What Are Good Scores for GRE? 2025 Benchmarks by Program

A good GRE score is generally 160+ on Quantitative or Verbal and 4.0+ on Analytical Writing, but “good” really depends on your target program—competitive applicants to top-25 schools often need 90th-percentile scores (roughly 165+ Quant, 162+ Verbal), while many solid master’s programs admit students scoring near the 50th–75th percentile.

Rather than chasing a single “good” number, reverse-engineer your target from program rankings, funding goals, and the rest of your application. This guide gives you concrete benchmarks so you can set a realistic target and decide whether a retake is worth it.

Average vs. Good GRE Scores

The average GRE score sits near the midpoint of each section’s scale: approximately 150 Verbal and 150 Quant, with an Analytical Writing (AW) mean around 3.5. Those are national medians—half of test-takers score below them. An average score is not competitive at selective programs; it is simply the middle of the distribution.

What separates an average score from a competitive one is percentile rank, not raw points. Moving from 150 to 160 Quant lifts you from roughly the 40th–45th percentile to about the 70th. Small point jumps create big percentile shifts near the middle of the curve, which is exactly the range most applicants occupy.

Two structural facts matter here. First, a 3.5 AW is a solid, unremarkable score—many programs barely weigh it, while humanities and social science departments read it more carefully. Second, schools increasingly treat the GRE as optional, so a strong score is a bonus that can offset a weaker GPA, not a mandatory gatekeeper. Percentile ranks are updated periodically and shift slightly year to year, so check the current table for your test date rather than relying on old norms.

A useful mental model: 50th percentile = average, 75th = solid, 90th+ = strong for elite programs. Aim for the 75th percentile or higher at your target programs unless their published data says otherwise.

Why Percentiles Beat Raw Scores

A 158 Quant sounds impressive in isolation, but it lands around the 60th percentile—below the typical admit at a top-10 engineering program. Percentiles compare your score to the actual pool of applicants, which is the comparison admissions committees make.

Good Scores by Program Type

Different degree types weight the GRE differently. Here are practical target ranges by program type.

• Competitive master’s programs: Aim for 155–160 Verbal and 155–165 Quant, depending on the field.
• PhD programs: Research doctorates usually want stronger evidence of reasoning, often 160+ in the section most relevant to the discipline, plus a 4.0+ AW.
• MBA programs: Most top MBA programs accept the GRE and care more about Quant (aim 160–165) with balanced Verbal around 158–162. Work experience carries heavy weight.
• Engineering and quantitative fields: Quant scores dominate; 165+ Quant is standard for top programs, and Verbal matters less (155 is often fine).
• Humanities and social sciences: Verbal and AW carry more weight; target 160+ Verbal and 4.5+ AW, with Quant mostly needing to clear a modest threshold (150–155).

A worked example: if you’re applying to a mid-tier computer science master’s, a 162 Quant, 155 Verbal, and 3.5 AW is a competitive profile. The same scores for a top-5 PhD in economics would be a stretch—those programs frequently see 168+ Quant applicants.

Field-Specific Nuance

Within engineering, electrical and computer engineering skew the most quantitative; civil and environmental programs are often slightly more forgiving. In the social sciences, economics behaves almost like a STEM field on Quant, while sociology and political science weight Verbal and AW more heavily. Check each department’s stated expectations—many publish median admitted scores.

Good Scores by Top Schools

Selectivity is the single biggest factor in what counts as a good score. A 160 Quant is excellent for one program and borderline for another. The table below shows approximate ranges that competitive applicants typically present at different tiers.

These ranges are directional, not official cutoffs—and they vary by department. A top-10 history PhD may care far more about your Verbal score than your Quant. Competitive applicants at elite schools essentially score in the 90th percentile or above on the section their field values most.

Also weigh funding: at many PhD programs, a strong GRE can strengthen a fellowship or teaching-assistantship nomination, so a few extra points can pay off financially beyond admission.

How Selectivity Shifts the Target

At a highly selective school, the applicant pool itself is stronger, which raises the effective bar. A score at the 85th percentile nationally might sit at the 60th percentile within a specific elite program’s applicant pool. Benchmark against the program, not the national average.

Score Percentiles by Section

Judging each section independently helps you spot strengths and weaknesses. The approximate percentile landmarks below reflect typical recent GRE distributions.

Quantitative Reasoning (130–170):

• 170 ≈ 96th–97th percentile
• 165 ≈ 85th–87th percentile
• 160 ≈ 70th–75th percentile
• 155 ≈ 55th–60th percentile
• 150 ≈ 40th–45th percentile

Verbal Reasoning (130–170):

• 170 ≈ 99th percentile
• 165 ≈ 96th percentile
• 160 ≈ 85th–87th percentile
• 155 ≈ 70th percentile
• 150 ≈ 50th percentile

Analytical Writing (0–6, half-point increments):

• 5.5–6.0 ≈ top few percent
• 4.5 ≈ roughly 80th percentile
• 4.0 ≈ around 55th–60th percentile
• 3.5 ≈ roughly 40th percentile
• 3.0 ≈ around 15th–20th percentile

Notice that Verbal percentiles are steeper than Quant at the top—a 165 Verbal is rarer than a 165 Quant, because the Verbal pool scores lower on average. This is why engineering applicants can often afford a lower Verbal, while humanities applicants cannot. Percentile data is published by ETS and updated periodically, so confirm the exact figures for your test administration.

Use these landmarks to diagnose: if your Quant is at the 85th percentile and your Verbal at the 55th, and your target field cares about quant, your profile is already strong. Focus a retake (if any) on the weaker section only if the programs you want actually weight it.

For borderline decisions—especially around accommodations, retake strategy, or how a score interacts with a documented learning difference—consult your school’s admissions office or an educational testing professional rather than relying on general benchmarks alone.

Key Takeaways

• A “good” GRE score is program-dependent: aim for the 75th percentile minimum and 90th+ for elite programs.
• National averages are roughly 150 Verbal, 150 Quant, and 3.5 AW—competitive is meaningfully higher.
• Target 160+ in your field’s key section; engineering and MBA programs weight Quant, humanities weight Verbal and AW.
• Top-10 programs typically see 165+ Quant and 162+ Verbal from competitive applicants; top-50 programs are more forgiving.
• Verbal scores are rarer at high percentiles than Quant, so a 165 Verbal outranks a 165 Quant in percentile terms.
• Since the GRE is often optional, treat a strong score as a tool to offset weaker parts of your application—not a requirement.