Which tests do Kellogg programs require?
The admissions test is one part of the application, alongside essays, recommendations, and an interview. The full-time programs application page groups the two-year MBA, One-Year MBA, MMM, MBAi, JD-MBA, and MD-MBA, and says applicants may apply to only one of these programs per year. This article covers the two-year MBA, One-Year MBA, MMM, and Master in Management.
The Master in Management (MiM) has its own application, separate from the MBA programs, with its own rounds and test requirements. The “MiM or MBA” article can help you choose a program level.
| Program | Entry | Admissions test | English test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-year MBA | 2026–2027 cycle; rounds on September 9, 2026, January 6, 2027, and March 31, 2027 | GMAT or GRE from a single test session, either one; no minimum or preference; no waiver mentioned on the page | TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo if English is not your first language; no minimum published |
| One-Year MBA | 2026–2027 cycle; June to June, 15.5 course credits; same rounds as the two-year MBA | GMAT or GRE, according to the shared full-time programs application page | Same requirements as the two-year MBA; no minimum published |
| MMM | 2026–2027 cycle; same rounds as the two-year MBA | GMAT or GRE, according to the same shared application page | Same requirements as the two-year MBA; no minimum published |
| Master in Management (MiM) | Ten-month program, September to June; rounds on October 28, 2026, January 13, April 21, and June 2, 2027 | GMAT or GRE required; waiver for Northwestern undergraduates and applicants with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale; single test session | TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English, unless the applicant has a U.S. degree or a degree taught only in English; no minimum published |
GMAT or GRE: does the school prefer one?
The application page states that Kellogg does not prefer one test over the other and has no minimum acceptable score. It requires a score from a single test session; superscores are not considered, meaning the best sections from multiple attempts are not combined. Your choice depends on your schedule, which test suits you better, and the other schools you are considering; the “GMAT or GRE” article outlines these criteria.
The full-time MBA page reviewed does not mention waivers for the GMAT or GRE or the Executive Assessment; that does not prove they are rejected, but applicants should ask the school to confirm any other option. The Master in Management allows waivers only for Northwestern undergraduates and applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale. If your GPA uses another scale, the page requires a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-approved service, such as WES, to qualify for the waiver. The program FAQ adds that there is no GPA requirement to apply or be admitted.
The MBA page lists these codes for sending scores: 6WZ-3J-89 for the GMAT and 7921 for the GRE.
Which English test, and what is the minimum?
Applicants whose first language is not English must take an English test in addition to the GMAT or GRE. For full-time MBA programs, the school accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test; the TOEIC is not listed. The requirement is waived for applicants with a U.S. degree or a degree for which English was the sole language of instruction; two consecutive years of work in the United States or an English-speaking country within the past five years may also qualify. No minimum is published, and the committee reserves the right to request a score from any applicant.
The Master in Management requires applicants whose first language is not English to demonstrate English proficiency, with a waiver for a U.S. degree or a degree taught exclusively in English. No minimum is published here either. If you take the TOEFL iBT, note that scores have ranged from 1 to 6 since January 21, 2026, with a comparable 0–120 score shown on reports through January 2028; check which scale the school cites before comparing.
Which scores does Kellogg publish?
This table summarizes figures from the cited official pages, including their scope and class year. The Class of 2027 profile says its figures describe only the incoming two-year MBA class. It gives averages and four charts labeled “Middle 80% range”; the range bounds are not reproduced here. The school’s welcome post on November 5, 2025, reports 534 students and repeats the GMAT Focus average of 687.
The two GMAT versions have separate rows: “GMAT Focus,” the current version, and “GMAT Legacy,” the old version. We do not compare or convert them, or convert a GRE score to a GMAT score.
| Test | Program or scope | What the school publishes | Edition and period |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT Focus | Two-year MBA, Class of 2027 (534 students) | Average of 687 | Current version; Class of 2027 profile |
| GMAT Legacy | Two-year MBA, Class of 2027 | Average of 733 | Old version, called “Legacy” by the school; Class of 2027 profile |
| GRE | Two-year MBA, Class of 2027 | Verbal average: 162; Quant average: 162 | Class of 2027 profile |
| GMAT, GRE | Full-time MBA, minimum | No minimum acceptable score | Application page, 2026–2027 admissions |
| GMAT, GRE | One-Year MBA and MMM | No separate figures included in this summary | 2026–2027 admissions |
| GMAT, GRE | Master in Management | No test-score figure found in the profile text available for review | Class of 2026 profile cited here |
| TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo | MBA and Master in Management | Not reported: no minimum displayed | 2026–2027 admissions |
The pitfall
Treating an average as a cutoff or mixing GMAT versions and programs
The 687 is an average for the two-year MBA Class of 2027, not a target: the school says it has no minimum acceptable score, and an average includes both lower and higher scores. It uses the current GMAT Focus scale and should not be compared with a score from the old version, which the school lists separately on its profile page.
A second pitfall is mixing programs. The Class of 2027 profile describes the two-year MBA class, not the One-Year MBA, MMM, or Master in Management. This summary includes no test-score figure specific to those three programs; that does not mean the school publishes none elsewhere. Other class profiles describe different classes, so do not mix them with the Class of 2027 profile.
What happens after the test?
For full-time MBA programs, the application includes a written essay of up to 550 words, a five-question video essay due within 96 hours after the round deadline, and two letters of recommendation, ideally including one from your current supervisor. Interviews are by invitation and all are virtual. For the 2026–2027 cycle, deadlines are September 9, 2026 (decision December 9, 2026), January 6, 2027 (decision March 24), and March 31, 2027 (decision May 12).
For the Master in Management, the application includes a 450-word essay, a three-question video essay due within 96 hours after the round deadline, a one-page résumé, transcripts, and two recommendations: one academic, preferably from a professor, and one from someone outside your family who knows you well, such as a work supervisor, research advisor, or coach. Interviews are by invitation and held on Zoom. Deadlines are October 28, 2026 (decision December 16, 2026), January 13, 2027 (March 10), April 21, 2027 (May 26), and June 2, 2027 (June 23). Rounds 3 and 4 are for applicants who do not need a visa; according to the FAQ, applicants who do need one should apply in Rounds 1 or 2.
Work backward from your target date: allow time to take the test, send the score to the school, and retake it if needed. For the MBA, the complete application must be submitted before the score expires.
Key takeaways
- The full-time MBA programs and MMM require the GMAT or GRE from a single test session, with no preference, minimum, or superscoring; the Master in Management also requires one, with waivers for Northwestern undergraduates or applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- For the two-year MBA Class of 2027, the school reports averages of 687 on GMAT Focus, 733 on GMAT Legacy, and 162 on both GRE Verbal and Quant: averages, never cutoffs. This summary does not include test figures specific to the One-Year MBA, MMM, or Master in Management.
- English proficiency is demonstrated through the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo, with waivers available depending on the degree; for the MBA, two consecutive years of work in the United States or an English-speaking country within the past five years may also meet the requirement. The cited admissions pages do not display a numerical minimum.
- MBA rounds for the 2026–2027 cycle close September 9, 2026, January 6, and March 31, 2027; Master in Management rounds close October 28, 2026, January 13, April 21, and June 2, 2027.