GMAT scores at top US B-schools: 5 year trend

The average GMAT score for the outgoing class provides candidates a good idea of the score to target to gain admission to their dream school. A still better better guide would be the average GMAT scores for the past five years at the B-school, since events such as fewer jobs, higher cost of finance or even a rising economy, where jobs are aplenty, can affect the quality of candidates applying to B-school. With this in mind, we bring you the average GMAT scores for the past five years at top US B-schools.     

Before we go ahead, a quick word of advice. A rise or fall in average GMAT scores is not necessarily a good or a bad thing. You have to remember, that GMAT is only one criterion in admissions to B-schools. So a fall or rise in this aspect can not be seen in isolation.

Not always is a rise in average GMAT scores an indicator of rising student quality: some schools can selectively admit high scorers with otherwise lackluster profiles in order to boost the average GMAT number and thereby appear as a ‘tough’ and prestigious B-school to get into.

Infact, rising GMAT at a B-school could well indicate falling student quality: it could well be the case that the admission process at the B-schools is admitting high scorers lacking other skills that make a good manager.

Similarly, a fall in GMAT scores doesn’t necessarily reflect falling student quality: a school with historically high GMAT scores could well be attempting to have a more diverse class or MBAs with a well-rounded set of skills.

Therefore, see this list as more of a guidance on the score you need target rather than as commentary on the quality of the B-school.

Key trends

• 19 of the top 25 US schools have reported higher GMAT scores over the past five years. Just five programs report a decline in average scores
• Schools with major increase in average GMAT include: Harvard Business School where average GMAT is up eight points to 727, Stanford – up six points to 732 (highest for any US business school) and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business – up nine points to 723 for the class starting in 2013

Average GMAT scores at top US Business schools

In bold – schools offering a one year MBA

Source: data from B-schools

Cover image credit: thepartneringgroup.com