If you are looking to make it into some of the best universities in the US for MS, then a good GRE score is a must. Generally, the highest possible score for the GRE is 340, and the lowest score is 260. A good GRE score is a necessary requirement among many others to get into your dream university. So, if you are wondering what a good GRE score for MS in the US is, then we are here to give you all the information you need.
In this article, we’ll give you an overview of what counts as a good score for MS in the USA, cut off scores for various masters degrees and cut off scores for the top five universities in the US for the MS programs.
About GRE Scores
The GRE scores are accepted by thousands of graduate schools across the globe. Considering that these scores play a major role in your admissions, it is imperative that you know all the facts regarding the GRE scores.
The infographics below will give you an idea of the section-wise score range of the GRE.
The scores for Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures are reported based on the number of correct responses to the questions. Besides, these two sections of the GRE exam are section-level adaptive, which means the difficulty level of the questions in a sub-section will be determined based on your performance in the previous section.
Your final GRE score is given based on your performance in the Verbal and Quant sections. First, the ETS calculates raw scores for each section. Raw score is calculated based on the number of questions you’ve answered correctly. This raw score is then converted to a scaled score, and the process through which ETS does this conversion is called equating.
The scoring process of the Analytical Writing section is slightly different from the above-mentioned two sections. This section is scored on a range of 0-6. The two tasks in the section are graded by a human essay rater as well as an e-rater, a computerized program, that is capable of identifying the features of writing proficiency. The final score is the average of these two scores. However, in case there is a mismatch between the scores, ETS assigns another human rater to grade the essay and the average of the scores given by two human raters are taken as the final score.
What is a Good GRE Score ?
As mentioned above, a good GRE score is a necessary requirement to get into the university or program of your choice. Let us look at what is a good GRE score for MS.
Any score above 320 to 340 would prove to be an excellent score. A good score would be 300 or a little above 300. The average score would lie between 270 to 300. Any score below 260 would be considered a poor score. It is advisable to set a target score during your preparation process. But before you do so, it is essential that you make a note of the cutoffs for the university of your choice and the cutoffs for the programs you are interested in.
So let’s take a look at the universities that accept GRE scores for MS in the US.
Universities Accepting GRE Scores for MS in the US
There are a lot of factors that you need to consider while applying for MS in the US universities. These include the course curriculum, scholarship availability, college ranking, faculty, etc. But, the first thing that you must check is whether the universities you wish to apply to accept GRE scores or not. You have a lot of options to choose from, when it comes to the GRE accepting universities in the USA. However, before you move to the application process. Consider connecting with the universities of your choice to check their admission requirements to avoid any last minute hassle.
If you are wondering what the best universities in the US are, given below are the top 10 universities that accept the GRE scores for the MS.
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- Duke University
- Cornell University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Chicago
- UC Berkeley
- Princeton University
- University of California, LA
According to ETS, the cut off scores for various Master degrees are as follows:
| Masters Degree | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Physical Sciences | 151 | 158 |
| Art And Humanities | 157 | 150 |
| Social Sciences | 153 | 151 |
| Life Sciences | 151 | 151 |
| Business | 150 | 153 |
Why MS in the US?
The USA is one of the top education destinations across the globe. Wondering why? Here are some reasons.
- High Standards – The US is home to several top universities in the world. Besides providing the best graduate, post-graduate courses, these universities have notable faculty members, who are not only good at teaching, but also excel in the research field as well. Hence, the quality and the standard of the courses these universities offer is unmatchable.
- Good Research – Most universities in the US offer research opportunities along with classroom learning. The universities give you the option to either assist a faculty or start an independent research under their guidance. An opportunity like this will broaden your knowledge on the subject and enhance your research skills.
- Global Job Opportunities – Most of the top universities in the US have close connections with global companies, and you might get a chance to work for such companies as part of internships. International job experience and education are highly valued by employers all around the world.
- Advanced Technology – The labs and the classrooms of the US universities are well-equipped with the latest technological tools. Getting acquainted with the updated technology will give you a competitive edge during the interview skill tests.
GRE Scores Required for MS (Masters in Science) in the US Universities
In this section, we will tell you the GRE Score required for MS in the USA in various subjects, for the top five universities.
MS in Engineering:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 160 | 167 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 157 | 165 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 162 | 167 |
| Stanford | 159 | 167 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 154 | 165 |
MS in Education:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 163 | 158 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 159 | 152 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 155 | 156 |
| Stanford | 161 | 156 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 158 | 153 |
MS in Computer Science:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 155 | 161 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 160 | 164 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 160 | 164 |
| Stanford | 160 | 164 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 155 | 161 |
MS in Mathematics:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 165 | 167 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 165 | 167 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 165 | 167 |
| Stanford | 165 | 167 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 165 | 167 |
MS in Psychology:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 163 | 154 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 163 | 154 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 163 | 154 |
| Stanford | 163 | 154 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 163 | 154 |
MS in Chemistry:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 164 | 163 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 164 | 163 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 164 | 163 |
| Stanford | 164 | 163 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 159 | 160 |
MS in Physics:
| University | Average Verbal | Average Quantitative |
| Harvard | 167 | 167 |
| University Of California- Berkeley | 167 | 167 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | 167 | 167 |
| Stanford | 167 | 167 |
| University Of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 162 | 164 |
Now that you have a basic understanding of the minimum GRE score for MS in the USA, your preparation process will be a lot easier. You can set a target score according to your university and program of choice. This also helps in drafting a precise and detailed study plan around your set goals. Since we have listed the cutoff scores for various programs at various universities, the next step is to follow through with efficient preparation!
FAQs
- What is a good GRE score range?
What your GRE scores should be depends on which university and course you are applying for. However, a score between 150-170 is considered good.
- When do I get my GRE scores?
Your GRE scores will be available after 10-15 days after your test date.
- Is a GRE score mandatory to apply for an MS in the US?
Majority of colleges consider GRE scores as a major admission requirement. However, this may vary from university to university.