Best MBA programs that dont require GRE/GMAT?

Question

Mansi Jain · Accepted Answer

Hi A.D,Here are some of the top MBA programs that do not require GRE / GMAT, either by default or through waivers.United States:&rarr; MIT Sloan (Early Admission) - Test not required&rarr; NYU Stern (Part-time/EMBA) - Waivers available&rarr; University of Washington (Foster) - Test waivers offeredUK:&rarr; Oxford Sa&iuml;d and Cambridge Judge - No GMAT/GRE required for strong profiles&rarr; Warwick Business School - GMAT optionalEurope:&rarr; IE Business School (Spain) - No GMAT/GRE required; offers its own test&rarr; EDHEC (France) - Does not require GMAT/GRECanada:&rarr; Schulich (York University) and Smith (Queen&rsquo;s University) - Waivers available for experienced candidates&rarr; Rotman EMBA (University of Toronto) - Usually doesn&rsquo;t require testsMost programs offer waivers on request, especially for applicants with strong academics or 5+ years of experience. With several top MBA programs moving toward flexible admissions and test-optional policies, applicants now have greater opportunities to focus on showcasing their professional achievements and academic strengths.Navigating this criterion can be much simpler with the right guidance and support from a study abroad expert, making your dreams of studying abroad a reality.

Ishaan M · Answer

Some MBA programs don&rsquo;t require GRE or GMAT at all&mdash;not even a waiver. These schools have test-optional or test-free admissions, especially if you meet other criteria like GPA or experience.
Here are a few examples:

SDA Bocconi (Italy) &ndash; no GMAT/GRE required for many tracks
Hult International Business School (USA/UK) &ndash; fully test-optional
Babson College (USA) &ndash; test-optional for full-time MBA
University Canada West (Canada) &ndash; no GMAT required

A unique thing about these programs is they focus more on your work experience, goals, and application strength rather than standardized tests. It&rsquo;s ideal for professionals who&rsquo;ve been out of school for a while or want to avoid test prep altogether.
If you&rsquo;re confident in your career story and application materials, these can be strong options without worrying about a test score.

Kunal P Sharma · Answer

You don&rsquo;t need a GMAT or GRE score to get into a solid MBA program anymore, especially if your profile is strong elsewhere.

Babson, Suffolk, and Questrom (Boston University) offer test waivers for candidates with strong academics or work experience.
MIT Sloan Fellows and Cornell Tech MBA are test-optional for select profiles.
European schools like HEC Paris (part-time EMBA) and IESE consider waivers based on career history.
Many programs now prefer applicants to show quant skills through undergrad transcripts or certifications like CFA, CPA, or even Excel-heavy job roles.
If applying without a test, the rest of the application needs to shine, especially essays, career clarity, and leadership roles.

For mid-career or high-performing applicants, skipping the test is more possible than ever, without sacrificing school quality.
For more details, you can read this blog on " Top MBA Programs Without GMAT"

Akanksha Chandravanshi · Answer

Many top MBA programs offer GMAT/GRE waivers, often based on strong academic records, significant work experience (especially in quantitative roles), advanced degrees, or professional certifications. While some schools are fully test-optional, others offer waivers on a case-by-case basis.
Some notable MBA programs that frequently offer GMAT/GRE waivers or are fully test-optional include:

MIT Sloan School of Management (often for Executive MBA or with strong rationale) 
University of Michigan - Ross School of Business (may require a Statement of Academic Readiness) 
NYU Stern School of Business (waivers for certain programs or strong candidates) 
Cornell University - Johnson Graduate School of Management (waivers available for Full-Time MBA with strong rationale) 
UCLA Anderson School of Management 
University of Virginia - Darden School of Business 
Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management (often for Executive MBA or Evening & Weekend MBA) 
University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business (for "Cal Advantage" applicants)
Boston University - Questrom School of Business 
University of Rochester - Simon Business School 
University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business
Babson College - F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business 
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Gies College of Business) (especially for online iMBA) 
Georgia Tech - Scheller College of Business

It's crucial to check each school's specific waiver policy, as eligibility criteria and availability can vary by program (e.g., Full-Time, Part-Time, Executive, Online) and may change. 
I would suggest you get free counseling from a study abroad consultant and get into the right direction.

Preet J · Answer

The best MBA programs that don&rsquo;t require GRE or GMAT, especially if you have strong academics or work experience are as follows:

MIT Sloan (USA) &ndash; offers waivers based on academic or professional background
Darden (University of Virginia) &ndash; known for offering waivers to candidates with solid quantitative backgrounds
Rotman (Canada) &ndash; grants GMAT waivers to applicants with high GPAs or strong work records

These schools don&rsquo;t advertise as "no GMAT" but have flexible waiver policies. If your resume shows leadership, quant skills, or strong academic performance, you can apply without a test.
The key is to submit a GMAT waiver request early and support it with a strong resume, transcripts, and sometimes even short essays explaining why the waiver is justified.

Best MBA programs that don't require GRE/GMAT?