10 Online Business Schools That Accept the GRE 2026

Not every business school insists on the GMAT anymore, and that shift has opened the door for students who already have a GRE score, or who simply prefer its format, to apply to an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) without taking a second exam. Once considered a math-and-business-specific test, the GMAT now shares admissions space with the GRE at a growing list of programs.

The online business schools below all accept the GRE for MBA admission, and most will also waive testing for MBA admissions altogether for qualified applicants. Each program handles GRE scores a little differently, from straight acceptance to formula-based conversions, so it's worth understanding exactly how your target school will use your score.

Do Online Business Schools Accept the GRE?

Many do, and the trend has moved quickly in that direction. Business schools historically required the GMAT because it was purpose-built to measure quantitative and verbal reasoning in a business context, but the GRE tests similar skills in a broader academic format accepted across nearly every graduate discipline. That overlap is why more than a thousand business programs worldwide now accept GRE scores for MBA admission, often treating the two tests as interchangeable.

Some schools go a step further and don't require either test for most applicants, accepting a good GPA for an MBA program, years of professional work experience, or a prior graduate degree instead. If you already hold a solid GRE score from a different graduate school search, using it toward your MBA application can save you the time and cost of taking the GMAT separately.

Top 10 Online Business Schools That Accept the GRE

Each school below accepts GRE scores as part of its online MBA application, and several also offer waivers if you qualify. Application formulas and minimum scores vary, so check current requirements directly with each program.

1. University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati’s (Lindner College of Business) online MBA has removed the GMAT and GRE requirement for most applicants, evaluating admission through a holistic review of your full application instead. If you do have a strong GRE score, the admissions committee will still accept and consider it as supporting evidence of your readiness for graduate-level coursework.

Applications require an unofficial transcript, current resume, and standard supporting materials, with international applicants also submitting English proficiency scores. Lindner's willingness to review GRE scores without requiring them gives you the flexibility to include a strong score without risking rejection for skipping the test altogether.

2. University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming's online MBA accepts either the GMAT or the GRE, sent directly from the testing agency using the program's institution code. The program also offers a waiver: applicants with an undergraduate business or STEM degree meeting the preferred 3.0 GPA, or with 10 or more years of professional experience including supervisory responsibility, can request that the test requirement be dropped entirely.

That combination of GRE acceptance plus a genuine work-experience waiver path makes Wyoming a practical option whether you have a GRE score in hand or would rather skip testing. The program recommends five or more years of full-time professional experience, though it's listed as preferred rather than mandatory.

3. Ball State University

Ball State University's AACSB-accredited online MBA accepts either the GMAT or the GRE and treats test scores as an important part of its admissions review. The program has run since 1983, giving it a long track record with working adults pursuing an online MBA degree.

Ball State's online MBA enrolls several hundred students across multiple countries, with meaningful representation of women and underrepresented minorities in its cohort. Scholarships are available, and the program publishes its average aid package alongside typical student debt figures, giving applicants a clear financial picture upfront.

4. Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University's online MBA accepts GMAT or GRE scores, with published exceptions available for applicants who meet GPA or professional experience thresholds. The 21-month program is designed to be completed entirely from home, without campus visits.

Georgia Southern sits within a broader set of Georgia public universities that have loosened standardized testing requirements in recent admissions cycles, so applicants who don't have a strong GRE score should ask directly about waiver eligibility. The program's accessible admissions posture has made it a popular option among Georgia's public online MBA offerings.

5. University of South Florida 

University of South Florida’s (USF) professional online MBA requires a GMAT or GRE score unless you qualify for a waiver based on undergraduate GPA, professional work experience, or a relevant professional license. Three letters of recommendation round out the standard application package.

Graduates of USF's program report strong salary outcomes within months of finishing, and the university's status as a large, established public research institution gives the online MBA meaningful name recognition in its home region. The waiver criteria give experienced professionals a realistic path around testing while still allowing GRE submission for applicants who have a strong score.

6. Montclair State University 

Montclair State University's MBA program allows applicants to submit either GRE or GMAT scores, with all applicants given that same choice regardless of background. The program keeps its application requirements relatively light, skipping a letter of recommendation requirement altogether.

International applicants complete standard English proficiency testing, and the rolling application deadline gives you flexibility in timing your submission around your GRE testing schedule. Montclair's accessible application fee and streamlined document requirements make it a practical option for applicants juggling a full-time job during the admissions process.

7. Georgia College & State University

Georgia College's online MBA accepts GMAT or GRE scores as part of a standard application package that also includes transcripts, a resume, and verification of two years of professional work experience. The program does publish exceptions to the testing requirement for qualifying applicants, so it's worth asking directly whether your background clears you for a waiver.

The accelerated MBA program runs across five consecutive semesters with a required orientation, giving students a defined timeline to graduation. Georgia College's online MBA sits among several Georgia public university programs that have expanded flexibility around standardized testing in recent years.

8. Missouri State University

Missouri State University's online MBA asks applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores or apply for a waiver, alongside standard English proficiency testing for non-immigrant applicants. The program's admissions process treats GRE and GMAT scores interchangeably rather than favoring one test over the other.

Missouri State's waiver process gives qualified applicants, typically those with strong GPAs or significant work experience, a path around testing entirely, while still accepting GRE scores from applicants who have already taken the exam. The program's straightforward, formula-based approach makes it easy to determine your eligibility before applying.

9. East Carolina University

East Carolina University’s (ECU) online MBA, the first fully online MBA program in North Carolina, accepts GRE scores in place of the GMAT and converts them to a predicted GMAT-equivalent score using ETS's official comparison tool. Admission relies on a formula combining your GPA and test score, with a minimum threshold you can calculate before applying.

Only scores from the Revised GRE Exam are accepted, and ECU's Graduate School directs applicants to hold off on paying the application fee until an advisor confirms their scores clear the bar. This upfront verification step helps applicants avoid a non-refundable fee if their converted score falls short.

10. Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University’s (ACU) online MBA accepts both GRE and GMAT scores and offers a notable waiver: applicants scoring at the 50th percentile or higher on either test can waive the program's standard two-year work experience requirement. That trade-off rewards applicants with a strong test score but limited professional history.

The program keeps class sizes small, averaging around 15 students per course, and requires two letters of recommendation alongside standard transcripts. ACU's faith-based mission shapes its program culture, which is worth knowing if you're weighing it against a purely secular public university option.

How We Rank Schools

We rank schools using data from trusted sources like the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with each school's published admissions requirements.

• Accreditation: Every program listed holds AACSB accreditation, the leading specialized accreditation for business education.
• Published GRE policy: We prioritized schools with a clearly stated GRE acceptance policy over programs where the testing requirement was ambiguous or undocumented.
• Waiver availability: Programs offering GPA-based, experience-based, or score-based waivers ranked higher, since they give applicants more than one path to admission.
• Transparency: We favored schools that publish specific score formulas, minimums, or conversion methods rather than leaving requirements vague.
• Accessibility: We weighed overall admission rates, application simplicity, and each program's fit for working professionals balancing a job with graduate study.

You can read more about our approach on our ranking methodology page.

Why More Business Schools Now Accept the GRE

The GMAT was purpose-built for business admissions, but its narrow focus became a liability as MBA applicant pools diversified. Many prospective students — especially those coming from nonbusiness undergraduate backgrounds, or applying to multiple types of graduate programs at once — already had a GRE score and no interest in taking a second, similarly priced exam solely for one application.

Business schools noticed that GRE scores predicted MBA success about as well as GMAT scores did, while opening the applicant pool to people who might otherwise not have applied at all. That combination of comparable predictive value plus wider access is why so many programs, including several on this list, have moved toward accepting either test or dropping the requirement altogether for qualified applicants.

How Schools Convert GRE Scores for MBA Admission

Not every school treats a GRE score identically to a GMAT score. Several programs, including East Carolina University, run submitted GRE scores through ETS's official GRE Comparison Tool for Business Schools, which converts your verbal and quantitative scores into a predicted GMAT-equivalent number used in the same admissions formula as GMAT applicants.

Other schools simply accept GRE scores at face value without any conversion, evaluating them holistically alongside your GPA, resume, and essays rather than plugging them into a fixed formula. Before you take either test, ask your target school which approach it uses; if it converts scores, you can use ETS's comparison tool yourself to estimate where your GRE score would land.

How to Choose an Online Business School That Accepts the GRE

Testing policy is just one factor in choosing the right program, but it's often the first hurdle to clear. Work through these considerations alongside your GRE results.

Check Accreditation

Confirm the program holds AACSB accreditation, since it remains the most widely recognized specialized accreditation in business education and affects both degree value and eligibility for professional certifications down the road. Regional institutional accreditation matters too, particularly if you might transfer credit in or out later.

Confirm Whether Your Score Needs Conversion

Ask directly whether the school converts GRE scores to a GMAT-equivalent or evaluates them independently. If a conversion applies, run your actual scores through ETS's comparison tool before applying so you know where you stand against the program's minimum.

Ask About Waiver Eligibility

Many of the schools above offer waivers based on GPA, work experience, or professional licensure, and meeting those criteria can save you from testing altogether. Even if you already have a GRE score, ask whether submitting it still helps your application or whether a waiver route serves you just as well.

Review Work Experience Expectations

Some programs, like Abilene Christian, will trade a strong test score for reduced work experience requirements, while others hold firm on a minimum number of professional years regardless of your score. Match your own background against each program's stated expectations before investing in an application.

Compare Tuition and Program Length

Total cost and time to degree vary meaningfully across these programs, from accelerated five-semester tracks to standard two-year formats. Weigh tuition per credit, total program length, and available financial aid against your own budget and timeline.

FAQs About Online Business Schools That Accept the GRE

Applicants weighing the GRE for an online MBA tend to ask a similar set of practical questions. Here are the answers most relevant to your decision.

Is the GRE Easier Than the GMAT for Business School Admission?

Neither test is inherently easier, since they measure overlapping but distinct skills. The GMAT leans harder into data sufficiency and quantitative reasoning specific to business contexts, while the GRE covers broader verbal and quantitative content. Choose based on which format and content area plays to your strengths, not on a general reputation for difficulty.

Can You Submit Both GRE and GMAT Scores to the Same School?

Most schools will accept both if you've taken them, and some, like Stanford's MBA program, explicitly allow you to submit either or both without a stated preference. Submitting your stronger score alone is also acceptable at nearly every school, since programs aren't required to average multiple test attempts.

Do GRE Waivers Affect Your Chances of Admission?

Using a waiver doesn't inherently hurt your application, since schools that publish waiver criteria have already decided that qualifying applicants demonstrate readiness through other means. That said, a strong GRE score can still strengthen a borderline application even at a school where you'd otherwise qualify for a waiver.

How Old Can a GRE Score Be for MBA Admission?

Most schools require scores from within the last five years, matching ETS's own reporting window for GRE results. Confirm the specific cutoff with each program, since a few schools set shorter windows.

Do Online MBA Programs Weigh GRE Scores Differently Than On-Campus Programs?

Generally no. Most schools apply the same admissions formula or holistic review to online and on-campus applicants alike, since it's typically the same degree and faculty. Confirm this directly if a program's online and campus MBAs are structured as genuinely separate degrees, since policies can occasionally diverge.

Find the Right Online MBA for Your Test Scores

Choosing a program based on how it handles your test scores can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress in the admissions process. Browse more MBA program guides and admissions comparisons here on Learn.org to match your GRE score or your waiver eligibility to the program that fits you best.