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The Stanford Graduate School of Business, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is one of the most desirable and competitive schools on Earth. It is not only the top-ranked business school in the U.S. but also the most selective. An impressive GMAT score can be a “golden ticket” for ensuring that your MBA application stands out among the pack.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the GMAT scores of students accepted to Stanford’s MBA program. Additionally, we’ll consider the criteria for determining what score you need to be competitive.
First, let’s look at key facts about Stanford’s MBA program to keep in mind when setting your GMAT score goal.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- Stanford Business School 101
- Stanford MBA Class of 2027: Key Stats
- Balancing Your GMAT Score With Other Factors
- Determining What Score You Need for Stanford
- Evaluating GMAT Section Scores
- Playing It Safe
- In Conclusion
- What’s Next?
Stanford Business School 101
A prestigious M7 school, the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) offers a two-year, full-time MBA program. It has consistently ranked in the top 5 U.S. business schools. In fact, U.S. News ranked Stanford GSB #2 (tied with Kellogg) on its 2025 list of the Best Business Schools. So, it’s no surprise that Stanford’s MBA program has the lowest acceptance rate of any U.S. business school.
The most recent data available shows that Stanford’s acceptance rate (enrolled / applied) for its Class of 2027 MBA program was 6%, when it enrolled only 434 MBA students out of 7,259 applicants. These numbers are nearly identical to those of the previous year. Both are slightly lower than the acceptance rates for the Classes of 2024 and 2025, when 7% of applicants were enrolled. Stanford GSB is well-known for its low acceptance rate compared to other business schools. Acceptance rates for fall 2025 (Class of 2027) at the other top 10 MBA programs ranged from 13% to 33%.
KEY FACT:
Stanford GSB’s acceptance rate in recent years has remained at or below 7%, significantly lower than that of other business schools in the top 10.
Test Scores
In addition to its consistently low acceptance rate, Stanford’s MBA program boasts one of the highest average GMAT scores of U.S. business schools. The average legacy GMAT score has been 738 (roughly the 98th percentile) for four of the last five years. The post-2023 GMAT score average for the Class of 2027 is 689, which is roughly the 96th percentile.
Stanford GSB states that it has “no preference between GMAT and GRE scores (and no minimum score requirement for either exam). It’s important to note that 58% of the MBA class of 2027 submitted GMAT scores with their applications, and 44% submitted GRE scores (a small number of students submitted both). These percentages are indicative of a significant shift from just 5 years ago. In that year, 78% of the applicants submitted GMAT scores, and 23% submitted GRE scores.
KEY FACT:
The average GMAT score for Stanford GSB’s Class of 2027 is 738 (legacy) and 689 (post-2023).
With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at some more important stats related to Stanford’s Class of 2027.
Stanford MBA Class of 2027: Key Stats
Stanford’s Class of 2027 is made up of 434 students, out of 7,259 applicants to the program.
We see that 47% of this elite crop of future MBAs are women, 55% are people of color, and 38% are international students. Stanford’s newest class is holding steady with previous years, with an average GPA of 3.76. The class of 2027 also has an average of 5.3 years of work experience. Their time in the professional world ranges from 0 to 12 years, which is a pretty wide swing.
The top 3 industries these MBA students hailed from were consulting (20%), investing (17%), and technology (15%). The three top undergraduate degrees were Engineering (29%), Business/Commerce (24%), and Economics (18%).
KEY FACT:
The class of 2027 in Stanford’s MBA program has an average of 5.4 years of work experience and a 3.76 average GPA.
Now, why is all of this data important to consider when determining what GMAT score you need to be a competitive applicant at Stanford? Shouldn’t you just shoot for the average score and be done with it? Well, the decision-making process of business school admissions committees isn’t quite so cut and dried. So, let’s talk about how your GMAT score is likely to be weighed along with other factors.
Balancing Your GMAT Score With Other Factors
Undoubtedly, impressive test scores can only help when you’re applying to a top-ranked school such as Stanford. But business schools evaluate applicants holistically rather than admit applicants based on any one factor in isolation. Thus, there are numerous factors that MBA admissions committees weigh when deciding who makes the cut.
For instance, as we saw with Stanford’s MBA class of 2027, their average GPA was just as impressive as their average GMAT score. And you can bet that those students came with stellar recommendations and won admissions officers over with polished application essays, too. The truth is, a high GMAT score, on its own, isn’t a guarantee that you will gain acceptance or even be competitive at Stanford GSB. And a lower-than-average GMAT score doesn’t necessarily spell doom.
Not Every Student Has a Stellar GMAT Score
Case in point: Although the average GMAT score of Stanford’s MBA class of 2027 was 733, those students’ scores actually ranged from a low of 540 to a high of 780. What could possibly explain that 240-point swing? Well, clearly, some students were exceptional enough in other areas of their applications to earn a seat despite GMAT scores that fell well below the average of accepted MBA students.
Perhaps they had impressive careers and certifications such as CPA/CA/CFA, or top-notch GPAs or advanced degrees. (In fact, 15% of the Class of 2027 held postgraduate degrees.) The point is, your GMAT is just one factor among many, so determining what score you’ll need is a matter of not only looking at GMAT averages but also carefully evaluating your strengths and weaknesses in other areas.
Of course, if your GPA is lower than the average and your work experience is lacking, an impressive GMAT score may not be enough to get your foot in the door. Remember, Stanford is at the peak of the business school mountain. Thus, accepted MBA students are likely to be top competitors in most, if not all, aspects of their applications.
TTP PRO TIP:
Determining what GMAT score you’ll need for Stanford involves not only looking at class averages but also carefully evaluating your strengths and weaknesses in other areas.
Nevertheless, your GMAT score is an important factor in admissions decisions because MBA programs generally tend to regard the GMAT as a reliable predictor of a student’s ability to succeed in business school. So, a GMAT score on the higher end of the class range could be a “gold star” on your application.
So, how high is high enough? Should you shoot for 740? 790? Let’s investigate.
Determining What Score You Need for Stanford
Generally speaking, a good GMAT score is one that is equal to your target school’s median or average score. However, because all applicants are different, what constitutes a competitive GMAT score for Stanford varies from applicant to applicant, not only because factors such as GPA are taken into account, but also because business schools generally seek to form a diverse profile for the incoming class.
If You’re from an Overrepresented Group
Consequently, your direct competition is other applicants whose profiles are similar to yours. Certain applicants, such as people employed in investment and consulting, are overrepresented in MBA applicant pools at some schools. We did indeed see that those two sectors were strongly represented in Stanford’s most recent incoming class. Because people from those industries are generally overrepresented, they typically need to earn higher GMAT scores in order to stand out among their peers with similar backgrounds.
Your direct competition is other applicants whose profiles are similar to yours.
Simply put, if your profile mostly falls within the averages at Stanford — perhaps you’re a white male with 5 years of work experience in private equity and a GPA of 3.8 — then a GMAT score that is well above the Stanford average may be necessary for you to stand out among a sea of similar applicants.
In other words, you can’t assume that the average is enough, even when the average is as impressive as Stanford’s. Rather, you must take every aspect of your profile into consideration when determining what GMAT score will make you a competitive applicant.
Maybe you have a GPA of 3.9, but only 2 years of work experience in an overrepresented field. Could you still get into Stanford with a legacy GMAT score of 730? Sure. As we already discussed, multiple factors are weighed along with your GMAT score. However, you have to realize that many other applicants with similar profiles will probably be competing for your spot. A legacy GMAT score of, say, 760 or 770, could put you at the head of the pack rather than in the middle of it.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you come from an overrepresented group, a GMAT score that beats the Stanford average may be necessary to help you stand out among a sea of similar applicants.
If You’re from an Underrepresented Group
On the other hand, you may be from an underrepresented group and have a relatively unique personal profile, with numerous years of experience in a less represented industry, rockstar recommendations, and a 4.0 GPA. In that case, you may feel comfortable applying to Stanford with a GMAT score that falls at or below the average, perhaps a legacy score of 720 or 710. You may, in fact, be a highly desirable candidate, in light of your overall profile.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you come from an underrrepresented group, a GMAT score that that equals the Stanford average may be enough to make you competitive.
Of course, even if your GMAT total score falls within Stanford’s average, you also may need to consider how your score breaks down by section. Let’s discuss that next.
Evaluating GMAT Section Scores
It’s no secret that top business schools are highly quant-driven. Many programs at the top of MBA rankings pride themselves on the quantitative nature of their courses. They place particular emphasis on the Quant section of the GMAT, preferring to see scores of 47+ (legacy) or 80 (post-2023). While Stanford does not publish the average GMAT section scores of admitted MBA students, the fact is, to be a competitive applicant to such a highly-regarded program, your best bet is to devote ample time to preparing for both the Quant and Verbal sections. Nevertheless, an outstanding Quant score — or a low one — is likely to get noticed by business school admissions.
For instance, let’s say you have a GMAT score of 730/685 with a Quant score of 47/70 (or the 60th percentile) and a Verbal score of 44/88 (or the 98th percentile). You’re right around the average total score of admitted students, and your Quant score is by no means low, but depending on the other aspects of your applicant profile, it might be worth considering whether to retake the GMAT, with the goal of raising your Quant score.
For example, does your undergraduate record show a lackluster performance in quant-specific courses? In that case, bumping up your Quant score could help “reset the scale,” so that a couple of lower math grades in college look like a fluke instead of a pattern. Or, maybe you lack a sufficient number of quant-specific courses in your academic history. In that case as well, shooting for a higher Quant score may be a smart play, because that score will help alleviate any worries admissions might have that you won’t be able to handle rigorous, graduate-level classes focused on subjects such as finance, economics, and statistical analysis.
Section Scores on the GRE Give Us Useful Insights
Your unique situation will dictate whether you think that you need a near-perfect GMAT Quant score in order to impress Stanford admissions. However, the MBA class of 2027’s GRE section scores, which Stanford did publish, may provide a small window into the thinking of admissions officers. Interestingly, the average GRE Quant and Verbal scores were identical at 164 each.
What does this tell us? Well, at least on the GRE, the average accepted student scored just about as high in one section as he or she did in the other, and earned impressive scores overall. In other words, to be competitive at the #1 school, you’d be wise to aim for test scores that are strong all-around.
TTP PRO TIP:
To earn a GMAT score that will be competitive at Stanford, your best bet is to devote ample time to preparing for both the Quant and Verbal sections of the exam.
So, we’ve seen that what is considered a competitive GMAT score for Stanford MBA applicants is highly variable. That said, you want to have the best shot possible at becoming one of the select few accepted to Stanford. You can’t go wrong by “checking every box.” Let’s talk about that next.
Playing It Safe
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward calculation to tell you whether you’ll be accepted to Stanford with a certain GMAT score. For one, 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.
The Applicant Pool Is Changing
In 2025, top-ranked MBA programs in the U.S. had similar numbers of applicants as in 2024. However, the mix of the applicant pool was somewhat different in 2024 and 2025, compared to previous years’ numbers. This is due in large part to three major factors. Let’s discuss them.
First, the number of international students noticeably dropped. This drop reflected concerns about student visas and about job security in the U.S. after graduation. Second, there was increased interest in MBA programs in Europe, Asia, and India. Worldwide, much of the 7% increase in the number of MBA applicants in 2025 was due to increases in applicant pools at these non-US programs. Third, a nearly-20% tech layoff in 2024 moved more people to seek out advanced degrees to make themselves more attractive to employers in a competitive job market.
KEY FACT:
The applicant pool underwent some changes in 2024-2025.
What Does It Mean to Play It Safe?
Even without those factors at play, we’ve seen that Stanford accepts an extremely small number of people to its MBA program each year. So, when seeking admission to such a selective program, the smartest strategy is to PLAY IT SAFE.
Now, what exactly does playing it safe mean? It means that if you are from an overrepresented group or industry, you want a GMAT score that beats the Stanford average. If, on the other hand, you are from an underrepresented group or industry, you want a GMAT score that at least meets the Stanford average.
Does meeting the average mean that if you score 730 on your GMAT, but you know that you have a reasonable shot at increasing that score on a second attempt, you shouldn’t bother because you’re from an underrepresented group? Not necessarily. If, say, your practice test scores were consistently higher than the score you earned on your actual GMAT, it could be that nerves or some other issue affected your performance.
In that case, it may be worthwhile to give the GMAT another shot, so you can really make your application stand out. Additionally, if the GMAT score you submit falls toward the lower end of Stanford’s range, be aware that your test performance could become a red flag on your application. In that situation, it may make sense to devote a little more time to GMAT prep and retake the exam before submitting a score, provided you have time to do so before your deadlines.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you are from an overrepresented group or industry, shoot for a GMAT score that beats the Stanford average, and if you are from an underrepresented group or industry, shoot for a GMAT score that at least meets the Stanford average.
In Conclusion
Luckily, a good GMAT score is one aspect of your applicant profile that is entirely within your control. If you work hard, have a smart GMAT study plan, and don’t give up, your score can be a bright spot 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 Stanford MBA admissions that you deserve a seat at the table.
What’s Next?
Check out this article to learn more about what top business schools consider a good GMAT score. Need some GMAT study strategies for earning an impressive score? Our guide to scoring 700+ on the GMAT can help.
