Texas McCombs MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Texas McCombs' most recent entering class (Class of 2027) reported GMAT Focus Edition scores with a middle 80% range spanning from 615 to 695, reflecting the diversity of academic profiles admitted to the program. For the legacy GMAT 10th Edition, the Class of 2026 had an average of 704 with a middle 80% range of 650 to 740, positioning McCombs as a competitive program in the Top 20 rankings. The 90-point spread across the GMAT range demonstrates that standardized test scores are one piece of your overall candidacy, and applicants across a wide spectrum of scores successfully gain admission to McCombs. The introduction of the GMAT Focus Edition has added another layer of flexibility for applicants, with many students in recent classes choosing to submit Focus scores instead of the traditional 10th Edition. This score distribution places McCombs among well-regarded MBA programs that maintain rigorous academic standards while evaluating each applicant holistically.

A competitive GMAT score for Texas McCombs typically falls in the 680 to 730 range, though your demographic background and overall profile strength significantly influence what score actually matters for your candidacy. You could earn admission to McCombs with a 650 GMAT if your work experience, essays, and recommendations showcase substantial professional growth, or face rejection with a 720 if other elements of your application fall short of expectations. McCombs has no official minimum GMAT score requirement, but scores below 650 make admission significantly more challenging unless you bring exceptional qualifications in other areas of your profile. The school explicitly recognizes that overrepresented demographics may need to target scores closer to 730 or above to be competitive, while applicants from underrepresented backgrounds or those with particularly compelling career narratives may succeed with lower test scores. If your score lands between 680 and 710, you sit comfortably within the typical admitted profile and can feel confident that your GMAT performance will not be a barrier to serious consideration.

When evaluating what constitutes a strong GMAT score at McCombs, you should understand that the 704 average or 668 Focus median represents admitted students with diverse professional backgrounds and educational experiences, not a universal threshold for success. A score in the 700 to 730 range puts you in solid standing and signals that your quantitative reasoning ability is fully developed, regardless of whether it sits above or below the median. If you achieve a score above 730, your GMAT becomes a clear strength, but remember this advantage does not carry extra weight beyond demonstrating academic preparedness. Similarly, a score between 670 and 700 on the 10th Edition remains highly competitive at McCombs and indicates strong analytical capability, even though it sits slightly below the average. The realistic minimum viable score for a credible shot at admission is typically around 650 to 660, at which point you need to demonstrate truly compelling professional achievements, clear leadership impact, or a unique background that sets you apart. Anything below 650 requires extraordinary professional credentials or circumstances to overcome, as it raises questions about your quantitative readiness for the MBA curriculum and positions you outside the typical competitive range for a school of McCombs' caliber.

Texas McCombs is not test-optional and requires all applicants to submit a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, GRE, or Executive Assessment score. The school only grants test waivers to applicants who possess three years of substantive analytical or quantitative work experience and can demonstrate strong academic performance in quantitative coursework, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. The GMAT Admissions Committee explicitly states that there is no preference between the GMAT 10th Edition, GMAT Focus Edition, and GRE, meaning you should choose whichever test format allows you to achieve your strongest performance. You may also submit an Executive Assessment score if you prefer, though the GMAT and GRE remain the most common choices among admitted students. All scores must have been taken within the past five years, though expired scores can be submitted in limited circumstances if you document this with official records from the testing agency.

Your GMAT score operates as one component within McCombs' holistic evaluation of your complete application, not as a determinant of admission success on its own. The admissions committee evaluates your undergraduate GPA (average admitted GPA is 3.53), professional work experience (average is six years), career trajectory, application essays, letters of recommendation, leadership potential, and personal background alongside your test score. McCombs explicitly values applicants who demonstrate strong quantitative ability through their work experience and academic history, meaning a test score serves as just one data point that confirms your readiness for analytical coursework. The school uses your GMAT score primarily to assess whether you possess the quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in the rigorous MBA curriculum, particularly in courses like finance, statistics, accounting, and operations management. Your test score provides evidence of academic readiness, but it does not indicate how you will perform on case competitions, interact with classmates, contribute to classroom discussions, or impact the McCombs community after graduation.

When reviewing your application, McCombs considers how your GMAT score aligns with the entirety of your candidacy rather than treating it as an isolated metric that can compensate for other weaknesses. If you submit a 740 GMAT but your resume shows limited professional impact, your essays lack clear direction about your MBA goals, or your recommender letter raises concerns about your collaborative abilities, McCombs will not overlook these gaps simply because of a high test score. Conversely, if you have a 680 GMAT but can demonstrate five years of progressive responsibility in a quantitative role, compelling reasons for pursuing an MBA at McCombs, strong recommendations praising your leadership, and essays that reveal thoughtful reflection about your career direction, the admissions team will view your application favorably. This reality explains why some applicants with scores in the 660 to 690 range gain admission, while others with scores above 720 receive rejection letters. Your goal is to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate whose GMAT score demonstrates intellectual horsepower and analytical capability while your work experience, essays, recommendations, and video assessment show why you will thrive in McCombs' collaborative learning environment and contribute meaningfully to your peers' educational 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.