Average GRE Scores for Top Public Universities

Many graduate schools have taken the average GRE scores for incoming graduate students off of their websites. They're not publishing the rankings in many cases. However, some graduate schools are willing to post average ranges of scores for incoming grad students, although most of those scores are arranged by intended major rather than by the school's statistics. If you're interested in seeing the most up-to-date GRE scores by intended major, then take a peek at the link provided. Otherwise, read on for the average GRE scores as listed for top public universities for a select few of their majors - Engineering and Education - as published in US News and World Report. 

GRE Scores Information

If you are confused perusing these scores because you expected to see numbers in the 700's, then I'm betting you're probably still thinking about the old GRE score system which ended in 2011. Currently, average GRE scores can run anywhere between 130 - 170 in 1-point increments. The old system assessed students with a scale from 200 - 800 in 10-point increments. If you took the GRE using the old system and want to see what your approximate GRE score would be on the new scale, then check out these two concordance tables. Please note, however, that GRE scores are only valid for five years, so July 2016 was the last time students with GRE scores in the prior format were able to use them. 

• GRE Verbal Concordance Table
• GRE Quantitative Concordance Table

University of California - Berkeley:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 165

Education

• Verbal: 149
• Quantitative: 155

University of California - LA:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 162

Education

• Verbal: 155
• Quantitative: 146

University of Virginia:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 160

Education

• Verbal: 160
• Quantitative: 164

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 161

Education

• Verbal: NA
• Quantitative: NA 

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 160

Education

• Verbal: 158
• Quantitative: 148

College of William and Mary:

Education

• Verbal: 156
• Quantitative: 149

University of California – San Diego:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: NA

Education

• Verbal: NA
• Quantitative: NA 

University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 170

Education

• Verbal: 156
• Quantitative: 160

University of Wisconsin – Madison:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 168

Education

• Verbal: 158
• Quantitative: 149

University of Washington:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 170

Education

• Verbal: 156
• Quantitative: 147

Pennsylvania State:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 170

Education

• Verbal: 154
• Quantitative: 145

University of Florida:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 169

Education

• Verbal: 155
• Quantitative: 155

University of Texas – Austin:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 170

Education

• Verbal: 158
• Quantitative: 152

Georgia Institute of Technology:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 164

Ohio State University:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 169

Education

• Verbal: 156
• Quantitative: 151

Texas A&M:

Engineering: 

• Quantitative: 163

Education

• Verbal: NA
• Quantitative: NA

So Are My Scores Going to Get Me In?

There are a number of factors that go into your admittance into one of these top public universities. And although your GRE scores are important, they are not the only things considered by admissions counselors, as I am sure you already know. Make sure your application essay is top-notch and that you have secured stellar recommendations from those professors who know you best in undergrad. And if you haven't worked on that GPA already, then now is the time to ensure you're getting the best grades you possibly can in case your GRE score isn't exactly what you wanted it to be.