What Is The Average GMAT Score for Top Business Schools?
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While testing an applicant’s readiness, B-schools across the world use the GMAT score average as one of the key criteria. The GMAT, or the Graduate Management Admission Test, is a standardised test accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide for MBA programs, business master’s degrees, and other similar courses.
Scoring a seat at a top global MBA program is “a dream come true” for a lot of GMAT aspirants. Often this first step starts with understanding the competition: What is the average GMAT score? Having clarity about this question will pave your path to one of the top business schools like Harvard, Stanford GSB, Wharton and others in the hallowed M7 list.
When you have a strong GMAT score, you can not only open doors to some of the best B-schools but also help you gain scholarships, fellowships and career opportunities.
What is the Average GMAT Score for 2025?
The average GMAT score according to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is 555 in 2025; it corresponds with 50th percentile. However, GMAC pegs the average GMAT score for Global MBA programs at 623 for Focus Edition (77th Percentile) and 688 for the 10th Edition (83rd percentile). Here’s a detailed table.
| Testing Year | Exam Version | Mean GMAT Total Score | Mean Candidate Age |
| TY2021 | GMAT 10th Ed. | 622 | 25.6 |
| TY2022 | GMAT 10th Ed. | 648 | 25.8 |
| TY2023 | GMAT 10th Ed. | 651 | 25.8 |
| TY2024 | GMAT 10th Ed. | 644 | 26.0 |
| TY2024 | GMAT Exam (Focus) | 607 | 25.4 |
| TY2025 | GMAT 10th Ed. | 688 | 27.4 |
| TY2025 | GMAT Exam (Focus) | 623 | 25.6 |
Source: GMAC
Top US MBA Programs & Their Average GMAT Scores in 2025
| MBA Programs | Average GMAT Score |
| Harvard | 685 – Focus Edition
730 – 10th Edition |
| Stanford GSB | 689 – Focus Edition
738 – 10th Edition |
| Columbia Business School | 734 – 10th Edition
690 – Focus Edition |
| Northwestern (Kellogg) | 733 – 10th Edition
687 – Focus Edition |
| NYU Stern | 737 – 10th Edition
685 – Focus Edition |
| Wharton | 735 – 10th Edition
676 – Focus Edition |
| MIT Sloan | 720 – 10th Edition
675 – Focus Edition |
| Chicago Booth | 735 – 10th Edition
670 – Focus Edition |
How Has GMAT Scoring System Changed?
The GMAT scoring system went through a major change when GMAC introduced the GMAT Focus Edition in 2024. Major changes were introduced to the test, from structure to scoring system to evaluation.
New GMAT Score Scale
The GMAT Focus Edition is now scored between 205 to 805 in 10 point increments. Every official score ends in “5” like 645, 705, 595, etc. The objective behind ending every score in “5” is said to help candidates and adcoms officers a visual indicator to stop confusing old scores with new.
GMAT Focus Edition Structure
| Section | Focus Area | Duration |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Problem-solving, data sufficiency | 45 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | Reading comprehension, critical reasoning | 45 minutes |
| Data Insights | Data interpretation, analytics, logic | 45 minutes |
GMAT Focus Edition Score Percentiles
| GMAT Focus Score | Percentile |
| 805 | 100% |
| 750 | 99% |
| 705 | 98.2% |
| 655 | 91.3% |
| 605 | 71.7% |
| 555 | 49% |
| 505 | 27.6% |
| 455 | 15.1% |
| 405 | 6.7% |
| 355 | 3% |
| 305 | 1% |
| 255 | 0.3% |
| 200 | 0.1% |
How Many People Take the GMAT?
The official GMAC records for the 2025 shows a steady drop in the number of GMAT test takers in the recent years. The number briefly improved in TY2024 before decreasing in TY2025 again.
| Year | Number of Candidates |
| TY2021 | 107,455 |
| TY2022 | 85,858 |
| TY2023 | 74,810 |
| TY2024 | 78,429 |
| TY2025 | 65,710 |
GMAT vs GRE: Which Should You Take?
Test Submission Trends (Class of 2026)
| School | GMAT Submitters | GRE Submitters |
| Harvard Business School | 63% | 41% |
| Chicago Booth | 56% | 38% |
| Stanford GSB | 58% | 42% |
Key Differences
| Aspect | GMAT | GRE |
| Quantitative Section | More challenging | Moderate |
| Verbal Section | Logic-based | Vocabulary-heavy |
| Preferred For | MBA & Business | Non-business graduate programs |
