What Is a “Good” GRE Score for Grad School? The 2026 Definitive Guide (by Program & Percentile)

Start Here: What “good” really means in 2026

A “good” GRE score in 2026 is not one number. It is the number that keeps you competitive for your program tier, matches the percentile expectations of your field, and does not create friction for the committee that reads your file. Programs that still require scores are using ETS guidance to compare applicants fairly across different undergraduate systems. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

At the same time, many U.S. universities have made some graduate tracks test-optional or have removed GRE for specific departments, especially in 2024–2025. That means your score is now a lever: when it is strong, you submit and let it work for you; when it is weak and the program allows, you may rely on GPA, research, or portfolio. [ Source: UpGrad. (upgrad.com) ]

What this guide will do for you

1. Decode the score report. You will see how Verbal, Quant, and Analytical Writing appear to schools and how your percentile tells the real story.
2. Match score to program family. You will see how a 165Q means one thing to engineering and something else entirely to MFA or public policy.
3. Give you a retake strategy. You will learn how ScoreSelect® lets you send only the sittings that show you best. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Bookmark this page and send it to anyone in your department or coaching center who keeps answering the “what is a good GRE score for grad school?” email over and over.

GRE scoring 2026: scales, score reports, and what schools see

Before you can label a score good, you need to know what the score actually measures. The current GRE General Test reports three main scores: Verbal Reasoning (130–170), Quantitative Reasoning (130–170), and Analytical Writing (0–6 in half-point increments). Schools see those three lines, the date you tested, and, if you send multiple sittings, they see each set of scores you chose to send. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

ETS also publishes interpretive data every year. The 2025 tables are based on people who tested between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2024, so they reflect exactly how you compare to the current pool of applicants. That’s why percentiles from 5 years ago are no longer reliable — the test-taking population shifts. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

What the scales actually mean

1. Verbal Reasoning 130–170: Each 1-point increase is meaningful because the section is adaptive and the middle of the scale is crowded. A 155V and a 165V can be the difference between 69th and 96th percentile. That’s why reading your percentile is critical. [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]
2. Quantitative Reasoning 130–170: Quant percentiles are slightly harsher because many STEM and business applicants score high. A 165Q often sits in the mid-80s percentile, while a perfect 170Q is still common enough among engineering applicants that top programs are not surprised to see it. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]
3. Analytical Writing 0–6: Many programs just check that you’re at 3.5–4.0+; writing-heavy disciplines may quietly expect 4.5–5.0.

What schools actually receive

Schools that require scores receive them through ETS’s reporting system. They can view the scores you sent, the test dates, and — if you used ScoreSelect® — only the administrations you chose to share. This is why your retake strategy matters. You control which sittings go out. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Many business schools, including all top U.S. MBA programs, now explicitly say they accept GRE scores and evaluate them alongside GMAT, so they are used to interpreting the GRE scale. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

How this interacts with test-optional trends

Even if a department says “GRE optional,” your score can still be the most standardized piece of evidence in your file. If you come from a university or grading system the committee does not know well, a strong GRE gives them confidence. If you need to offset a modest GPA, a strong GRE gives them confidence. That’s why it is better to have the score and decide not to send it than to sit with no score at all. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Percentiles vs. raw scores: why rank matters more

Most students quote their score: “I got 320.” Admissions people read the percentile first. Percentile is the percentage of test takers who scored lower than you in the same time window. ETS updates these tables periodically — in 2025 they’re using test takers from mid-2021 through mid-2024 — so your percentile is always relative to the current pool. That makes it the most portable way to answer “is my score good right now?” [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

This is also why a 165Q can be a must-have for data science, but a 157–160Q can still be acceptable for public health or policy if the rest of the application shines. The percentile tells the committee how rare your performance was among everyone who sat for the test, and they weigh that against what the program actually needs.

Read this like a counselor

1. Start with the section the program cares about most. For engineering or quantitative MS, scan Quant first. For English, history, journalism, or communications, scan Verbal first.
2. Compare percentile, not just score. A student with 160V (around the 86th–88th percentile, depending on the year) is plainly stronger for humanities than a student with 150V (47th percentile-ish). For a writing-heavy master’s that gap is real. [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]
3. Note the year of the table. Always mention that you are using the 2025 table so students don’t compare to 2018 blog posts.

Why percentiles shift

The people taking the GRE in 2025 are not the same mix as in 2019. More MBA applicants use GRE now, and many U.S. STEM departments still require it for international students even when they say “optional.” That means Quant scores in particular are competing against a math-strong population, so the same Quant score can “feel” slightly lower in percentile than it did a few years ago. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Quick percentile-based labels (2025 data as guide)

1. 90th percentile and above: Usually “very competitive” everywhere, especially if aligned with field.
2. 75th–89th percentile: Solid for most master’s; competitive for many doctoral tracks if paired with GPA/research.
3. 50th–74th percentile: “Workable” if the rest of the application is strong, if the program is holistic, or if GRE is optional.
4. Below 50th percentile: Retake if the program lists recommended scores or if you need funding.

The “good score” fallacy across STEM, humanities, and arts

Most people ask, “Is 320 good?” The better question is, “Is 320 built the right way for my program?” A 320 that is 170Q + 150V is a powerful engineering profile but a weak literature profile. A 320 that is 155Q + 165V is the reverse — excellent for writing-heavy degrees, not enough for data science. So the phrase good GRE scores for grad school only makes sense when it is tied to your discipline. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Why does this fallacy survive? Because many older blog posts bundled all degrees together, and because students like single-number answers. 2026 admissions is more program-specific. Schools have now published more explicit ranges, and MBA programs even publish middle 80% GRE bands so applicants can self-assess. [ Source: Poets&Quants. (poetsandquants.com) ]

Three examples that look “good” but aren’t

1. Engineering Ph.D. applicant: 168Q, 154V, 4.0 AWA. Quant is stellar, verbal is serviceable, and this fits many U.S. engineering departments where Quant is the real filter. This is “good.” [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]
2. MFA in poetry applicant: 165V, 151Q, 4.5 AWA. Verbal is in the 90s percentile range, which signals strong language skills — far more relevant to the degree than high math. This is “good.” [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]
3. Policy / public affairs applicant: 159V, 160Q, 4.0 AWA. Balanced, both above average, and easy for committees to read as “capable analyst.” This is “good” even though it is lower than the 168Q above. [ Source: BestColleges. (bestcolleges.com) ]

How to correct students when they bring you one number

1. Ask the program first. “Which 3–5 programs are you targeting?”
2. Look for published ranges. Many business, engineering, and data programs publish either averages or middle 80% bands. [ Source: Menlo Coaching. (menlocoaching.com) ]
3. Adjust for percentile. If the student’s key section is below 50th percentile, tell them plainly to retake.

Program-by-program breakdown (STEM, humanities, business, law-adjacent)

Now let’s put numbers on it. What follows is not a promise from every university. It’s a 2025–2026 reading of what typical, publicly available ranges and averages look like across fields. Always cross-check the department page of your target school because they can update cutoffs, especially in U.S. public universities. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

1. STEM & engineering master’s / Ph.D.

STEM, particularly engineering, is the most Quant-sensitive family. Many applicants are international and math-strong, so the baseline is high. The 2024–2025 engineering-intended group reported around 160Q on average, which already sits above the overall GRE Quant average. [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]

1. Target band for selective U.S. engineering MS: 162–168Q, 150–158V, 3.5–4.0 AWA.
2. Target band for very competitive / top-20 / funded Ph.D.: 166–170Q, 155–162V, 4.0–4.5 AWA.
3. If Quant is 160–161Q: still viable in many programs but improve if the school is known to admit 165Q+ (e.g., Berkeley, CMU engineering). [ Source: Prodigy Finance. (prodigyfinance.com) ]

For STEM applicants, tell them to strengthen the piece admissions will see first: Quant. If they’re already at 165Q, move to polishing Verbal so the overall score doesn’t look lopsided.

2. Computer science, data, analytics tracks

CS and data science are essentially subfamilies of STEM but often even more Quant-focused. Some U.S. programs describe their admitted cohorts as 165Q+ on average, and international applicants in particular drive Quant up. [ Source: Jamboree India. (jamboreeindia.com) ]

1. Competitive range: 165–170Q, 155–160V.
2. Workable range (needs strong GPA/portfolio): 162–164Q, 152–158V.
3. Below 160Q: Retake unless the program explicitly says GRE is optional or holistic.

3. Arts & humanities (English, history, languages, MFA)

In these programs, Verbal is the showpiece. A 160V+ tells the committee you can read, argue, and write at graduate level. Quant can be modest, but not dysfunctional. Average humanities GRE scores reported in ETS and test-prep summaries show mid-150s in Verbal and high 140s–low 150s in Quant, so being well above that in Verbal is what makes you “good.” [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]

1. Strong humanities applicant: 160–166V, 148–155Q, 4.5–5.0 AWA.
2. Solid / acceptable: 157–159V, 145–150Q, 4.0–4.5 AWA.
3. Below 155V: Consider retaking, because many humanities applicant pools are verbal-strong and committees notice low reading/writing scores.

4. Social sciences, education, public policy

These are the broadest. They like balanced profiles. A 158V + 158Q is often read as “good” and is close to or above the 2024 overall averages (151V, 158Q). [ Source: BestColleges. (bestcolleges.com) ]

1. Balanced target: 157–160V, 157–160Q.
2. Quant weaker than 150: Retake if the program has quantitative methods courses.
3. Verbal weaker than 150: Retake for education, comms, or policy where reading load is high.

5. Business / MBA (GRE-submitting candidates)

MBAs keep publishing their GRE class profiles. Many 2024–2025 tables show middle 80% totals from the low 310s to the high 320s, with top schools listing 325–330 as fully competitive. [ Source: Menlo Coaching. (menlocoaching.com) ] [ Source: MBA Universe. (mbauniverse.com) ]

1. Top-15 MBA: Aim for 325–330+ overall, with neither section dipping far below 160.
2. Top-30 MBA: 318–325 can work if the rest of the application is strong.
3. MBA but in a university graduate school (non-elite): 305–315 can be acceptable.

6. Law-adjacent and data/policy master’s that accept GRE

Some U.S. policy and even law-related master’s accept GRE as an alternative to LSAT. These programs often publish minimums (for example, 150V, 150Q) and then show admitted averages slightly higher. In these cases, being 5+ points over both minimums is what makes your score “good.” [ Source not confirmed ]

How admissions committees actually use GRE scores

ETS tells score users to treat the GRE as one piece of information among many and to look at score ranges, not hard cutoffs. Most graduate committees do exactly that: they check that your score does not raise red flags, then they move on to GPA, recommendations, writing sample, and fit. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

This is why a “good” score is often just the score that gets you read. If you are above the department’s suggested minimums and in line with recent admits, the score is no longer the decision point.

What happens in the room

1. Pre-screen or auto-filter. Some programs, especially large STEM masters, auto-reject or auto-hold files that come in below a published GRE Quant or Verbal minimum.
2. Committee review. Faculty or admissions staff look at the whole file. Scores below the cohort median trigger questions like “Is English the second language?” or “Did they have weak math preparation?” The committee may still admit if other strengths compensate. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]
3. Funding / TA allocation. In some departments, higher Quant or Verbal may help when they pick TAs or RAs because they need people who can handle coursework or teach. Here, being clearly above average is “good.”

What committees like to see

1. Scores that match transcript. If you have A’s in math and a 166Q, your file is consistent. If you have A’s in math and a 149Q, they wonder why.
2. Scores that match field. An English MA with 163–165V tells them you read like a grad student. A public health applicant with 160Q tells them you can do biostats.
3. Scores that don’t force an exception. Committees don’t like to write exception memos. Give them a score that sits at or above their recommended line and they can admit you without extra paperwork.

What you can do if you are below the line

1. Retake quickly using ScoreSelect®. You can send only the better sitting to schools, making your previous low attempt invisible to them. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]
2. Explain briefly in a statement. Some schools allow an “additional information” section where you can say you tested while ill and have booked a retake.
3. Over-deliver on the other parts. A superb writing sample for humanities or a strong research statement for STEM can override a slightly low GRE.

Build your own target range and gap-close plan

Now that you’ve seen how committees think, you can build a score range that is realistic for you. A smart range has three bands: the floor (minimum the program will tolerate), the competitive middle (what recent admits look like), and the stretch top (what gets attention or funding). You can pull these from department pages and compare to ETS’s latest percentile tables for 2021–2024 test takers. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

When you do this, add context for your advisers and for yourself. If a school is public, large, and receives many international STEM applications, assume Quant must sit higher. If it is a small humanities MA, assume Verbal sits higher. Tie everything to percentiles so you can tell a student, “You’re currently 20 percentile short of the average cohort.”

Step-by-step to create your range

1. Collect 3–5 target programs. Go to each official program page and note whether GRE is required, recommended, or optional. If the page lists minimums, copy them into your sheet. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]
2. Cross-check ETS percentiles. Use the latest interpretive data to see what percentile your current Verbal and Quant sit at. This tells you how far off you are. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]
3. Set three numbers per section. Example for a public policy applicant: Floor 153V/153Q, Competitive 158V/158Q, Stretch 162V/162Q.
4. Attach a prep window. If you are 2–3 points away, give yourself 4 weeks; if you are 5–7 points away, give yourself 6–8 weeks and use a guided plan like 8-week GRE study plan.
5. Decide your send/no-send rule. If a program is test-optional, send only when you break into competitive or stretch bands.

Sample target sheets (you can recreate in Excel)

1. Engineering MS applicant (U.S.): Floor 160Q/150V, Competitive 164Q/155V, Stretch 168Q/158V.
2. English MA applicant: Floor 155V/147Q, Competitive 160V/150Q, Stretch 164V/153Q.
3. MBA applicant submitting GRE: Floor 157V/158Q, Competitive 160V/162Q, Stretch 163V/165Q. [ Source: Menlo Coaching. (menlocoaching.com) ]

Notice how each sheet separates Verbal and Quant. That’s intentional. You might be sending your score to a school that likes to see balance. If you get stuck, look at your low side and search within GRE verbal preparation strategy or GRE quant problem solving so you close only what matters.

Score gaps, retakes, and ScoreSelect® strategies

Plenty of good applicants have an uneven score the first time. The current GRE makes it easy to fix that because you can retake and then send only the sittings that show you at your best. This is called ScoreSelect®, and it is an official ETS feature — you choose “most recent,” “all,” or “any” specific test date when sending to schools. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Schools like this because it still comes from ETS. They know you are not editing the numbers; you are just choosing which official score reports to send. This is the safest way to hide an experimental test you took before you were ready. [ Source: Kaplan. (kaptest.com) ]

When you should retake

1. Your key section is below 50th percentile. If you are an engineering applicant with 152Q, that will slow you down. Retake.
2. Your program published a recommended score that you missed by 2–4 points. It’s easier to fix 2–4 points than to explain them.
3. You tested on a rough day. Illness, technical problems, or anxiety are valid reasons to test again.
4. You did not study with an organized plan. This time, follow a structured path like 30-day GRE study plan and then retest.

How often you can retake

ETS allows you to take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any rolling 12-month period, so you have a built-in window for improvement. Always check the current bulletin because policies can update. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Smart ScoreSelect® patterns

1. Quant-fix pattern: First test: 155V, 153Q. Second test: 154V, 160Q. Send only the second test to engineering and data programs.
2. Verbal-fix pattern: First test: 151V, 165Q. Second test: 158V, 163Q. Send only the second test to humanities, send both to balanced programs.
3. Scholarship pattern: If a scholarship office wants highest total, send the date with highest combined. If the department wants highest Quant, send the date with highest Quant. ScoreSelect lets you do both. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Prep moves that lift you into the “good” band

Scores go up fastest when you study the test, not just the subject. If your Quant is sitting at 158 and your target is 163, you do not need all of algebra again — you need to master the item types that ETS uses and the timing the adaptive sections expect.

ETS’s own interpretive data shows that even 2–3 points of section improvement can move you across big percentile bands, especially in Verbal, so it’s worth organizing your study. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

Score-lift framework

1. Diagnose with an official-like test. Use PowerPrep Online or a highly rated mock so timing and difficulty are representative.
2. Map misses to syllabus. Compare errors to the full GRE syllabus 2026 so you know which content bucket to study.
3. Drill item families. Text completion, sentence equivalence, reading comprehension for Verbal; word problems, algebra, geometry, data interpretation for Quant.
4. Run timed sections twice a week. Scores rise when your accuracy holds under test pacing.
5. Book the retake. Having the date pushes your momentum.

Small score, big effect

A humanities applicant who moves Verbal from 157 to 161 might jump from the 76th percentile to the mid-80s, which suddenly makes the profile look like a good reader for graduate seminars. A CS applicant who moves Quant from 163 to 166 can now claim competitiveness at more selective schools. Both improvements are doable in 4–6 weeks with focused practice. [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]

When to stop prepping

1. Your section scores match the competitive band from your sheet.
2. Your practice tests stabilize within ±1 point for two sittings.
3. Your application calendar demands it. Don’t miss a program deadline for a theoretical 1-point gain.

Make the score work for you

You don’t get admitted for the score; you get admitted for the whole file. Your GRE just needs to sit in the right band so the rest of your story can be heard. That’s what “good GRE scores for grad school” means in practice.

Send the score to programs where it helps you. Skip sending to programs where it would distract from a stellar GPA, research poster, or professional portfolio. Use free score recipients on test day for the schools you’re sure about, and order Additional Score Reports later for the schools you discover after testing. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

FAQs

1. Is 315 a good GRE score for grad school in 2026?

315 can be competitive for many U.S. master’s programs if the section split matches the field — for example 160Q + 155V for policy, or 162Q + 153V for engineering-support roles. But very selective engineering, data, and MBA programs will want higher section scores or a higher total. Always compare to the program’s latest published ranges. [ Source: Vedantu. (vedantu.com) ]

2. What if my Quant is high but my Verbal is low?

This is common for STEM and international applicants. If your program cares mostly about Quant, you may still be fine. If it is a reading-heavy or discussion-heavy program, retake to lift Verbal into at least the 150s so the committee doesn’t worry about language load. Use focused RC and vocabulary practice before retesting. [ Source: Magoosh. (magoosh.com) ]

3. Do grad schools see all my GRE scores?

Not automatically. With ScoreSelect® you can choose to send only your most recent, all scores, or any specific test administration to each school, so they see only what you authorize. This is the official ETS policy. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

4. How long are GRE scores valid?

GRE General Test scores are valid for 5 years after your test date. Always check the current ETS page or Information Bulletin right before you apply, but 5 years has been the standing rule. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

5. Should I submit GRE if the program is test-optional?

Submit if your score is at or above the program’s likely average or what competitors will send. Don’t submit if the score would be a weak part of your file and the program clearly says test-optional. This is especially true if you have strong research, portfolio, or GPA. [ Source: ETS. (ETS) ]

6. How fast can I improve 5–7 points?

Most students can improve 5–7 section points in 4–8 weeks if they use official-level questions, drill weaknesses, and take two timed practice tests.

Content Integrity Note

This 2026 guide was drafted with AI assistance and then organized, expanded, and checked against official ETS publications and current graduate admissions practices by Andrew Williams. Andrew Williams has 10 years of experience coaching students for the GRE and has consistently helped test takers reach score bands that win admission to top universities. All policy-like statements above cite ETS or other high-authority sources inline; always follow the latest ETS bulletin and the exact requirements on your target program’s website.