GRE Accepting Universities in USA - GRE Score Required for US Universities

The top GRE accepting universities in USA are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, and Cornell University. The GRE score required for these top QS world-ranking universities ranges from 320 to 350. The minimum GRE score required for the universities in USA is 75th percentile, while the 90th percentile is considered excellent to get admitted to any of the US universities. Aiming for a score above 318 is considered a good GRE score. 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is an entrance exam required for admission to graduate programs such as MS and Ph.D., at international colleges and universities. The GRE consists of three sections: verbal reasoning, analytical writing, and quantitative reasoning. The minimum GRE score required for a Master's program at US universities ranges from 155 to 167 for both verbal and quantitative sections. Some programs may also require GPA, Letters of Recommendation (LORs), work experience, and IELTS/TOEFL scores for admission. During GRE registration, candidates can send their scores to four universities, but there is an additional fee for sending scores to more than four colleges. To gain admission to top US universities for MS, it is required to aim for a good GRE cut-off score. In this article, we have listed the top universities in USA accepting GRE scores and their fees.

Top GRE Accepting Universities in USA

There is no minimum GRE score requirement for USA admissions. Before applying to the universities in the US, you need to be aware of the score requirements for that particular university. The GRE score will vary depending on the program you’ve chosen.

The top 10 GRE accepting universities in USA are:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of California, Berkeley
• Cornell University
• University of Chicago
• Yale University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Columbia University
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Find the colleges accepting GRE scores in USA from the following table.

QS World University Ranking 2026	University Name	Verbal Score	Quantitative Score	Writing Score	Tuition Fee
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	157	162	5.3	$29,875
3	Stanford University	158	163	4.5	$18,829 for 11-18 units
15	University of Pennsylvania	168	160	4.3	$63,452
17	University of California, Berkeley	155	161	4.5	$ 18,483.75 - $ 34,525.25
16	Cornell University	165+	155+	3.5+	$20,800 - $29,500
13	University of Chicago	156	161	-	$4,855
21	Yale University	155 - 165	160-167	-	$48,300
24	Johns Hopkins University	156	161	5	$62,840 annually / $31,420 per semester
38	Columbia University	154 - 167	156 - 170	4	$2,462 per credit
46	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	154 - 165	152 - 167	5	$31,949
45	University of Michigan Ann Arbor	168	155	3.3	$26,542 (9+ credits)
52	Carnegie Mellon University	159	161	4	$37,856 per semester
62	Duke University	155 - 165	154 - 160	4.5	$31,310 per semester
68	University of Texas Austin	160	159	-	$59,888
70	University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign	155	165	4	$29,760
66	University of California San Diego	157	151	4	$15,102 annually
81	University of Washington	156	167	-	$31,530
88	Purdue University	151	155	3.5	$894.94 per credit hour
123	Georgia Institute of Technology	150	150	4	$31,370
146	University of Southern California	153	163	4	$63,468 per year
144	Texas A&M University	154	160	-	$8,752.60
140	University of North Carolina	152	159	4.5	$8,659.45 per semester
173	Arizona State University	154	162	-	$34,290
210	University of Minnesota – Twin Cities	155	158	-	$14,790.00 6-14 credits (full-time)
190	Ohio State University	163	164	-	$36,808
275	University of Virginia	163	166	4.5	$34,832
293	University of California Irvine	152	161	-	$33,618.84
272	North Carolina State University	150	153	3	$32,015
299	University of Colorado Boulder	155	152	-	$36,180 per year
334	University of Illinois–Chicago	152	151	-	$12,678
384	Northeastern University	152	157	-	$27,009
458	Colorado State University	153	157	-	$32,636 USD
410	University at Buffalo – SUNY	154	161	-	$12,130.00
449	Iowa State University	148	163	3	$31,141
534	University of Connecticut	154	155	-	40,746 USD
591	Illinois Institute of Technology	148	158	2.5	$30,816
701-710	University of Central Florida	151	155	-	288.16 per credit
721-730	University of Cincinnati	155	160	3.5	$27,960
901-950	Michigan Technological University	148	153	3	$39,256
951-1000	Clemson University	151	155	-	$40,500 for the 30-credit-hour program
1001-1200	Mississippi State University	148	157	-	$26,580

What is a good GRE score for MS?

The GRE test consists of three sections: GRE Verbal (130-170 score scale), GRE Quantitative Reasoning (130-170 score scale), and GRE Analytical Writing (0-5 score scale). A score of 320 or above overall and a 4.5 in GRE AWA are generally required for admission to MS or Ph.D. programs. The GRE cutoff for MS in the USA varies among universities and the chosen field of study. An overall score of 320 to 340 is considered excellent, above 300 is considered good, average scores lie between 270 and 300, and scores below 260 are considered poor. Aiming for a score above 318 is considered a good GRE score and can fulfill the cutoff requirement of colleges in the USA.

GRE Cut-off for subjects in the USA

GRE scores required for MS programs is based on the course that international students choose to study in the USA. The most common fields of study include business, engineering, social sciences, physical sciences, life sciences, arts, and humanities. US Universities accepting GRE scores have specific score requirements for each subject. Fulfilling the score range accepted by a particular college is crucial for admission. Find the GRE cut-off score for different subjects from the table below.

Masters Degree	GRE Verbal Reasoning	GRE Quantitative Reasoning
Business	150	153
Social Sciences	153	151
Physical Sciences	151	158
Life Sciences	151	151
Arts and Humanities	157	150
Education	147.3	150.8
Engineering	158.9	148.7
Natural Sciences	153.1	150.8

Related Resources

• GRE syllabus
• GRE Score Validity
• GRE Exam Dates

FAQ

1. Which American Universities accept GRE scores?

The top US universities that accept GRE scores are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, the University of California, the University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania.

2. Is GRE accepted in USA?

Yes, the GRE is accepted to study in USA. The US universities often require applicants to submit GRE scores as an official prerequisite for master's degrees such as MS, MCA, MSC, MTech, and MBA.

3. Is GRE compulsory for MS in USA?

GRE scores are not a compulsory requirement for MS in the USA. There are many US universities accepting GRE scores for Master's programs.

4. What GRE score is required for USA?

In the United States, the verbal and quantitative GRE scores required are 155 to 167. This may vary depending on the program and university you choose. While only a few universities accept GRE scores of 290, many top universities accept 300 and above.

5. How long is a GRE score valid for USA?

GRE scores are valid for 5 years.

6. Can you clear GRE in 3 months?

Yes, you can clear GRE within 3 months of preparation. Here at Kanan International, we have guided thousands of students in 3 months and have made them gain 320 and above scores in the first attempt. Start your preparation with our GRE coaching in Chennai. Choosing Kanan International means selecting the best coaching classes in Chennai for the GRE

7. Why do you need to study an MS in the USA?

• MS programs in the United States offer a wide range of courses such as business analytics, computer science, aerospace engineering, biotechnology, etc
• A high GRE score can enhance the chances of securing scholarships and research assistantships.
• The US government's significant investment of $476,452 million in research and development makes it a preferred destination for academic research.
• Candidates with a master's degree in the United States may qualify for Teaching Assistantships (TA) or Research Assistantships (RA).
• Upon completing their master's degree, candidates in the United States can expect an average salary of $74,000.