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

UCLA Anderson's incoming MBA class demonstrates strong performance across GRE sections, with an average GRE Quantitative score of 163 and an average GRE Verbal score of 162, yielding a combined average of 325. These scores reflect a competitive applicant pool that trends toward the upper end of the GRE spectrum, though they remain slightly more accessible compared to some peer programs in the top 20. The score range for Quantitative spans from 156 to 169, while the Verbal range stretches from 157 to 166, showing that Anderson admits students across a meaningful spread while concentrating on the higher end of the scale.

Understanding what constitutes a competitive GRE score for UCLA Anderson requires looking at both the numbers and what they mean for your candidacy. You should target a GRE score in the range of 160-170 on both Quantitative and Verbal sections to position yourself as a strong candidate in Anderson's pool. Scores below 158 on either section may raise questions about your quantitative readiness for the program, though Anderson's flexible approach means a lower test score does not automatically eliminate you if your professional experience and academic background are compelling. The reality is that you are competing against an applicant pool with an average of 5.4 years of work experience, many of whom hold advanced degrees or come from quantitatively rigorous backgrounds, so your GRE score needs to demonstrate that you can handle the analytical demands of the curriculum.

A good GRE score for UCLA Anderson is one that puts you at or above the average on both sections, but here is the critical distinction: a high GRE score alone will not secure your admission to this school. Many applicants with GRE scores in the 168-170 range are rejected because they lack a coherent career narrative, their professional contributions are unclear, or their essays do not convincingly articulate why Anderson is the right fit for their goals. Anderson views your GRE score as confirming you have the intellectual foundation to succeed in the program, not as a lever that will tip the scales in your favor. If your GRE is at or above 160 on both sections, you have cleared the academic credibility hurdle, and the admissions committee will shift its focus to whether your career story, leadership potential, and alignment with Anderson's values of sharing success, thinking fearlessly, and driving change are genuine and compelling. Conversely, if your score dips below 156 on either section, you should seriously consider retaking the exam, but you should also invest time in fortifying other aspects of your profile through your essays and recommender letters.

UCLA Anderson is test optional. You have the flexibility to apply without submitting a GRE, GMAT, or EA score if you choose to do so, provided you submit an essay that demonstrates your quantitative and analytical readiness through your academic coursework, certifications, or professional experience. This represents a shift toward greater flexibility in UCLA Anderson's admissions process, recognizing that standardized tests do not capture everyone's strengths. However, the school explicitly states that for candidates without a quantitative background, a strong test score can meaningfully strengthen your candidacy. If you have significant technical work experience, a strong engineering or finance degree, or clear evidence of analytical thinking in your professional roles, you may be able to make a persuasive case without a test score. For most applicants, however, submitting a score is advisable, as it removes doubt and allows you to compete on more equal footing with the broader applicant pool.

When UCLA Anderson reviews your GRE score, the admissions committee examines it as one data point within your complete profile and background. Your test score helps confirm that you possess the intellectual horsepower to engage with case studies, quantitative analysis, and data-driven decision-making that define the MBA curriculum, but it is not the metric that determines whether you stand out in a competitive round. Anderson looks at your undergraduate transcript and major, your professional trajectory and the impact you have had in your roles, your essay responses and what they reveal about your self-awareness and aspirations, your letters of recommendation and what they say about how others perceive your capabilities, and your interview performance and how you engage with interviewers. A candidate with a GRE score of 164 but a confusing career path, generic essays, and weak recommendations will not advance further in the process. Conversely, a candidate with a GRE score of 160 and a clear trajectory, thoughtful essays, and strong recommenders who attest to their leadership and impact may very well be admitted.

The school repeatedly emphasizes in its admissions materials that decisions are made holistically and not solely on the basis of test scores and grades. Your GRE score is a credential that demonstrates academic competence, not a variable that creates separation among strong applicants in UCLA Anderson's highly selective review process. What actually differentiates admitted candidates is the depth and authenticity of their professional narrative, the clarity and realism of their post-MBA goals, the specific ways they plan to engage with Anderson's community and resources, and the unique perspectives or backgrounds they bring to the classroom. You should allocate your preparation time across multiple dimensions of your application: take your GRE seriously and aim for a score that puts you at or above the average, but recognize that you should invest equal or greater effort into crafting compelling essays that tell your story, securing recommendations from people who can speak credibly to your impact and potential, and preparing for your interview by thinking deeply about who you are and where you want to go.

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.