Engineering universities don’t usually insist on a minimum GRE score; they don’t want to turn away from top talent for something a negligible as a test score. Okay, we know GRE scores are no small thing when you’re busy applying to international universities, but it is entirely possible that the next engineering genius just freezes on standardised tests.
That’s why you won’t find MIT demanding a minimum GRE score of 330. Indeed, you won’t find many, if any schools doing it. If you’re lucky, your top choice schools will provide you with an expected range. You should, however, keep in mind that stellar applicants still have a solid chance of admission with a low GRE score as long as the rest of the application demonstrates it.
All the same, it’s not a bad idea to consider the GRE score ranges for your top choice schools. Indeed, if you managed a 323 on your GRE, you may want to put more effort into the schools that are more likely to accept an applicant with that score.
Indeed, GRE scores may even help you find the right school for you.
Best engineering schools with GRE 330+ scores
As universities tend to look at a range of scores rather than a single number, it’s tough to put programmes in an order based on a figure. We’ve taken the top 50 engineering graduate programmes in the US according to U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Now, if your GRE is well above 330, you may think there aren’t many reasons to apply to a school that’s lower on the ranking list. But, there’s a lot more to choosing a university than its position on a table. You may want a bigger programme or a smaller one, a larger city or a smaller one. There’s also climate to consider and that’s before considering the engineering departments available and whether you can afford it.
Most cost-effecting engineering schools with GRE 330+ scores
So, let’s consider the universities accepting GRE 330+ scores in terms of cost. The figures provided have been taken from information provided by each school. It’s the Cost of Attendance including living expenses for an academic year. The most recent figures have been pulled. In most cases, that means costs for 2016-2017; in a few cases, the data provided is for 2017-2018.
- (9) University of Texas—Austin: $37,274
- (45) Iowa State University: $39,658
- (48) University of Delaware: $47,713
- (19) University of California—Santa Barbara: $54,450
- (13) Cornell University: $55,280
- (13) University of California—San Diego: $56,934
- (9) University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign: $56,984
- (16) University of California—Los Angeles: $59,302
- (11) University of Southern California: $60,387
- (3) University of California—Berkeley: $61,102
- (38) Yale University: $63,762
- (29) Rice University: $65,763
- (5) University of Michigan—Ann Arbor: $68,144
- (5) Carnegie Mellon University: $68,915
- (45) University of Rochester: $70,108
- (19) University of Pennsylvania: $70,204
- (19) Johns Hopkins University: $70,915
- (23) Harvard University: $71,446
- (19) Northwestern University: $73,014
- (17) Princeton University: $74,190
- (4) California Institute of Technology: $78,786
- (13) Columbia University: $79,890
- (1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology: $82,750
- (2) Stanford University: $84,726
With these costs reflecting a single year of study, we’d bet that there are plenty of students willing to look at some of the lower ranked universities in a new light.
And then, it’s worth considering the selectivity of some of these programmes. That certainly makes it easier to consider your safety choices (because a perfect GRE score isn’t everything – even to admissions committees).
Selectivity of engineering schools with GRE 330+ scores
While the numbers certainly fluctuate year on year, some schools are definitely more selective than others. So what are your chances of acceptance into schools with GRE 330+ scores?
35-40% acceptance rates
30-35% acceptance rates
25-30% acceptance rates
20-25% acceptance rates
15-20% acceptance rates
10-15% acceptance rates
5-10% acceptance rates
Best engineering schools with GRE 320-330 scores
Okay, not everyone can achieve a GRE 330+ score. You may have an amazing undergrad record and awesome recommendations, but so does a lot of the competition. So, what top schools are looking for candidates just like you?
Most cost-effecting engineering schools with GRE 320-330 scores
And, again, there’s that big question of money, isn’t there? And as you’ll see from the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 Cost of Attendance figures, there’s a lot more flexibility in this group.
- (11) Texas A&M University: $39,959
- (39) Northeastern University: $42,666
- (27) University of Minnesota—Twin Cities: $43,006
- (8) Purdue University: $43,118
- (27) Virginia Tech: $43,220
- (18) University of Wisconsin—Madison: $44,369
- (25) North Carolina State University: $44,510
- (24) University of Maryland—College Park: $47,054
- (42) University of Florida: $47,284
- (37) University of California—Irvine: $47,837
- (39) University of Virginia: $48,901
- (32) University of Colorado—Boulder: $48,932
- (42) University of Pittsburgh: $50,435
- (34) University of California—Davis: $51,005
- (25) University of Washington: $51,321
- (42) Arizona State University: $51,411
- (31) Ohio State University: $52,196
- (32) Pennsylvania State University—University Park: $55,000
- (7) Georgia Institute of Technology: $58,248
- (45) New York University: $58,491
- (50) Case Western Reserve University: $62,704
- (36) Vanderbilt University: $66,732
- (39) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $70,719
- (34) Boston University: $70,861
- (48) University of Notre Dame: $71,856
- (29) Duke University: $75,382
Selectivity of engineering schools with GRE 320-330 scores
Given the flexibility in the above list, the question of acceptance rates becomes a big one, doesn’t it?
45-50% acceptance rates
40-45% acceptance rates
35-40% acceptance rates
30-35% acceptance rates
25-30% acceptance rates
20-25% acceptance rates
15-20% acceptance rates
Narrowing your shortlist of schools for 2017-2018
There’s a lot more that goes into choosing which engineering universities to apply to than just GRE score. One of the biggest factors will be the departments and degrees available. And there there’s the ability to secure funding to attend. And, we know that there are some people that just won’t manage in the frosty snow of New York City.
Want to take a closer look at the programmes above that sparked your interest? Or, perhaps you want to check whether the costs are for the 2017-2018 academic year. Take a look at the complete, searchable data here. From the tuition and living costs to the number of masters students in the engineering department, this spreadsheet offers the easiest way to narrow your shortlist.
And now, isn't it time you went back to studying for the GRE?
