Harvard MBA GRE: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

The Harvard MBA Class of 2027 shows exceptionally strong performance across both GRE sections, with median Verbal and Quantitative scores of 164 each, totaling 328. These scores place Harvard among the most selective MBA programs in the world, requiring elite test performance to be viewed as academically competitive. The middle 80% ranges demonstrate the caliber of candidates the program attracts, with Verbal scores spanning from 158 to 168 and Quantitative scores ranging from 159 to 169. Scoring below 158 on either section would put you in the bottom 10% of the entering class, a position that would require truly exceptional strengths elsewhere in your application to overcome.

To be a viable candidate at Harvard, you need to understand what a strong GRE score really means in this context, and frankly, the bar is extremely high. You should target a minimum of 158 on both Verbal and Quantitative sections if you want to avoid raising immediate concerns about your academic readiness, though aiming for the median of 164 on each section is much more competitive. Scores in the 165-169 range on both sections position you solidly within the typical profile of admitted students. If you score below 155 on either section, Harvard's admissions committee will likely struggle to see you as a viable candidate unless your profile is truly extraordinary in other dimensions, such as exceptional work experience, breakthrough professional achievements, or a remarkably compelling personal story that speaks to your resilience and growth potential. However, even then, a significantly below-median test score is an uphill battle at a school with Harvard's acceptance rate of less than 10%.

What constitutes a good GRE score for Harvard is not just about hitting the median, but rather about demonstrating intellectual capability to handle the rigor ahead. A good score is one that shows you can think critically and analytically at a high level, but here is the critical insight that many applicants miss: a strong GRE score will not get you admitted to Harvard MBA. Many applicants with GRE scores of 168-170 are rejected every year because their professional experience is limited, their essays lack vision, or their recommendations do not speak to meaningful impact and leadership. Harvard uses your GRE score as validation that you possess the intellectual horsepower to succeed in a quantitatively demanding MBA program, not as evidence that you belong in the class. The admissions committee recognizes that test-taking ability and business school success are not the same thing. If your GRE is below 160, you should seriously consider retaking the exam to get closer to the median, but you should simultaneously invest heavily in strengthening every other aspect of your profile, including your work experience narrative, your essays, and your recommender relationships.

Harvard Business School is not test-optional. You are required to submit either a GRE, GMAT (Classic or 10th Edition), or Executive Assessment score as part of your application. The school does not waive this requirement for any applicants, regardless of prior academic achievement, professional accomplishments, or work experience. Harvard explicitly states there is no minimum score and no preference between the GRE and GMAT, meaning all three test options are treated with equal weight in the admissions review process. For the Class of 2027, 44% of admitted students submitted GRE scores, while 34% submitted the GMAT Classic and 28% submitted the GMAT 10th Edition, giving you flexibility in choosing the test format you believe will showcase your strengths most effectively.

When Harvard evaluates your GRE score, the admissions committee views it as a single credential within a comprehensive assessment of your entire profile. Your test score serves as confirmation that you can handle the analytical and quantitative demands of the MBA curriculum, but it is only one piece of evidence among many that determine your admission outcome. The committee examines your undergraduate GPA (the average admitted student has a 3.76), your work experience (averaging 4.9 years), the quality of your essays, the strength of your recommendations, your demonstrated leadership potential, your clarity of vision for your MBA and post-MBA career, and how authentically you articulate your reasons for pursuing an MBA. Harvard is building a cohort of future leaders, not simply enrolling the students with the highest test scores. Your GRE becomes meaningful only in combination with a compelling professional narrative and evidence from your recommenders that you have delivered impact in your roles.

The reality of Harvard's admissions process is that a high GRE score is a necessary credential but far from a sufficient one for admission. You could score a 169 on both sections and still receive a rejection letter if your work experience feels generic, your essays fail to demonstrate intellectual curiosity or a clear sense of purpose, or your recommenders provide lukewarm endorsements. Conversely, applicants with GRE scores in the 162-165 range have been admitted when they bring exceptional professional achievement, a compelling narrative about how their past experiences have shaped their vision for the future, and recommenders who can speak authentically to their leadership impact and potential. What actually separates admitted candidates is the combination of a solid test score that confirms academic capability, a strong professional trajectory that demonstrates tangible impact and growth, a well-articulated and thoughtful vision for what you want to do with an MBA from Harvard, and recommendations that verify your abilities and potential. You should invest as much energy into crafting your essays, selecting strong recommenders, and articulating your goals as you do into preparing for the GRE, because both matter enormously to the outcome of your application.

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.