stanford math phd gre

PhD Qualifying Exams

Current Requirement: To qualify for the Ph.D. in Mathematics, students must pass two examinations: one in algebra and one in real analysis. 

Requirement for students starting in Autumn 2023 and later:  To qualify for the Ph.D. in Mathematics, students must choose and pass examinations in two of the following four areas: (i) algebra, (ii) real analysis, (iii) geometry and topology, (iv) applied mathematics. 

The exams each consist of two parts. Students are given three hours for each part.

Topics Covered on the Exams:

Algebra Syllabus

Applied Mathematics Syllabus

 Geometry and Topology Syllabus

Real Analysis Syllabus

Past and Practice Qualifying Exams

Timeline for Completion:

Current Requirement: Students must pass both qualifying exams by the autumn of their second year. Ordinarily first-year students take courses in algebra and real analysis throughout the year to prepare them for the exams. The exams are then taken at the beginning of Spring Quarter. A student who does not pass one or more of the exams at that time is given a second chance in Autumn. 

Because some students have already taken graduate courses as undergraduates, incoming graduate students are allowed to take either or both of the exams in the autumn. If they pass either or both of the exams, they thereby fulfill the requirement in those subjects. However, they are in no way penalized for failing either of the exams.

Requirement for students starting in Autumn 2023 and later: Students must choose and pass two out of the four qualifying exams by the autumn of their second year. Students take courses in algebra, real analysis, geometry and topology, and applied math in the autumn and winter quarters of their first year to prepare them for the exams. The exams are taken during the first week of Spring Quarter. A student who does not pass one or more of the exams at that time is given a second chance in Autumn. 

Because some students have already taken graduate courses as undergraduates, incoming graduate students are allowed to take any of the exams in the autumn. If they pass any of the exams, they thereby fulfill the requirement in those subjects. However, they are in no way penalized for failing any of the exams.

Exam Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, the exams will be held each year according to the following schedule:

Autumn Quarter:  The exams are held during the week prior to the first week of the quarter. Spring Quarter:  The exams are held during the first week of the quarter.

The exams are held over two three-hour blocks. The morning block is 9:30am-12:30pm and the afternoon block is 2:00-5:00pm.

For the start date of the current or future years’ quarters please see the  Academic Calendar

Upcoming Exam Dates

Spring 2024.

The exams will be held on the following dates: 

Monday, April 1st: Analysis, Room 384H

Wednesday, April 3rd: Algebra, Room 384I

Thursday, April 4th: Geometry & Topology, Room 384I

Friday, April 5th: Applied Math, Room 384I

© Stanford University . Stanford , California 94305 .

PhD Admissions Requirements and Procedures

Requirements.

Thank you for your interest in applying to the doctoral program offered by the Department of Statistics.

• PhD in Statistics

Contact: stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu ( stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu )

All graduate applications are reviewed at the department level. Please read the following information and the Admissions FAQ page carefully. We have made a great effort to provide detailed, thorough and relevant information regarding the application process and hope that it will provide answers to your questions.

APPLICATION DEADLINE - Thursday, November 30, 2023 (11:59PM PST)

The deadline for all graduate application forms to be submitted online for the Department of Statistics for matriculation in Autumn Quarter 2024 is Thursday, November 30, 2023 . We do not matriculate students in any other quarter. The online application fee is $125 for all applicants, both domestic and international. Click here for details regarding the Application Fee Waiver .

Self-reported (unofficial) test scores that could not be included with the online application should be emailed to stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) and must be received by the deadline above.

Recommenders must submit online recommendation letters by the deadline above.

IMPORTANT: Effective March 2021, the GRE Math Subject Test is no longer required. Applicants to our program are required only to take the GRE General Test.

Applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree from a university based in the U.S. should review the information for international student eligibility to apply to graduate school at Stanford . The applicant should be sure that the bachelor's degree or equivalent will be conferred before the intended program start date.

Offers of admission cannot be made without receipt of official test scores.

What do I need to submit?

Applicants can access the online application and all accompanying information beginning in mid-September. If you encounter any problems while completing or submitting the application, please contact the support team by clicking Request Application Support in the Instructions section of the application. Since the Stanford application software is not Stanford-based, we are unable to help with technical issues.

Explain the nature of your interest in one specific program in the department and reasons for wanting to study at Stanford. In the first sentence of your statement of purpose, indicate the name of the specific program to which you are applying. Include details about your preparation for this field of study, your future career plans, and any other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your statement should be typed, single-spaced, and no longer than two pages, ensuring that your full name and the program to which you are applying is on each page. If you are applying to Stanford together with another person (siblings, couples, etc.) and would not accept admission if both were not admitted, please let us know. Note that once your application has been submitted, we cannot accept any revised statements of purpose, résumés or transcripts.

Do not upload academic papers, theses, or dissertations as part of your statement of purpose. These items are not required. If you wish to submit them, please do so separately by uploading them in either the Experience section of the application (if applicable) or the Additional Information section. We do not accept materials submitted via email or mail.

List every post-secondary institution where you were enrolled — or are currently enrolled — in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Your list must include the institution where you earned your bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent as defined in Stanford’s minimum education requirements for graduate study.

For each institution you list, upload your transcript. The transcripts you upload as part of your application are considered unofficial and will suffice for the review process.

If you are offered admission to Stanford AND accept the offer, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degree conferral documents. Instructions are provided on the status page immediately after accepting the offer.

If you have participated in a study abroad program or transferred courses to your home institution, and the individual courses and grades are reflected on the transcript of the home institution, you do not need to submit separate transcripts for the study abroad/transfer institution.

Multiple page uploads are allowed for all transcripts. Do not send official copies of transcripts (print or e-transcripts) to the department during the application process. They are not required as part of the application and will not be uploaded to your application or acknowledged.

See the Graduate Admissions transcripts web page for additional guidance on transcripts.

GPA/Converting International GPA

GPAs of at least 3.5 are strongly recommended.

Applicants must include GPAs for all current and completed degree programs. If the applicant's school does not use any scoring system or only provides grades at the end of the degree program, please note this in the second free text field of the Academic History section of the application.

Applicants whose school's scoring system does not use the 4.0 scale should enter the original GPA and GPA scale (e.g., a scale of 1-30 or 1-100) as it appears on your transcript. Do NOT convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale if it's reported on a different scale.

GRE Math Subject Test: Effective March 2021, the GRE Math Subject Test is no longer required. Applicants to our program are now required only to take the GRE General Test. The GRE Math Subject Test will not be considered during the review of applications. GRE Math Subject Test scores submitted to Stanford University will not be made available to our department.

IMPORTANT: Please note that it can take 2-3 weeks for your official test scores to arrive from ETS. In addition, the department cannot see or access these scores until approximately two weeks after you have submitted your online application. Finally, the test score status in your checklist (viewable after submission of the application) may take an additional 10 business days to change to "official". Applications will be considered complete with unofficial scores, although no offers of admission can be made without receipt of official scores.

GRE General Test ( gre.org ): Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Applicants who already hold a PhD degree from an accredited institution may request a waiver for the general test (see below).

Applicants wishing to submit an application for matriculation in 2024 must be able to provide at least self-reported (unofficial) test scores for the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE general test by the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. All official score reports must be sent electronically by ETS to Stanford University. Our institution code number for ETS reporting is 4704. No department number is required. Test scores may be no older than five years, dating back from the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. The GMAT is not accepted as a substitute for the GRE.

Applications will be processed using the self-reported (unofficial) test scores. If you submit your online application before you have taken the test, you may add the scores later, as long as it is still prior to the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. Offers of admission are contingent on receipt of the official scores.

While we have not established any particular GRE score necessary for admission, the average General GRE percentile scores of recently admitted applicants are Verbal 92%, Quantitative 94% and Analytical Writing 83%. If you submit results from more than one eligible test date we will consider the higher of the scores.

If you have already earned a PhD degree, or your PhD studies are in progress when you apply and your degree will be conferred prior to your intended start quarter, you may request a GRE General Test waiver by emailing stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) with the following information and attaching an unofficial copy of your PhD transcript: full name, institution attended, degree earned, and degree conferral date. Use the subject heading "GRE General Test Waiver Request".

IMPORTANT: Please note that it can take 2 to 3 weeks for your official test scores to arrive from ETS. In addition, the department cannot see or access these scores until approximately two weeks after you have submitted your online application. Finally, the test score status in your checklist (viewable after submission of the application) may take an additional 10 business days to change 'official'. Applications will be considered complete with unofficial scores, although no offers of admission can be made without official scores.

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit an official test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Stanford accepts only ETS (Educational Testing Service) scores. Our institution code number for ETS reporting is 4704. No department number is required. Test scores may be no older than 24 months, dating back from the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. Scores expire after two years and will not be available from ETS.

We accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition if you are unable to take the traditional TOEFL iBT test in a test center. If you take the Home Edition or Paper Edition, you may be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to enrollment. We do not accept TOEFL Essentials scores or any other English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, PTE).

Exemptions are granted to applicants who have earned (or will earn, before enrolling at Stanford) a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States (territories and possessions excluded), or an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

You may request a waiver if you (will) have an equivalent degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction. You must submit a Stanford application before submitting a TOEFL waiver request form. Note that U.S. citizenship does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL if the applicant’s first language is not English.

A minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet based test (iBT) is required by Stanford University for all Ph.D. applicants. However, please note that the Graduate Admission's Required Exams webpage also states that incoming students who score below 109 on the TOEFL will likely be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to enrollment. Evidence of adequate English proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions. The average TOEFL score of Ph.D. applicants admitted to the statistics department is 112. The Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the TOEFL is not required. Stanford accepts MyBest scores but does not currently accept TOEFL Essentials test scores.

Applications will be processed using the self-reported (unofficial) test scores. If you submit your online application before you have taken the test, you may add the score later, as long as it is still prior to the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline. iBT test-takers should be able to access their scores online approximately 10 days after the test date. We recommend that you take the test no later than early November 2023 to ensure that you meet the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline application deadline. Offers of admission are contingent on receipt of the official scores.

Three letters of recommendation are required. Letters of recommendation are managed via an online recommendation system, which is part of the online application. Applicants will be required to register the contact information of their recommenders who will then receive an email with directions on how to proceed. Recommendations must be submitted by the Statistics Department's PhD application deadline.

We do not accept emailed or paper recommendations. However, we do accept letters submitted by your university's letter service. If this applies to you, you will still need to enter information for each recommender in the online application, including e-mail addresses which will automatically generate the email to each recommender requesting a letter. It is your responsibility to contact them to let them know to disregard this email and to use the university's letter service. Please use stat-admissions-phd [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) when routing through the letter service.

The recommendation process now supports letters submitted via Interfolio. The applicant registers a recommender using an email address that contains "interfolio.com". Please remember that letters written specifically for your Stanford graduate program tend to be stronger than letters written for general use purposes. Furthermore, the recommendation form displayed for a recommender using Interfolio will not include the evaluation questions displayed and required for other recommenders.

Your letters should be written by those who have supervised you in either an academic or employment setting. If possible, at least one should be from a university professor familiar with your academic work. Your recommendations should directly address your suitability for admission to the Statistics department. We pay extra attention to the potential for future excellence, as indicated in letters of recommendation. The most important factors we look at are: quantitative and analytic strength, communication skills in English, leadership, maturity and focus.

Note: If you have any concerns that one of your recommenders will not be able to submit their letter by the deadline, you may want to consider requesting letters from a total of four recommenders. This will increase the likelihood that three letters will be submitted by the deadline and that your application will be marked as complete.

Applicants must upload a resume/CV into the Experience section of the application. Applicants may also upload additional papers such as samples of your academic or published works in this section. Any additional papers will be included in your application file, though there is no guarantee that they will be reviewed by the admissions committee. Do not send any duplicates of materials that you have submitted online; they will not be added to your file.

Applicants who indicate that they would like to be considered for the master’s program in the Program Selection section of the online application must confirm this by submitting an email request within three business days of receiving the PhD admissions decision notification. Note that it is not guaranteed that the MS Admissions Committee will accept your application for review. You will be notified via email whether your request has been approved.

Notification of Received Application Materials

Please refer to your application checklist on the Graduate Application Status page of your online application to determine whether any materials have yet to be received.

Financial aid

Please note that requesting financial aid on the application form will not affect your chances of being admitted to one of our graduate programs. All prospective students should review the estimated expenses associated with graduate study at Stanford.

Financial support

All students accepted to the Ph.D. program are guaranteed 5 years of 12-month funding. Financial support typically is provided through teaching and research assistantship salary and tuition allowance.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for outside scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial support. Students with outside support enable the department to stretch its own resources. The department will supplement outside awards to the level set for departmental support. More information about financial support.

For more information

For more information, please review the Stanford Graduate Admissions web site. If you still have questions after carefully reviewing this page and our FAQ page, please contact us at stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (subject: Admissions%3A%20LAST%20NAME%2C%20First%20Name) (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) ; type "Admissions: LAST NAME, First Name" in the subject line of your message, specifying your last and first names. We receive a large number of requests for information, and therefore appreciate your understanding in the event that there are delays in receiving a response.

Good luck! We look forward to receiving your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i apply to the mathematical and computational finance program.

Refer to the ICME admissions webpages for all details and questions on applying: https://icme.stanford.edu/admissions

Can you tell me in advance if my application will be competitive?

We get too many applications to discuss this information during the process, or if the application is incomplete. It is your responsibility to ensure your completed application is received before the deadline. Apply and await the results.

Will sending supplemental emails and materials help my chances of Admissions?

No. These will not be considered and will have no influence on the Admissions process.

When should I take the GRE? Do you have minimum scores?

The GRE is not required and will not be accepted as part of any ICME graduate application for 23-24.

Should I hire an admissions consultant? Should I seek assistance in writing my essay?

No. Admissions consultants will not improve your chances and may cause your application to violate the Stanford Honor Code. You may edit your essays with the advice of others, but you must author the essays yourself. Submitting work that is not your own is a violation of the Stanford Honor Code.

What are you looking for?

Simply put: a solid mathematics background and a passion for finance!

Do I need to have work experience in finance?

Work experience can be a great indicator of your passion. It is not required however.

Does it help my admission chances to contact faculty or staff to make my case?

You are welcome to contact Stanford faculty and staff if you have specific questions not addressed herein. As a general rule such contact is not required and will not influence your Admissions process.

What courses should I take as a future applicant?

We can’t make specific course recommendations but a solid math background is required. Many of our applicants have succeeded in taking graduate level courses in Mathematics as undergraduates. Carefully consider our core curriculum, topics covered and related prerequisites.

What topics should I be prepared to study?

Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Numerical Methods, Optimization, Computing in Python, C++, etc. We also offer refresher courses right before Autumn quarter. We also offer a placement test for candidates with a strong computing background. Closely study our required course lists and the related prerequisite topics.

What is the relationship between MCF and the Financial Mathematics program within the Stanford Statistics Department?

The Financial Mathematics program was managed from the Statistics department and was one of the oldest quantitative finance masters degrees and produced top graduates in both academia and industry. In 2014 we renamed the program MCF and relaunched it within the Stanford School of Engineering. In so doing we have built off of the Financial Mathematics core strengths and updated the curriculum to be positioned along current trends in computer science, data science/machine learning, numerics etc… at Stanford and more generally. We consider ourselves to have a startup mentality with a long tradition and alumni base!

Can I take the GMAT instead of the GRE?

Neither the GRE nor the GMAT are required for application to ICME graduate programs in 23-24.

Do I need to take the TOEFL exam?

If you received either your undergraduate or graduate degree from a university in a non-native English-speaking country, then you must submit the TOEFL. There are no exceptions.

Should I apply to MCF in the Stanford School of Engineering or the MBA in the Stanford Graduate School of Business?

Both are terminal masters degrees offering specialization in Finance, world class recruiting opportunities, a strong cohort experience and joint club participation. In fact many MCF students will take GSB courses and many MBA students take courses in the School of Engineering. Some of our students have gone to study finance at the PhD level at the business school. Some of our students take jobs in more traditionally MBA type roles within finance. The MCF degree, at the end of the day, is an academically rigorous program which will instill solid foundational technical skills which can be applied directly in both quantitative and general finance careers.

Should I apply to MCF in ICME or the Financial Analytics M.S. concentration in Management Science and Engineering (MS&E)?

Both are terminal masters degrees offering specialization in Finance with world class recruiting opportunities. MCF is characterized by a strong cohort experience, an uncommonly rigorous academic curriculum and a strong track record of placement in banking, financial services, investment management, and other impactful roles in finance. The financial analytics degree is a part of Management Science and Engineering and has different degree requirements. Traditionally, financial analytics has had a more industrial orientation as compared to a more “Wall Street” orientation, as reflected in the differing courses.

I have heard it is hard to get into MCF. Should I instead apply to the General track or Data Science track in ICME?

All are terminal masters degrees offering specialization with world class recruiting opportunities. MCF is a competitive program, and that is reflected in recruiting and reputation in industry. A growing share of our students do end up going to technology or data science roles either in fintech or technology broadly. While other ICME tracks offer solid generalist preparation, MCF is a smaller cohort with a more focused orientation and well established tradition in industry.

Can I continue on to get a PhD at Stanford or academia?

MCF students who are interested in the PhD program will be required to apply through the regular ICME PhD application. There is no internal transition process between the MCF program and the CME-PhD program.

How does Stanford MCF compare to other quantitative finance masters programs?

Our goal is to train a small group of exceptionally talented students for high impact careers in quantitative finance academia and industry. We are not focused on growing enrollment numbers or preparing students for more generic roles. As a result we have uncommonly high student selectivity combined with hands on mentoring to guide students to get the most of the considerable campus wide resources and opportunity that Stanford brings. Our focus is rigorously quantitative and at a PhD level. For the right student this provides a uniquely strong foundational career launchpad. For a more generalist finance education we would refer students to the Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA program.

Is there help with Career Placements and Internships?

Stanford generally tends to attract students with an entrepreneurial drive and spirit in managing their careers. Beyond program advising there are placement events and resources at the MCF program level, at the ICME level including our Fall Xtend career event, advising and year round career events at the School of Engineering and the Career Development Center at the Stanford level. Beyond formal online application systems and on campus structured recruiting exams, there tends to be unstructured recruiting in the form of student clubs and networking. On occasion Stanford students, including in our program, have also been known to start their own companies.

Can I Complete the Program Part-time?

Only as an HCP applicant, see ICME website:  https://icme.stanford.edu/admissions/program-details

What is the cost of Tuition?

A Stanford education is unfortunately not inexpensive. Please refer to the published school of Engineering tuition rates. Most students will complete the program in two years or 6 quarters, however exceptionally prepared students can manage an accelerated 5 quarter program.

Does Stanford link Scholarships and Financial Support to Admissions for MCF?

No. Admissions are conducted on a need blind basis. We do not engage in the practice of using offers of guaranteed financial support for admissions offers. Students are responsible for procuring their own funding via loans, scholarships, internships or other external sources. There are a very limited number of teaching or research assistantships; these are competitive and not guaranteed.

How long is the program?

6 quarters. Students must take their first 3 quarters Autumn, Winter, Spring and typically take an internship during their Summer quarter. For the second year students would generally take Autumn and Winter quarters. The second Spring though not required is a recommended option for those wishing to take more classes and especially project classes.

I Was Not Offered Admission, Why?

We get many more qualified applicants than we have spots. We also try to build a balanced cohort. We encourage you to strengthen your credentials and apply next year!

How many apply and are admitted?

We have designed the program to target approximately 10 students per cohort. The Financial Mathematics program, which was the predecessor to MCF, had 15 year history of uncommonly selective admissions. Since launching as MCF our admission rate is roughly around 5%

Will being in California instead of New York impact my job placement chances at a NY-based investment bank or hedge fund?

In recent years placement risk has not been a factor. Of course this cannot be guaranteed to continue, but we do teach a widely transferrable skill set. Our geography is a key strength of our program! Since we are small and not all of our graduates are focused on banking (academia, startups/VC, buyside/hedge funds) and Stanford is a target recruiting school for most tier 1 banks and funds, our students have strong interviewing prospects within banking and success in obtaining those roles with relatively minimal internal competition. Outside of banking, we are blessed with a strong buy side and entrepreneurial community which appeals to some of our students. The largest ranked geographical clusters of our alumni are 1) NYC Metro area 2) San Francisco Bay Area 3) London 4) Hong Kong and other major financial centers around the world.

What are your placement statistics?

We have a 100% placement rate for students desiring internships and full time industry employment in recent years. While this cannot be guaranteed without respect to employment conditions, our small size, long running reputation in industry, alumni network and broadly transferrable skill set have served our students well. We also have a strong academic placement history.

What are some finance companies that have offered internships and employment to MCF students in the past few years?

Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Tudor Funds, Two Sigma Investments, Blackrock, GMO, Cubist Investments, Citadel and many others.

Have any more questions?

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PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, what gre scores do you need for stanford gre requirements.

If you want to attend a graduate program at Stanford, how high do your GRE scores need to be to get accepted? As one of the most prestigious schools in the country, with many of its grad programs ranked #1 by US News, it can be very difficult to get into Stanford.  How can your Stanford GRE scores help set you apart? What is a good GRE score for Stanford? And how important really are GRE scores for getting into Stanford? We explain all that and more in this guide, including a chart of average GRE scores for a variety of Stanford grad programs.

What Grad Programs Is Stanford Known For?

As one of the top universities in the country, Stanford’s grad school programs are strong across the board. They are perhaps a bit better known for their STEM programs, but, as you can see below, they’re ranked highly in many liberal arts programs as well.

In the US News’ 2019 rankings of schools , Stanford ranked in the top ten for 18 grad programs:

• Business (#4)
• Education (#4)
• Engineering (#2)
• Medical Schools: Research (#3)
• Biological Sciences (#1)
• Chemistry (#2)
• Computer Science (#1)
• Earth Sciences (#2)
• Economics (#1)
• English (#3)
• History (#1)
• Mathematics (#2)
• Physics (#1)
• Political Science (#1)
• Psychology (#1)
• Sociology (#5)
• Statistics (#1)

Stanford’s Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Economics, History, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, and Statistics programs are all ranked #1 in the country, which shows that Stanford has top-notch programs multiple areas.  Over 9,300 graduate students attend Stanford every year , with about 70% getting their Master’s degree, 22% getting their PhD, and 8% getting a professional degree.

Stanford GRE Scores

Because it has so many graduate programs ranked so highly, and because it has a strong reputation as one of the top schools in the US, Stanford is also one of the most competitive schools to get into, and it’s important to know what GRE you should be aiming for. The current national average for GRE test takers is a 150 on the Verbal section and 153 on the Quantitative section, but you should aim significantly higher than that if you hope to get into Stanford.

Below is a chart showing the average GRE scores of accepted applicants for different Stanford graduate programs. Also included in the chart is if GRE scores are required or optional, the average GPA of accepted students, the program/school’s acceptance rate, and its ranking by US News.

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Programs that don’t accept GRE scores but require scores from a different standardized test (such as the law school, medical school, business school, and ) aren’t included in this chart. Programs that don’t look at any test scores, such as the Psychology program, also aren’t included.

Not every program provided every piece of information.  If the program you’re interested in isn’t included below, you can look for a similar program in the chart to get a general idea of the average GRE score.

What Is a Good GRE Score for Stanford?

As you saw in the chart above, the average Stanford GRE scores depend on which program you’re applying to. The average scores range from 158 to 166 for Verbal, and 157 to 168 for Quant.

Some have higher average Quant scores than Verbal scores (typically STEM programs), while other programs have higher average Verbal scores.  For example, Stanford’s Master’s in Computer Science program has an average Quant score of 166 but an average Verbal score of 162. This makes sense since, as a STEM-focused Master’s program, you’ll be using STEM skills more than verbal skills.

In order to determine the Stanford GRE scores you should set as your goal, we recommend finding the average GRE scores for the program you want to apply to in the chart above . If your program isn’t listed in the chart, look at the GRE scores of the closest program to it, or look up GRE scores of programs with a similar US News ranking. Then, add 2-3 points to both Verbal and Quant scores. Those are your goal scores.

For example, if you want to get a PhD in Chemistry at Stanford (which doesn’t list average GRE scores), you can first look at similar Stanford programs, such as their PhD programs in Engineering (Q=167, V=159) and Computer Science (Q=168, V=165). It’s not a perfect comparison, but since they’re all STEM PhD programs, you can expect average GRE scores for all three programs to be similar. You can further refine this estimate by looking at a similarly-ranked nursing program at a different school.

Stanford’s Chemistry program is ranked #2 by US News, as is Harvard’s program. The average GRE scores at Harvard for accepted Chemistry PhD students is 165 for Quant and 162 for Verbal. Average the three scores together, add two points to each to make sure you’re safely in the “acceptable” zone, and you’ll have your GRE goal scores, which in this case are about 168 for Quant and 162 for Verbal.

If you’re applying to a Stanford grad program that doesn’t have the GRE scores of any similar programs listed in the chart above, you can find the GRE scores of similar programs at two different schools and make your estimate from that. For example, if you want to get a Master’s in Sociology at Stanford, you’d find schools with sociology graduate programs ranked similarly to Stanford’s program (ranked 5th). UNC-Chapel Hill’s Sociology Master’s program is ranked 6th, so just below Stanford’s, and its average GRE scores are 160 for Quant and 162 for Verbal. UC Berkeley’s Sociology Master’s is ranked just above Stanford’s, and its average GRE scores are 154 for Quant and 161 for Verbal. Now find the average of those scores and add to points. This gives you 159 for Quant and about 164 for Verbal as your goal scores.

Adding a few points to the average GRE scores of accepted students ensures that your scores will be high enough above the average to strengthen, not weaken, your application. However, it doesn’t set your goal so high that you’re spending too much time preparing for the GRE at the expense of other areas of your application.

How Important Are GRE Scores for Getting Into Stanford?

Knowing the average GRE score for the Stanford program you want to apply to is an important consideration when you’re working on your applications, but don’t assume that GRE scores alone are the key to getting into Stanford. GRE scores are an important part of your application (for programs that require the scores), but even top GRE scores won’t be enough to get you admitted to Stanford if your application is weak in other areas.

Most graduate programs, including those at Stanford, care more about your undergraduate transcript, research/work experiences, personal statement, and letters of recommendation than GRE scores when making admissions decisions. These are what you should spend most of your time improving in order to have the best chance of getting into Stanford. It also means that, if you have low GRE scores but are outstanding in other areas, such as research you’ve done or work experience you have, you still have a solid chance of getting into Stanford.

However, if you have a score that’s significantly below the average score of admitted students for that program, it may make the admissions committee doubt if you’re really capable of succeeding at Stanford. So spend time preparing for the GRE , but don’t neglect other areas of your application. Your time will be better spent creating an application for Stanford that’s strong across the board.

Summary: Average GRE Scores Stanford

Stanford is a world-renowned university, and you can bet the students that attend it are used to scoring well on exams, including the GRE. The average GRE score for Stanford computer science admitted students is 166 in Quant and 162 in Verbal (for Master’s students) and 168 in Quant and 165 in Verbal for PhD students. If you’re interested in attending business school at Stanford, the average GRE score for Stanford MBA students is 165 in both Verbal and Quant.

Many programs don’t post their average Stanford GRE scores, but you can get an estimate by looking at the average GRE scores of similar programs at Stanford or by looking at the average GRE scores of similarly-ranked programs at other schools.

Your GRE goal scores for Stanford should be 2-3 points higher than the average GRE score for both the Verbal and Quant sections. This ensures your GRE scores are high enough to be a strength on your application. However, your grad school application is much more than just your GRE scores. You’ll also need a strong college transcript, excellent letters of recommendation, and relevant research/work experience in order to be a standout applicant and be accepted to Stanford.

What’s Next?

Need some help raising your GRE score?  Check out our guide to the 17 GRE study tips you need to know! (coming soon)

Thinking about other grad schools?  Check out our guides to GRE scores at Princeton, Yale, and NYU. (coming soon)

Confused about GRE scores? Check out our guide on  how GRE scoring works .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Christine Sarikas

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries. View all posts by Christine Sarikas

MATH-PHD - Mathematics (PhD)

Program overview.

The Department of Mathematics offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mathematics, and also participates in the program leading to the BS in Mathematical and Computational Science, and the MS and PhD degree programs offered through the Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering.