Your GMAT score is a crucial part of your MBA application. And if you want to make sure that your GMAT score is competitive—competitive enough to differentiate you from other applicants and perhaps, as our GMAT data report reveals, earn you some scholarship money—you’ve come to the right place.
This page breaks down average GMAT scores of admitted applicants across top MBA programs in the US and abroad, offering insight into target scores for business schools at the top of the rankings. By comparing your GMAT score to the scores in the tables below, you’ll be able to tell whether you have a good GMAT score for your target program—or whether you need to spend more time on GMAT prep.
Many top business schools publish the average GMAT figures in the incoming class profiles circulated every year before matriculation. The following table draws from these profiles to show the average incoming GMAT score for MBA programs in the US and beyond.
The introduction of the GMAT Focus edition has made score reporting a little more complicated than it used to be.
Because some people are still applying with scores from the GMAT Legacy edition, many schools this year have reported the data they have on both versions—though some have only reported data for one version or the other.
As you’ll see in the tables, GMAT Focus scores cannot be compared directly to scores from the previous version of the exam. Instead, you should use a percentile-based comparison to understand the competitiveness of your Focus Edition score.
Additionally, some schools report median rather than average (mean) scores—or they report both. This is in line with changes to the U.S. News ranking methodology, which switched over to using medians a couple of years ago. We list averages and medians separately in the tables below.
What is the top GMAT score? The highest possible GMAT score is 805 on the GMAT Focus Edition, which uses a 205–805 scale. A score of 705 or above places you in the 99th percentile, and most top MBA programs look for 655 or higher—roughly the 90th percentile.
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This table provides data on the GMAT Focus exam. You can see data on the GMAT Legacy exam by clicking the text below the table.
| MBA Program | GMAT Focus Average (Mean) | GMAT Focus Median | GMAT Focus Score Range |
| Stanford GSB | 689 | – | 615–785* |
| Harvard Business School | – | 685 | 645–735 |
| The Wharton School | 676 | – | – |
| Northwestern Kellogg | 687 | – | 515–775 |
| Chicago Booth | 670 | 675 | 615–725 |
| Columbia Business School | 690 | – | 615–805* |
| MIT Sloan | – | 675 | 645–735 |
| Dartmouth Tuck | 671 | – | 595–775* |
| Berkeley Haas | – | 675 | 637–725 |
| Virginia Darden | 671 | 665 | 626–715 |
| Yale SOM | – | 675 | 638–715 |
| Duke Fuqua | – | – | – |
| Michigan Ross | 681 | – | 635–725 |
| Texas McCombs | – | – | 615–695 |
| Cornell Johnson | – | – | – |
| UCLA Anderson | – | – | – |
| NYU Stern | 682 | – | 645–725 |
| CMU Tepper | 659 | 655 | 595–715 |
| UNC Kenan–Flagler | 652 | – | 605–715 |
| Emory Goizueta | 648 | – | – |
| USC Marshall | – | – | – |
| Georgetown McDonough | – | – | – |
| Indiana Kelley | 607 | – | – |
| UW Foster | – | 655 | 615–695 |
| Rice Jones | – | – | – |
| MBA Program | GMAT Legacy Average (Mean) | GMAT Legacy Median | GMAT Legacy Score Range |
| Stanford GSB | 738 | – | 540–780* |
| Harvard Business School | – | 730 | 690–770 |
| The Wharton School | 735 | – | – |
| Northwestern Kellogg | 733 | – | 680–770 |
| Chicago Booth | 736 | 740 | 690–770 |
| Columbia Business School | 734 | – | 610–780* |
| MIT Sloan | – | 720 | 710–760 |
| Dartmouth Tuck | 727 | – | 690–770* |
| Berkeley Haas | – | 730 | 669–767 |
| Virginia Darden | 725 | 730 | 690–750 |
| Yale SOM | – | 740 | 691–760 |
| Duke Fuqua | – | – | 680–770 |
| Michigan Ross | 731 | – | 700–770 |
| Texas McCombs | – | – | – |
| Cornell Johnson | – | 710 | – |
| UCLA Anderson | 703 | – | 670–750 |
| NYU Stern | 737 | – | 690–760 |
| CMU Tepper | 707 | 710 | 700–740 |
| UNC Kenan–Flagler | – | – | – |
| Emory Goizueta | 723 | – | – |
| USC Marshall | 742 | – | – |
| Georgetown McDonough | 700 | – | 660–740 |
| Indiana Kelley | – | – | – |
| UW Foster | – | 720 | 689–740 |
| Rice Jones | 693 | – | 675–720** |
This table provides data on the GMAT Focus exam. You can see data on the GMAT Legacy exam by clicking the text below the table.
| MBA Program | GMAT Focus Average (Mean) | GMAT Focus Median | GMAT Focus Score Range |
| INSEAD | – | – | – |
| London Business School | – | – | – |
| Cambridge Judge | – | – | – |
| Oxford Saïd | – | – | – |
| IESE | – | – | 545–715* |
| MBA Program | GMAT Legacy Average (Mean) | GMAT Legacy Median | GMAT Legacy Score Range |
| INSEAD | – | – | – |
| London Business School | – | – | – |
| Cambridge Judge | 700 | – | – |
| Oxford Saïd | – | 690 | – |
| IESE | – | – | 580–750* |
Looking at a listing of the average GMAT scores for top MBA programs can be daunting, especially if you see yourself falling short of the mark.
There’s no use in sugarcoating it: A low score can keep you out of your target program, and test waivers are rarely a good idea. So if you see a need to improve, we suggest that you check out our free GMAT study resources for advice on how (and what) to study.
But for those breathing a sigh of relief at seeing their score come in at or above the average for their target program, we’d like to point out that the GMAT alone won’t get you in. Your GMAT score is just one of many factors an admissions committee considers when selecting candidates. Not to mention, having a score higher than the average will increase your chances of winning merit-based scholarships.
So even if you feel that your score is good enough, ask yourself whether it may be worth the time to make it even better.
Finally, all applicants should be sure to research their target programs well beyond test score stats. Class profiles are a great starting point for this research, as these documents will tell you how you fit into the class in terms of undergraduate major, work experience, and demographics—all important factors to the AdCom.
Alternatively, save your time and energy by visiting Menlo Coaching’s MBA program hub, which gathers and presents all the important information about top business schools in one convenient place.
Need help with your GMAT prep? Menlo Coaching offers a comprehensive GMAT prep course, as well as one-on-one GMAT tutoring, to help you efficiently achieve your desired score.
Note: GMAT is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council.
Chris Kane
Head of Test Prep & VP
Education: BA
Chris has over 20 years in GMAT prep, racking up 20,000+ hours of experience. As Menlo Coaching’s curriculum architect, Chris emphasizes official materials and rigorous study plans. As an instructor, Chris can diagnose a student’s weak points and apply targeted practice to help them achieve elite scores.
