Introduction

Several universities across the world have changed their admission requirements because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them are offering complete waivers for GRE, GMAT, and SAT exams. And others are allowing students to take these tests at a later stage. This is not only because tests like the GRE at-home exam aren’t feasible for everyone but also because these online exams are not available in all countries. Consequently, the list of grad schools waiving GRE has gone on increasing. This offers a great advantage to all the students who want to study abroad in 2023/2024!

Grad schools waiving GRE 

Without further ado, here’s the list of grad schools waiving GRE regardless of where the students are coming from-

1. Bowling Green State University
2. Pratt Institute
3. California State University, Long Beach
4. Middle Tennessee State University
5. Clayton State University
6. Drew University
7. Florida State University
8. University of Southern Mississippi
9. Illinois Institute of Technology (not for Ph.D. students)
10. South Dakota State University
11. Mississippi State University
12. University of Houston
13. Stevens University
14. Rutgers, New Jersey
15. University of Texas, San Antonio
16. University of Wisconsin
17. Texas Tech University
18. Northeastern University
19. University of Alabama
20. San Jose State University
21. University of Southern Mississippi
22. Rochester Institute of Technology
23. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
24. University of North Carolina, and
25. William Carey University
26. University of Huddersfield
27. Rice University
28. Stanford University
29. DePaul University

Note: We will update this list as and when more and more colleges decide to waive off GRE.

Universities offering course-specific GRE waivers

There are a few colleges in these specific universities that have chosen to waive off GRE. Here are a few of them-

1. Texas A&M University
2. Auburn University
3. University of New Hampshire
4. University of Illinois
5. George Mason University School of Business
6. UC Davis Graduate School of Management
7. University of Memphis School of Public Health
8. Loyola University School of Business
9. University of Louisville College of Business and School of Accountancy
10. Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College
11. University of North Texas Public School of Health 
12. Kent State University
13. University of Minnesota Robotics Institute
14. Jackson State University Masters of Arts in Teaching
15. University of Arizona Master of Public Health
16. Duquesne University 
17. University of Houston
18. University of Michigan (for Ph.D. students)
19. Brandeis University Master of Public Health
20. University of North Alabama MBA, and
21. Harrisburg University of Science & Technology
22. University of Massachusetts
23. Yale University

If you need information about which specific programs are offering GRE waivers, make sure you contact us for details.

Universities giving conditional GRE waivers

Even though a lot of colleges have chosen to evaluate candidates on other fronts, others are still asking students to take the test. However, if you are unable to do so and full-fill certain criteria provided by these GRE waiver universities, they might waive off your scores-

1. Kansas State University
2. University of Nebraska
3. UC Davis
4. University of Dayton
5. Wichita State University
6. University of Massachusetts, Amherst
7. The University of Rochester
8. University of New Haven
9. The University of Oklahoma, and
10. University of Idaho
11. New York Institute of Technology
12. Florida State University
13. University of Pittsburgh

Bonus list – Universities without GRE score requirements

A lot of colleges have relaxed their admissions requirements only because of the pandemic. But several other schools do not expect applicants to submit GRE scores in general. You can get a more detailed list of these schools here. But to start with, some of the universities without GRE requirements are-

1. Columbia University (Journalism, Neuroscience and Education, etc.)
2. Northeastern University (Bioinformatics, Nanomedicine, etc.)
3. University of California, Berkeley (Architecture, Environmental Design, etc.)
4. San José State University (Data Analytics, Civil Engineering, etc.), and
5. Rochester Institute of Technology (Product Development, Applied Statistics, etc.)
6. University of Colorado (MS, Master’s of Engineering, etc.)
7. Some of these colleges make it optional for you to submit your GRE scores. However, the rest of them might ask for more documents, like Letters of Recommendation or your Portfolio.

8.     We’ll keep adding more universities to this blog

• As I’ve already mentioned, the list of grad schools waiving GRE has been increasing day-by-day. So if there’s a university or a course that you are interested in and you can’t find it on this list, don’t fret!
• Go to the university website and check their Graduate page. Or look at the program page itself. If the application requirements on these pages do not mention GRE that submitting GRE scores is optional, you might not need to take the test after all! Unless you end up shortlisting a college that does require you to share your GRE scores.

11. Factors influencing students’ applications for universities offering GRE waivers

1. Academic History: The first thing that the admission committee will look at is students’ GPA (Grade Point Average). Most top universities require applicants to have at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate studies.
2. Experience/Internship: Some professional programs like MBA emphasize work experience. Whether it’s just an internship or a full-time job, some experience will make a huge difference in a student’s CV. 
3. Resume/CV: Graduate schools will ask students for their updated resume/CV, along with students’ professional experience and details such as awards, recognitions, projects, etc. 
4. Statement of Purpose (SOP): If an applicant needs to stand out among the competition, S/he needs to draft a near-perfect SOP. The SOP will highlight students’ academic potential and writing and grammar skills. 
5. Letter of Recommendation (LOR): Graduate schools will require applicants to submit 2 to 3 LORs from faculty or previous employers. Your teachers can write about your qualities that a GPA score cannot reflect. A good LOR can strengthen your point and improve your overall application.

17. So should I take the GRE or not?

1. My only suggestion to you is this – shortlist your colleges wisely.
2. Don’t just pick universities because they are not giving GRE waivers. Choose them because you like the course and find the curriculum fascinating. And if that means you have to take the GRE test, do it!
3. In case you are facing any technical difficulties at home or if ETS does not offer the GRE at-home version in your country or your region, email the university. If they say you will definitely have to submit the scores, return to this blog. Shortlist universities that you like, and apply!
4. You might end up at a place better than you had dreamed of.

22. How to prepare for GRE?

• Since not all courses and universities are waiving GRE, you might have a few on your shortlist that are still asking students to submit GRE scores.
• In that case, it’s best to start preparing for the test as soon as you can. To begin with, check out this blog on ‘All about GRE.’ You can also head over to the article I have written on ‘GRE at-home.’ Here, you will find out about GRE test dates, exam patterns, registration, and scoring. The first blog also has a sample paper for you to practice.
• Moreover, the second blog will help you set up your room and your PC (among other things) to help you take the test at home.
• So, what are you waiting for? Head over and start preparing!
• And in case you get stuck or have any questions (or if you’re still not sure about giving the GRE exam), feel free to reach out or drop a comment below.
• We would be very happy to help!