Chicago Booth MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

Chicago Booth's most recent entering class (Class of 2027) has an average GMAT 10th Edition score of 729, with a median of 730, placing the school firmly in the upper echelon of MBA programs. The 10th Edition middle 80% range spans from 690 to 770, which reveals considerable diversity in the admitted class. The nearly 80-point spread in Booth's GMAT range demonstrates that test scores alone do not predict admission outcomes, and strong applicants across a wide spectrum of scores gain entry to the program. For the GMAT Focus Edition, which approximately 39% of the incoming class submitted, the average is 670 with a range of 615 to 725. This score profile places Chicago Booth alongside other top-tier MBA programs, making it one of the most selective and competitive business schools in the country.

A competitive GMAT score for Chicago Booth typically falls between 710 and 750, though competitiveness varies based on your overall profile and demographic background. You could receive an admit with a 700 GMAT if the rest of your candidacy is exceptionally strong, or face rejection with a 750 if other elements like work experience or essays fall short of expectations. There is no official minimum GMAT score requirement at Booth, but scores below 690 will require substantial compensating strengths in your profile to overcome the lower test result. Booth has admitted students with scores as low as 610 and as high as 780, but these represent outliers. If your score lands in the 700 to 730 range, you are comfortably within the typical profile. Scores below 700 demand that you demonstrate meaningful accomplishments in your career, leadership impact, or personal background that show you are ready for Booth's rigorous analytical curriculum regardless of your test performance.

When thinking about what qualifies as a strong GMAT score at Booth, you should recognize that the 729 average represents a snapshot of admitted students with diverse backgrounds and experiences, not a universal bar for success. A score in the 720 to 750 range puts you in excellent standing and means your GMAT performance will not be a concern when admissions officers review your file. If you land above 750, your test score becomes a clear strength, but remember that this advantage does not amplify throughout your application or make weak essays stronger. Similarly, a score between 700 and 720 is still very competitive for Booth and signals solid quantitative ability, even though it sits slightly below the median. The minimum viable score for a realistic shot at admission is typically around 680 to 690, 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 680 creates a significant uphill battle, and you would need to demonstrate truly extraordinary professional achievements or unique perspectives to overcome that deficit in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Chicago Booth is not test-optional and requires all applicants to submit either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, GRE, or Executive Assessment score. The school does not waive this requirement for any applicant except current University of Chicago students or UChicago graduates with a GPA of 3.4 or higher. Both the 10th Edition GMAT and the Focus Edition are equally accepted, and you may also choose to submit a GRE instead. Booth treats all three testing options equally in the admissions process, so you should select the exam on which you can achieve your strongest possible score while maintaining balanced section performance.

Your GMAT score functions as one component within Booth's holistic evaluation of your complete candidacy, not as a standalone predictor of admission success. The admissions committee reviews your entire profile, including your undergraduate GPA (average admitted GPA is 3.6), work experience (average is five years), professional accomplishments, application essays, recommendations, leadership potential, and personal background. Booth explicitly states that your GMAT score is one piece of their evaluation puzzle, and a high test score cannot compensate for weak essays, limited work experience, or unclear career goals. The school uses your GMAT primarily to assess whether you have developed the quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in Booth's demanding curriculum. Your test score serves as evidence of academic readiness, but it does not determine whether you will thrive in the classroom or contribute meaningfully to the Booth community.

When evaluating your application, Booth 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. If you have a 750 GMAT but limited work experience, weak recommendations, or generic application essays, 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 leadership impact, strong recommendations, and essays that demonstrate why you need an MBA at this specific point in your career, Booth 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 above 750 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 Booth's analytical coursework while your other application materials show why you will flourish in the program and add 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.