Remember the days of undergrad when you could apply to college undeclared and spend time exploring different fields? Good times. Grad school applications, however, aren’t that flexible. If you’re applying to graduate school, you’ve likely already chosen an academic discipline and have a career goal in mind. To ensure you can compete with fellow applicants, you’ll need to know the average GRE scores for your specific program, department, or discipline before taking the GRE.
How Do Graduate School Applications Work?
Your grad school research will be far more focused than it was for undergrad. The concepts of safety and reach schools don’t apply the same way to most graduate programs, especially in research-heavy fields. In these programs, even applicants with high GPAs and GRE scores can be rejected if their research topics don’t align closely with the department.
Think of your entire education as a pyramid. You start with basic knowledge, become more specialized in high school and college, and then dive even deeper in graduate school, where you contribute new knowledge to your field.
In graduate school admissions, program fit becomes much more critical. If you want to research the 19th-century English novel, avoid applying to programs where advisors focus on different areas. Similarly, if your interest is in neuroscience and aging, a program specializing in adolescent neuroscience won’t be a good match. Admissions committees closely consider this fit. So, while it’s important to look at the average GRE scores of any program, make sure you’re choosing programs that align with your research interests—even if the GRE score feels like a stretch!
Setting Your Goal GRE Score Based on Your Intended Field of Study
Now that you’ve decided to pursue a graduate degree, your choice of programs is fairly narrow. It’s crucial to tailor your application to your intended field of study. You’re competing against the best in your field, so every aspect of your application matters. This includes work experience, research and publications, volunteer work, recommendation letters, and personal essays. Make sure each part of your application reflects your strengths and aligns with your chosen field to stand out in a competitive pool.
Each graduate field has a typical range of GRE scores among its accepted students. For instance, math-heavy disciplines prefer higher Quant scores and are more lenient with lower Verbal scores. In contrast, Arts & Humanities programs often value higher Verbal scores and are less concerned with Quant. Education-related programs, on the other hand, may require the GRE as a formality and often just expect a minimum score on each section. Understanding these tendencies helps you tailor your application to fit your field’s expectations.
Each field and program is different, so it’s important to do your research before you start to prep for the GRE. Who knows — maybe you don’t need as high a score as you thought.
Determine Your Program or Department’s Requirements
A great way to determine your program’s requirements is by asking the admissions office directly. They may not always be forthcoming, but you might find some that are very helpful. Most graduate programs have dedicated admissions staff. Some programs list averages or minimums on their admissions websites, while others might connect you with a recently admitted student who can answer your questions. It’s worth asking to see what information is available.
Average GRE Scores by Field
The tables below show average score data from the ETS’s most recent test taker data.
I always recommend trying to score above average in your intended graduate field. Depending on the competitiveness of your specific program, you should try to be in the 80th percentile or above. If you’re looking at a top university, take a look at our GRE scores for top universities post.
GRE Scores by Field of Study
Use the links below to jump to the section that best fits your intended graduate field of study. If your field of study isn’t listed, then look at the field that most closely resembles your own. An easy way to think of this is to imagine that you’re filling out the personal information section of the GRE an are presented with the options below. Pick the option that is the best fit.
Without further ado, here are the estimated GRE scores by intended graduate field of study, grouped by program discipline:
Social Sciences
| Intended Graduate Program | Verbal Reasoning Mean | Quantitative Reasoning Mean | Analytical Writing Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCIAL SCIENCES (Overall) | 153 | 153 | 3.8 |
| Anthropology & Archaeology | 155 | 149 | 4.0 |
| Economics | 154 | 161 | 3.8 |
| Political Science | 157 | 153 | 4.3 |
| Psychology | 152 | 149 | 3.9 |
| Sociology | 153 | 150 | 4.0 |
Arts & Humanities
| Intended Graduate Program | Verbal Reasoning Mean | Quantitative Reasoning Mean | Analytical Writing Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTS & HUMANITIES (Overall) | 157 | 153 | 4.1 |
| Arts – History, Theory, & Criticism | 157 | 151 | 4.2 |
| Arts – Performance & Studio | 153 | 152 | 3.7 |
| English Language & Literature | 157 | 149 | 4.2 |
| Foreign Languages & Literatures | 156 | 152 | 4.1 |
| History | 156 | 149 | 4.2 |
| Philosophy | 160 | 154 | 4.3 |
| Other | 156 | 152 | 4.0 |
Education
| Intended Graduate Program | Verbal Reasoning Mean | Quantitative Reasoning Mean | Analytical Writing Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDUCATION (Overall) | 150 | 148 | 3.7 |
| Administration | 150 | 149 | 3.6 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 151 | 148 | 3.9 |
| Early Childhood | 146 | 146 | 3.3 |
| Elementary | 149 | 147 | 3.6 |
| Evaluation & Research | 151 | 148 | 3.8 |
| Higher | 152 | 149 | 4.0 |
| Secondary | 154 | 151 | 4.0 |
| Special | 148 | 145 | 3.4 |
| Student Counseling & Personnel Services | 149 | 146 | 3.7 |
| Other | 152 | 151 | 3.8 |
Business
| Intended Graduate Program | Verbal Reasoning Mean | Quantitative Reasoning Mean | Analytical Writing Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 149 | 157 | 3.3 |
| Banking & Finance | 151 | 162 | 3.4 |
| Business Administration & Management | 153 | 154 | 3.9 |
| Other | 151 | 157 | 3.6 |
Other Fields
| Intended Graduate Program | Verbal Reasoning Mean | Quantitative Reasoning Mean | Analytical Writing Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture & Environmental Design | 150 | 155 | 3.5 |
| Communications & Journalism | 151 | 150 | 3.7 |
| Family & Consumer Sciences | 149 | 148 | 3.7 |
| Library & Archival Sciences | 157 | 149 | 4.0 |
| Public Administration | 153 | 150 | 3.8 |
| Religion & Theology | 158 | 151 | 4.2 |
| Social Work | 148 | 144 | 3.6 |
Scores by Program Breakdown
For a more detailed look at some of the above disciplines, check out the following Magoosh GRE posts:
- GRE Scores for Business Schools
- GRE Scores for Education Programs
- GRE Scores for Engineering Programs
- GRE Scores for Healthcare Programs
- GRE Scores for Information Technology (IT) Programs
- GRE Scores for Masters in Human Resources Programs
- GRE Scores for Psychology Programs
- GRE Scores for Public Affairs Programs
- GRE Scores for Science Programs
- GRE Scores for Social Science Programs
- GRE Scores for Top Universities
Takeaways
Just like good research is essential for excelling in graduate school, it’s also crucial for getting into your dream program. At the start of your journey, keep your ultimate goal in mind—a rewarding career in your chosen field. Choosing the right graduate school is key to reaching that goal. Don’t let the GRE stand in your way. After identifying the scores your target schools seek, take a free practice test to see where you stand. Consider using a proven study plan and a Magoosh Premium plan to ace the GRE.
