GRE or GMAT Requirement for US Master’s: Fees, Test-Optional

The GRE or GMAT requirement for a US master’s depends entirely on the programme. Some require a score, some say “optional” or “recommended”, and some do not consider it at all, so check each programme’s official admissions page. From Nepal, the GRE General Test costs $249 (about Rs 37,908) and can be taken at home. GRE and GMAT scores are both valid for five years.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 October 2026 (USD 1 = Rs 152.24).

GRE and GMAT key facts for Nepali students

GRE or GMAT requirement: do you need a score for a US master’s?

There is no single US rule. Each programme decides. Broadly you will see four types of wording on admissions pages:

• Required. No score, no complete application.
• Optional or “test-optional”. You choose whether to send a score. A good score can help, especially with a lower GPA or a three-year degree.
• Recommended. Technically optional, but most admitted students send one.
• Not considered. The programme will not look at a score even if you send it.

Business programmes (MBA, MS Finance, MS Business Analytics) may name the GMAT, the GRE, or both. Outside business schools, the GRE is the test you will usually see named. Always check which test each page accepts. A programme may also use scores for scholarships or assistantships even when admission is test-optional, so read the funding section too.

How to check if a programme is test-optional

Only trust the programme’s own page. Ranking sites, forums and agent lists go out of date quickly, and policies often change from one intake to the next.

1. Go to the department’s page for your exact programme (not the university’s general graduate page).
2. Find “Admission requirements” or “How to apply”. Note the intake (for example Fall 2027) the page refers to.
3. Look for the words GRE, GMAT, “test-optional” or “waiver”. Note whether it differs for international applicants.
4. Check the institution codes. If a score is accepted, the page often gives the ETS code or GMAT programme code.
5. If the page is unclear, email the graduate admissions office and keep the reply. Screenshot the page with the date.
6. Check the funding page. Some departments use scores when ranking applicants for assistantships. See our assistantship guide.

Building your list from scratch? Our US university selection guide covers accreditation, SEVP certification and costs first.

GRE fees from Nepal

The ETS GRE fees page lists $249 for the GRE General Test for test takers outside China and India, effective 1 August 2026. Nepal falls in that rest-of-world price. Other charges on the same page:

• Rescheduling: $55 (about Rs 8,373).
• Each additional score report: $40 (about Rs 6,090).
• ETS fee reduction vouchers are listed for testing in the US and certain US territories, so they do not normally help applicants testing in Nepal.

You pay ETS in US dollars, usually with an international card. Check your bank’s card limits before you register, and keep the receipt for your records.

GMAT fees from Nepal

GMAC does not print one global price on its payment page. The mba.com exam payment page asks you to pick your country, and Nepal is in the list. GMAC’s help centre says fees can vary by country, currency and delivery format, and that rescheduling, cancellation and extra score reports cost extra.

GMAC’s own GMAT online guide quotes $300 for the online exam and $275 at most test centres (about Rs 45,672 and Rs 41,866), but says those figures were correct as of October 2024. Treat them as a guide and confirm the price at checkout.

Test centre or at home in Nepal?

ETS says the GRE at home is available wherever the GRE is normally offered, based on the country in your ETS account, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ETS says the GRE is given at more than 1,000 test centres in 160+ countries, but its public locations page does not list cities. To see if a Kathmandu centre has seats on your date, search when you register in your ETS account.

For GRE at home, ETS requires:

• A desktop or laptop (no tablets, Chromebooks or Surface Pro), one screen and one keyboard, Windows 11 or macOS 11 or later, and Chrome.
• A speaker (no headsets or earphones), a separate microphone, and a webcam that can show the whole room.
• A second camera: a smartphone or tablet on a sturdy stand.
• One small whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one sheet of paper in a clear sleeve. Normal paper and pens are not allowed.
• Identity verification in the ETS app at least 72 hours before the test.

Nepal-specific tip: power cuts and unstable internet can end an at-home test. If you test at home, use a UPS for your router and laptop, and a backup data connection. If your home is noisy or shared, a test centre may be the safer choice.

For the GMAT, GMAC says the online exam is available worldwide except in mainland China, Iran, Cuba, Sudan and North Korea.

How long are GRE and GMAT scores valid?

ETS says GRE scores are reportable for 5 years after your test date. GMAC says GMAT scores are valid for five years. If you took a test some years ago, count five years from the test date to the programme’s application deadline, not to your start date.

When to take the test

1. Confirm which of your shortlisted programmes need a score.
2. Book a date that leaves room for one retake before your earliest deadline.
3. Remember official GRE scores take 8 to 10 days to appear in your ETS account.
4. Send scores to programmes using their codes. Extra GRE reports cost $40 each.
5. Fit the test into your wider study abroad timeline, alongside your English test. See IELTS vs PTE.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a programme is test-optional because it was last year.
• Sending a GMAT to a programme that only accepts the GRE, or the other way round.
• Ignoring that “optional” programmes may use scores for funding.
• Taking the at-home test without checking equipment rules, then being turned away on test day.
• Paying a third party to “book” your test. Register yourself on ets.org or mba.com.

Frequently asked questions

Is GRE required for MS in the USA?
Not always. It depends on the programme. Check the department’s official admissions page for your intake.

What is the GRE fee in Nepal?
$249 from 1 August 2026, the rest-of-world price on the ETS fees page. That is about Rs 37,908 at the NRB selling rate on 17 October 2026.

Can I take the GRE at home from Nepal?
ETS says the at-home test is available wherever the GRE is normally offered, except mainland China and inside Iran. You need a suitable computer, a second camera and a quiet private room.

How long is a GRE score valid?
Five years from the test date.

Should I take the GRE if a programme is test-optional?
Consider it if your GPA is on the lower side, your degree is from a less-known college, or the programme uses scores for scholarships or assistantships.

Related guides

• Return to Nepal After Study Abroad: Equivalence and Licences
• US University Selection: How Nepali Students Shortlist Schools
• Graduate Assistantship in the USA: TA, RA and GA Explained
• SOP Writing Guide for Nepali Students: Format, Tips, AI Rules
• How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)

Sources

• GRE General Test fees – ETS
• Taking the GRE General Test at home – ETS
• GRE General Test testing locations – ETS
• Getting your GRE General Test scores – ETS
• GMAT exam payment – mba.com (GMAC)
• GMAT fees, vouchers and fee waivers – mba.com help centre
• GMAT exam online – GMAC
• How long are GMAT scores valid – mba.com help centre
• GMAT exam FAQs – mba.com

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Fees can change; confirm at checkout. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.