Dartmouth Tuck MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Dartmouth Tuck's most recent entering class (Class of 2027) has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of 727, positioning the school among the most selective MBA programs in the country. The 10th Edition range spans from 690 to 770 for the full range, demonstrating that Tuck welcomes students with varying test score profiles. The 80-point spread illustrates that your GMAT score alone does not determine admission outcomes, and qualified applicants across a wide spectrum of scores gain entry to this elite program. For the GMAT Focus Edition, which represents a growing portion of test submissions, the median is 671 with a range of 595 to 775. This competitive profile places Tuck at the top tier of MBA programs globally, reflecting the school's reputation for academic excellence and rigorous coursework.

A competitive GMAT score for Tuck typically falls between 710 and 745, though your specific target depends on your background and overall candidacy. You could receive an admit with a 700 GMAT if your professional experience, essays, and recommendations are exceptionally compelling, or face rejection with a 750 if other elements of your application demonstrate gaps. There is no official minimum GMAT score at Tuck, but scores below 690 will require substantial compensating strengths elsewhere in your profile to overcome that lower test result. If your score lands between 700 and 730, you are well within the typical profile and should focus energy on strengthening other aspects of your candidacy. Scores below 690 demand that you demonstrate extraordinary professional accomplishments, clear leadership impact, or unique personal background that shows you are ready for Tuck's demanding analytical curriculum.

When considering what qualifies as a strong GMAT score at Tuck, remember that the 727 average represents admitted students with diverse backgrounds and experiences, not a universal bar for success. A score between 720 and 750 puts you in excellent standing with your test performance as a clear strength that will not create concern when admissions officers review your file. A score above 750 becomes a meaningful asset to your candidacy, but this advantage does not make weak essays stronger or compensate for limited work experience. Similarly, a score between 700 and 720 remains competitive for Tuck and signals solid quantitative ability, even though it sits below the median. The minimum viable score for a realistic shot at admission typically sits around 680 to 690, where you would need to make up ground through exceptional professional achievements, powerful storytelling in your essays, strong recommendations, or other distinctive qualities. Anything below 680 creates a substantial uphill battle that requires truly extraordinary professional accomplishments or unique perspectives to overcome in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Dartmouth Tuck is not test-optional and requires all applicants to submit either a GMAT (10th Edition or Focus Edition), GRE, or similar standardized test score with their application. Test waivers are available only for eligible applicants who can demonstrate quantitative reasoning and analytical capabilities through their academic and professional backgrounds, subject to specific eligibility requirements and approval from the admissions committee. The school accepts both the traditional GMAT 10th Edition and the newer GMAT Focus Edition equally, with no preference between the two. You may also choose to submit a GRE instead, and Tuck treats all testing options equally in the admissions evaluation process. About 54% of Tuck's most recent entering class submitted GRE scores, so the choice between GMAT and GRE should be driven by which exam allows you to demonstrate your strongest analytical abilities.

Your GMAT score functions as one component within Tuck's holistic evaluation of your complete candidacy, not as a predictor of admission success on its own. The admissions committee reviews your entire profile, including your undergraduate GPA (average admitted GPA is 3.6), work experience (average is 5.67 years), professional accomplishments, application essays, letters of recommendation, leadership potential, and personal background. Tuck explicitly evaluates candidates using its "smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging" criteria, and your GMAT score is one piece of evidence for the "smart" component, not the defining factor in your admissibility. The school uses your test score primarily to assess whether you have developed the quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in Tuck's rigorous curriculum. Your score serves as evidence of academic readiness, but it does not determine whether you will thrive in the classroom or contribute meaningfully to Tuck's close-knit community culture.

When evaluating your application, Tuck 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 of merit. If you have a 750 GMAT but limited professional experience, weak recommendations, or generic essays that fail to connect your story to Tuck's values, 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 narrative, evidence of meaningful leadership impact, strong recommendations, and essays that powerfully articulate why you need the Tuck MBA at this specific point in your career journey, the school will view your application favorably. This reality explains why many applicants with scores slightly below the average (like 710 to 720) gain admission, while applicants with scores well above 750 receive rejection letters. Your goal is to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate whose GMAT score demonstrates that you possess the intellectual horsepower to handle Tuck's analytical coursework while your other application materials show why you will flourish in the program and add distinctive value 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.