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What average MCAT score and GPA do you need to get into your top choice medical school?

The two biggest objective medical school admissions stats that determine an applicant’s success in medical school admissions are the average MCAT score and average GPA.

However, subjective criteria which is communicated through your medical school personal statement, AMCAS work and activities, secondary essays, and letters of recommendation, also impact interview and admissions outcomes.

However, for the purposes of this article we will focus on the objective criteria, or med school admission stats, that impact success.

In the medical school admissions process, your MCAT and GPA serve as the foundational building blocks for every student’s candidacy. Sometimes applicants have a difficult time hearing this fact: no matter how exceptional an applicant’s background, it is often impossible to overcome low medical school statistics.

What does this mean exactly? Your MCAT and GPA are the two criteria that will earn you a foot in the door. Assuming these two metrics meet minimum cut offs set by a medical school, your application will actually be reviewed by a human being. If not, your application can be automatically rejected.

Below you will find a complete list of U.S. medical schools, including the average GPA and average MCAT scores by school.

Keep in mind that most medical schools do not publish MCAT and GPA cut offs and many medical schools have sophisticated formulas to determine how to weigh MCAT and GPAs when making these cut off determinations.

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Note: It is not always simple to find out a medical school’s average MCAT score and GPAs for accepted students since the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) only lists MEDIAN (or middle) statistics and not MEAN (or average) statistics for accepted students. However, some medical schools, but not all, post this data on their websites.

Understanding the numerical criteria that influence an applicant’s success in the process will allow premedical students to set goals. It also enables medical school applicants to gauge how competitive they are in general, and for specific medical schools in which they are interested.

Finally, it is important to review medical school acceptance rates to get an idea of each medical school’s competitiveness. The lower the medical school acceptance rate, the more competitive the medical school. And, the higher a medical school acceptance rate, the less competitive the medical school.

SchoolStateAverage GPAAverage MCATDegree
A.T. Still UniversityAZ3.45505DO
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic MedicineMO3.69504DO
Alabama College of Osteopathic MedicineAL3.45504DO
Albany Medical CollegeNY3.6511MD
Albert Einstein College of MedicineNY3.82516MD
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern UniversityAZ3.53507DO
Arkansas College of Osteopathic MedicineAR3.5500DO
Baylor College of MedicineTX3.92518MD
Boston University School of MedicineMA3.72517MD
Brown University The Warren Alpert Medical SchoolRI3.83516MD
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State UniversityNM3.54504.19DO
California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic MedicineCA3.5507.4DO
California Northstate University College of MedicineCA3.6511MD
California University of Science and MedicineCA3.59513MD
Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic MedicineNC3.6505DO
Carle Illinois College of MedicineIL3.73513MD
Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineOH3.78518MD
Central Michigan University College of MedicineMI3.69508MD
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern UniversityIL3.63510DO
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceIL3.69511MD
Columbia University College of Physicians and SurgeonsNY3.93521MD
Cooper Medical School of Rowan UniversityNJ3.77511MD
Creighton University School of MedicineNE3.83513MD
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic MedicineIA3.57509DO
Drexel University College of MedicinePA3.57511MD
Duke University School of MedicineNC3.9519MD
East Carolina University Brody School of MedicineNC3.54506MD
East Tennessee State University Quillen College of MedicineTN3.75510MD
Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolVA3.5511MD
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Auburn Campus)AL3.7502DO
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Carolinas Campus)SC3.7502DO
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Louisiana Campus)LA3.7502DO
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Virginia Campus)VA3.7502DO
Emory University School of MedicineGA3.7514MD
Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of MedicineFL3.79513MD
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of MedicineFL3.7509MD
Florida State University College of MedicineFL3.8507MD
Geisel School of Medicine at DartmouthNH3.77516MD
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health SciencesDC3.7512MD
Georgia Campus Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineGAN/A504DO
Georgetown University School of MedicineDC3.63512MD
Geisinger Commonwealth School of MedicinePA3.72511.6MD
Hackensack Meridian School of MedicineNJ3.71513MD
Harvard Medical SchoolMA3.9519.46MD
Hofstra Northwell School of MedicineNY3.82517MD
Howard University College of MedicineDC3.61507DO
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNY3.81519MD
Idaho College of Osteopathic MedicineID3.56505DO
Indiana University School of MedicineIN3.82512MD
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineMD3.95522MD
Kaiser Permanente School of MedicineCA3.68516MD
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic MedicineMO3.64507DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicinePA3.5503DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton CampusFL3.5503DO
Liberty University College of Osteopathic MedicineVA3.4503DO
Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic MedicineTN3.4501DO
Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of MedicineIL3.7510MD
Loma Linda University School of MedicineCA3.83510MD
Louisiana State University – New Orleans School of MedicineLA3.85509MD
Louisiana State University – Shreveport School of MedicineLA3.7506MD
Marian University College of Osteopathic MedicineIN3.65504DO
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of MedicineWV3.61502MD
Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineAZ/MN3.92520MD
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityGA3.8512MD
Medical College of WisconsinWI3.5511MD
Medical University of South Carolina College of MedicineSC3.7511MD
Meharry Medical College School of MedicineTN3.46503MD
Mercer University School of MedicineGA3.64504MD
Michigan State University College of Human MedicineMI3.77510MD
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic MedicineMI3.5-3.7506-508DO
Morehouse School of MedicineGA3.68506MD
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic MedicineNY3.62506DO
New York Medical CollegeNY3.6514MD
New York University Grossman School of MedicineNY3.92522MD
New York University Long Island School of MedicineNY3.83516MD
Northeast Ohio Medical UniversityOH3.68510MD
Northwestern University The Feinberg School of MedicineIL3.9520MD
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic MedicineFL3.76512MD
Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic MedicineFL3.6504DO
Oakland University William Beaumont School of MedicineMI3.85509MD
The Ohio State University College of MedicineOH3.82514MD
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic MedicineOH3.68504DO
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic MedicineOK3.6500DO
Oregon Health & Science University School of MedicineOR3.65509MD
Pacific Northwestern University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic MedicineWA3.5504DO
Pennsylvania State University College of MedicinePA3.75511MD
Perelman School of Medicine University of PennsylvaniaPA3.92522MD
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicinePA3.5505DO
Ponce School of Medicine and Health SciencesPR3.5499MD
Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of MedicineCT3.7513MD
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic MedicineCO3.55506DO
Rowan University School of Osteopathic MedicineNJ3.57505DO
Rush Medical College of Rush UniversityIL3.65511MD
Rutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolNJ3.7514MD
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolNJ3.64512MD
Saint Louis University School of MedicineMO3.86512.22MD
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic MedicineTX3.69506DO
San Juan Bautista School of MedicinePR3.71500MD
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPA3.73514MD
Southern Illinois University School of MedicineIL3.82508MD
Stanford University School of MedicineCA3.89518MD
Stony Brook University School of MedicineNY3.8515MD
SUNY – Downstate Medical Center College of MedicineNY3.73513MD
SUNY – Upstate Medical UniversityNY3.64509.86MD
TCU and UNTHSC School of MedicineTX3.56508MD
Temple University Lewis Katz School of MedicinePA3.74512MD
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of MedicineTX3.86513MD
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of MedicineTX3.78509MD
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine – LubbockTX3.9512MD
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Middletown CampusNY3.48502.68DO
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem CampusNY3.47506.75DO
Touro University California College of Osteopathic MedicineCA3.56509DO
Touro University – Nevada College of Osteopathic MedicineNV3.54506.9DO
Tufts University School of MedicineMA3.71514MD
Tulane University School of MedicineLA3.52508MD
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of MedicineMD3.7509MD
University of Alabama School of MedicineAL3.78508.9MD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of MedicineAR3.84509MD
University of Arizona College of Medicine (Tucson)AZ3.74508MD
University of Arizona School of Medicine (Phoenix)AZ3.78515MD
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical SciencesNY3.66510MD
University of California – Davis School of MedicineCA3.58510.52MD
University of California – Irvine School of MedicineCA3.78514.5MD
University of California – Los Angeles David Geffen School of MedicineCA3.81516MD
University of California – Riverside School of MedicineCA3.6509MD
University of California – San Diego School of MedicineCA3.77516.15MD
University of California – San Francisco School of MedicineCA3.87517MD
Universidad Central Del Caribe School of MedicinePR3.8501
University of Central Florida College of MedicineFL3.81513MD
University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineIL3.87519MD
University of Cincinnati College of MedicineOH3.74515MD
University of Colorado School of MedicineCO3.82515DO
University of Connecticut School of MedicineCT3.76513MD
University of Florida College of MedicineFL3.79514MD
University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of MedicineHI3.76513MD
University of Houston College of MedicineTX3.59506MD
University of Illinois College of MedicineIL3.8513MD
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic MedicineTX3.61502DO
University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineIA3.8515MD
University of Kansas School of MedicineKS3.88510MD
University of Kentucky College of MedicineKY3.65507.5MD
University of Louisville School of MedicineKY3.65507MD
University of Maryland School of MedicineMD3.8515MD
University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolMA3.77514MD
University of Miami Miller School of MedicineFL3.75514MD
University of Michigan Medical SchoolMI3.72515MD
University of Minnesota Medical School - Twin CitiesMN3.72509.8MD
University of Minnesota Medical School - DuluthMN3.67504MD
University of Mississippi School of MedicineMS3.7504MD
University of Missouri – Columbia School of MedicineMO3.81509MD
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of MedicineMO3.85510MD
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of MedicineNE3.85512MD
University of Nevada Las Vegas School of MedicineNV3.6–3.7510MD
University of Nevada Reno School of MedicineNV3.77509MD
University of New England College of Osteopathic MedicineME3.57504DO
University of New Mexico School of MedicineNM3.71505MD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of MedicineNC3.66512MD
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health SciencesND3.8507MD
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic MedicineTX3.71507DO
University of Oklahoma College of MedicineOK3.81509.43MD
University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic MedicineKY3.5500DO
University of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePA3.83516MD
University of Puerto Rico School of MedicinePR3.86506MD
University of Rochester School of Medicine and DentistryNY3.7514MD
University of South Alabama College of MedicineAL3.83510MD
University of South Carolina School of Medicine – ColumbiaSC3.71508MD
University of South Carolina School of Medicine – GreenvilleSC3.7-3.75509MD
University of South Dakota Sanford School of MedicineSD3.82508MD
University of South Florida Health Morsani College of MedicineFL3.89518MD
University of Southern California Keck School of MedicineCA3.8517MD
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of MedicineTN3.89512MD
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical SchoolTX3.78514MD
University of Texas Medical Branch School of MedicineTX3.8510MD
University of Texas McGovern Medical School at HoustonTX3.81511MD
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineTX3.69508MD
University of Texas School of Medicine at San AntonioTX3.87517.6MD
University of Texas Southwestern Medical SchoolTX3.83517MD
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life SciencesOH3.68510MD
University of Utah School of MedicineUT3.87514MD
University of Virginia School of MedicineVA3.86518.58MD
The University of Vermont Larner College of MedicineVT3.69513MD
University of Washington School of MedicineWA3.75511MD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthWI3.73511MD
Vanderbilt University School of MedicineTN3.95521MD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of MedicineVA3.7512MD
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research InstituteVA3.6512MD
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of MedicineWA3.55507.4MD
Washington University School of MedicineMO3.87520.3MD
Wake Forest School of MedicineNC3.67512MD
Wayne State University School of MedicineMI3.8514MD
Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNY3.91519MD
West Virginia School of Osteopathic MedicineWV3.54502DO
West Virginia University School of MedicineWV3.75511MD
Western Michigan University School of MedicineMI3.77513MD
Western University of Heath Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the PacificCA3.65508DO
William Carey University College of Osteopathic MedicineMS3.4500DO
Wright State University Boonshoft School of MedicineOH3.6507MD
Yale School of MedicineCT3.93521MD

Medical School Acceptance Rates

When deciding where to apply to medical school, a student must research each medical school’s average acceptance rate. By understanding school of medicine acceptance rates, applicants can gauge for what medical schools they are most competitive. However, many medical schools do not disclose how many applicants they actually accept.

Medical schools may only publish how many applications they receive, the number of applicants they interview and how many actually matriculate. Therefore, it isn’t always possible to know what percentage of applicants interviewed are ultimately accepted.

Typically, the more competitive the medical school, the lower the acceptance rate. There are some medical schools that one might not think are very competitive based on the average GPAs and MCATs of accepted students. However, some of these “less competitive” schools receive a very large numbers of applications and interview a small percentage of applicants making them quite competitive.

What are the Most Popular Medical Schools?

In 2021-2022 the following medical schools received more than 15,000 applications!

For the entering medical school class of 2022-2023, there were 55,188 medical school applicants applicants. The number of applicants has now leveled off after an unusually competitive year in 2021-2022 when there were 62,443 applicants. For reference, there were 53,370 applicants in 2020-2021.

In total, 23,810 applicants were accepted meaning 43% of medical school applicants were accepted.

Acceptance rates between medical schools varies significantly. For the most selective medical schools, such as Stanford Medical School, the acceptance rate is 1.4%. However, some medical schools have much higher acceptance rates. For example, the University of Tennessee has an acceptance rate of 8.7%. Average medical school acceptance rates are 5.5%.

With an increasing number of medical school applicants every year, acceptance rates continue to decrease especially at very popular or competitive medical schools.

Average MCAT Score (2022-2023)

In 2021, the average MCAT for students accepted to allopathic medical schools in the United States in 2021-2022 was 511.9 For reference purposes, know that the highest possible MCAT score is a 528 with with a 132 on each of the four sections. which is the same as the previous year. The typical MCAT score one needs to be competitive for medical school admission to allopathic medical schools in the United States is a 511.

MCAT scores of 509 or below are generally considered low and not competitive for allopathic medical school admissions. There are exceptions, however, to this rule. An MCAT score of 518 or above is considered exceptional. Most medical schools have MCAT cut off scores meaning that an applicant must earn above a specified score in order for the medical school admissions committee to review an application. Unfortunately, medical school do not always make this data public.

Earning the highest MCAT score possible with the lowest number of exam attempts is ideal for getting in to medical school. For example, the student who has taken the MCAT three times, earning scores of 503, 504, and 512, may be evaluated as a less competitive applicant than the applicant who took the exam once and earned a 512 on the first attempt. Medical schools see all exam results which is why one high score among several lower scores could be interpreted as an outlier.

Which medical schools have some of the lowest and highest median MCAT scores for accepted students?

What are the Best Medical Schools in the U.S.?

Below are the best medical schools in the U.S. based on U.S. News medical school rankings for research and average MCAT scores.

Average GPA for Medical School

The most recent data shows that the average GPA for medical school matriculants in the United States in 2022-2023 were as follows:

  • Overall GPA: 3.77
  • BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, and math) GPA: 3.71
  • Non Science GPA: 3.85

A medical school applicant’s GPA is considered one of the most important admissions criteria when applying to medical school. A medical school applicant’s GPA is broken up in to three categories on AMCAS:

    • Overall GPA
    • BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, and math) GPA
    • Non Science GPA

An applicant’s GPA in all three categories is one of the most important factors in medical school admissions. Like the MCAT, many medical schools have minimum GPA cut offs they will consider. However, these cut offs are not always made public.

Keep in mind that these are average GPAs! There is a pretty big variation of matriculant GPAs from medical school to medical school. The typical GPA we advise students to have is a 3.5 – 3.6 across all subjects. However, we work with many students who have GPAs lower than this who are accepted. Grade trends are also important with an upward grade trend making you a more competitive applicant. The rigor of your academic classes and undergraduate college reputation can also impact how your grades are interpreted. We consider the range of competitive GPAs to be 3.5 or higher.

Which medical schools have some of the lowest mean GPAs for accepted students?

Which medical schools have some of the highest mean GPAs for accepted students?

Highest Average Accepted GPA By School
Medical SchoolGPA
Johns Hopkins3.94
Baylor3.92
Harvard3.92
NYU3.92
Mayo3.91
Northwestern3.91
Pritzker/University Chicago3.91
Vanderbilt3.91
University of Virginia3.91
Washington University3.91

Most Important Medical School Admissions Criteria

In summary, the most important criteria in the medical school admissions process are MCAT score(s) and GPA(s). These factors are the cornerstones of every applicant’s candidacy. Assuming you meet MCAT and GPA thresholds, the other aspects of your application then become the most important.

If you are about to embark on your premedical journey, keep in mind that academic excellence should be a primary goal. If you are getting ready to apply to medical school, honestly assess your chances of medical school admission by objectively evaluating your stats together with medical school admissions rates to determine your competitiveness.

MedEdits Medical Admissions Founder and Chairwoman, Jessica Freedman, MD
JESSICA FREEDMAN, M.D., a former faculty member and admissions committee member at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is the founder and chair of MedEdits Medical Admissions and author of the MedEdits Guide to Medical Admissions and The Medical School Interview which you can find on Amazon. Follow Dr. Freedman and MedEdits on Facebook and YouTube.
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