Columbia University's GRE policy varies significantly by school — engineering departments have largely kept the test optional, while some GSAS PhD programmes still require it. Columbia Business School accepts GRE as an alternative to GMAT.
Does Columbia Require the GRE?
| School / Programme | GRE Status |
|---|---|
| School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS, most MS) | Optional |
| GSAS (Arts and Sciences PhD) | Varies — many departments require, some optional |
| Columbia Business School (MBA) | GMAT or GRE accepted |
| School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) | Not required |
| Mailman School of Public Health | Not required (some programmes) |
Competitive GRE Scores at Columbia
| Programme | Competitive Quant | Competitive Verbal |
|---|---|---|
| SEAS Computer Science / Data Science | 165 – 170 | 158 – 165 |
| SEAS Electrical / Mechanical Engineering | 162 – 168 | 155 – 162 |
| GSAS Economics PhD | 165 – 170 | 160 – 168 |
| GSAS Humanities PhD | 155 – 162 | 163 – 170 |
| Columbia Business School (MBA, GRE track) | 163 – 168 | 160 – 165 |
Even where GRE is officially optional, applicants to Columbia's most competitive programmes — particularly SEAS Computer Science — typically submit strong scores, since a large majority of the applicant pool does.
Should You Submit If GRE Is Optional at Columbia?
Submit a strong score if you have one; skip submission only if your score would sit meaningfully below the competitive range above. Test-optional does not mean test-blind — admissions committees still review submitted scores, and a strong score can offset a less competitive GPA or unfamiliar undergraduate institution.
GRE Is Separate From English Proficiency
A GRE score does not satisfy Columbia's English language requirement. International applicants still need TOEFL or IELTS:
| Requirement | Columbia Policy |
|---|---|
| GRE | Varies by school — see table above |
| TOEFL | Required — see our Columbia TOEFL Requirements guide |
| IELTS | Required — see our Columbia IELTS Requirements guide |
GRE Score Validity
GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date — longer than the 2-year validity window for TOEFL/IELTS, so an older GRE score may still be usable even if your English test needs to be retaken.
Prepare for TOEFL with Gabble — while preparing for GRE, run your TOEFL preparation in parallel; Columbia's competitive TOEFL benchmark is 100+. Or prepare for IELTS.