Duke's GRE policy is set at the school and department level, the Pratt School of Engineering has largely gone test-optional, several Graduate School (Arts & Sciences) PhD programmes still require it, and Fuqua accepts GMAT or GRE for its MBA.
Does Duke Require the GRE?
| School / Programme | GRE Status |
|---|---|
| Pratt School of Engineering (most MS) | Optional |
| Pratt School of Engineering (PhD) | Optional, department-dependent |
| Graduate School (Arts & Sciences PhD) | Varies, many departments still require |
| Fuqua School of Business (MBA) | GMAT or GRE accepted |
| Sanford School of Public Policy (MPP) | Optional |
Competitive GRE Scores at Duke
| Programme | Competitive Quant | Competitive Verbal |
|---|---|---|
| Pratt Computer Science / ECE | 163 - 168 | 152 - 160 |
| Economics PhD | 165 - 170 | 158 - 165 |
| Sanford (MPP, GRE track) | 158 - 163 | 158 - 165 |
| Fuqua MBA (GRE track) | 160 - 165 | 155 - 162 |
Should You Submit If GRE Is Optional at Duke?
Submit a strong score if you have one, particularly for Pratt's Computer Science and ECE programmes where a large share of the competitive applicant pool does submit. If your score would fall below the competitive range, Duke's optional policy makes omission reasonable.
GRE Is Separate From English Proficiency
A GRE score does not satisfy Duke's English language requirement. International applicants still need TOEFL or IELTS:
| Requirement | Duke Policy |
|---|---|
| GRE | Varies by school, see table above |
| TOEFL | Required, see our Duke TOEFL Requirements guide |
| IELTS | Required, see our Duke IELTS Requirements guide |
GRE Score Validity
GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date.
Prepare for TOEFL with Gabble: while preparing for GRE, run your TOEFL preparation in parallel; Duke's competitive TOEFL benchmark is 105+. Or prepare for IELTS.