The GRE for tech grad school — and whether you even need it

What it is & the trend

The GRE costs $220 — and it’s increasingly optional

The GRE General Test costs $220 in the U.S., per ETS (fee schedule effective July 1, 2024), plus smaller fees to reschedule ($55) or send extra score reports ($40). More to the point, many AI and CS programs have made it optional or dropped it; for a current official example, Carnegie Mellon lists GRE scores as optional for MS in Machine Learning applicants applying in Fall 2025 for an August 2026 start. Policies vary by program and change, so confirm the current requirement on each program’s admissions page before you spend a dollar on test prep.

Programs that waive the GRE lean on the rest of the application — your academic record, work experience, recommendations, statement of purpose, and a portfolio of projects. If a strong GRE score isn’t your advantage, a program that weighs those instead may serve you better.

The question the lists skip

Before the GRE, ask whether you need the degree

The GRE is a $220 gate in front of a degree that runs into the tens of thousands— graduate tuition averaged $20,513 a year (NCES, 2021–22). So the first question isn’t “which programs skip the GRE,” it’s does your target role need the degree at all. For many applied AI and data roles, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education, and people enter through certifications, projects, and apprenticeships — no GRE and no master’s required.

Where a graduate degree genuinely fits is the research path— roles that map to Computer & Information Research Scientists, for which BLS lists a master’s as the typical entry and research positions often expect a PhD. That’s where the GRE question actually has teeth. Decide the degree question first; the GRE follows from it.

Before you register

Four questions to ask

1. Does your target program actually require the GRE?

   Many AI and CS programs have made it optional or dropped it. Check the specific program’s current admissions page before you register — policies vary by program and change year to year.

2. Does your target role even require the degree?

   For many applied AI roles, BLS lists a bachelor’s as the typical entry education — not a master’s. If the role doesn’t need the degree, the GRE question may be moot. Research-focused roles are where a graduate degree (and the GRE) is more likely to matter.

3. What does the program accept instead of a GRE score?

   Programs that waive the GRE commonly weigh academic record, work experience, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and a portfolio. Ask what specifically substitutes, so you can present your strongest case.

4. Have you priced the GRE plus the all-in degree cost against the cheaper paths?

   The GRE is $220 before the degree’s tens of thousands in tuition. Compare the full stack against vendor certifications, free and low-cost courses, apprenticeships, and project work — many applied roles are reachable without either.

Common questions

The GRE for tech grad school, answered honestly

How much does the GRE cost?

The GRE General Test costs $220 in the United States, per ETS (the fee schedule effective July 1, 2024). Related fees include $55 to reschedule and $40 per additional score report. That is before any tuition — the test is a small line item next to a graduate degree’s cost.

Do you need the GRE for an AI or computer-science master’s?

Increasingly, no — many programs have made it optional or dropped it. For a current official example, Carnegie Mellon lists GRE scores as optional for MS in Machine Learning applicants applying in Fall 2025 for an August 2026 start. Policies vary by program and change, so verify the current requirement on each program’s admissions page.

What do programs accept instead of the GRE?

Programs that waive the GRE typically evaluate the rest of the application more heavily — undergraduate record, relevant work experience, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a portfolio of projects. The exact substitute is program-specific; ask admissions what carries the most weight.

Should I take the GRE if I want to work in AI?

It depends on whether you need a graduate degree at all. For many applied AI roles, BLS lists a bachelor’s as the typical entry-level education, and people enter through certifications, projects, and apprenticeships — no GRE or master’s required. The GRE matters most if you are targeting a research-focused role and a specific program that still requires it. Decide the degree question first; the GRE follows from it.

Does RoleMath help me apply or place me in a program?

No. RoleMath gives you the cited facts — the GRE’s cost, the optional-test trend, and whether your target role needs the degree — and sells nothing. It does not run admissions consulting, does not place you in a program, and earns no referral fee from any school or test provider.