Stanford's GRE policy is mostly optional across Engineering and Computer Science, while Stanford GSB accepts GMAT or GRE for its MBA. Stanford does not require GRE for the large majority of its graduate programmes as of 2026.
Does Stanford Require the GRE?
| School / Programme | GRE Status |
|---|---|
| School of Engineering (most MS/PhD) | Optional |
| Computer Science (MS/PhD) | Optional |
| Graduate School of Business (MBA) | GMAT or GRE accepted |
| Graduate School of Education | Optional, department-dependent |
| School of Medicine | MCAT, not GRE |
Competitive GRE Scores at Stanford
| Programme | Competitive Quant | Competitive Verbal |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science (MS/PhD) | 167 – 170 | 160 – 168 |
| Electrical Engineering | 165 – 170 | 158 – 165 |
| Economics PhD | 167 – 170 | 162 – 168 |
| Stanford GSB (GRE track) | 163 – 168 | 162 – 168 |
Stanford's Computer Science programme is one of the two or three most competitive graduate admits in the world — even under an optional policy, the applicant pool that submits scores clusters near the top of the GRE scale.
Should You Submit If GRE Is Optional at Stanford?
Submit a strong score if you have one, particularly for Computer Science and Electrical Engineering where a large majority of the competitive applicant pool does submit. If your score would sit below the competitive range, Stanford's optional policy makes omission reasonable provided the rest of your application (research fit, recommendations) is strong.
GRE Is Separate From English Proficiency
A GRE score does not satisfy Stanford's English language requirement. International applicants still need TOEFL or IELTS:
| Requirement | Stanford Policy |
|---|---|
| GRE | Mostly optional — see table above |
| TOEFL | Required — see our Stanford TOEFL Requirements guide |
| IELTS | Required — see our Stanford 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; Stanford's competitive TOEFL benchmark is 109+. Or prepare for IELTS.