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

Northwestern Kellogg's Full-Time MBA Class of 2027 demonstrates exceptional performance across GRE sections, with a average GRE Verbal score of 162 and a average GRE Quantitative score of 162, resulting in a combined score of approximately 324. These average scores reflect Kellogg's position among the most selective MBA programs in the country, placing you in a highly competitive cohort of candidates who have already demonstrated strong analytical and verbal reasoning abilities. The fact that both sections land in the upper ranges shows the caliber of students Kellogg attracts each year, with admitted students typically achieving scores that reflect top-tier performance on the standardized assessment.

When targeting a strong GRE score for Kellogg, understand that scoring between 160 and 165 on both Verbal and Quantitative sections positions you as a competitive candidate for the program. You should aim for a combined GRE score in the 320 to 330 range to demonstrate the academic readiness that Kellogg expects, with particular emphasis on maintaining balance across both sections rather than excelling dramatically in just one area. Any score below 155 on either section begins to raise concerns about your quantitative or verbal foundation for the rigorous curriculum, especially since Kellogg places particular weight on quantitative ability given the analytical nature of its curriculum. However, this does not automatically eliminate you from consideration if your overall profile demonstrates exceptional professional achievements, clear career vision, and strong leadership examples that compensate for a lower test score.

A good GRE score for Kellogg represents one element of a much larger application puzzle, and this is critically important to understand before you spend months in test preparation. Scoring in the 162 to 165 range on both sections will not guarantee your admission because many applicants with GRE scores at or above these levels are rejected for reasons that have nothing to do with their test performance. The admissions committee views your GRE as confirmation that you can handle Kellogg's quantitative and analytical coursework, but it is not the primary factor that determines whether you receive an offer. If your GRE falls below 158 on either section, you should seriously evaluate whether retaking the exam makes sense given your timeline and other application components, but you should also consider whether your time is better spent strengthening your professional narrative or securing exceptional recommendations.

Northwestern Kellogg is not test optional. You are required to submit either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, or GRE score as part of your application, and the school does not grant exceptions or waivers from this requirement regardless of your background or circumstances. Kellogg explicitly states that all three testing formats are treated equally in admissions review, meaning there is no preference given to one test over another. This requirement applies to all full-time MBA applicants, and you should plan to take and submit your test score before your application deadline.

When Kellogg evaluates your GRE score, the admissions team examines it within the context of your complete application profile rather than as an isolated metric. Your test score helps the school confirm you possess the intellectual foundation to succeed in a rigorous, analytically demanding MBA program, but this confirmation is just one part of how the committee assesses your candidacy. Kellogg also scrutinizes your undergraduate academic performance, your professional trajectory over the past five or more years, your demonstrated leadership and impact in your roles, your clarity of career goals, and how convincingly you articulate why Kellogg specifically is the right program for your next chapter. If you have a respectable GRE score of 160 plus but your work experience shows minimal growth, your essays fail to convey clear purpose, or your recommenders cannot speak credibly to your leadership capabilities, you will not be admitted regardless of your test score.

The school emphasizes that it takes a holistic approach to admissions, and this means your GRE is evaluated alongside everything else in your background. A high GRE score may demonstrate academic capability, but it absolutely does not separate strong applicants from weaker ones in Kellogg's exceptionally competitive pool. What actually differentiates admitted candidates from the thousands of other capable applicants is a compelling career narrative that shows clear progression and impact, thoughtful essays that reveal who you are beyond your resume, powerful recommendations that verify your professional strengths and potential, and evidence that you have reflected deeply on why an MBA matters to you at this specific moment in your career. You should invest as much effort in crafting your personal story and building relationships with strong recommenders as you invest in preparing for the GRE itself, because both components carry substantial weight in how Kellogg views your overall candidacy.

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