GMAT Score Benchmarks — Top MBA Programs 2026
GMAT score benchmarks for top MBA programs in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India — median scores, ranges, and GRE equivalents for 2026 intake.
Updated: 2026-04-01
Quick Answer
Top US MBA programs (Harvard, Wharton, Booth) have median GMAT scores of 730–740. UK programs (LBS, Oxford Said) average 690–710. Indian IIMs require CAT scores, not GMAT. Most programs now also accept GRE.
GMAT Score Benchmarks — Top US MBA Programs
| Business School | Median GMAT | GMAT Range (Middle 80%) | GRE Accepted | Class Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 740 | 700–790 | Yes | 930 |
| Wharton (UPenn) | 733 | 690–780 | Yes | 860 |
| Booth (University of Chicago) | 740 | 700–780 | Yes | 580 |
| Kellogg (Northwestern) | 727 | 680–770 | Yes | 480 |
| MIT Sloan | 730 | 700–780 | Yes | 410 |
| Columbia Business School | 729 | 690–770 | Yes | 750 |
| Haas (UC Berkeley) | 729 | 690–760 | Yes | 280 |
| Stern (NYU) | 729 | 680–760 | Yes | 380 |
| Fuqua (Duke) | 702 | 660–750 | Yes | 440 |
| Tuck (Dartmouth) | 726 | 680–760 | Yes | 290 |
Source: Business school official class profiles 2025–26; US News MBA Rankings 2026
GMAT Score Benchmarks — Top UK & European MBA Programs
| Business School | Median GMAT | Typical Range | GRE Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Business School | 708 | 660–750 | Yes |
| Oxford Said Business School | 690 | 640–740 | Yes |
| Cambridge Judge | 693 | 640–750 | Yes |
| Imperial College Business School | 670 | 620–730 | Yes |
| INSEAD (France/Singapore) | 711 | 660–760 | Yes |
| HEC Paris | 690 | 640–740 | Yes |
| IESE Business School (Spain) | 680 | 630–730 | Yes |
| IMD Switzerland | 680 | 630–730 | Yes |
Source: Business school official class profiles 2025–26; FT MBA Rankings 2026
GMAT vs GRE Equivalence — MBA Admissions
| GMAT Score | GRE Equivalent (Approx.) | Target MBA Tier |
|---|---|---|
| 760+ | GRE 338–340 | Top 5 US (M7) |
| 740 | GRE 334–337 | M7 / Top 10 |
| 720 | GRE 330–333 | Top 10–15 US / LBS |
| 700 | GRE 326–329 | Top 15–25 US / Top UK |
| 680 | GRE 322–325 | Top 25–50 US / Strong UK |
| 660 | GRE 318–321 | Strong regional US programs |
| 640 | GRE 314–317 | Solid US/Canadian programs |
| Below 640 | GRE below 314 | Consider GMAT waiver programs |
Source: ETS GRE-GMAT comparison tool; business school admissions data 2025–26
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Key Takeaways
Indian applicants need higher GMAT scores than the median
Due to the large number of Indian applicants (predominantly male, tech background, engineering degree), Indian candidates typically need GMAT scores 10–20 points above the published median to be competitive at M7 programs. Differentiation through work experience quality, leadership stories, and career clarity matters as much as the score.
GRE is now equally accepted by nearly all top programs
All M7 programs, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, and INSEAD now accept GRE scores on equal footing with GMAT. For students with strong Quantitative GRE scores from STEM backgrounds, GRE can be strategically advantageous — particularly where the Verbal+Quant composite converts favorably.
GMAT waiver programs offer a viable path for experienced professionals
Many strong MBA programs offer GMAT/GRE waivers for applicants with 5+ years of work experience, particularly those with senior management roles, military service, or prior master's degrees. Programs like MIT Sloan Fellows, Kellogg Executive MBA, and several UK programs process waiver requests routinely.
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