With a bachelor’s degree in hand, what comes next? For many graduates, the answer is graduate school. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is accepted by thousands of graduate, business, and law schools worldwide. However, it is not required for every graduate program. Depending on the institution and program, GRE scores may be required, optional, not considered, or waived for a specific admission cycle. If you’re considering graduate school, read on to explore universities with verified examples of graduate programs where the GRE is not required.
Top US Universities with No GRE Requirement
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its graduate admissions testing requirements vary by program.
MIT’s standardized testing guidance directs applicants to review the requirements for their intended department. For example, the Ph.D. in Mathematics lists GRE scores as optional. Applicants should not assume that MIT has a university-wide GRE waiver.
2. Stanford University
Stanford University sets GRE policies at the program level. Stanford’s graduate admissions page explains that a program may require scores, make them optional, or not consider them.
For example, Computer Science says GRE scores are not required for Ph.D. or M.S. applicants. The Graduate School of Education also states that the GRE is not required for admission for the 2026–2027 academic year, although applicants may submit optional scores.
3. Harvard University
Harvard University does not have a single GRE rule for all graduate programs. Harvard Griffin GSAS explains that not all programs require the GRE and instructs applicants to check the requirements for their intended degree program.
Applicants should review the official GRE guidance and the relevant program page before applying. International students can also explore scholarship opportunities.
4. Columbia University
Columbia University has school-specific graduate admissions policies. For the 2026 admission cycle, Columbia Engineering states that GRE scores are not required.
Applicants to other Columbia schools should review their program requirements because the Engineering policy should not be treated as a university-wide waiver.
5. Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university with its main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. GRE requirements vary by graduate program.
For example, Computer Science says GRE scores are not required, while Electrical and Computer Engineering lists the GRE as optional for all applicants. Applicants should confirm the policy for their intended degree.
6. University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA has program-specific graduate admissions requirements. Some programs do not require GRE scores, while other programs recommend or request standardized test results.
The English graduate program says the GRE is no longer required. However, the Biomathematics page should not be used as a GRE-free example: for 2026–2027, it recommends scores from at least one standardized test, and the M.S. program is not currently accepting applications.
7. John Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University uses program-specific standardized testing policies. Applicants should verify the requirements for their chosen school and degree.
The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences lists programs where the GRE is required, optional, or not required. For example, Mathematics and English are among the programs that do not require GRE scores. Carey Business School also has program-specific testing rules.
8. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Georgia Tech offers graduate programs in a wide range of fields. GRE policies differ by program.
For example, the M.S. in Urban Design says the GRE is not required. Applicants should verify the current requirements for their intended program before applying.
9. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers graduate programs with different standardized testing policies.
The M.S. in Computer Science page says GRE General Test scores are no longer required, although they may provide helpful supporting information. Applicants should review the relevant program page for current rules.
10. Cornell University
Cornell University has program-specific admissions requirements. Applicants should review the official page for their intended graduate field.
For example, the M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences says GRE scores are no longer required.
11. Yale University
Yale University uses program-specific GRE policies within its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
The GSAS standardized testing table groups programs into categories where the GRE is required, optional, or not accepted. Applicants should consult the current table for their intended degree and application cycle.
12. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania has different testing requirements across its graduate schools and programs.
Penn Engineering says the GRE is optional for the current admissions cycle. However, Wharton MBA applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores. Applicants should review the policy for their chosen degree.
13. University of Arizona
The University of Arizona has program-specific graduate admissions requirements. Its Graduate College advises applicants to review the instructions for their intended degree.
For example, the M.S. in Human Language Technology says the GRE is optional and not required. Computer Science says the GRE is optional for Fall 2026 admission but strongly suggests submitting scores. Applicants should check the exact degree and entry term.
14. University of Dayton
If you are seeking a master’s degree in Civil Engineering or Chemical Engineering, the University of Dayton offers programs where GRE results are not required.
The current Civil Engineering M.S. and Chemical Engineering M.S. pages state that candidates may submit GRE scores in support of their applications, but the scores are not required. Other programs may use different admissions rules.
15. Duke University
Duke University publishes a program-level GRE policy. The page separates programs that require GRE scores from those for which scores are optional.
Applicants should review the requirements for their exact Duke program rather than assume that the university has a blanket GRE waiver.
16. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University offers 175 master’s degree programs and more than 90 doctoral programs. Admissions requirements vary by degree.
For example, the Aerospace Engineering M.S. page says the GRE is not required at this time. International students can also review international student scholarships, including the George J. Eppright ’26 International Student Scholarship and the International Education Fee Scholarship, subject to eligibility requirements.
17. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati offers graduate programs with different standardized testing policies.
Beginning with Fall 2025 entry, Lindner master’s degree programs list GMAT and GRE exams as optional. For the M.S. in Mathematical Sciences, the GRE is not required, but the department highly recommends the General Test and says a quantitative score of at least 155 is a good indication of preparation.
18. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan uses program-specific graduate admissions requirements.
For example, Chemical Engineering says GRE scores are no longer required. Applicants should review the requirements for their intended department.
19. George Mason University
George Mason University (GMU) has program-specific graduate testing requirements.
For the Computer Science Ph.D., the GRE General Test is not required for application review, although it is strongly recommended for internationally educated applicants who do not hold an academic degree from a U.S.-accredited institution. For the Economics M.A., GRE scores are optional.
20. Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) offers a time-limited GRE waiver for many graduate applicants.
FSU’s Graduate School says the GRE is currently waived for most master’s and specialist programs through Fall 2026, excluding programs in the College of Business. Applicants should contact their intended graduate department to confirm whether the waiver covers their chosen program.
From MIT and Stanford to Texas A&M and FSU, the examples above show that many graduate programs have moved away from treating the GRE as a universal admissions requirement. However, requirements remain program-specific and may change by admissions cycle. Review the official program page before submitting an application.
We hope that this article on universities with programs that do not require the GRE was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out our Guide to Studying in the U.S. and Available Programs for International Students!
