Guides
GRE vs GMAT: which one do you actually need
This used to be a simple question. Business school meant GMAT, everything else meant GRE. That's no longer true. Today, 92% of business schools accept the GRE alongside the GMAT, and at several top programs, close to half of admitted students submitted GRE scores instead. Here's how to actually decide, based on where you're applying, not outdated advice.
If you're not applying to an MBA
Take the GRE, it covers almost everything else
If you're applying to a Master's in computer science, engineering, most STEM fields, humanities, public policy, or law, the GRE is essentially the universal choice. Nearly every top CS program, for example, MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, Georgia Tech, accepts or requires the GRE, and the GMAT rarely applies outside business school at all. If there's any chance you'll apply to a non-business program, or a dual degree like JD/MBA or MBA/MPH, the GRE is the safer single choice since it's accepted across both categories and the GMAT isn't.
If you're set on an MBA
Both usually work now, but not identically everywhere
All M7 MBA programs, Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, and Columbia, treat GRE and GMAT as equivalent substitutes. That said, the GMAT still has broader raw reach globally, accepted at over 2,400 business schools compared to roughly 1,300 for the GRE, and some heavily quant or consulting-focused programs still lean toward it. If you're fully committed to business school only and targeting a quant-intensive program, GMAT may carry a very slight edge. For most other MBA applicants, the choice comes down to which test format actually plays to your strengths.
PhD programs are a different question entirely
Many have dropped the requirement, and where it's kept, it's a screening tool
A growing number of PhD programs have dropped the GRE requirement entirely, reflecting a broader consensus that scores predict PhD success less reliably than research fit and letters of recommendation. Where it's still required or optional, a low score can screen an application out, but a high score alone doesn't get you admitted, research experience and faculty fit carry far more weight. Competitive Quant scores run 158 to 167 depending on the field, with STEM and economics programs typically expecting 160 or higher.
The one hard exception
Medical school doesn't take either
No MD-granting medical school in the US accepts the GRE or GMAT in place of the MCAT. That's not a trend in flux, it's the uniform position across US medical admissions. The only exception is the secondary component of certain dual-degree programs like MD/PhD or MD/MBA, where the non-medical half might require its own separate test.
FAQ
Can I just take the GRE for everything to be safe?+
For almost everything except business school specifically, yes, the GRE is accepted broadly across MS, PhD, law, and public policy programs. If you're 100% certain you're MBA-only, check whether your target programs have any preference before deciding either test is automatically safer.
Is the GMAT harder than the GRE?+
Neither is universally harder, they test different things. GRE Verbal demands deeper vocabulary in context, while GMAT tests grammar and logical argument structure more directly. Taking a free practice test for both before committing is the most reliable way to tell which suits you.
Do top MBA programs actually accept GRE scores equally?+
Yes. At schools like Harvard Business School, Chicago Booth, and Stanford GSB, roughly 42 to 44% of recent incoming classes submitted GRE scores instead of GMAT, and these programs state they have no preference between the two.
Should I retake the test if I'm not happy with my score?+
Both tests let you choose which scores to send, GRE ScoreSelect and GMAT's Enhanced Score Report both mean you're not forced to report every attempt. That makes retaking relatively low-risk if your first attempt doesn't reflect your ability.