Duke Fuqua MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Duke Fuqua's most recent entering class (Class of 2027) has a median GMAT 10th Edition score of 720, with the middle 80% range spanning from 680 to 770. This range reflects the high caliber of admitted students at one of the nation's top MBA programs. The 90-point spread between the 10th percentile and 90th percentile score demonstrates that Fuqua looks at far more than just your test result, and strong applicants with scores both above and below the median gain acceptance every year. For the GMAT Focus Edition, which an increasing percentage of applicants are choosing, the median is approximately 665. Fuqua treats both the Classic and Focus editions equally, so your choice between them should depend on which exam plays to your strengths rather than any perceived advantage at the school.

For a competitive GMAT score at Duke Fuqua, you should aim to land somewhere between 700 and 740, as this range puts you squarely in the profile of most admitted students. A score of 690 can absolutely work if the rest of your candidacy is exceptionally compelling, while a 750 will not guarantee admission if your essays lack clarity or your work experience fails to demonstrate meaningful impact. Fuqua states plainly that there is no minimum score requirement, but scores below 680 will require you to demonstrate substantial compensating strengths in your professional background, leadership track record, or personal narrative to overcome the below-range test result. The school has admitted students with scores in the low 600s, but these represent rare exceptions where the applicant brought something so distinctive to the program that test scores became secondary. If your score falls between 700 and 720, you are right where most of the class lands, and the admissions committee will view your GMAT as meeting their academic standards rather than as a weakness to overcome. Anything below 670 puts you in a position where you must have extraordinary professional accomplishments or a truly unique background story to make your application competitive.

Understanding what constitutes a strong GMAT score at Fuqua means recognizing that the 720 median represents thousands of admitted students with vastly different profiles, experiences, and backgrounds. A score in the 710 to 750 range removes test scores as any concern in your application and allows admissions officers to focus on whether you fit Fuqua's collaborative culture and whether you will thrive in their demanding curriculum. If you land above 750, your GMAT becomes a clear strength on your profile, but remember that this advantage does not automatically overcome weak essays, limited work experience, or a lack of clarity about your post-MBA goals. Conversely, a score between 680 and 710 is still quite competitive and shows solid quantitative ability, even though it sits below the median. The minimum viable range for a realistic shot at admission typically sits around 670 to 680, where you would need to compensate heavily through exceptional professional achievements, compelling storytelling in your essays, strong recommendations from leaders who can vouch for your capabilities, or a background that brings real diversity to the classroom. Scores significantly below 670 create a challenging situation that demands you present yourself as someone with truly extraordinary circumstances or accomplishments.

Duke Fuqua is not test optional for its full-time Daytime MBA program and requires all applicants to submit either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, GRE, or Executive Assessment score. The only applicants who may potentially qualify for a test score waiver are those with exceptionally strong quantitative backgrounds and significant professional achievements, though such waivers are granted only in rare cases and require direct approval from the admissions office. You have the flexibility to choose between the GMAT (both editions), GRE, or Executive Assessment, and Fuqua values all three options equally. Neither the 10th Edition nor the Focus Edition receives any preference from the admissions committee, so you should take whichever exam best aligns with your strengths and testing style.

When Duke Fuqua evaluates your application, your GMAT score functions as just one component within a comprehensive review of your entire profile, and the school explicitly states that test scores are important but not the sole indicator of your potential for success. The admissions committee considers your undergraduate GPA (the middle 80% ranges from 3.16 to 3.91), your work experience (the average is 5.8 years), your professional accomplishments, the quality and specificity of your essays, the strength of your recommendations, your demonstrated leadership potential, and your personal background. Fuqua's holistic evaluation means that a high GMAT alone will not carry an application forward if your essays fail to answer their questions thoughtfully, if your recommenders offer generic praise rather than specific examples of your impact, or if you lack the years of work experience needed to handle Fuqua's team-based learning model. The school uses your GMAT primarily as evidence that you possess the quantitative reasoning skills necessary to succeed in their rigorous finance, statistics, and analytical courses. A strong test score demonstrates academic readiness, but it does not signal whether you will collaborate effectively with classmates, contribute meaningfully to classroom discussions, or align with Fuqua's culture of teamwork and the "Decency Quotient."

The way Fuqua applies your GMAT score in its decision-making process means the test is evaluated within the full context of who you are as a candidate and what you will bring to the program. If you have a 750 GMAT but entered the workforce at a junior level with limited progression, worked in a heavily overrepresented industry like management consulting, submitted essays that lack personal insight, or received recommendations that read as perfunctory, the admissions committee will not view your high test score as sufficient reason to admit you. On the other hand, if you scored a 710 GMAT but have progressed from analyst to senior manager in five years, come from a unique background like international development or nonprofit leadership, submitted essays that reveal your character and your specific reasons for wanting an MBA now, and received detailed recommendations that speak to your impact on teams and organizations, Fuqua will view your application very favorably. This reality explains why countless applicants with scores in the 700 to 720 range receive acceptance letters, while applicants with scores above 740 receive rejection notices. Your goal when preparing for and submitting your application should be to present yourself as a well-rounded professional whose GMAT score demonstrates intellectual horsepower and quantitative capability, while your other application materials show why you are ready for an MBA, why Fuqua specifically fits your goals, how you will thrive in a collaborative learning environment, and what unique perspectives or experiences you will bring to your classmates and the Fuqua community.

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.