How Many Business Schools Waive the GRE or GMAT Requirement
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • Graduate & Professional School
Test waivers spread widely across US MBA programs between 2020 and 2023, and while several top full-time programs brought testing requirements back afterward, waivers stay common for online, part-time, and executive MBA programs.
🎓 Waivers are common with 5+ years of strong work experience
🎓 Also common for CPA, CFA, or CMA holders
🎓 Advanced degree holders, especially in quantitative fields, often qualify
📩 Most schools require a waiver request before or during your application
Online and part-time MBA programs waive tests more often than full-time programs
The waiver trend, explained
Test-optional admissions expanded across US MBA programs during the pandemic years, when many schools dropped GRE and GMAT requirements to keep applications moving while test centers closed or ran limited capacity. Reporting on MBA admissions trends shows that shift partly reversed after 2023, with several highly ranked full-time programs reinstating standardized test requirements while keeping waivers available case by case for applicants who meet specific criteria. Online, part-time, and executive MBA programs have kept broader waiver policies through the shift, since these programs draw more applicants with established careers.
Who typically qualifies for a waiver
Waiver criteria differ by school, but most programs pull from a similar set of qualifying factors.
5 or more years of significant, progressive work experience, though some schools set the bar lower around 3 years.
An advanced degree already completed, especially in a quantitative field like engineering, finance, or a hard science.
Professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or CMA, which schools treat as evidence of quantitative ability.
A strong undergraduate GPA, particularly in quantitative coursework.
Re-applicants who submitted a competitive GRE or GMAT score in a previous application cycle.
Military experience or other exceptional professional achievement, at some schools.
How to request a waiver
Check the specific program's admissions page for its waiver policy and listed criteria before you start your application, since requirements differ school by school.
Complete the program's waiver request form, if one exists, usually alongside or before you submit the rest of your application.
Explain briefly why your background substitutes for a test score, tying your explanation to the school's stated criteria rather than a general appeal.
Submit your request before the application deadline, since some schools review waiver requests on a separate timeline and need lead time to respond.
Keep a backup plan by registering for the GRE or GMAT anyway if your waiver timeline runs tight, so a denial does not put your application deadline at risk.
Should you request a waiver or just test
A strong test score can offset a weaker GPA or a thin work history, so consider testing anyway if your profile has gaps a waiver would not cover. Contact the admissions office directly if a program's website does not list clear waiver criteria, since policies shift between application cycles and the published page does not always stay current.