Yale's GRE policy is mostly optional across its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), and Yale School of Management accepts GMAT or GRE. Yale Law School uses the LSAT, not GRE.
Does Yale Require the GRE?
| School / Programme | GRE Status |
|---|---|
| GSAS (most PhD departments) | Optional |
| Jackson School of Global Affairs (MA) | Optional, recommended for competitive applicants |
| Yale School of Management (MBA) | GMAT or GRE accepted |
| Yale Law School | LSAT, not GRE |
| Yale School of Public Health | Not required (most programmes) |
Competitive GRE Scores at Yale
| Programme | Competitive Quant | Competitive Verbal |
|---|---|---|
| GSAS (most departments) | 163 – 168 | 163 – 170 |
| Economics PhD | 167 – 170 | 160 – 168 |
| Jackson School (MA) | 158 – 163 | 160 – 165 |
| Yale SOM (GRE track) | 160 – 165 | 158 – 165 |
Yale's GSAS programmes are among the most academically selective graduate cohorts in the country — even under an optional policy, submitted scores cluster near the top of the GRE scale.
Should You Submit If GRE Is Optional at Yale?
Submit a strong score if you have one — Yale's GSAS admissions committees value standardised data points when comparing applicants from very different educational systems. If your score would sit below the competitive range, omitting it under Yale's optional policy is reasonable provided the rest of your application is strong.
GRE Is Separate From English Proficiency
A GRE score does not satisfy Yale's English language requirement. International applicants still need TOEFL or IELTS:
| Requirement | Yale Policy |
|---|---|
| GRE | Mostly optional — see table above |
| TOEFL | Required — see our Yale TOEFL Requirements guide |
| IELTS | Required — see our Yale 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; Yale's competitive TOEFL benchmark is 100+. Or prepare for IELTS.