GMAT Scores and the Schools that Accept Them

When applying to business schools and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, it’s important to know the average GMAT score by school. This way, you can use that information to determine where you should apply and find the perfect program for you.

What Is the GMAT?

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a multipole choice, computer-based, and computer-adaptive standardized test usually included in admissions requirements for MBA programs.

What are the 4 sections of the GMAT test?

There are four distinct sections to the GMAT that measure your command of basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, multi-source data analysis, and grammar with the overall goal of measuring your ability to analyze written material, think critically, and solve problems.

The four sections of the GMAT are:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment
2. Integrated Reasoning
3. Quantitative
4. Verbal

GMAT Scores and Schools That Accept Them

Sponsored Listings

Average GMAT Score by School

Compiling a list of grad schools and MBA programs to apply to can be a challenge, especially when trying to find the schools that match your GMAT score.

Luckily, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you. Check out the list below of partner MBA programs to apply to based on specific GMAT scores.

Keep in mind that the GMAT score below are an average and specific programs or concentrations at each school may have different requirements.

Southern New Hampshire University Online MBA

• Some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates, from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
• Qualified students with 2.5 GPA and up may receive up to $20K in grants & scholarships
• Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access

Visit School

Where to Apply with a 400-500 GMAT Score

If you scored between a 400 and 500 on the GMAT, you may be nervous. But don’t worry! You’re score hasn’t doomed you from earning your MBA.

In fact, check out the sponsored listings below that accept GMAT scores between 400 and 500. Click on any of the links to learn more about the program and to contact the school directly.

Sponsored Listings

Sacred Heart University

GMAT Score: Minimum 400 (500 for those without 2 years professional experience)

At Sacred Heart University, they believe that inquiry, pursuing knowledge, and intelligent reflection can create more choices and greater opportunities.

MBA Programs at Sacred Heart

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Sacred Heart strives to prepare successful leaders to recognize the complexities of the modern business world. The program is designed to teach:

• Global perspectives
• Tactical knowledge and practical skills to innovate and create value
• Broaden understanding of business disciplines
• Identify factors that affect global business practices
• Apply analytic and problem-solving skills to business challenges

Winthrop University

GMAT Score: Minimum 400 (GMAT Waivers Available)

A comprehensive public university, Winthrop University blends liberal arts, professional programs, global awareness, and civic engagement to prepare you for your future.

MBA Programs at Winthrop

Winthrop offers a number of different types of MBA Programs all that offer core classes designed to build your expertise and skills, while including a focus on analytics, technology, and globalization. Some of these programs are:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MBA in Accounting

GMAT Waivers at Winthrop

Winthrop offers GMAT waivers for those with:

• 5 years professional experience with increasing levels of responsibility, undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and four courses that average 3.0 GPA in math, statistics, economics, finance, or accounting
• 4 years of post-baccalaureate experience with professional credential such as CPA, CFP, PE License, CMA, CFE, CIA, etc.

Other waivers may be offered on a case-by-case basis. If you believe you have alternative educational or professional accomplishments that you believe merit a wavier, you should contact the school and submit a resume and essay explaining your justification.

Emporia State University

GMAT Score: 450 (for those with 3.0 GPA)

GMAT and Admissions Requirements

Emporia State’s admissions requirements for their MBA programs are a little different than many other options. Instead of having a minimum GPA and a minimum GMAT score, they combine the two.

Their formula is:

• 200 X undergraduate GPA + GMAT score = 1050 or higher

Therefore, the higher your GPA, the lower your GMAT score can be and vice-versa. For example, if you have a 3.0 GPA, the formula would be:

• 200 X 3 + GMAT score = 1050

That means you would need to score a 450 on the GMAT.

In addition, Emporia State University offers GMAT waivers if you:

• 3.5 undergraduate GPA
• Previous master’s degree
• Three or more years of leadership / managerial experience

MBA Programs at Emporia State:

The AACSB accredited MBA programs at Emporia State are designed to teach how to lead and collaborate with others to understand business challenges holistically. Two of the options are:

1. Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)
2. On-Campus Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Where to Apply with a 500-600 GMAT Score

For those who have earned a bit of higher score on the GMAT, there are even more options available. According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), the organization that distributes the GMAT, from 2012 to 2017, the mean GMAT fell in this range, going from 530 in 2012 to 549 in 2017.

Check out some of the partner schools with MBA programs with GMAT requirements between 500 and 600.

Sponsored Listings

Saint Joseph’s University

GMAT Score: 540 – 580

As Philadelphia’s Jesuit Catholic University, Saint Joseph has been engaging men and women for more than 160 years. The school’s education encompasses all aspects of personal growth and development and developing moral character.

MBA Options at Saint Joseph’s

Designed to hone your leadership skills and provide you with practical business knowledge, the MBA programs at St. Joseph University include options such as:

• Master Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive MBA
• Executive Pharmaceutical Marketing MBA

St. John’s University

GMAT Score: 550

Committed to academic excellence and the pursuit of wisdom through free inquiry, religious values, and human experience, St. John’s University strives to preserve and enhance an atmosphere of scholarly research and global awareness.

MBA Options at St. John’s:

The MBA programs at St. John’s have a curriculum designed for innovative approaches to in-class learning and lectures to develop a real-world skill set that may be immediately applied. Some of the options include:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MBA in Marketing Management
• MBA (Finance, International Business, Marketing, Business Administration)

George Mason University

GMAT Scores: 550

Though a young university, George Mason University has made impressive strides in size, stature, and influence in just a short amount of time. Today, GMU is Virginia’s largest public research university with more than 34,000 students on campus.

MBA Programs at George Mason:

George Mason understands that many companies are looking for a diverse skill set and broader insights to succeed in today’s global marketplace. As a result, their MBA programs provide a stimulating business and management curriculum.

Some of the MBAs are:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive MBA

Where to Apply with a 600+ GMAT Score

If you scored higher than a 600 on the GMAT, you should have plenty of options when applying to an MBA program. While you may not have your pick of the litter, if you have a good GPA and some professional experience, you should meet the requirements of many schools.

Check out the list of partner programs below that require a 600 score on the GMAT.

Sponsored Listings

Temple University

GMAT Score: 630

Every student at Temple University is unique. They have unique goals, passions, and want different things from the university. As a result, they offer a variety of programs, environments, and research to provide comprehensive and diverse learning environments.

MBA Programs at Temple

Through cutting-edge business knowledge and groundbreaking resources, the Fox School of Business at Temple University offers four flexible MBA programs, including:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• International MBA

Purdue University

GMAT Scores: 633 (Average of 2018 Entering Class)

The Purdue University story includes events that have impacted the state, nation, and the world and in 2017 reached more than $400 million in sponsored research funding.

MBA Programs at Purdue

The Krannert School of Management at Purdue University offers a number of options for MBA students, each through a distinguished faculty and successful alumni who become professional mentors. Some of the options are:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive MBA (EMBA)
• Accelerated MBA (11-Month Program)

The George Washington University

GMAT Score: 643 (Mean for Global MBA; 562 Mean for Professional MBA)

George Washington University believes that a community united in purpose can achieve great things. That’s why their leadership and their entire community is committed to taking on new challenges and finding opportunities to contribute to improving society, locally and globally.

MBA Programs at GWU:

Through a curriculum that combines business skills with analytical skills, the MBA programs at GWU strive to teach students how to solve business problems that benefit their organization and society. Some of the available MBAs at GWU include:

• Global Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive MBA Program
• Full-Time Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Professional MBA (Flexible / Part-Time)

Johns Hopkins University

GMAT Scores: 650

Johns Hopkins University believes that teaching and research go hand-in-hand and that success in one depends on success in the other. For more than 140 years, the school hasn’t strayed from that vision and continues to be a destination for ambitious scholars.

MBA Options at JHU:

The MBA programs at Johns Hopkins reflect the school’s mission of creating a positive global impact through teaching business knowledge and setting a standard of excellence. The flexible options below may offer more convenience while providing the same opportunities to develop business knowledge.

Some of the MBA programs include:

• Global Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Flexible MBA with Concentration in Entrepreneurship
• Flexible MBA with Concentration in Financial Business
• Executive MBA

Pennsylvania State University

GMAT Score: 660 (mid-80% range of 560 – 720)

Average GPA between 3.3 and 3.5

The real measure of Pennsylvania State University goes beyond the 100,000 students and 17,000 faculty members. The real measure of their success is the positive impact the school makes on communities around the world.

MBA Options at Penn State:

The benefits of the MBA programs at Penn State go beyond the classroom. In fact, the school offers individualized career support and recruiter connections and a tight-knit network of 670,000 PSU graduates around the world.

Some of the MBA options include:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive MBA

Sponsored Listings

No GMAT Required MBA Programs

While there are plenty of MBA programs that accept applicants at different GMAT scores, there are some colleges that offer MBA programs with no GMAT required. Some such sponsored listings are:

• University of Saint Mary
• American University
• The University of Scranton

If you’re looking for an online MBA, check out our complete list of online MBA programs that don’t require the GMAT.

How Is the GMAT Scored?

The GMAT is scored by breaking the four sections into different scores and ranges, shown as:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment: 0 – 6
2. Integrated Reasoning: 1 – 8
3. Verbal and Quantitative: (Separate) 0 – 60
4. Verbal and Quantitative: (Cumulative) 200 – 800 (score most often referred to)

As well as a score, you will also receive a percentile ranking for your Verbal, Quant, and Cumulative scores. This percentile corresponds to the percentage of those who scored less than you over the last three years.

For instance, if you scored in the 75th percentile, you scored better than 75% of all GMAT test-takers over the last three years.

How Long Are GMAT Scores Valid?

GMAT scores are valid for five years from your test date. After five years, business schools and MBA programs won’t accept your scores because they are no longer valid. However, you can request seeing scores for up to ten years, though they don’t serve much purpose.

What Is the Average GMAT Score?

The average GMAT score was 568.21 from January 2018 to December 2020 according to MBA.com.

How Many People Take the GMAT?

From 2016 to 2020 roughly 1.1 million people took the GMAT around the world.

Source: GMAC

Common MBA Admissions Programs

The common admissions requirements for MBA programs are:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Official transcripts
• Personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• Resume
• GMAT scores

Of course, every program has unique requirements. For instance, some programs require more letters of recommendation than others and some schools require an interview.

Find the Perfect MBA for You!

Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page to learn more about the MBA, such as how to apply and when the next start date is.

Or, complete the form on this page to get matched to the perfect MBA program for you!

You can also continue reading to learn about the different types of MBA specializations and self-paced MBA programs.