UVA Darden MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Darden's most recent entering class (Class of 2027) has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of 716, positioning the school as one of the more selective MBA programs in the nation. The middle 80% range spans from 680 to 750, which demonstrates that test scores alone are not destiny when it comes to admission outcomes at this institution. The 70-point spread in Darden's GMAT range reveals that admissions decisions depend on much more than your test score, and strong applicants across this entire spectrum gain acceptance to the program. For candidates taking the GMAT Focus Edition, the equivalent median score is approximately 665, with a comparable range of roughly 630 to 700 when converted using official concordance tables. This breadth in accepted scores underscores Darden's commitment to evaluating your full profile rather than relying solely on test metrics.

If you are aiming to be competitive at Darden, you should target a GMAT 10th Edition score somewhere between 705 and 740, though this range shifts based on other elements of your candidacy, your professional background, and your demographic profile. You could receive an admit with a 690 GMAT if your overall application is exceptionally compelling, or face rejection with a 745 if your essays, work experience, or career narrative fall short of the school's expectations. There is no official minimum GMAT score requirement, but scores below 680 make admission significantly more difficult and would require truly standout accomplishments elsewhere in your profile to overcome the gap. Darden has admitted students with scores in the 660 range, but these are exceptions who brought remarkable professional or personal achievements to the table. If your GMAT lands between 700 and 720, you are safely within Darden's typical applicant range. For scores below 700, you will need to demonstrate meaningful career impact, leadership contributions, or unique life experiences that show you are ready for Darden's rigorous curriculum regardless of your test performance.

When evaluating what makes a strong GMAT score at Darden, remember that the 716 average is simply a statistical snapshot of admitted students with diverse profiles and experiences, not a universal threshold that guarantees admission. A score in the 720 to 745 range puts you in a solid position, meaning your GMAT performance will not be a concern as the admissions team reviews your complete application. If you score above 750, your test result becomes a clear advantage, but this score does not substitute for weak essays, limited work experience, or unclear career goals. A score between 700 and 720 is still quite competitive for Darden and signals adequate quantitative ability, even though it sits slightly below the median. The realistic minimum score for a competitive candidacy is typically around 680 to 690, where you would need to compensate through exceptional professional achievements, compelling storytelling in your essays, strong recommendations from people who know your work, or other distinctive qualities that set you apart from the applicant pool. Scores falling below 680 create a steep uphill climb, and you would need truly extraordinary professional accomplishments or unique perspectives to overcome this deficit in such a competitive pool.

The Full-Time MBA program at Darden is not test optional, meaning you are required to submit either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, GRE, Executive Assessment, MCAT, or LSAT score as part of your application. Darden does offer test waivers for qualified candidates on a case-by-case basis, typically for those who demonstrate strong academic achievement and professional readiness through alternative evidence. However, this waiver is selective and not automatically granted, so most applicants are expected to submit a test score. The Full-Time MBA program treats all of these testing options equivalently in the admissions process, which means you should choose the exam where you can perform your strongest while maintaining balanced performance across sections.

Your GMAT score functions as one single component within Darden's much larger evaluation of your complete candidacy, and the school makes this distinction very clear in how it reviews applications. The admissions committee examines your entire profile, including your undergraduate GPA (the Class of 2027 averaged 3.51), your work experience (averaging 5.9 years), your professional accomplishments, your application essays, your letters of recommendation, your leadership potential, and your personal background. Darden explicitly views your GMAT score as evidence of your academic readiness and analytical problem-solving ability, but not as a predictor of whether you will thrive in the classroom, contribute to classroom discussions, or add value to the Darden community. Your test score serves a narrow but specific purpose: to demonstrate that you have the quantitative reasoning skills needed to handle Darden's case-based curriculum and analytical coursework. However, a high test score cannot compensate for weak essays, insufficient work experience, vague career goals, or poor recommendations from people who have worked with you directly.

When Darden evaluates your application, the admissions team considers how your GMAT score fits within everything else you bring to the program rather than treating it as an isolated metric that determines your fate. If you have a 750 GMAT but limited professional experience, weak letters of recommendation, or generic application essays that do not reveal who you are, the admissions committee will not overlook these shortcomings because of your high test score. Conversely, if you have a 705 GMAT but a compelling career trajectory, evidence of leadership impact, strong recommendations that speak to your abilities, and essays that make a clear case for why you need the Darden MBA at this specific point in your career, the school will view your application very favorably. This reality explains why many applicants with scores slightly below the average (such as 700 to 715) gain admission, while applicants with scores well above 750 receive rejection letters. Your real goal is to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate whose GMAT score demonstrates you have the intellectual capacity to succeed in a demanding case-method curriculum, while your other application materials explain why Darden is the right program for you and what you will contribute to your classmates' learning experience.

AdmitStudio users who find success at top MBA programs tend to approach their applications as a clear, cohesive professional story, not a checklist of prestigious roles, promotions, or achievements. Rather than trying to impress admissions committees with everything they have done, they focus on explaining why they made key career decisions, what they learned from those experiences, and how those lessons shaped their short- and long-term goals. Their essays help admissions officers quickly understand the applicant’s career trajectory, leadership potential, and sense of purpose within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of the application, not repeat it. The essays highlight a few core themes, such as leadership, impact, self-awareness, and growth, while the résumé, recommendations, and short answers quietly support those same themes with concrete evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these applicants stand out not because they try to appear perfect, but because they are intentional, reflective, and clear about who they are and where they are going. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of how the applicant will contribute to classroom discussions, team-based learning, and the broader MBA community.