher or lower.

However, it’s important to remember that the GRE is graded as a whole. This means you cannot take your best score from one section on a particular test and combine it with your best score from the other section on a different test. Your schools will see your scores from a single GRE administration.

GRE Percentiles by Section

GRE percentiles offer insights for applicants beyond just a raw score. They tell you how you performed compared to other test-takers, which can be crucial for programs that use percentiles for admissions decisions.

For instance, some programs set a percentile cutoff instead of a specific score requirement. The physical therapy program at California State University, Northridge, requires applicants with a GPA below 3.0 to score at or above the 50th percentile on at least one section of the GRE. In this case, your percentile rank holds more weight than the raw score itself.

Percentiles also come in handy when comparing applicants who took different standardised tests. Imagine a scenario where one candidate submitted a GMAT score and another a GRE score. Admissions committees can leverage percentiles to gauge how each applicant performed relative to their respective test-taking populations within the same application cycle.

To illustrate this point, let’s look at some GRE verbal reasoning percentiles from 2019 to 2022:

• A score of 162 or higher placed you among the top 10% of test-takers.

• Scoring 160 placed you in the 85th percentile, putting you in the top 15%.

• A score of 152 landed you in the 50th percentile, indicating average performance compared to other test-takers.

• As you can see, percentiles provide a more nuanced understanding of your GRE performance and its competitiveness for graduate school applications.

Verbal Reasoning Section Percentiles (2019–2022)

Scoring highly on the quantitative reasoning section is important if you aim to be among the top 10% of test-takers. Looking at historical data from 2019 to 2022, a score of 169 or above placed you within the 90th percentile. This means that 90% of test-takers scored lower than 169.

On the other hand, if you scored 156 or below, you fell within the more common range of the 50th percentile, indicating that half of the test-takers scored higher than 156 in that period. These benchmarks provide a clear picture of the scoring range you need to target for a top 10% placement.

Read also: How to Improve My GRE Verbal Score

Quantitative Reasoning Section Percentiles (2019–2022)

GRE test-takers tend to score slightly better on the quantitative reasoning section compared to the verbal reasoning section. This is evident from the percentiles associated with perfect scores. A perfect score on the verbal section places you in the top 1% of test-takers, whereas a perfect score on the quantitative section puts you in the top 6%. This suggests that achieving a high percentile on the verbal section might be slightly more challenging.

The scoring for the analytical writing section differs from the other two sections. Here, scores are reported in half-point increments, ranging from 0 to 6. This means even small improvements in your writing can significantly impact your percentile rank.

For instance, between 2019 and 2022, a score of 5.0 placed you in the top 10% of test-takers, while a score of 4.5 dropped you to around the top 20th percentile. This highlights the importance of every half-point in the analytical writing section. On the other hand, a score of 4.0 on the analytical writing section placed you just above the 50th percentile, indicating a larger range within this scoring band.

Read also: 10 Tips to Increase Your GRE Quant Score

Analytical Writing Section Percentiles (2019–2022)

What are the Average GRE Scores in the Last Decade?

Looking at GRE scores over the past decade, we see an interesting trend. The average score for the verbal reasoning section has remained fairly stable, consistently falling within the 150–151 range for the past 11 years.

In contrast, the quantitative reasoning section has shown a significant increase in average scores. From 151 in 2011, it has climbed to around 158 in 2023. This means that test-takers in 2023 achieved the highest overall GRE score since the test’s revision in 2011. It’s important to note, however, that this overall increase is due to the rise in quantitative scores, as verbal reasoning scores did see a slight dip in 2023.

Read also: GRE Score Range

Average GRE Scores for Graduate Schools by Popular Programs

The GRE is still an important factor for many graduate programs in their admissions decisions. To get a better sense of what scores are competitive for your chosen field, it’s helpful to look at average GRE scores by area of study. This section will dig into those averages for various graduate majors, including professional programs like law and business school, as well as those in the engineering fields.

Average GRE scores for the top MBA programs

The majority of MBA programs offer applicants the flexibility to submit either the GMAT or GRE score for admission. However, while both tests are accepted, the GMAT appears to be the more popular choice among applicants.

This trend is evident when looking at the score submissions of accepted students at some top business schools. For instance, at the University of Chicago, a significantly higher percentage of admitted students submitted GMAT scores (66%) compared to GRE scores (31%). Similarly, at Dartmouth University’s Tuck School of Business, GMAT scores were more frequent (58%) than GRE scores (42%), though the difference was smaller.

Average GRE scores for the top law schools

The scenario of law school admissions tests is changing. In the past, the LSAT was the sole standardised test accepted by most law schools. Now, however, the majority of law schools accept the GRE in place of the LSAT. This offers aspiring lawyers more flexibility when applying to law programs.

However, it’s important to remember that top-ranked law schools still hold applicants to high standards. Just like with the LSAT, achieving a near-perfect GRE score is practically a requirement for getting accepted into these prestigious programs. So, regardless of which test you choose, strong performance is crucial for landing a spot at a top law school.

Average GRE scores for the top engineering programs

Average GRE scores for top engineering programs tend to be quite high, particularly in the quantitative reasoning section.

Average GRE score by major, 2022–2023

This table focuses on the GRE scores of graduating seniors, non-enrolled college graduates, and individuals with master’s degrees who took the exam between July 2022 and June 2023.

• Among these test-takers, those in the Humanities and Arts and Social and Behavioural Sciences fields achieved the highest average scores in the verbal reasoning section.

• The Humanities and Arts field specifically stood out with the highest average score on the analytical writing section, scoring a 4.0.

• On the other hand, for the quantitative reasoning section, test takers in the Engineering and Physical Sciences fields on average scored the highest.

• Interestingly, when looking at the overall average GRE score, which combines the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections, the Physical Sciences field emerged with the top spot.

From the Desk of Yocket

The average GRE score, around 150–152 for verbal and 157 for quantitative, reflects a baseline performance on the exam. It’s important to remember, though, that this average doesn’t tell the whole story. There’s a wide range of possible scores, and what’s considered good really depends on the graduate program you’re applying to. To achieve a higher score, it's beneficial to utilize GRE practice tests to gauge your performance and identify areas for improvement.

For highly selective programs, especially in competitive fields, scoring significantly above the average is important. On the other hand, for less competitive programs or those waiving the GRE requirement altogether, a score around the average might be sufficient. The declining importance of the GRE suggests a shift in admissions focus. Schools may be placing more emphasis on other factors like your research experience, GPA, or personal statement. This can be positive, allowing a more holistic evaluation of your potential. To maximize your chances, consider using Yocket Prep Premium, which offers comprehensive preparation resources and personalized guidance to strengthen all aspects of your application.