5 mins
5 minsWhat’s covered in this article?
- Top Universities in the USA without GRE for MS
- Other US universities without GRE requirements for Masters
- Is GRE Compulsory for MS in the USA?
- When do universities allow GRE/GMAT waivers?
- FAQs about Universities in the USA without GRE and GMAT
The GRE is a standardised admissions test that is used to test the calibre of applicants aspiring to study a postgraduate programme abroad, especially in the USA. With a special focus on Science and Engineering, an excellent GRE score is considered extremely crucial in finding a place at a popular university.
But did you know that many top-class American universities have done away with the need for a student to submit a GRE score? Yes, you can join a postgraduate programme in the USA without writing the GRE. The detailed list given below consolidates the names of various American universities where you can study specific MS programmes without submitting a GRE score.
Top Universities in the USA without GRE/GMAT for MS
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California Institute of Technology |
Caltech ranks 6th as per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. The Caltech website says that GRE tests are not required for graduate admissions and the test scores will not be considered. |
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Georgetown University |
The School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University does not require GRE/GMAT scores for admissions to their graduate programmes. Scores will not be reviewed even if submitted. |
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Emory University |
GRE/GMAT is not required for applying to their Laney Graduate School except for the programmes such as Biostatistics, Business, Islamic Civilisation Studies, Political Science and Sociology. |
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The University of Maryland |
Its Robert H. Smith School of Business will continue to waive GRE/GMAT requirements provided the candidates meet other criteria. |
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At Michigan, submitting GRE/GMAT scores is currently optional (for Spring 2023 and Fall 2023). |
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The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill |
Applicants who have 5 or more years of professional experience need not submit GRE/GMAT scores for admission to their MBA programmes. Others can also apply for a GRE/GMAT score waiver if they think they qualify for an exemption. |
Apart from these, MIT Sloan and the University of Chicago allow candidates to request a test waiver, provided you confirm that you cannot attempt the test in-person or virtually. Institutions like Princeton University and the University of California, Berkley do not have a minimum score requirement for applications.
15 US universities without GRE requirements for Masters
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University |
Details |
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Fairleigh Dickinson University Location: New Jersey Cost: Undergraduate: 30 lakhs/year (tuition fee+insurance) Postgraduate: 18.5 lakhs/year |
GMAT scores are not mandatory for several courses. There are other requirements you can meet to be considered for admission. Some of the courses with GRE waiver include:
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Montclair State University Location: New Jersey Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 18 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 13 lakhs/year
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Students with a minimum expected GPA can request for GRE/GMAT waiver. Some of the courses that you can request a waiver include:
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Rowan University Location: Tuition fee: Postgraduate: 13 lakhs/year (27.9 lakhs including living expenses and others) |
MBA applicants can ask for GRE/GMAT waiver if they meet any of the alternate requirements set by the institution. This includes a minimum GPA of 3.5 or better.
Similarly, applicants to M.S. in Finance programmes can ask for a GMAT score waiver. |
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Location: Manhattan, Kansas Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 17 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 8.5 lakhs per year |
MBA aspirants who have a good academic profile, analytical skills and the ability for success can request for GMAT waiver. |
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Location: Washington Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 19.5 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 20 lakhs/year |
If the candidate exceeds the minimum admission requirements and meets any of the alternate criteria set by the business school, you can ask for a GMAT waiver. This applies to the online MBA course offered by Carson College of Business, WSU. |
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Location: New York Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 38 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 30 lakhs per year |
For the online MBA course offered by Hofstra, the GRE/GMAT requirement can be waived provided the candidate meets any alternate requirements set by the university. This includes proving your excellence with 5 years of work experience. |
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Location: Kentucky Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 16.6 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 12.3 lakhs/year |
GMAT is not required for the MBA programmes. |
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The University of Alabama, Birmingham Location: Alabama Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 23.5 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 24.7 lakhs/year |
The Collat School of Business at the University of Alabama Birmingham offers an online MBA programme. GMAT requirement is currently waived. But students who wish to submit it can still do so. |
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Location: Washington Tuition fee: Undergraduate: 50 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 35.8 lakhs/year |
GRE/GMAT scores are not required. However, students who wish to submit their scores can do so. |
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Location: Illinois Cost: Undergraduate: 33.3 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 33.8 lakhs/year |
Driehaus College of Business and Kellstadt Graduate School of Business offer MBA courses. GRE/GMAT are test optional – it is not mandatory, but you can submit the scores if you wish. |
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University of Illinois Chicago Location: Illinois Cost: Undergraduate: 27.21 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 26.01 lakhs/year |
The Graduate College of the University of Illinois says that GRE/GMAT scores are not required for admission to their Graduate College. However, you should check whether there are any course-specific requirements. |
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Location: Louisiana Cost: Undergraduate: 11.7 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 11.2 lakhs/year |
GRE and GMAT scores are not required for most programmes offered by the Graduate School of the University of New Orleans. Do check the course-specific requirements before applying. |
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Location: Missouri Cost: Undergraduate: 20.4 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 17 lakhs/year |
Maryville offers an online MBA course which can be completed in less than a year. GRE/GMAT is not required for admission to this course. |
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Location: Massachusetts Cost: Undergraduate: 35.8 lakhs/year Postgraduate: 31.3 lakhs/year |
GRE/GMAT scores are waived for most graduate programmes, including executive MBA, at Suffolk University. MS in Accounting, MS in Business Analytics, and Master of Public Administration are some courses for which GRE/GMAT is not required. |
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Location: Missouri Cost: Undergraduate: 24.5 lakhs/year Postgraduate: (Calculated in credit hours. Please check with our counsellors for details) |
Webster University graduate programmes do not require an admission essay or standardised test scores including GRE and GMAT. |
Disclaimer: General admission requirements and course-specific entry requirements are at the discretion of the university and are liable to change. Hence all prospective students are advised to cross-check with the Admissions Team of the concerned University if GRE/GMAT scores are needed or not.
The tuition fees mentioned are approximate values. Please check with our counsellors or with the institution for the exact values.
Be it an MS, M.Tech or MBA, several leading universities let you study a course of your choice without asking for GRE/GMAT scores. Given below are some other parameters, which universities use to decide whether to waive the GRE/GMAT score requirement.
Is GRE compulsory for MS in the USA?
Not all universities in the USA demand GRE/GMAT scores from their candidates. Owing to the pandemic, a lot more institutions have waived this requirement.
Some other institutions have made this test-optional – meaning, submitting the scores is not required, but it is accepted.
Certain other universities are willing to waive the requirement, provided you meet other eligibility requirements, for example, 5 years of work experience.
Check with your institution to understand the admission criteria better.
When do universities allow GRE waivers?
Exceptional GPA
Some universities choose to waive off the GRE/GMAT score if your grade point average is above 3.3 on a scale of 0 to 4. So it pays to focus on your undergraduate degree and achieve an excellent GPA.
Work Experience
Some universities waive off the GRE/GMAT if you have relevant work experience of four years or more that is closely related to the degree that you aim to study.
Undergraduate Research Projects
There have been instances in the past wherein exceptional undergraduate research projects executed by students have led to the students being offered a place to study in leading universities.
FAQs about Universities in the USA without GRE and GMAT
Does MBA require GRE or GMAT?
Most business schools abroad will require one of the two tests for admission to their MBA programme – either the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) or the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). However, some institutions like the University of North Chapel Hill in the USA waive test score requirements for candidates with more than 5 years of professional experience.
Is GMAT waived for 2023?
Owing to the pandemic, several universities in the USA have decided to waive GRE/GMAT requirements. However, some allow students to submit it if they wish to. The conditions can vary. Hence it is advisable to check with our experts or with the institution to confirm the entry requirements.
Are all universities waiving GRE/GMAT requirements?
Not all universities are waiving GRE/GMAT requirements. For example, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville mandates that students should submit their GRE/GMAT scores to be considered for admission to their MBA programmes.
Does Harvard prefer GRE or GMAT?
Harvard’s GRE and GMAT test score requirement varies by programme. But the university does not have a preferred test. The requirement is that you should submit the official scores for consideration.
We hope you found this article useful. Remember that you can avail of free counselling services from our experts, free of cost, to guide you in your study abroad journey. We wish you all the best!
Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 2015. Our content writer Roshna Mohan has edited it to include up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.
Source: University websites and usnews.com
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