Last year, U.S. News reported on the top 11 universities whose incoming MBA students had the highest GMAT scores. Essentially, students who scored anywhere between 715 and 733 on their GMAT exam stood a good chance of getting into some of these top schools, having scored in the highest range among all test-takers.
You may be thinking, “does that mean I won’t be accepted to a good university if I score below a 700 on my GMAT exam?”. The answer is: No. You can get into a good university with a lower GMAT score (or no GMAT score), and there are plenty of universities all over the world who will admit students with scores anywhere between 500 and 680.
Below we will list 7 business schools all over the world where you can apply to with a low GMAT. With each university, we will tell exactly which minimum GMAT score they require for admission to their programme.
1. National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE) (Moscow, Russia)
- GMAT Score: 650
- See all Masters at the National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE)
2. Antwerp Management School (Antwerpen, Belgium)
- GMAT Score: 550
- See all Masters at Antwerp Management School
3. Middlesex University (London, U.K.)
- GMAT Score: 550
- See all Masters at Middlesex University
4. NHH Norwegian School of Economics (Bergen, Norway)
- GMAT Score: 600
- See all Masters at NHH Norwegian School of Economics
5. Free University of Brussels/Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels, Belgium)
- GMAT Score: 550
- See all Masters at the Free University of Brussels/Vrije Universiteit Brussel
6. University of South Florida (Fl., United States)
- GMAT Score: 600
- See all Masters at the University of South Florida
7. Erasmus University Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
- GMAT: 600
- See all Masters at the Erasmus University Rotterdam
Getting into a university with a low GMAT score
When you’re applying to any university, you will want to be aware of what their admission requirements are. Even if they will accept a low GMAT score, you still want to check whether they require anything in addition to the GMAT.
Many, for example, will require you to prove your English-language proficiency by taking the IELTS exam. Others, though, will require you to show some form of work experience or a BBA degree before joining their MBA programmes. Be sure to find out how you can enroll in these universities and whether they will ask you to provide any other materials in order to be admitted to their programme.