Top 10 MBA Programs in the US for Low GMAT Scores

The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business has a 665 GMAT average and the middle range (80 percent) is between as low as 620 and as high as 710. The school is in The Economist’s ranking of the world’s 100 best MBA courses, and regionally, is rated as 52nd best. 

The Mays Business School at Texas A&M University was last year rated by Forbes and Bloomberg Businessweek as the seventh best US public school. The average GMAT is as low as 654. The course is also less selective than the bigger-brand US schools, with the MBA admissions committee admitting approximately 25 percent of applicants each year. 

The Mendoza College of Business in Notre Dame, Indiana, is held in high regard. For instance, it was ranked in the top-80 globally by the FT this year. The average GMAT was just 674 and the middle 80 percent range was between 600-740. So even those with low GMAT scores are admitted to this highly-rated business school. 

USF’s Muma College of Business is also accredited by AACSB, and US News ranked the school’s MBA number 53 among public universities in the US. For the most recent classes, the GMAT average has been around 572 — far below other schools in US News’ prestigious ranking. 

The Katz Graduate School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, which is a stamp of quality that measures, in particular, quality of participants and the learning process. Yet the average GMAT score at the business school is just 613. So this is a great option for someone who wants a high-quality education but without the fuss of scoring highly on a standardized test. 

Another well-known US institution, the Fox School of Business at Temple University has a GMAT average of just 640. And applicants to some of its MBA programs are eligible for a GMAT waiver altogether, if they have a minimum of seven years of professional experience or another high-level degree such as a JD or PhD. 

The George Washington University School of Business is well-known in the US, close to leading financial institutions and government in the country’s capital. The admissions committee bases decisions on an applicant’s academic performance, in addition to GMAT/GRE scores, work experience, recommendation letters, essays and interviews. So the GMAT is only one piece of the admissions puzzle, which is reflected in George Washington’s score average: just 646. 

Rutgers is one of the US’s best business schools, ranked in the top-100 by the Financial Times, a decent feat. But the average GMAT score is, perhaps surprisingly, only 643. So with Rutgers you’ll get one of the top MBAs but with an easier entry than many of its peer schools. 

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is another good choice for those who want great MBA education but without a high GMAT requirement. The Kelley School is ranked number 27 in US News’s best business schools ranking. However, the average GMAT is 670. And the range is 530-770, so people are admitted with scores well below the average. 

Babson College is well known for its prowess in entrepreneurial education. The school is also unconventional in that, despite being highly ranked, it is much less selective than its elite peers. The average GMAT score is 632. Babson College was rated as the US’s 62nd best business school by Bloomberg Businessweek last year.