Universities in USA That Do not Require GRE/GMAT

Looking to study in the USA without writing the GRE/GMAT? You’re in luck! Many top universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT test, making it easier, more affordable, and less stressful for international students and professionals returning to school.

This guide lists 30 accredited U.S. universities that don’t require GRE/GMAT for graduate admissions. 

What is GRE/GMAT?

GRE(Graduate Record Examination) are standardized tests that assess skills in areas like analytical writing, math and verbal reasoning, while, GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test) are tests written to assess your skills in writing, math and data analysis- basically things that are important for business.

Top Reason for GRE/GMAT Waiver

1.  COVID-19 Shift: During the pandemic, many schools waived the tests and saw no drop in student quality. That accelerated the move away from requiring them.
2. Holistic Admissions: More programs now prioritize a student’s overall profile academic performance, work experience, personal statements, and recommendation letters over test scores.
3. Equity and Accessibility: Standardized tests often favor students with access to expensive prep resources. Dropping the requirement creates a more level playing field for applicants from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
4. Questionable Predictive Value: Research shows GRE/GMAT scores don’t always predict graduate school success. Schools now focus more on GPA, experience, and recommendations.

List of Universities in USA with GRE/GMAT Waiver

Below is a list of 30 test-optional US universities without GRE/GMAT:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology:

MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and ranks first in the QS World University Rankings. The university does not require standardized test certain programs, such as its master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science. [learn more]

2. Northeastern University:

Northeastern University is a private research university based in Boston, Massachusetts, is known for its strong emphasis on experiential learning and global research. It ranks well globally and offers a variety of graduate programs across disciplines. Many departments at Northeastern, including Computer Science, Data Science, and Public Health, have either waived the GRE requirement or made it optional, allowing applicants to focus more on their academic performance, professional experience, and overall profile. [visit school]

3. Georgia Institute of Technology:

Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a top-ranked public research university in Atlanta. Standardized test scores are optional for applicants with at least two years of work experience. Several of its graduate departments, including the College of Engineering and School of Computer Science, have made the GRE/GMAT waiver or removed it entirely from their admission requirements. [visit school]

4. University of Illinois:

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranks 69th in the QS World University Rankings. For those applying to the Chemistry program within its College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, GRE scores are no longer required for admission. [visit school]

5. Michigan State University:

Michigan State University, a public university, is one of the universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT. It has taken a more flexible approach toward standardized testing. Several departments including English, Human Resources & Labor Relations, Materials Science, and Engineering, have either made the GRE optional or removed it entirely from their admissions requirements. [visit school]

6. Texas A&M University:

Texas A&M University is one of the universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT test. The Zachry Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering has removed the GRE requirement from its admissions process, making it more accessible to a broader range of applicants [visit school]

7. University of Rochester:

The University of Rochester, situated in Rochester, New York, holds the 236th position in the QS World University Rankings. Its Department of Mechanical Engineering has a GRE/GMAT waiver, meaning applicants can choose whether or not to submit GRE scores as part of their application. [visit school]

8. University of Pennsylvania:

The University of Pennsylvania, commonly referred to as Penn or UPenn is a prestigious Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. Penn Engineering has officially stated the GRE/GMAT waiver across its programs, choosing instead to take a holistic approach by reviewing applicants’ full profiles before making admission decisions. [visit school]

9. Purdue University:

Purdue University is a renowned public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It ranks among the top global universities for engineering, science, and technology. In recent years, several of Purdue’s graduate programs, particularly in the College of Engineering, College of Education, and Krannert School of Management have made the GRE optional or waived it entirely. [visit school]

10. University of California, Berkeley:

 Commonly known as UC Berkeley  is one of the renowned universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT. It’s a public land-grant research university located in Berkeley, California. Notably, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) at UC Berkeley has officially discontinued the use of the GRE in its admissions process and no longer accepts GRE scores. [visit school]

11. University of Chicago:

The University of Chicago, a top-tier private research institution holds the 21st spot on the QS World University Rankings. Notably, the Harris School of Public Policy has placed a GRE/GMAT waiver, allowing applicants to focus on showcasing other strengths in their application. [visit school]

12. University of Dayton:

The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic research university located in Dayton, Ohio. While it may not be Ivy League, it’s recognized for its strong academic programs and commitment to research and innovation. Several of its graduate programs, especially in the School of Engineering and School of Business Administration, have made the GRE/GMAT waiver or optional . [visit school]

13. Yale University:

Yale University, a prestigious Ivy League institution located in New Haven, Connecticut, holds the 23rd position in the QS World University Rankings. For many of its graduate programs, Yale has made the GRE/GMAT waiver or as an optional. This includes programs such as Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Personalized Medicine and Applied Engineering, African American Studies, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Neuroscience, and several others. [visit school]

14. Arizona State University:

Arizona State University (ASU) is part of the universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT test. It’s a public research university has adopted a flexible stance on standardized testing. Many of its graduate programs, including those in Engineering, Education, and Business, has the GRE/GMAT waiver or made it optional. [visit school]

15. Boston University:

Boston University (BU), a private research university has made the GRE/GMAT waiver or optional for several of its graduate programs. Schools like the College of Engineering, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and the School of Public Health no longer require GRE scores for admission. [visit school]

16. University of Texas at Austin:

The University of Texas at Austin, is a renowned public research university located in Austin, Texas. According to the Graduate Admissions portal, it’s one of the universities in USA that don’t require GRE/GMAT test. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has a GRE/GMAT waiver. [visit school]

 17. University of North Texas:

The University of North Texas (UNT), located in Denton, Texas, is a public research university known for its strong emphasis on innovation and accessibility. Several of UNT’s graduate programs have made the GRE optional or completely waived it, depending on the department. [visit school]

18. University of Pittsburgh:

The University of Pittsburgh, a public research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is among the top institutions in the U.S. for research output and academic excellence. Many of its graduate programs have made the GRE optional or waived it entirely, including departments like Public Health, Education, and Engineering. [visit school]

19. Wichita State University:

Wichita State University is a public research university located in Wichita, Kansas. Known for its focus on innovation and applied learning, WSU has adopted a more flexible admissions process. Several of its graduate programs, particularly in Engineering. [visit school]

20. New York University:

New York University (NYU) is a private research university based in New York City. Ranked among the top global institutions, NYU has made standardized testing more flexible for graduate applicants. Many of its programs especially within the Tandon School of Engineering, Graduate School of Arts & Science, and School of Professional Studies have either waived or made the GRE optional. [visit school]

21. University of Michigan:

The University of Michigan, located in Ann Arbor, is a top-ranked public research university, currently ranked 33rd in the QS World University Rankings. Several of its graduate programs have moved away from requiring GRE scores. For instance, programs in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, as well as the College of Engineering, have either made the GRE optional or eliminated it entirely. [visit school]

22. University of Bridgeport:

The University of Bridgeport is a private university in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It offers a variety of graduate programs across fields like engineering, health sciences, and business. Many of its master’s programs, such as Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, do not require GRE scores for admission. [visit school]

23. George Washington University:

George Washington University, located in Washington, D.C., offers MS and MBA admissions without GRE or GMAT. It’s a private research university known for its strong programs in international affairs, public policy, and business. Several graduate programs at GWU have a GRE/GMAT waiver, making the application process more accessible. This includes departments like Public Health, Business Administration, and Engineering. [visit school]

24. George Mason University:

George Mason University, located in Fairfax, Virginia, is a public research university known for its programs in economics, law, and computer science. Several of its graduate programs have waived the GRE requirement, making admissions more flexible. Departments such as Computer Science, Economics, and Public Policy now either do not require or have made the GRE optional. [learn more]

25. Florida International University:

Florida International University (FIU), located in Miami, Florida, is a public research university recognized for its diverse academic programs. Several graduate programs at FIU have waived the GRE requirement, allowing applicants to apply without submitting test scores. This change applies to departments like Engineering, Business, and Education, reflecting FIU’s commitment to flexible and inclusive admissions. [visit school]

26. Cornell University:

Cornell University, an Ivy League institution located in Ithaca, offers a master’s program without GRE/GMAT. As part of its evolving admissions approach, Cornell has dropped the GRE requirement for several graduate programs, including Food Science, the MS in Materials Science and Engineering, and the MS in Computer Science. [visit school]

 27. Princeton University:

Princeton University, based in Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the top Ivy League universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT. A number of its graduate programs have removed the GRE requirement altogether. These include departments such as Comparative Literature, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Evolutionary Biology, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Computer Science, and Finance. [visit school]

28. Harvard University:

Harvard University is a prestigious Ivy League research institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Several of its graduate programs have waived the GRE requirement, including fields like Computational Science, Engineering, and Data Science. Additionally, many programs within the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences no longer requires applicants to submit GRE scores, reflecting a shift toward a more holistic admissions approach. [visit school]

29. Columbia University:

Columbia University, situated in New York City, has made the GRE/GMAT waiver or optional for several of its graduate programs. Specifically, applicants to Columbia’s Engineering programs are not required to submit GRE scores, aligning with the university’s broader efforts to adopt a more flexible and inclusive application process. [visit school]

30. DePaul University:

DePaul University, a private institution in Chicago, is one of the universities in USA that do not require GRE/GMAT for several graduate programs. The Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media are graduate program without GRE scores for its Master’s and MFA programs, as well as for the PhD program in Human-Centered Design. [visit school]

Tips for applying to Universities with GRE/GMAT Waiver

Although these Universities have dropped the standardized graduate programs in the USA, here are things you should consider before applying:

1. Strengthen other parts of your application (e.g., SOP, resume, recs)
2. Apply early to maximize your chances.
3. Check if your specific program has a GRE/GMAT waiver policy.
4.  Waiver doesn’t mean easier admission. The standardized test waiver doesn’t mean the process is less competitive, so be thorough.
5. Check the rules for the program you’re applying for to check its specific requirement.
6. Work experience is a good guarantee for a waiver.

Conclusion

These universities in USA that don’t require GRE/GMAT do not skip quality either. They maintain high academic standards for international students’ admission and are just as competitive as those requiring test scores. The difference is, they understand that potential isn’t always reflected through standardized testing alone.

So if standardized tests aren’t your strength, don’t worry, you still have excellent options. Focus on building a strong application, highlight your strengths, and go for programs that truly align with your goals. Flexibility in admission doesn’t mean fewer opportunities; it means more accessible opportunities in test-optional universities.