Many leading US business schools now allow eligible MBA applicants to apply without a GMAT or GRE through test waivers or test-optional policies. But applying without a GRE / GMAT score can make it tougher for applicants from overrepresented pools (like Indian applicants). This guide compares 20 top MBA programs, explains their admissions policies, waiver requirements, eligibility criteria and timelines.
After we published the amazing story of how an Indian applicant who worked with us got into 6 top MBA programs with over $400K in scholarship, we have been inundated with queries. The 2 most common ones are:
- Am I eligible to apply to top MBA programs without GMAT or GRE?
- Which are the top MBA programs that don’t require GMAT / GRE?
The answer to the first one requires a thorough understanding of your profile. Reach out to us for a free MBA profile evaluation.
In this article, we’ll answer the second question i.e MBA without GMAT or GRE. Many top business schools in USA now allow applicants to apply without submitting standardized test scores through test waivers or test-optional policies.
Getting a good GMAT or GRE score can be an Achilles’ heel for many MBA aspirants who otherwise have a strong candidate profile.
If that’s the case and you feel that the test score is the only thing stopping you from attending a top MBA program, then you need to know that many reputed schools now allow eligible candidates to apply without submitting a GMAT, GMAT Focus or GRE score.
What does “MBA without GMAT or GRE” actually mean?
In recent years, several leading business schools have introduced GRE & GMAT test waivers and test-optional policies.
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This has made the complicated MBA admissions process slightly smoother for accomplished candidates, who can now demonstrate their readiness for the program through their academic achievements, work experience, relevant certifications rather than standardized test scores alone.
Not all schools follow the same admissions policy. Here’s what the different policies mean.
- GMAT/GRE Waiver: You must demonstrate academic or professional readiness and receive approval before applying or as part of your application.
- Test Optional: You can choose whether or not to submit a GMAT or GRE score.
- No Test Required: Some MBA programs do not require standardized tests for any applicant or for specific applicant categories.
Most of the schools in our list below fall into the first two categories.
We explore some of the top two-year US MBA programs that now offer standardized test waivers or have adopted test-optional admissions policies. We’ll take a look at each school’s requirements, eligibility criteria, and the application process.
Top MBA Programs Without GMAT or GRE
Here’s a quick comparison of the top business schools that allow MBA applicants to apply without a GMAT or GRE score. Scroll down for detailed eligibility criteria, waiver requirements, and application timelines for each school.
| Business School | GMAT/GRE Policy | Separate Waiver Request Required? | Key Eligibility Highlights | Typical Decision Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan – Ross | GMAT/GRE waiver available | No | Statement of Quantitative Academic Readiness; quantitative academics, work experience or professional certifications | With application review |
| Dartmouth – Tuck | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | English proficiency requirement, 2+ years’ work experience, strong quantitative/analytical background | Before application deadline |
| Cornell – Johnson | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Quantitative/STEM/business degree, analytical work experience, or CFA/CPA | 5–7 business days |
| NYU Stern | Test optional (Tech MBA); waiver available for Full-Time MBA | Yes | Quantitative academics or professional experience, plus essay | Around 3 weeks |
| Chicago Booth | Test optional (limited eligibility) | No | Current University of Chicago students or alumni only | N/A |
| UVA Darden | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Strong academics, quantitative coursework, 3+ years of quantitative/analytical work experience preferred | 10–14 business days |
| UCLA Anderson | Test optional | No | Demonstrate quantitative readiness through academics or work experience;or CPA/CFA | With application review |
| Carnegie Mellon – Tepper | GMAT/GRE waiver available | No (within application) | Academic readiness for MBA curriculum | Within 10 business days after application deadline |
| Texas McCombs | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Strong quantitative profile; admitted applicants complete Accelerated Foundations Program | Around 10 business days |
| Washington Foster | Test optional | No | Bachelor’s degree with 3.0+ GPA and evidence of quantitative ability | Not specified |
| Washington University – Olin | Test optional | No | Test scores recommended but not required | With application review |
| Rice – Jones | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Standardized Test Waiver Request with supporting documents | Not specified |
| UNC Kenan-Flagler | GMAT/GRE waiver available | No (within application) | Waiver request submitted through application | Up to 21 business days |
| Georgia Tech Scheller | Test optional | No | International applicants encouraged to submit scores | With application review |
| USC Marshall | GMAT/GRE waiver available | No (within application) | Waiver request submitted through online application | Around 15 business days |
| Emory Goizueta | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Test Waiver Application with supporting documents | 10–14 business days |
| Vanderbilt Owen | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Waiver request form before application deadline | Recommended 2 weeks before deadline |
| Indiana Kelley | GMAT/GRE waiver available | Yes | Resume, transcripts and 300-word justification | Around 1 week |
| Georgetown McDonough | GMAT/GRE waiver available | No | Start MBA application and submit only waiver application for review | Before MBA application submission |
| Ohio State Fisher | GMAT/GRE waiver available | No (within application) | Waiver request plus supplemental essay; not available if official scores already sent | With application review |
The schools below are not ranked. Admission policies and waiver requirements can change each admissions cycle, so always verify the latest requirements on the school’s official website before applying.
Top MBA programs that offer GMAT waiver/test-optional policies
1. University of Michigan – Ross School of Business
At Ross, you do not need to submit a separate application for a test waiver. The Statement of Quantitative Academic Readiness is an alternative to test scores. Submitting the statement does not put you at a disadvantage while being considered for merit-based scholarships.
In the statement, the Admissions Committee (AdCom) looks for multiple indicators that demonstrate your readiness for the program’s academic rigour without requiring a test score.
This may include a master’s degree in a quantitative or analytical discipline, professional credential such as the CFA, CPA, strong academic record at the undergraduate/graduate level, particularly in quantitative or analytical coursework, full-time work experience in a quantitative or analytical role or strong performance on exams such as the MCAT, LSAT, PCAT, DAT, or OAT.
2. Dartmouth Tuck School of Business
At Tuck, you must request a waiver before you apply. There’s a GMAT/GRE test waiver request deadline which you need to be aware of, after which no request would be considered.
To be eligible for a waiver, you must be either a native English speaker or have earned a bachelor’s degree where English was the sole medium of instruction, along with two years of post-graduate work experience. Additionally, you must not have previously been granted a waiver.
Your request would be evaluated based on the quantitative and analytical skills you have demonstrated in your academic and/or professional background.
Examples of relevant experience include financial modeling, business intelligence, operations research, data science, actuarial work, risk management, or quantitative analysis. Professional certifications like CFA, FRM, CPA can also add value.
Relevant professional roles include quantitative analyst, actuary, data scientist, financial engineer, operations research analyst, software engineer, market research analyst, mechanical engineer, risk analyst, quantitative market analyst, electrical engineer to name a few.
3. Cornell University – Johnson College of Business
At Johnson, if you’re looking for a GMAT /GRE waiver, you would need to present evidence of your preparedness for the program’s rigor.
You should meet one of these criteria: having earned a STEM, business, analytical/quantitative- focused undergraduate/graduate degree, with a 3.0 GPA, second class upper division honors, or international equivalent, certifications like CPA, CFA, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function,
In addition to resume, transcripts, professional certifications, you’d also be required to submit a test waiver personal statement.
You’d receive an email regarding your test waiver decision within 5-7 business days of your submission. You will be considered for merit-based scholarships even if you receive a waiver.
4. NYU Stern School of Business
The Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA offers a Test Optional Policy. For the Full-Time MBA and Luxury & Retail MBA program applications, test scores are required.
However, you can request a waiver by showing your academic preparedness in other ways such as an analytical or quantitative undergraduate/graduate degree, relevant professional experience.
Those applying for a waiver need to have completed their bachelor’s degree. You can apply for only one test waiver request per admission cycle and select any one MBA program while submitting the request.
In addition to the request form, you would be required to submit your resume, undergraduate/graduate transcripts, or certifications like CFA, CPA. Additionally, NYU Stern also requires you to provide a brief essay response to a prompt.
These requests are assessed on a rolling basis and decisions are made within 3 weeks, so you have to ensure that you submit a test waiver request at least 3 weeks before you plan to apply.
5. The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business
For current undergraduate students at University of Chicago or those who have graduated from a UChicago program, the GMAT/GRE is test optional. Other than that, no one is eligible for a test waiver.
6. UVA Darden School of Business
At Darden, test waiver requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis with the AdCom particularly considering indicators of academic and professional accomplishment. They would look for a strong undergraduate record, with quantitatively- focused majors as well as significant coursework in quantitative or analytical areas
A Master’s or advanced degree in analytical discipline would also add value. Those with a minimum of 3 years of post-undergraduate work experience, especially from quantitative or analytical fields would have a better chance at receiving a test waiver.
Apart from submitting your transcripts and resume, it can also help if you can submit supplemental information like SAT and/or ACT test scores, CPA, CFA, or similar quantitative professional certification. If you’re not from an English-speaking country, you may need to submit an English proficiency test score (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or DET).
The school recommends submitting test waiver request at least 3-4 weeks before the application round deadline as the decision regarding the outcome would take around 10-14 business days. Once you receive a waiver, the AdCom would not take into consideration any of the test scores previously submitted.
7. UCLA Anderson School of Management
You can apply to the UCLA Anderson full-time MBA program without submitting a test score. However, for those without a quantitative background, a strong GMAT score would help strengthen the application.
As we’ve discussed for the other programs, if you’re applying without a test score, you’d need to demonstrate preparedness for the rigors of the MBA program through your academic and professional achievements.
The AdCom would look at your past accomplishments, for example, undergraduate/graduate degree in analytical or quantitative courses, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function, professional certification including CFA, CPA or equivalent.
Even if you have an expired GMAT or GRE score, that would also be taken into account.
8. CMU Tepper School of Business
Waiver requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with decisions based on your demonstrated academic readiness for the Tepper MBA. Applying for a test waiver would not impact your chances of scholarship.
Even with an approved waiver, the AdCom may require or recommend additional academic preparation before the start of the program.
You can apply for a waiver in your application. After you submit your completed application, the AdCom will review your waiver request, and you’ll hear from them via email within 10 business days of the application deadline.
9. University of Texas at Austin – McCombs
As with other schools, test waiver requests need to be backed with proof of strong quantitative or analytical abilities. These requests would be reviewed within 10 business days, so they need to be submitted at least 10 days before the targeted submission date.
If you have lower GPA, limited quantitative coursework, less work experience, or looking to make a major career switch, the school recommends submitting a strong test score which can strengthen your candidacy and also improve scholarship chances.
If you’ve been admitted to the full-time MBA with a test score waiver, you’d be required to complete the Accelerated Foundations Program, a one-week quantitative prep course taught by McCombs faculty, for which you would have to pay the additional cost.
The test waiver request includes a brief statement highlighting merits of your request, along with a professional resume and undergraduate/graduate transcripts as well as professional certifications (CFA, CPA) if any.
10. University of Washington – Foster School of Business
You would be eligible to apply without a test score if you have a 4-year undergraduate degree with GPA 3.0 or higher and evidence of quantitative and analytical readiness for the program. To apply without a test score, you can complete the ‘Test Optional Summary of Qualifications’ in the online MBA application and answer the essay prompts.
Those with any weaknesses in their profile would be encouraged to submit a strong test score. Also, the school recommends that international applicants submit a test score, considering the competitive nature of the international applicant pool.
Even if your GMAT or GRE score has expired (more than 5 years old), you may still reference it, as evidence of your quantitative or verbal aptitude, while requesting for a test score waiver.
As we’ve seen across these 10 business schools, the main criteria for obtaining a standardized test waiver remain consistent. The AdCom look for evidence of strong quantitative skills and analytical ability to ensure that applicants can successfully manage the rigorous MBA curriculum without standardized test scores.
The waiver process, though, varies from one business school to another. Some schools require applicants to request and receive a waiver before submitting their MBA application, while others allow candidates to submit the waiver request as part of the application process. In many cases, applicants may also be asked to respond to school-specific essay prompts explaining why they qualify for a waiver or provide additional supporting information.
Because waiver requests are evaluated independently by each school, you need to do your research and be aware of the school’s requirements, eligibility criteria and timelines well in advance. Planning ahead will ensure you have sufficient time to secure a waiver.
Here are a few more top schools that offer test score waivers/test-optional policies:
11. Washington University – Olin
Submitting standardized test scores is optional and left to the applicant’s discretion. While test scores are recommended, they are not required if you can present a strong case for admission based on your academic achievements, professional experience and skills.
12. Rice – Jones Graduate School of Business
If you’re looking for a test score waiver, you can you submit a Standardized Test Waiver Request in the Test Score section of your application. Be sure to submit your request well in advance so there is sufficient time for it to be reviewed before your intended application deadline.
13. University of North Carolina – Kenan-Flagler
MBA applicants can request a GMAT/GRE waiver from within their application. Be sure to do so early as it can take up to 21 business days to receive a decision. Applicants who provide test scores may not receive waivers after their scores have been reported.
14. Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business
The school offers test-optional policy though international students are encouraged to submit a score to make their application competitive and also increase chances of merit-based funding including fellowships and graduate assistantship awards.
15. USC Marshall School of Business
Request for a GMAT/GRE test waiver is to be made through the online application for admission. You’ll receive an email regarding the test waiver decision within 15 business days of submitting the application. Test scores will not be considered if a waiver is approved.
16. Emory University – Goizueta Business School
You need to complete the ‘Test Waiver Application’ and submit all supporting documents. Decisions would take around 10-14 business days.
17. Vanderbilt University – Owen Graduate School of Management
You are required to complete the test waiver request form before the application round deadline. The school recommends applying for a waiver at least 2 weeks before the application deadline.
18. Indiana University – Kelley School of Business
In addition to your professional resume, transcripts, you’d need to submit a brief statement (300 words or less) summarizing why you believe you qualify for a waiver. You’ll receive a response within a week’s time.
19. Georgetown University – McDonough School of Business
You must start an MBA application, then complete the test waiver application and submit it for review. Note that you do not have to submit your MBA application. You can hit the submit button only after you hear the school’s decision regarding the test waiver.
20. The Ohio State University – Fisher College of Business
Applicants can request a GMAT/GRE waiver directly through the online application by selecting ‘Yes’ when asked whether they would like to request a GMAT/GRE waiver. They must also complete the optional supplemental essay, finish the remaining application requirements, and submit the application.
Candidates who have already taken the GMAT or GRE and arranged for their scores to be sent to The Ohio State University are not eligible to request a waiver.
MBA without GMAT or GRE | Test Waiver FAQs
Can I get into a top MBA program without a GMAT or GRE?
Yes. Many leading business schools now allow eligible applicants to apply without submitting GMAT or GRE scores through test waivers or test-optional policies. However, applicants must usually demonstrate academic readiness through strong grades, quantitative coursework, professional certifications or relevant work experience.
Which MBA programs do not require GMAT or GRE?
Several leading US business schools now offer test waivers or test-optional admissions for eligible applicants, including Ross, Tuck, Cornell Johnson, UCLA Anderson, Tepper, Darden, McCombs, Foster and others. The exact policy differs by school, so review the admissions requirements carefully before applying.
Is a GMAT waiver the same as a test-optional policy?
No. A GMAT/GRE waiver usually requires you to demonstrate academic or professional readiness before you can apply without test scores.
A test-optional policy allows you to decide whether or not to submit a GMAT or GRE score as part of your application.
Will not submitting a GMAT or GRE score affect my scholarship chances?
It depends on the school.
Some schools explicitly state that applicants with approved waivers remain eligible for merit-based MBA scholarships. Others recommend submitting strong test scores, particularly for international applicants, as they may strengthen scholarship applications.
Can international students apply without a GMAT or GRE?
Yes. Many schools accept international applicants without GMAT or GRE scores if they satisfy the waiver criteria. However, some schools encourage international applicants to submit standardized test scores because of the competitive nature of the applicant pool.
Who is most likely to receive a GMAT or GRE waiver?
Successful waiver applicants typically have one or more of the following:
- Strong undergraduate or graduate academic performance
- Quantitative or analytical coursework
- Professional certifications such as CFA or CPA
- Several years of analytical or technical work experience
- Evidence of strong quantitative skills in their career
Each school evaluates waiver requests independently.
How long is a GMAT/GRE waiver valid?
In most cases, a waiver is valid only for the admissions cycle in which it is granted. If you apply in a future cycle, you may need to submit a new waiver request.
Should I apply without a GMAT or GRE if I’m eligible?
Not always. If you have a lower GPA, limited quantitative coursework, fewer years of work experience or are making a significant career switch, a strong GMAT or GRE score may strengthen your application. Some employers in consulting, investment banking and finance may also ask for standardized test scores during recruitment.
Can a strong GMAT score improve my chances even if a waiver is available?
Yes. At several schools, submitting a strong GMAT or GRE score can strengthen your application, particularly if you have a lower GPA, limited quantitative coursework or are applying from a highly competitive applicant pool. Some schools also indicate that standardized test scores may support scholarship decisions.
What should I consider before requesting a GMAT/GRE waiver?
Before requesting a waiver, consider the potential trade-offs. A strong test score can strengthen your candidacy, improve scholarship prospects at some schools and provide additional evidence of academic readiness. Compare your profile with each school’s eligibility criteria before deciding whether to apply with or without test scores.
Key Takeaways
- More top MBA programs now offer GMAT/GRE waivers and test-optional admissions than ever before.
- Most schools still expect strong evidence of quantitative ability.
- Each school has different eligibility requirements, deadlines and waiver processes.
- Research each school’s policy carefully before deciding whether to apply with or without test scores.
- A waiver is not always the best strategy. A strong GMAT or GRE score can still strengthen some applications.
- You can improve your chances significantly with professional help if you are planning to apply without GRE or GMAT.
