Average GRE scores across Top US Universities: Verbal, Quantitative, Writing

Average GRE scores across Top US universities: If you want admission to top universities in the US for MS, you need to set your eyes on getting the required GRE scores. After getting the scores, you need to figure out which college fits your profile the best and then apply to it accordingly. Although the US colleges don’t have minimum ‘cutoff’ marks required for admission, they do provide average class marks for every academic year. This class profile helps you understand what the class looks like that year and the average scores of that set of students. So technically this score can work as a standard, and guarantee admission you need to score more than the average marks.

The full form of GRE is the Graduate Record Examination or more commonly referred to as GRE is a standardized test conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Services). Candidates who are registering for their GRE are required to book an available GRE test date and GRE test centre as per their convenience. However, candidates are advised to have booked their GRE Slots well in advance to avoid any last-minute hassle. Once candidates have appeared for their GRE. the next step would be to wait for their GRE results. During the GRE registration process, the candidates can opt to send their scores to four colleges or scholarship programmes without any charge. In this article, we are going to be talking about the Average GRE scores across Top US universities.


In response to the ongoing pandemic COVID-19, ETS – the conducting body of GRE – Graduate Record Examinations has decided to launch the GRE General Test at home in locations where the computer-based format of the GRE test was earlier available, for the convenience of students wanting to take the GRE test during the pandemic to be able to study abroad. The same is yet to launch in mainland China and Iran. The
GRE General Test home edition has been started in response to GRE Test Centres being temporarily shut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and local restrictions. However, candidates need to make sure that they meet the system equipment requirements and have a test conducive environment pre-determined by ETS before registering for the GRE test. You can read in detail about the GRE at Home, as you read along.

Average GRE scores across Top US universities

Here are the average GRE scores across top American universities.

University accepting GRE Scores Verbal Quantitative Writing
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 158 159 5.3
Stanford University 159 158 4.8
University of California, Berkeley 153 – 156 167 4.5
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 155 167 5.0
University of Virginia 163 166 4.5
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor 160 167 5.0
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill 158 160 4.5
Georgia Institute of Technology 158 167 4.3
University of California – San Diego 162 160 5.5
University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign 155 165 4.0
University of Wisconsin – Madison 163 163 4.5
University of Washington 156 167 4.0
Pennsylvania State University 150 165 3.0
University of Florida (UFL) 154 165 3.0
The University of Texas, Austin 155 165 4.0
Ohio State University 156 165 4.0
California Institute of Technology 160 157 5.0
Duke University 160 160 4.5
The University of Chicago 158 167 4.0
Northwestern University 160 160 5.0
Washington University in St. Louis 161 160 5.0
Johns Hopkins University 163 164 4.8
Rice University 160 167 5.0
Emory University 153 163 4.0-6.0
University of Notre Dame 165 165 5.3
Vanderbilt University 157 166 4.8
College of William and Mary 158 160 4.5
Johns Hopkins University 159 162 4.2

Notes –

  1. Most universities do not have minimum GRE scores across all sections. Your profile is given a holistic consideration, including your undergraduate grades, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, work experience, awards earned, research or internship activities and other achievements.

  2. Average GRE scores of US Universities vary from department to department. Some of the departments might require higher GRE scores compared to other departments, depending on the subject. Applicants are advised to check the department requirements of the Universities for GRE scores before applying.

  3. A lot of Universities do not have any score requirement for the Verbal section of the GRE, especially for MS. But that doesn’t mean you ignore the verbal section completely; the scores are still taken into consideration. A low Verbal score will not help your chances of admission.

  4. A few Universities in the US do not require GRE scores for admission to MS programs. If your GRE score is less and does not meet the requirements of the Universities elsewhere, you can consider applying to such Universities

GRE Scores 2022

Students can never fail their GRE. The average GRE score differs for every subject. An engineering student will need higher marks in the Quantitative Section and an arts and humanities student will need higher marks in the Verbal Section. Hence, to get into a particular college, candidates would be required to fall in the score range accepted by the college. Here is a table that will give you a rough idea about good scores which are subject averages.

GRE Subject Quant Score Verbal Score
Business 152 149.5
Education 147.3 150.8
Engineering 158.9 148.7
Humanities and Arts 149.2 156.5
Natural Sciences 153.1 150.8
Social Sciences 150.1 152.9
Other Fields 148.9 149.7
Total 145.8 150.8

Strategy for preparing for GRE 2022

GRE preparation strategy: Candidates looking to prepare for their GRE can check out our detailed preparation guide on the various sections of the GRE. Candidates can also benefit from downloadable sample GRE questions for the benefit of the test taker.

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