Get your copy from Flipkart to join thousands of readers who've shattered the hype.
Average GMAT scores: What are the MBA admission chances for Indians?
Written by Sameer Kamat
Got an average GMAT score in your recent attempt? Chances are that your ‘average score’ isn’t as average as you think it is. If Indian IT Male (and Female) Engineers score a 690 on the GMAT test (a very respectable score by global standards), we still label them as average GMAT scorers. In fact, even a 700 or 710 doesn’t seem to impress the powers that be i.e international MBA Admissions officers of the top business schools.
But statistically, that’s far from the truth. The real average score for GMAT test takers around the world is…hold your breath…a whopping (!) 540.
That should make our 690 scorer a superstar in comparison, right? But the top schools don’t seem to agree, as the average GMAT score for the top MBA programs (Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, INSEAD, ISB, IIMA PGPX and many others) consistently falls in the 700-730 range.
So where does that leave our friends who have the real average GMAT score? There are quite a few business schools that generally do not figure in popular conversations on discussion forums. But they do have a class average that hovers around 540. Here’s a list of some of them.
Average GMAT scores & Schools where your chances are good
| Average GMAT Score | School |
| 550 | Western Kentucky (Ford) Bowling Green, KY |
| 550 | California State University Chico, CA |
| 550 | California State University Long Beach, CA |
| 550 | Morgan State University (Graves) Baltimore, MD |
| 559 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT |
| 550 | University of South Florida St. Petersburg, FL |
| 545 | University of West Florida Pensacola, FL |
| 545 | Union Graduate College Schenectady, NY |
| 545 | Salisbury University (Perdue) Salisbury, MD |
| 544 | St. John’s University (Tobin) Queens, NY |
| 544 | Penn State University (Black) Erie, PA |
| 544 | Canisius College (Wehle) Buffalo, NY |
| 543 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT |
| 543 | Clarkson University Potsdam, NY |
| 542 | California State University San Bernardino, CA |
| 541 | Arkansas State University State University, AR |
| 540 | University of Toledo Toledo, OH |
| 540 | University of Tampa (Sykes) Tampa, FL |
| 540 | University of Hartford (Barney) West Hartford, CT |
| 540 | Sacred Heart University (Welch) Fairfield, CT |
| 540 | Clarion University Clarion, PA |
| 539 | University of Memphis (Fogelman) Memphis, TN |
| 539 | Pace University (Lubin) New York, NY |
| 538 | UNC-Wilmington (Cameron) Wilmington, NC |
| 538 | New Jersey Institute of Tech Newark, NJ |
| 537 | Howard University Washington, DC |
| 536 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV |
| 535 | University of Texas–Permian Basin Odessa, TX |
| 535 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS |
| 535 | East Tennessee State Johnson City, TN |
| 534 | Boise State University Boise, ID |
| 532 | Washington State University Pullman, WA |
| 531 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA |
| 530 | Widener University Chester, PA |
| 530 | Minnesota State University Mankato, MN |
Source: Poets & Quants
So now that we have a nice, long list of schools offering MBA programs where your average score may not be a problem, should you go ahead and apply? You may want to hold on to your horses for a while more, till you have more information about the programs.
It’s true that a GMAT score says little about the managerial potential of the class participants. It’s also true that admissions to MBA programs consider several other data points (experience, industry, accomplishments etc). It’s incorrect to generalise, but several of the programs that accept candidates with low GMAT scores (or ‘average’, if we want to be statistically correct) are not as selective as the top programs. This means the filtering mechanism in the application process might not be on par with the best MBA programs. In fact, one of the schools in the list above has a close to 100% selectivity. This means almost everyone who applies can expect good news from the bschool.
The low market credibility could mean that many of the top recruiters that flock to the best ranking MBA programs may not come to the MBA campuses of these bschools. Of course there might be gems in there that we’d never know unless we dig deeper.
Average GMAT scores for Indians
Alright, after reading so far, as an Indian MBA applicant you know that your average GMAT score isn’t really that bad. But you are still curious to know what your score of above 600 or under 700 is competitive considering the mean GMAT scores for Indian bschools like ISB, IIMs (IIMA PGPX, IIMC PGPex, IIMB EPGP), XLRI GMP and others. Or for that matter the median GMAT for an MBA abroad. The best foreign MBA colleges have high averages too. This is also a significant factor when it comes to getting MBA scholarships (read these related posts –> GMAT Scholarships for Indian students & MBA Scholarships for Indian students).
You might wonder about the culprits who push up the average GMAT scores so high. Well, look no further, it’s your friendly neighbourhood IT Male Engineer from India probably sitting with a serious ‘busy-do-not-disturb’ expression on his face in the cubicle next to yours preparing for his GMAT diligently.
You’ll find inspiring average GMAT score success stories. These are applicants who played smart and used their strengths in the best possible manner. Several of them worked with good MBA admission consultants in India to ensure that their essays, recommendations, resume and interview were super strong. However, do remember that admission consultants can’t work any magic on a profile that is inherently weak. Content and presentation work together to go beyond average GMAT percentiles. And the MBA college choice matters too.
Read these stories about how much Indian applicants with an ‘average GMAT score’ (in relative terms) approached their MBA admissions process. You might be able to pick up some ideas on what worked for them.
INSEAD: After 6 Rejections & 4 GMAT attempts, Praveen gets into INSEAD Paris (France)
ISB: An average GMAT score for ISB didn’t stop Bodhi from getting a seat
Smeal: Fixing a low GMAT score helped Pushkal get a full scholarship + stipend at Smeal
NUS: NUS Singapore MBA and 4 other admits for Indian IT Engineer Male
SP Jain: Admit from SP Jain Global MBA with a 680 GMAT score
ESMT Germany: MBA in Germany with 50% scholarship (20,000 Euros waiver)
Search on our blog and you’ll find many more stories.
But do keep in mind that these are more likely to be exceptions rather than the norm. The best MBA colleges wouldn’t have had such high median scores if they had too many such exceptions. A majority of applicants lose the battle as they are purely fighting with a weak GMAT, weak essays and a weak overall strategy.
What if you are an Indian with a below average GMAT score?
Option 1- The simplest recommendation you’d get on most discussion forums – Crank up the GMAT preparation, dissect the entire GMAT syllabus, join the GMAT Club of 700+ scorers and apply to the better programs. Well, sounds logical. But if you could, you’d have done that in the first attempt or at least come close to your target score. Getting a 70-80 point jump in the GMAT score is very different from getting a 160 point jump (from 540 to 700).
Option 2 – The other option is to join one of the programs that accept the lower GMAT score, being completely aware of factors that’ll go for and against you when you head back into the job market.
Option 3 - This might be more obvious to those who’ve read Beyond The MBA Hype (if you don’t have a copy yet, get one right now). Before you answer it in MBA applications, ask yourself – Why MBA? Do you really need the degree to achieve what you want in life? How else can you get what you want?
Seriously consider working with a credible MBA admissions consultant to develop and execute the best possible application strategy, given your current profile. It’ll be nice if you can include MBA Crystal Ball among the possible list of teams to work with.
If you aren’t sure where to start, the MBA MAP MBA Profile Evaluation & Application Strategy would give you a solid platform to build your story.
Stop feeling sorry for what you don’t have. Think about what you can do with what you have.
Whatever option you choose, keep your chin high and don’t let perceptions of others shake your self-confidence.
EBOOK
For the Top B-schools
I need list of universities in US with min 1 yr or without work experience to do mba !!!!!
Hi Ramkumar,
We don’t have a ready list of such programs, as they are generally not on the target list of candidates who approach us for consulting services.
But there are too many out there that would take accept candidates without experience. You’ll have to do your own research there. But if you insist on heading down that roadm, as the main article above cautions – be aware of the pros and cons of getting into such programs.
Hi sameer,
Am a techno guy working in a telecom MNC with 5+ work experience and have run out of steam in my current profile. My interest was always to get an MBA done and diversify into a different industry (in my case a film production house executive , though telecom is the 2nd option now for me). I have already given GMAT twice , 2 years back, with highest score being 570 ( in the latest I got 500
)
Can you please guide me which would be the best institute with this score say in Singapore (I did get a call for Bradford MBA from MDIS, but had to give their own aptitude test) , US , UK/Ireland ( I had checked the Trinity MBA which qualifies). Currently am really in a sort of quandry as to what to do as a I doubt if I can ace the
GMAT score in the future, and want to apply with the 570/500 score. Am pretty sure about myself that I will come out good from the course. Just that the entrance exam jitter has been psyching me out since the CAT days.
Help appreciated sir, since I feel, by going through your posts, that you seem to strike the right chord with the guys out here…
Thanks in advance
Shiven
nice article. any of these college will give job guarantee?
@Shiven: Apart from the list in this blog post, I don’t know of any country specific MBA colleges that accept folks with low GMAT scores. The issue is not the low barriers to entry. The bigger issue is whether they’ll offer good education education.
So rather than chasing a degree, look at alternative ways to get to your goal. This MBA book might help as it has a chapter that explore various options to reach your career goals without an MBA.
@Pradeep: No good bschool can guarantee a job. Not even harvard. Read this post –> Best MBA college with scholarship + job guarantee…& I’d also like fries with it
hello Sameer
i hv done b.tech this year…and nw i am preparing for Gmat..
but stil i have lots of doubts regarding this…
like weather they (b-schools) wnt experienced guys only…??
will be there some working visa aftr studies ???
and is this really matter that from where we are doin mba like frm usa, uk , new zelnd, germny etc..??
and will be there some scholarship programs ???
thenks alot
Nitin,
- Most of the top bschools prefer a minimum of 2 years. The average is around 4-5 years. Read why work experience is important for international MBA applications
- Working visa: Yes, this tends to be country specific e.g. Optional Practical Training OPT on F1 Visa in USA and then the regular H1B for a work permit.
- Geography: Yes, it matters where you are doing your MBA from. Your job opportunities will be limited to that region.
- Funding: Yes, scholarships are there, but you’d need to put in a really strong applcication for that. Check the reviews page to see where some of our folks have got partial and full scholarships.
Hi Sameer,
I have an MBA graduate and have passed in the year 2010. I am looking for some guidance for PhD in Management from Universities in Canada. Can you provide some information on the process? I am planning to take GMAT in the near future.
BJH: We don’t have a post on PhD admissions yet (added to our to-do list) so I can’t direct you to any existing content. And explaining the process in detail would be tough in this comment.
Also, your query is quite specific as you are looking only at Canadian doctorate programs in a specific discipline.
So for now, I can only suggest Google’s phenomenal search capabilities and the official websites of a few top Canadian universities that offer a PhD in Management for further details.
Dear Sir,
I appeared in GMAT (first attempt) on 25.01.2013 and got a score of 710 (Q47, V41). My X and XII marks are 66.6% and 62.4% respectively. I am an agricultural engg. graduate (77.4% with Bronze Medal) from a Govt. College in UP with overall experience of 12 years (Started with 3 years in tractor industry as sales executive for leading cos in India followed by a 16 months assignment of teaching Engineering Undergraduates and presently working with SBI for the past 7.5 years). Recently, I have completed my assignment of 2 years as AVP (Credit) at SBI Tokyo.
My goal is to take up a position in strategic planning in financial industry. The target schools are ISB, Judge Business School, NUS and IIMA.
Kindly let me know if my GMAT score is good enough for the aforementioned institutes or do I need to improve upon it.
Yours faithfully
Neeraj Yadav
Realizing that this is a posting for Indian students and I’m not one, I did have a question – how close to ‘average’ does one’s GMAT have to be in your opinion to have a reasonable shot of getting in? I scored a 530 on my gmat test today but have 10+ years experience and several certifications in additional to my undergrad. Do I have a shot at schools asking for a 560 gmat? Please respond to my email address if this blog doesn’t notify me of followups. Thanks, -Geoff.
@Neeraj: Yes, your GMAT score is good enough. There are other areas you need to focus on – for instance, after 12 years of work experience, what are you expecting out of an MBA program?
@Geoff: A 20-30 point deviation from the average GMAT score for the school should be fine. But you might want to take a step back and re-evaluate your gameplan. With some focused practice, if you can get the score higher, it’ll give you a shot at better schools. The bschool brand can make a huge difference. So think about it.
Hello sameer kamat
I appeared in GMAT exam and I scored only 460. Is this enough for doing MBA in australia, london,germany……….
@Muthu: No offense meant, but I’d stay away from any bschool that accepts folks with that score. Your best bet is to raise the score and bring it closer to the median for the schools you are targetting.