Every application season, there are students who have painstakingly crossed the GPA mountain and the language exam hurdle, but just can't seem to escape the mental maze of the GRE...
Although the global pandemic has stabilized, many top universities have reinstated GRE score submission requirements for the already-underway Fall 2023 application cycle. However, some programs still do not require applicants to submit GRE scores.
As we enter November, students who are still struggling to achieve desired scores can consider these programs to avoid delaying their graduate school applications.
To this end, CheersYou（清柚教育） has also compiled a list of master's programs at US Top 30 universities that do not require GRE scores for your reference.
*The final GRE submission requirements are subject to the official website's latest information.
Optional vs Not Required
These programs generally fall into two categories: those where GRE is Not required, and those where it is Optional.
Optional - As the name implies, not mandatory, but can be submitted. Once submitted, it will be taken into consideration.
An excellent GRE score will enhance competitiveness to some extent, helping you stand out among applicants with similar qualifications.
Not required - This requirement means that the admissions committee will not review GRE scores; even if submitted, they will not be considered.
Princeton University
Optional
· Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Not required
· Computer Science
Harvard University
Optional
· Education
Not required
· Data Science
· Computational Science & Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Not required
· School of Engineering
· Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department
· Biomedical Engineering
Stanford University
Not required
· Education Data Science
· Computer Science
· Electrical Engineering
· Civil and Environmental Engineering
· Biomedical Engineering
Columbia University
Optional
· Graduate Engineering
· School of Professional Studies
· Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Not required
· Instructional Technology and Media
· Learning Analytics
· Design and Development for Digital Games
· Communication and Education
· Climate and Society
University of Chicago
Optional
· Analytics
· Social Sciences (MAPSS)-Psychology
Not required
· Financial Mathematics
· Computational Social Science
· Molecular Engineering
· Biomedical Informatics
University of Pennsylvania
Optional
· Counseling and Mental Health Services
· Data Science
· Social Policy+Data Analytics
· Public Administration
· Computer and Information Science
· Electrical Engineering
· Environmental Studies
· Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
· Chemical Sciences
· Applied Mathematics and Computational Science
· Systems Engineering
Not required
· Social Work
· Non-profit Leadership
· TESOL
· Intercultural Communication
· Education Policy
· Education, Culture, and Society
· Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development
· Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
· International Educational Development
Northwestern University
Not required
· Computer Science
· Communication
· School of Professional Studies
Johns Hopkins University
Not required
· Whiting School of Engineering (PhD)
· Education Policy
Duke University
Optional
All programs except Analytical Political Economy,
Computer Science,
Critical Asian Humanities,
East Asian Studies,
Economics,
Economics and Computation,
Political Science,
Statistical Science
Cornell University
Optional
· SC Johnson College of Business
Not required
· Electrical and Computer Engineering
· Public Administration
· Global Development
· Information Science
Brown University
Not required
· Computer Science
New York University
Not required
· School of Professional Studies
· East Asian Studies
· Social and Cultural Analysis
· Journalism
· Social Work
· Tesol
· Education and Social Policy
· Integrated Design and Media
· Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
Carnegie Mellon University
Optional
· College of Humanities and Social Sciences
· Integrated Innovation Institute
Not required
· Mechanical Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis
Optional
· School of Engineering (except Computer Science and Engineering)
Not required
· Education
· Teaching
· Social Work
· Public Health
Georgetown University
Optional
· Computer Science
· Business Analytics
Not required
· Data Science and Analytics
· School of Continuing Studies
University of California, Berkeley
Optional
· Public Affairs
Not required
· Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences
· Asian Studies
· Statistics
· Developmental Engineering
· School of Information
University of California, Los Angeles
Not required
· Computer Science
University of Southern California
Optional
· TESOL
· Teaching
· Social Work
Not required
· School of Communication and Journalism
It is important to note that even for programs where GRE is listed as "Optional," some schools still "strongly recommend submitting scores to enhance competitiveness" or explicitly state that "if not submitted, other materials will be used to assess abilities."
When applying to such programs, we still recommend students submit GRE scores to avoid affecting the admissions committee's overall evaluation of your application.
The Fall 2023 application season is in full swing. We hope all students will have a smooth application process and receive an overwhelming number of offers!
