Why this table exists
Physics GRE policies have been flipping since several top departments reinstated the test, and old forum threads now contradict the departments' own pages. This tracker records what each program's official page said when we last checked it (verified 2026-08-07), with a link so you can confirm the live wording yourself. For help deciding whether to take the test at all, see our decision guide.
Program stances at a glance
| Program | Published stance (verified 2026-08-07) |
|---|---|
| Harvard | Physics GRE required; General GRE optional.December 15, 2026 deadline (2027 entry). |
| Stanford | Physics GRE and General GRE required for all applicants.Fall 2026-27 cycle stated; exceptions reviewed case by case. |
| UC Berkeley | Physics GRE required; General GRE strongly recommended.Fall 2027 entry; both tests required from Fall 2028. |
| Caltech | Physics GRE required; General GRE recommended.Fall 2027 cohort stated. |
| Cornell | Physics GRE required for theoretical particle and theoretical condensed-matter applicants; not considered for experimental, physics education, or astrophysics-theory applicants. |
| MIT | Physics GRE recommended but not required. |
| CU Boulder | Physics GRE strongly recommended. |
| Princeton | Both exams optional; Physics GRE recommended for international applicants.2026/2027 cycle stated. |
| Yale | Both exams optional.December 15, 2026 deadline. |
| Columbia | GRE scores included only if the applicant chooses.December 3, 2026 deadline. |
| UChicago | No Physical Sciences Division program requires GRE scores; some recommend them. |
| Illinois (UIUC) | Both exams optional.Page may still describe the prior cycle. |
| Maryland | Physics GRE formally optional and considered if submitted; General GRE not used. |
| UT Austin | Physics GRE optional; General GRE not considered. |
| University of Washington | Physics GRE optional and typically a relatively minor factor.Page may still describe the prior cycle. |
| Johns Hopkins | Both exams optional. |
| UC Santa Barbara | GRE scores not required and not accepted.Page states 2026 applicants; may not yet reflect 2027 entry. |
| University of Michigan | No published Physics GRE stance; General GRE no longer used by Rackham doctoral programs.Marked unclear rather than assumed. |
The pattern in the data
Four of the eighteen programs now require the Physics GRE outright, one requires it for theory subfields only, and two more recommend it. The optional group remains the largest, and one program will not accept scores at all. The practical consequence: if your list includes any of the require-or-recommend programs, the test is effectively back on your calendar, and registration windows fill early in reinstatement years.
Sources
Every source below was accessed on the listed date. Pages — especially department admissions pages — change without notice; the links go to the live versions.
- Harvard Griffin GSAS: Physics degree program page — Harvard University. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- UC Berkeley Physics: graduate admissions GRE announcement — University of California, Berkeley. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- Caltech Physics: Information for Applicants — California Institute of Technology. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- Stanford Physics: graduate admissions — Stanford University. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- MIT Physics: Graduate Admissions — Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- CU Boulder Physics: graduate application information — University of Colorado Boulder. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- Yale Physics: graduate admissions information — Yale University. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- UChicago Physical Sciences Division: Application Requirements — University of Chicago. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- UIUC Physics: Graduate Admissions Requirements — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- University of Maryland Physics: Graduate FAQ — University of Maryland. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- UT Austin Physics: Graduate Admissions — University of Texas at Austin. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- Princeton Physics: graduate admissions — Princeton University. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- Columbia Physics: applying to the graduate program — Columbia University. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- University of Washington Physics: Ph.D. program admissions — University of Washington. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- Johns Hopkins Physics and Astronomy: graduate admissions — Johns Hopkins University. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- Cornell Graduate School catalog: Physics Ph.D. admissions — Cornell University. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- UC Santa Barbara Physics: How to Apply — University of California, Santa Barbara. Accessed 2026-08-02.
- University of Michigan Physics: graduate application — University of Michigan. Accessed 2026-08-07.
- University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School: test policy — University of Michigan. Accessed 2026-08-07.
Review and maintenance
Source-checked by publisher- Publisher record
- Keiko Study editorial owner
- Publisher placeholder; no individual credential claim is made yet.
- Reviewer record
- Technical reviewer pending
- Placeholder only; this content is not labeled as reviewed by a named specialist.
- Last source check
- 2026-08-07
- Next scheduled review
- 2026-10-01
Graduate admissions requirements change mid-cycle. Recheck every cited department page before the December deadlines and correct the table if any stance has changed.