GRE Waiver Universities in USA: With the onset of the pandemic – COVID-19 and the abrupt shutting down of exam centres, a lot of the universities decided to make GRE and GMAT test scores optional. This not only helped students to apply to more universities but also allowed universities to go through a record number of applications every year. In this article, we will discuss all the details about GRE waiver universities in USA.
Now with the pandemic gone in theory, many of the universities have resumed accepting GRE and GMAT scores as part of their application process, a few have made GRE and GMAT test scores optional and the rest have entirely done away with GRE and GMAT scores in their application process. Instead, putting more weightage on academic transcripts, past work experiences and the overall resume of the candidate.
However, this new change has created a lot of confusion among students who are looking to study abroad. They are confused about the latest application requirements of universities. In this article, we are going to look at the list of universities that have waived GRE/GMAT scores either partially or entirely. Candidates should note that GRE/GMAT waiver option is not a blanket decision by the university it is more course/department based. Meaning – in a particular university – many departments /courses may not require students to provide their GRE/GMAT test scores (optional) while it may be mandatory for many courses in the same university. So candidates are advised to check with their departments before going ahead with the university admission process. Or even better, get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university admissions.
- GRE Waiver Universities in USA
- GRE Waiver Universities in USA for Computer Science Courses
- Criteria for waiving off GRE Scores
- GRE Alternatives
GRE Waiver Universities in USA
Universities Waiving Off GRE for Fall 2023 Intake
- Concordia University Chicago: It offers PG courses in Management, Information Technology, Health Science and Education.
- Dayton University, Ohio: It offers various Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) courses.
- The University of Utah: It is one of the most reputed universities in the US. It offers courses in Health Science, Engineering, Creative Arts, and Education.
- University of Kansas: The University ranked 369 by QS top universities for 2023. It offers various courses in Science, IT, Engineering, Creative Arts and Media.
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln: The University is ranked among the top 500 by the Times Higher Education (THE) for the year 2020. It offers various popular courses in Business, Media, Science, Engineering, etc.
- James Madison University: Students can pursue various courses in fields like Business, Health Science, Social Studies & Media, Creative Arts and Education.
- Florida International University: It offers MS and PhD courses in Computer Science.
- University of Bridgeport, Connecticut: It offers a Master of Science in Computer Science.
- New Mexico State University: It offers a Master's in Computer Science.
- Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma: It does not require GRE scores for giving admission to its MS courses.
- George Mason University: GRE scores are optional for MS courses in Humanities and Social Sciences.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore: The University does not require GRE scores for Masters of Professional Studies.
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: The University does not require GRE scores for the Department of Computer Science.
- Saint Peters University: The university does not ask for GRE scores for Computer Science
- State University of New York at New Paltz: The University does not require GRE scores for Computer Science.
- Sacred Heart University: The University does not require GRE scores for its Technology Program.
- California Lutheran University: The university does not require GRE scores for its Technology Program.
- Pittsburg State University: The university does not require GRE scores for its Technology Program.
Apart from the above-mentioned, there are more universities that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores.
| Rivier University |
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| University of Florida for Arts Education |
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| Monmouth University (NJ) |
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| University of Northern Virginia, Manassas |
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| Montclair State University (NJ) |
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GRE Waiver Universities in USA for Computer Science Courses
In this table, we have provided the GRE requirement for Computer Science courses across popular US Universities. As mentioned, there are universities that have gone back to making the GRE/GMAT requirements a mandatory part of the university admission process. There are universities that have completed done away with GRE/GMAT test scores and there are universities that have chosen the middle path and made GRE/GMAT test scores optional.
| US Universities |
GRE requirements for Computer Science (CS) Courses |
|---|---|
| Arkansas State University |
GRE optional |
| Auburn University |
Computer Science and Software Engineering (MS) - Not required |
| California State University Long Beach |
College of Business has a GRE waiver |
| Central Michigan University |
Not required |
| Cleveland State University |
Not required other than for Chemical and Biomedical Engineering courses |
| CSU Bakersfield |
Not required |
| CSU San Marcos |
Not required |
| Depaul University |
Not Required |
| Eastern Michigan University |
Not required |
| Florida Institute of Technology |
GRE is waived off |
| George Mason University |
GRE waived off for MS in CS and related course |
| Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis |
Optional for spring 2023 |
| Marist College |
Not required |
| Mississippi State university |
GRE waived till fall 21 written on website , no current update on fall 23 given |
| Murray State University |
MS CS is not available , IS is available for which GRE is required |
| Northeastern Illinois University |
Not required |
| Old Dominion University |
Not required |
| Oregon State University |
Not required for M.Eng / Required for MS CS Min score is not mentioned |
| Saint Louis University |
Recommended not mandatory |
| Saint Peters University |
Not Required for DS, BA..CS course is not available |
| Southeast Missouri State University |
GRE not required |
| State University of New York at New Paltz |
Not required |
| Texas Tech |
For CS -GRE is waived for Fall 2023 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Not required |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Not required |
| University of Illnois, Springfield |
Not required |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis |
Not required |
| University of New Haven |
waived off recently |
| University of North Dakota |
Not required but if have report please |
| University of South Dakota |
Not required |
| University of Tulsa |
CS is not available , only MSBA is available - GRE is not required for that |
| Western Michigan |
Not Required |
| Western New England University |
not required |
Criteria for waiving off GRE Scores
- Some universities also waive off the GRE score if the candidate's GPA is above average and has an overall strong profile.
- Various universities waive off the GRE score if the candidate has gained relevant work experience in the similar field he is looking to study further.
- Apart from this, in very few cases, universities waive off the GRE score if the candidate has an excellent undergraduate research project. In these cases, universities assess the candidate's potential from his work.
GRE Alternatives
Universities waiving off GRE for admissions will have certain admission requirements. Details of the same are mentioned in the points below:
- Academic Background: The academic background of students will be considered. Their performance in their undergraduate course will play an essential role when it comes to their academic background.
- Resume: An updated resume is required for applying to an MS programme in the US.
- Statement of Purpose: A statement of purpose outlines your reasons for pursuing a particular program from a particular university. It goes beyond your resume and highlights your personality and commitment to a particular course.
- Letters of Recommendation: Reference letters are required from your professors or employers.
Also Read
| MBA in USA without GMAT: Top Business Schools, Eligibility, Admissions Process |
MBA without GMAT in USA: Top Universities, Admission Requirements |
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
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645 on the GMAT is 88th percentile. Usually, candidates get a score even less than a good GMAT score. With a 645 GMAT score they may qualify for most of the top business schools.