MBA GPA: How Admissions Views Your GPA

By Nicole Willson Updated Nov 19, 2019

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Introduction
GPA Requirements
Low GPA
GMAT Scores

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Your GPA is an important part of your MBA application, because it shows admisssions committees what kind of student you are. Your grades demonstrate the quality of your work as well as your motivation.

GPA Requirements

According to about.com, you need a GPA of at least 3.0 to 3.3 to get into most Masters programs. To get into a top 5 business school, you need a GPA of at least 3.5 according to MBA admissions expert Stacy Blackman.

These numbers, however, are just guidelines. Most schools, even top business schools like Harvard and Stanford, do not have minimum GPA requirements for admission. Your GPA is just one of the components business schools look at and there are other parts of the application that are equally important.

Low GPA

If you do have a low GPA, make sure to address it somewhere in your application. Don't make excuses, just address the issue head-on.

A low GPA doesn't necessarily mean that you won't get into your top school. It just means that the other parts of your application need to make up for it. MBA admissions is about the big picture -- that's why every element of the application matters. Even people with 3.0 GPAs and GMAT scores of 600 have managed to get into business school.

GMAT Scores

If you have a low GPA, a great GMAT score can increase your chances of getting into business school. Work hard to get the highest score possible.

Admissions committees know that grades vary among schools -- for example, an 'A' at one university may be equivalent to a 'B+' at another. Even within the same university, grades can vary depending on the quality of the course and the professor you studied with. The GMAT helps business school admissions officers level the playing field in terms of comparing students. That's why those with a low GPA should view the GMAT as an opportunity to increase your chances of getting in.

A GMAT score higher than 700 will put you in a category where GPA won't be an issue in terms of getting into a top school. 680 is still considered an okay score. While a score of 650 or below is considered low for a top school, it's not a complete deal-breaker.

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Written by

Nicole Willson

Nicole is the SEO manager of TopMBA.com, as well as a contributing author. She holds a BA in history and sociology, and a master's in library science. Aside from her work for QS, Nicole is a long-time contributing editor and administrator for WikiHow.