Indiana Kelley MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Indiana Kelley's Class of 2025 has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of 690, reflecting steady improvement over recent years and positioning the school as a solid choice among top-tier MBA programs nationally. The estimated middle 80% range spans from approximately 650 to 730, which demonstrates meaningful diversity in the admitted student body. The 80-point spread in Kelley's GMAT range shows that your test score alone will not determine your admission outcome, and qualified applicants across a wide spectrum of scores gain entry to this program. With 45% of the incoming class scoring 700 or higher, you can see that Kelley admits students with scores both above and below this mark, provided other elements of their candidacy are compelling. For the GMAT Focus Edition, approximately 635 represents the conversion equivalent, with the estimated middle 80% range of 580 to 685, as Kelley continues to accept both the classic and newer versions of the exam interchangeably.

A competitive GMAT score for Indiana Kelley typically falls between 680 and 720, though your overall profile and background will significantly influence what the admissions committee considers truly competitive for your specific situation. You could receive an admit with a 660 GMAT if the rest of your candidacy is exceptionally strong in terms of work experience, leadership impact, and storytelling, or face rejection with a 720 if other application elements like essays or recommendations fall short of expectations. There is no official minimum GMAT score requirement at Kelley, but scores below 650 will require substantial compensating strengths in your profile to overcome the lower test result. Kelley has been transparent that they accept students with scores across a wide range, and the admissions team explicitly states that a lower score can be compensated for by strength in other aspects of your application. If your score lands between 670 and 700, you are comfortably within the typical admitted student profile. Scores below 670 demand that you demonstrate meaningful accomplishments in your career, unique personal background, or other distinctive qualities that show you are ready for Kelley's rigorous curriculum regardless of your test performance.

When thinking about what qualifies as a strong GMAT score at Kelley, you should recognize that the 690 average represents a snapshot of admitted students with diverse backgrounds and experiences, not a universal bar for success at the school. A score in the 700 to 720 range puts you in excellent standing and means your GMAT performance will not be viewed as a concern when admissions officers review your file. If you land above 720, your test score becomes a clear strength, but remember that this advantage alone does not guarantee acceptance or make weak essays or limited work experience suddenly compelling. Similarly, a score between 680 and 700 is still very competitive for Kelley and signals solid quantitative ability, even though it sits below the average. The minimum viable score for a realistic shot at admission is typically around 650 to 660, where you would need to make up ground through exceptional work experience, compelling storytelling in your essays, strong recommendations, or other distinctive qualities that set you apart. Anything below 650 creates a significant uphill battle, and you would need to demonstrate truly extraordinary professional achievements, leadership impact, or unique perspectives to overcome that deficit in the applicant pool.

Indiana Kelley offers applicants flexibility through their GMAT waiver policy and accepts both the GMAT 10th Edition and GMAT Focus Edition as well as the GRE. The school does not make standardized testing strictly required and provides test waivers for candidates who can demonstrate strong academic readiness through other means, such as strong analytical coursework, professional certifications, or other evidence of quantitative capability. If you wish to request a GMAT waiver, you will need to complete an online information request form and submit a professional resume, undergraduate transcripts, and a brief statement explaining why you believe you qualify for the waiver. The admissions team will respond to your request within approximately one week. While waivers are available, most successful applicants do submit a test score, as it provides the admissions committee with a standardized way to evaluate your quantitative and analytical skills alongside applicants from diverse educational backgrounds.

Your GMAT score functions as one component within Kelley's holistic evaluation of your complete candidacy, not as a standalone predictor of admission success or failure. The admissions committee reviews your entire profile, including your undergraduate GPA (average admitted GPA is 3.4), work experience (the average admitted student brings approximately 5 years of professional experience), professional accomplishments, application essays, recommendations, leadership potential, and personal background or unique perspectives. Kelley explicitly states that your GMAT score is one piece of their evaluation process, and a high test score cannot compensate for weak essays, limited work experience, unclear career goals, or a lack of meaningful professional achievement. The school uses your GMAT primarily to assess whether you have developed the quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in Kelley's demanding curriculum, which includes core courses in finance, accounting, and data-driven decision-making. Your test score serves as evidence of academic readiness, but it does not predict whether you will thrive in the classroom environment or contribute meaningfully to the Kelley community's collaborative culture.

When evaluating your application, Kelley considers how your GMAT score fits within the context of everything else you bring to the program rather than treating it as an isolated metric that drives admission decisions. If you have a 720 GMAT but limited work experience, weak recommendations, or generic application essays that fail to explain why you need an MBA now, the admissions committee will not overlook these shortcomings simply because of your high test score. Conversely, if you have a 680 GMAT but a compelling career narrative demonstrating clear progression, evidence of leadership impact in your roles, strong recommendations from supervisors or mentors, and essays that articulate a specific vision for how Kelley will propel you toward your goals, Kelley will view your application favorably and move forward with your candidacy. This reality explains why many applicants with scores slightly below the average (like 670 to 685) gain admission, while applicants with scores above 720 receive rejection letters. Your goal is to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate whose GMAT score demonstrates that you have the intellectual horsepower to handle Kelley's analytical coursework while your other application materials show why you will flourish at the school and add value to your classmates' learning experience and professional network.

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.