UCLA GMAT Scores: What GMAT Score Is Needed For UCLA Anderson School?

If you’ve been researching business schools in the top 20, you’ve probably come across the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Tied for #18 on U.S. News’ 2025 list of the Best Business Schools, the UCLA MBA program attracts students — and big-name, post-MBA employers — from around the world. Of course, UCLA MBA admissions are pretty competitive, so earning an impressive GMAT score can be an important way to ensure that your MBA application stands out among the pack at this popular program.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the UCLA GMAT averages and UCLA GMAT score ranges for students accepted to the Anderson School’s full-time MBA program, as well as some other key facts about UCLA Anderson’s MBA class of 2026. I’ll also give you some essential questions to consider when thinking about how your applicant profile measures up. I’ll also provide some strategies for determining what GMAT score you need to be competitive.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• The UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate
• UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile: Class of 2026
• UCLA MBA GMAT Scores: A 5-Year View
• Balancing Your GMAT Score With Other Factors
  • Your GMAT Score Is Not Viewed in a Vacuum
• Determining What Score You Need for UCLA Anderson
  • If You’re from an Overrepresented Group
  • If You’re from an Underrepresented Group
• Evaluating GMAT Section Scores
• Staying in the “Safe Zone”
  • If You’re from an Overrepresented or an Underrepresented Group
• In Summary
• What’s Next?

First, let’s look at one UCLA business school statistic to consider when setting your GMAT goals: the acceptance rate.

The UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate

UCLA consistently lands in the top 25 of MBA rankings. So you won’t be surprised to learn that the acceptance rate at Anderson has hovered around 13-14% in recent years. Note that we define the “acceptance rate” as the number of enrolled students (not offers made) out of the number of applications received. Let’s look at the data for the MBA program at Anderson over the past 3 years.

UCLA MBA Acceptance Rate: Classes of 2024-2026

We see a significant decrease in the Class of 2026 acceptance rate. It was caused not so much by an increase in selectivity of the school, but rather from the 41% increase in the number of applications from the previous year.

In fact, this double-digit percent increase in the number of applications was not just a quirk at Anderson. Many top MBA programs saw similar increases in the number of applicants for the Class of 2026. For example, Harvard saw a 21% increase, Stanford GSB had a 17.8% increase, and UPenn’s Wharton School saw an 18.2% increase. This spike was due in part to several economic and labor market issues.

• Layoffs in the tech sector resulted in an increased number of applicants.
• A rebound in the number of applications resulted after a general weakening of the economy.
• There was a significant increase in the number of international applicants who felt the US market was stronger.
• With the growing number of MBA graduates in the market, the perception that the MBA was a “gold star” for employment

KEY FACT:

The decrease in UCLA Anderson’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 was due in large part to national and international economic factors.

Now, let’s take a look at some key facts about the UCLA Anderson class profile for the Class of 2026.

UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile: Class of 2026

For the Class of 2026, the UCLA Anderson School received 3,079 applications to its full-time MBA program. It enrolled 305 of those applicants.

These future business leaders are a notably diverse bunch. Fully 41% are international students, 43% are women, and 32% are racial or ethnic minorities. All of those percentages mark increases from the class of 2025.

The top 3 undergraduate majors among these students were business (30%), engineering (22%), and humanities (21%). The top 3 industries they hailed from were finance (21%), technology (16%), and consulting (12%). The class entered with an average of 5.6 years of work experience. This is higher than the 5.0-year average for most of the other Top 20 schools.

The UCLA MBA average undergraduate GPA for the Class of 2026 is 3.5. The middle 80% of the class of 2026 had a GPA range of 3.1 to 3.8.

TTP PRO TIP:

You’ll need to consider more than just GMAT scores when figuring out what score you need to be competitive at the UCLA business school.

Let’s keep this data in mind as we turn our attention to the GMAT scores of UCLA MBA students. You need to consider more than just GMAT scores when figuring out what score you need to be competitive at UCLA Anderson.

UCLA MBA GMAT Scores: A 5-Year View

As you’ll see below, the UCLA MBA average GMAT score and the GMAT score range for the middle 80% of the class showed an increase for the class of 2026. Whatever the reason, the GMAT scores of Anderson MBA students remained impressive. Let’s take a look.

UCLA MBA GMAT Scores: 5-Year Data

It’s worth noting here that the “middle 80%” is the GMAT score range within which 80% of people in a school’s class scored, with 10% of the class scoring higher than that range and 10% scoring lower. You can read more about the middle 80% in this article about what schools consider a good GMAT score.

It’s also worth noting that, while the UCLA MBA does not state a preference between the GMAT and GRE exams (and states no minimum score requirement for either), it did not publish any GRE score data for the class of 2026. UCLA Anderson accepts Executive Assessment (EA) scores. Additionally, the school is test-optional. So those not submitting GMAT, GRE, or EA scores must submit verifiable proof of their quantitative ability.

KEY FACT:

The UCLA MBA Class of 2026 has an average GMAT score of 714, up 4 points from the previous year, and a mid-80% score range of 670 to 750.

Now, what exactly can we glean from these 5-year GMAT score trends? Should you just shoot for the average GMAT score and be done with it? Well, admissions decisions at business schools aren’t quite so cut and dried. So, let’s take a look at how your GMAT score is typically weighed along with other factors.

Balancing Your GMAT Score With Other Factors

We all know that impressive test scores can only help when you’re applying to a highly regarded school such as UCLA Anderson. But there are numerous factors that MBA admissions committees weigh when deciding who makes the cut. In other words, business schools evaluate applicants holistically, rather than admit applicants based on any one factor in isolation.

Case in point: We saw that the middle 80% of the Class of 2026 has GMAT scores ranging from 670 to 750, an 80-point swing. Furthermore, we know that the mid-80% does not represent the full range of GMAT scores of the MBA class. In fact, 10% of the class scored lower than 670, and 10% of the class scored higher than 750. Of course, we don’t know how much lower or higher those numbers go, but it’s safe to say that we’re dealing with a significant range of GMAT scores.

So, what accounts for these variations? Clearly, some students were exceptional enough in other areas of their applications to earn a seat in the MBA program despite GMAT scores that fell well below the average of the incoming class. Perhaps they had impressive careers and certifications such as CPA/CA/CFA. Perhaps they come from underrepresented backgrounds and had stellar GPAs.

KEY FACT:

Every member applying to an MBA program has many attributes, and the GMAT score is just one of them.

Your GMAT Score Is Not Viewed in a Vacuum

The point is, your GMAT is just one factor among many. So determining what score you’ll need to be competitive is a matter of not only looking at GMAT averages but also carefully evaluating your strengths and weaknesses in other areas. A high GMAT score, on its own, isn’t a guarantee that you’ll gain acceptance or even be competitive at UCLA Anderson — say if your GPA is on the low side and you come from an overrepresented group. However, a lower-than-average GMAT score doesn’t necessarily spell doom.

Nevertheless, your GMAT score is an important factor in admissions decisions because MBA programs generally regard the GMAT as a reliable predictor of a student’s ability to succeed in business school. So, a GMAT score on the high end of the class range could be a “gold star” on your application, particularly if you need to compensate for weaknesses in other areas of your profile.

TTP PRO TIP:

Determining what GMAT score you’ll need for UCLA Anderson involves not only looking at class averages but also carefully evaluating your strengths and weaknesses in other areas.

So, how high is high enough? Should you shoot for 740? 710? Let’s investigate.

Determining What Score You Need for UCLA Anderson

Generally speaking, a good GMAT score is one that is equal to your target school’s average score. A great GMAT score is one that beats the average. However, because all applicants are different, what constitutes a competitive GMAT score for UCLA Anderson varies from one applicant to the next.

These varying standards are not only because factors such as GPA and work history are taken into account. Anderson, like many business schools, prides itself on attracting future MBAs from all over the world and from diverse backgrounds. In general, business schools want to create a dynamic environment for their students, one that reflects the real world. So, MBA admissions committees typically seek to pull together a student body that brings with it a diverse array of experiences and perspectives.

Consequently, you should think of other applicants whose profiles are similar to yours as your direct competition. You should also keep in mind that applicants from industries and backgrounds that tend to be overrepresented in MBA applicant pools usually need to earn higher GMAT scores in order to stand out among their peers.

If You’re from an Overrepresented Group

For example, let’s say you’re a white male with a degree in engineering, a GPA of 3.6, and 5 years of work experience in technology. In that case, a GMAT score that is well above the average of 714 may be necessary for you to rise to the top of a sea of similar applicants.

In fact, you probably want to aim for the upper end of the mid-80% GMAT score range. And if there are some areas of your profile that may be considered weaknesses, you may want to shoot for a score above that range, 760, for example.

If You’re from an Underrepresented Group

Conversely, suppose you are a woman from a racial group that is typically underrepresented in business schools, with a 3.9 GPA, a degree in the social sciences, and 5 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector. In that case, you’ll already have “beat the averages” in several respects. So you may feel comfortable applying with a GMAT score that falls at or below the Anderson average, perhaps a score of 700 or 680. Your overall profile may, in fact, make you a highly desirable candidate.

TTP PRO TIP:

If you come from an overrepresented group, a GMAT score that beats the Anderson average may be necessary to help you stand out among a sea of similar applicants.

As you can see, you have to take every aspect of your profile into account when determining what GMAT score will make you a competitive applicant. This includes considering how your GMAT section scores may be viewed by admissions. Let’s discuss that next.

Evaluating GMAT Section Scores

Although the UCLA Anderson School does not publish the GMAT section score averages of admitted MBA students, the fact is, many business schools pride themselves on the quantitative nature of their courses, and thus place particular emphasis on the Quant section of the GMAT. So, a fantastic Quant score — or a very low one — is likely to get noticed by admissions.

A High GMAT Quant Score Can Offset a Weak Math Background

Particularly if your quantitative bona fides are lacking in other areas, a high Quant score can go a long way toward reassuring admissions that you have what it takes to handle rigorous, graduate-level classes focused on subjects such as finance, economics, and statistical analysis.

For example, perhaps you majored in humanities in college, and your work experience is in the entertainment/media sector. On the one hand, those data points make you somewhat unique as an applicant. However, your background could become a disadvantage if you don’t have many quant-specific courses in your academic history, or if your performance in those courses was less than stellar. In that case, you’d want to aim for a strong Quant score of 82 or higher to help alleviate any worries admissions may have that your background hasn’t prepared you for the UCLA MBA program.

In general, showcasing strong skills that are less common or less expected for a person of your background (whatever that may be) can really help your MBA application stand out. Think about it: admissions would probably expect that a person with a background in humanities and work experience in media would score high on GMAT Verbal, but not as high on GMAT Quant as students with quant-heavy backgrounds. So, if you can match those students with your Quant section score, you could give yourself a considerable edge.

If Quant Is Your Strength, Wow Them with a Great Verbal Score

The same goes for applicants with strong backgrounds in Quant. Perhaps you’re in very overrepresented groups academically and professionally. You have a solid background in business and finance. In that case, one way to make your application stand out would be to score high on the Verbal section. Consider an applicant with an undergrad degree in economics and a professional background in finance. This would significantly shrink his or her pool of competition by scoring, for example, 83 or higher on GMAT Verbal.

So, when thinking about your GMAT score goal, consider your goal not only for your total GMAT score but also for your section scores. Those scores could be useful for “balancing the scale” if you have weak points in your profile or for helping your application rise to the top if your pool of competition is large. Just keep in mind that business schools generally prefer to see GMAT section scores that are relatively balanced. So if your section scores are very lopsided in either direction, you may raise some eyebrows in admissions.

TTP PRO TIP:

When setting goals for your GMAT section scores, keep in mind that showcasing strong skills that are less expected for a person of your background can both help “balance the scale” and help your application stand out.

Now that you know the factors you’ll need to consider to set your GMAT score goal for UCLA Anderson, let’s discuss a GMAT score strategy that I call “staying in the safe zone.”

Staying in the “Safe Zone”

There is no straightforward calculation that you can use to determine whether you’ll gain admission to UCLA Anderson — or any business school — with a particular GMAT score. After all, although we know some general trends, it’s impossible to know exactly how stiff your competition will be or how large the applicant pool will be from year to year.

That said, there is a strategy that you can use to at least ensure that your GMAT score won’t be a red flag on your application. I call that strategy “staying in the safe zone.” Now, let me reiterate: the “safe zone” is not an entry ticket. There are no guarantees when it comes to MBA admissions. The “safe zone” is simply a general guideline that you can follow to at least feel confident that your GMAT score won’t be a reason for admissions to not consider you a serious candidate.

So, let’s take a look at some “safe zone” guidelines for the UCLA MBA program.

If You’re from an Overrepresented or an Underrepresented Group

If you are from an overrepresented background, shoot for a GMAT score above the Anderson average. So, to stay in the safe zone, shoot for a score of 720 or higher. Additionally, if your GPA falls toward the lower end of the mid-80% range, shoot for the higher end of the mid-80% GMAT score range. And if your GPA falls below the mid-80% range, shoot for a GMAT score above the mid-80%.

If you’re from an underrepresented group or industry, shoot for a GMAT score that at least meets the Anderson average. So, to stay in the safe zone, shoot for a score of at least 710. Of course, if you score 710 on your GMAT, but your practice test scores were higher, I wouldn’t say that you should forgo a second attempt at the GMAT just because you’re from an underrepresented group. It may be worthwhile to give the GMAT another shot, particularly if you have weaknesses in other areas of your profile.

TTP PRO TIP:

If you come from an overrepresented group or industry, aim for a GMAT score that beats the Anderson average. If you come from an underrepresented group or industry, aim for a GMAT score that at least meets the average.

Fortunately, your GMAT score is one aspect of your application that is completely within your control. If you work hard, have a smart GMAT study plan, and don’t give up until you reach your goal, your GMAT score can be a selling point on your application. Particularly if you need to offset weak factors in your application or distinguish yourself among a sea of applicants with similar profiles, a GMAT score that surpasses class averages could be a crucial part of convincing UCLA MBA admissions that you deserve to be part of the class.

In Summary

UCLA Anderson is one of the most highly-regarded business schools, consistently in the top 20.

The average GMAT score of enrolled students for the Class of 2026 was 714, which is 4 points higher than the Class of 2025’s average score. The GMAT score range of the Class of 2026 was 670-750.

It is more than just your GMAT score that may affect your chances of being accepted. UCLA Anderson is committed to having a diverse group of students in its program.

If you are from underrepresented groups (Latinx, humanities background, or military, for example), you may bring unique perspectives and make important contributions to the program. Your background and experiences might offset a less-than-average GMAT score.

If you come from an overrepresented group (e.g., white male with finance work experience and a high GPA), you might need to score above Anderson’s average GMAT score.

Your GMAT score is only one of many attributes that the admissions committee looks at when the committee evaluates your application. Make sure that it is indicative of your having what it takes to succeed at UCLA.

What’s Next?

Need some GMAT study strategies for earning an impressive score? This guide to scoring 705+ on the GMAT can help.

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