Universities Waiving GRE/GMAT for Fall/Spring 2026
Planning your future just got easier and exciting! Our 2026 guide highlights U.S. universities waiving GRE and GMAT requirements, opening avenues for talented students from every background. Whether you’re aiming for an MBA, a STEM master’s, or another program, you’ll find up-to-date details on schools embracing test-optional or test-free admissions.
What is GRE/GMAT?
GRE
The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is a standardized test conducted by the Educational Testing Service that is commonly required for admission to graduate programs, including master’s, MBA, and PhD programs, particularly in the United States, Canada, and other countries. The GRE acts as a standardized admission criterion for various universities around the world, while they evaluate students from varied backgrounds. The GRE examines three domains-
Verbal Reasoning - Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Critical Analysis
Quantitative Reasoning - Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis
Analytical Writing - Essay tasks analyzing arguments and presenting ideas
The scores are valid for five years.
GMAT
The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council. The exam is accepted by over 2000 universities worldwide. The GMAT examines four domains-
Analytical Writing Assessment- Essay Writing, Argument Analysis, and Reasoning
Integrated Reasoning - Graphic Interpretation, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis
Quantitative Reasoning - Arithmetic, Algebra, Statistics
Verbal Reasoning - Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction
The scores are valid for five years.
Universities that are waiving GRE/GMAT for Fall/Spring 2026
- 1Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League university situated in New Jersey. It holds a QS ranking of 25. Princeton either waives the GRE or makes it optional for most of their graduate programs like Computer Science, Arts, Biophysics, Chemistry - MS, Literature, Ecology, Finance, English, History, Molecular Biology, Physics, Music Composition, amongst many others.
- 2
New York University
New York University is a private research institution located in New York City. It offers programs in engineering, business, etc. and holds a QS ranking of 55. NYU has waived the GRE for its Master's in Computer Science and made it optional for master's and PhD programmes in courses such as Biotechnology, Cybersecurity, Financial Engineering, Transportation Systems.
- 3
University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley is a private research university established in Berkeley, California. It has a QS ranking of 17 in the world. UC Berkeley has waived the GRE examination for the majority of its graduate programs. Instead, only 13 of UC Berkeley’s more than 125 graduate programs have elected to require the GRE.
- 4
Purdue University- West Lafayette
Purdue University is established as a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a QS ranking of 88. Purdue University is one of the most applied to universities for Computer Science programs including master's and PhD. It has waived GRE for all its computer science programs.
- 5
Columbia University
Columbia University is a member of the prestigious Ivy League and is situated in New York City. It holds a QS ranking of 34. Columbia Engineering School has waived the GRE for all the engineering programs.
However, Columbia Business School still requires the GRE scores for it's School of Business programs.
- 6
Cornell University
Cornell University is a private research organisation located in Ithaca, New York. Its QS world ranking is 17. Cornell's Tech has waived the GRE for Master of Engineering and Jacobs Technion-Cornell Dual Master Degrees programs and certain has made it optional for Johnson Cornell Tech MBA program.
- Get guaranteed admissions into the top universities now!
- 7
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento is a global research university located in Sacramento, California. CSUS is known for its work in robotics and AI. CSUS has made the GRE optional for certain master's programs such as Literature, Geology, Mechanical Engineering and Political Science. However, it has made GRE mandatory for programs such as Computer Science, Civil Engineering and Accountancy.
- 8
Northeastern University
Northeastern University has its main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. It holds a QS ranking of 384. It offers programs in computer science, health, design, etc. and it has waived the GRE for all the undergraduate programs and some graduate programs, such as artificial intelligence, social science, literature, finance, etc.
- 9
University of Wisconsin - Madison
The University of Wisconsin is a public university situated in Madison, Wisconsin. UW - Madison offers various programs such as astronomy, botany, marketing etc. It announced that it does not require the GRE at all for graduate programs. Instead, it evaluates the whole portfolio before granting admission.
- 10
Texas A&M University
TAMU is a public university located in Texas with a QS world ranking of 144. If you are interested in studying Biomedical at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the institute, you do not have to worry about submitting the GRE scores.
- 11
Stony Brook University - SUNY
Stony Brook is a public university situated in Long Island, New York. It offers a wide range of courses such as finance, accounting, data science, psychology, etc. and has waived the GRE for all these programs for Spring and Fall 2026.
- 12
University of Texas at Dallas
UT Dallas is a globally recognised university situated in Richardson, Dallas. Several of its graduate programs do not require the submission of GRE scores or have made it optional for applicants. Popular departments among those waiving the GRE are Public Affair, Cybersecurity, Literature, History, Humanities.
- 13
Boston University
BU is a private research institution and has two campuses in Boston, Massachusetts. It holds a QS ranking of 88 and no longer requires GRE scores for most programs at its Metropolitan College.
We will be updating this list as and when we find more universities waiving the GRE/GMAT requirement. Sign up to get notified of the same via email!
Conclusion
As we move into 2026, the trend of universities waiving the GRE and GMAT requirements is making grad school applications more accessible and less stressful. The shift reflects a developing recognition that standardized tests are not the only way to assess a candidate’s potential. With more schools waiving these tests, you might find it easier to apply to your dream program without the added pressure of test prep.
Whether you're aiming for a master’s or an MBA, this change could be a great opportunity to showcase your skills and experiences in other ways. So, if you’ve been hesitant about applying because of these tests, it’s a good time to take another look at your options and dive into your academic journey with a bit less stress. In case you're still unsure of how to apply or where to go, book a counseling session with any of our top counselors and let us help you start your journey to higher education aboard!
Frequently Asked Questions!
Schools will place more emphasis on your undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, work experience, personal statement, and other achievements.
A waiver means that the university does not require you to submit GRE or GMAT scores as part of your application.
Eligibility criteria vary by university but can include factors like professional experience, academic performance, advanced degrees, and special achievements.
If you meet the waiver criteria, it typically won't affect your chances. Schools consider your entire application, including work experience, GPA, and other qualifications.
Some schools may require additional documents, such as a professional resume, portfolio, or statement of purpose, to compensate for the missing test scores.
Yes, many universities offer waivers to both domestic and international students, though specific criteria may differ.
Typically, you need to request the waiver during the application process, often through a form or by submitting a waiver request letter.
Yes, schools usually have deadlines for waiver requests, so it's important to check the specific dates for each program you’re interested in.
Not necessarily. Some programs within the same university might still require test scores, so it’s important to check the requirements for each specific program.
Common reasons include: improving accessibility and diversity, reducing financial burdens, and due to its low predictive value.
Yes, students who receive GRE/GMAT waivers are typically still eligible for scholarships, but it's best to confirm with the specific school.
