The GRE costs $220 in the United States and most other countries (except China), whether you register to take the exam at home or at a test center. In India, the GRE exam fee is ₹22,000. And no matter your location, be aware that other services—rescheduling, cancellation, additional score reports—incur additional costs.
Furthermore, keep in mind that every time you take the GRE, you have to pay the test registration fee. In other words, the total cost you spend on the GRE can quickly add up!
Use the calculator below to estimate how much the GRE will cost you in US dollars (USD) or Indian Rupees (INR).
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Total cost: $0
Read on to learn about those GRE exam fees in detail.
GRE Exam Fee Chart
Here’s a look at the most common GRE exam fees in the US and most parts of the world—except for China and India:
| Item / Service | Fee (US Dollars) |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee | $220 |
| Additional Score Reports | $40 (per recipient) |
| Rescheduling Exam Date | $55 |
| Changing Test Center | $55 |
| Reactivating a Cancelled Score | $50 |
What are Additional Score Reports (ASR)? On test day, after your exam, you can send your scores to 4 universities for free. However, any additional reports (or sending them at a later time) will cost you $40 each.
There are also some fees and situations not listed in the chart above:
- Canceling your registration: If you cancel at least 4 days prior to your exam, you’ll be refunded only half the registration fee ($110). Otherwise, you will receive no refund at all. Thus, rescheduling your test date is the better way to go, when possible.
- Essay score review: This is a request you make to ETS to take another look at your Analytical Writing task. Given the expense and the red tape—which can take up to 4 weeks and you can’t report your scores during this time—we don’t recommend this.
Different Costs in India and China
GRE Exam Fee in India
If you’re taking the exam in India, this table lists the costs of the GRE in Indian Rupees:
| Item / Service | Fee (Indian Rupees) |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee | ₹ 22,550 |
| Additional Score Reports | ₹ 2,900 |
| Rescheduling Exam Date | ₹ 5,000 |
| Changing Test Center | ₹ 5,000 |
| Reactivating a Cancelled Score | ₹ 5,000 |
If you cancel your registration at least 4 days prior to your exam, you’ll be refunded half the registration fee (₹ 11,275). Otherwise, you will receive no refund at all.
GRE Cost in China
Several of the GRE fees are higher if you are taking the test in China:
| Item / Service | Fee (US Dollars) |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee | $231.30 |
| Additional Score Reports | $40 (per recipient) |
| Rescheduling Exam Date | $53.90 |
| Changing Test Center | $55 |
| Reactivating a Cancelled Score | $55 |
Note also that the refund policy is more strict in China. You need to cancel your registration at least 10 days in advance in order to be refunded half the registration fee ($115.65). Beyond that window, you’ll receive no refund.
Examples of Different GRE Costs
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of different potential situations when taking the GRE. If you take just the GRE exam—and take it only once—that’s $220. But if life happens and you need to reschedule, plus you order an additional score report, your total cost is already almost 50% higher. Likewise, let’s say you need to cancel your original test date and order two more score reports—now your total is almost double.
| GRE Item / Service | Just the GRE | Rescheduled GRE & 1 ASR | Cancelled GRE & 2 ASRs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | $220 | $220 | $220 |
| Rescheduling Fee | – | $55 | – |
| Refund for Cancellation | – | – | –$110 |
| 2nd Registration Fee | – | – | $220 |
| Additional Score Reports | $0 | $40 | $80 |
| TOTAL | $220 | $315 | $410 |
Note that none of the above scenarios involve retaking the GRE. If you do, that’s another $220 right there!
💡 A great way to avoid a retake and thus save some money is to give yourself ample time to study and follow a GRE study schedule.
Prepping for the GRE – Cost of Studying
So far, we’ve only taken a look at the costs related to taking the test itself. However, most likely you’re going to need to prepare for the exam as well, so it’s important to factor that in.
GRE cost for the lean self-studier: < $20
You can buy one book and learn quite a bit for less than $20–a good plan if you are a book learner without much money to spend. If you go this route, don’t pick up just any GRE book. Take a look at our GRE book reviews to see which one is worth your study time.
GRE cost for the ambitious self-studier: $140 – $200
There is a wide range of self-study options out there for you to explore, all varying in price and quality. We feel that a Magoosh GRE Premium Plan is a great option, both in terms of affordability and comprehensiveness.
GRE fees for a classroom plan: Free – $2,300
You can lower the cost of GRE prep considerably with the free classes offered by some colleges, so be sure to check what’s available at your current school. However, from what I’ve heard, the classes have a bare-bones approach at best. Alternatively, there are Manhattan, Kaplan, and Princeton Review classes, which will add to your GRE costs.
GRE fees for a private tutor: $500 – $5,000
If you think the classroom format sounds like a mixed bag, that can be the case with tutors as well. On the one hand, you might find Bob on Reddit for $20/hr. He’s never taken the GRE but once took the SAT, did well, and is really good at math.
On the other hand, there’s a tutor with 15 years’ experience, who lives and breathes the GRE, has hundreds of glowing testimonials, and writes his/her own test questions. Of course, this tutor may cost you as much as $150/hr. (And private tuition offered through other test prep companies can be even more expensive.)
The first kind of tutor is likely not worth your time, but the second very well could be. It depends how much you’re willing to spend, what your needs and goals are, and how you learn best. We ultimately recommend the self-study route first. But if you’re not seeing the improvement you desire, then look into a class or a tutor. At that point, though, do expect to pay a lot more.
The time cost of studying for the GRE
Lastly, don’t forget about the time cost of studying for the GRE! See How Long Should I Study for the GRE? for an idea of how much time you should spend prepping.
How to Save Money on GRE Exam Fees
As discussed, the total costs of the GRE exam can quickly add up, well beyond just the exam registration fee. There are a few important things to keep in mind to help keep your expenses down.
Know your schedule to avoid needing to reschedule
Sometimes needing to reschedule is just unavoidable, and there’s nothing you can to do. However, taking the GRE at home does offer you a lot more flexibility. So, if your schedule is highly variable, you may be able to wait much closer to your desired test date before registering. Doing so greatly reduces the chances of unexpected interruptions.
However, if you want to take the GRE at a test center, you’ll likely need to schedule more ahead of time (thinks months instead of days). Check out this guide on when to take the GRE.
Decide on your schools and applications early
ETS lets you send your GRE scores to 4 schools for free. But for each additional school beyond that, it’ll cost you $40 each. Thus, if you haven’t already narrowed down the schools on your wishlist, that’s worth spending some time on. That doesn’t mean that you need to narrow it down to exactly 4, but applying to a small handful of schools will cost you a lot less than applying to a ton of different schools.
Apply for GRE Fee Waivers
ETS does offer a fee reduction program for those that meet certain conditions related to financial need, unemployment, and/or underrepresented groups. Learn how to apply for GRE Fee Waivers to reduce some of the costs associated with the GRE.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, start a self-study plan today by signing up for an affordable Magoosh GRE Premium plan.
Good luck and happy studying!
