UCLA Anderson MBA GMAT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

UCLA Anderson's most recent entering class (Class of 2027) has a mean GMAT 10th Edition score of 703, with a middle 80% range of 670 to 750, positioning the school within the competitive tier of MBA programs. The 80-point spread in Anderson's GMAT range demonstrates that test scores alone do not determine admission outcomes, and you can gain entry with scores both above and below the average. The equivalent GMAT Focus Edition median score is estimated around 655 based on official concordance tables, reflecting that the two exam formats measure similar competencies. This score profile places UCLA Anderson in a moderately competitive position compared to M7 schools, making it more accessible than elite programs while still maintaining rigorous standards. Your GMAT score becomes more important when you lack a quantitative background or have limited work experience, though the school evaluates your entire candidacy.

A competitive GMAT score for UCLA Anderson typically falls between 700 and 740, though competitiveness varies significantly based on your overall profile, work experience, and demographic background. You could receive an admit with a 690 GMAT if the rest of your candidacy is exceptionally strong, or face rejection with a 740 if other elements like your essays, career goals, or work experience fall short of expectations. The school has no official minimum GMAT score requirement, but scores below 670 place you outside the typical admitted range and will require substantial compensating strengths in your background. UCLA Anderson has admitted applicants with scores as low as 620 and as high as 780, but these represent outliers. If your score falls between 700 and 730, you are well within the typical profile. Scores below 700 demand that you demonstrate meaningful accomplishments in your career, clear leadership impact, or distinctive personal experiences that show you are ready for Anderson's rigorous curriculum regardless of your test performance.

When thinking about what makes a good GMAT score at Anderson, you should recognize that the 703 average represents admitted students with diverse profiles and varying levels of quantitative background, not a universal threshold 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 during the admissions review. If you land above 750, your test score becomes a clear strength, but this advantage does not carry weight through the rest of your application or strengthen weak essays. A score between 700 and 720 is still quite competitive for Anderson and signals solid quantitative ability, even though it sits slightly below the median. The minimum realistic score for a genuine shot at admission is typically around 675 to 685, where you would need to offset this with exceptional work experience, compelling storytelling in your essays, strong recommendations, or other distinctive qualities that set you apart. Anything below 675 creates a significant uphill battle, and you would need to demonstrate truly extraordinary professional achievements or unique perspectives to overcome that deficit in an applicant pool of over 3,000 candidates.

UCLA Anderson is test-optional, allowing you to apply for the Full-Time MBA program without submitting a GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, or any standardized test score. Approximately 12% of the most recent admitted class submitted no standardized test score and instead demonstrated their quantitative and analytical readiness through evidence of strong academics in relevant coursework or analytical work experience. If you choose to forgo testing, you must submit an essay explaining how your academic and professional background have prepared you for the program's quantitative demands. This flexibility makes Anderson particularly appealing if you come from a strong quantitative background in business, economics, STEM, or analytical fields, or if you have substantial post-undergraduate experience in data-driven roles.

Your GMAT score functions as one component within UCLA Anderson'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 (which averaged 3.5 for the admitted class), work experience (average 5.6 years), professional accomplishments, application essays, letters of recommendation, leadership potential, and personal background. Anderson explicitly treats your GMAT score as one piece of the evaluation puzzle, and a high test score cannot compensate for weak essays, limited relevant work experience, or unclear career direction. The school uses your GMAT primarily to assess whether you have developed the quantitative reasoning and analytical problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in Anderson'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 Anderson community.

When evaluating your application, Anderson 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 710 GMAT but a compelling career narrative, evidence of meaningful leadership impact, strong recommendations, and essays that demonstrate why you need an MBA at Anderson specifically, the school will view your application favorably. This reality explains why many applicants with scores slightly below the average (like 700 to 715) 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 capacity to handle Anderson'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.