Which Schools and Universities Accept the MCAT?

February 20, 2024

minute read

The landscape of medical school admissions has changed over time. However, GPA and MCAT scores still remain the cornerstones of every application. It means you must take the MCAT before pursuing med school. Only then can you apply to the different medical schools of your choice.

  • But which schools and universities accept the MCAT?
  • What score do they require?
  • Do they have a high acceptance rate?

If you're curious about the answers to these queries, please keep reading. We have every information you need in this article.

Which Schools and Universities Accept the MCAT?

Suppose you know the typical MCAT score of each school's enrolling students. In that case, you may more accurately answer the question of where to go to medical school to increase your chances of admission. 

Therefore, you need to be aware of the numbers to know if your stats are "good enough" for a particular school or if you simply want to know which medical schools are statistically the easiest to get into.

Below is a table showing the different schools and universities in the US that accept the MCAT and the average GPA and MCAT scores. 

Medical School

State

Average GPA

Average MCAT Score

AL

3.78

509

AL

3.83

510

AL

3.45

504

AR

3.5

500

AZ

3.78

515

AZ

3.92

520

AZ

3.45

505

CA

3.60

511

CA

3.59

513

CA

3.42

511

CA

3.83

510

Davis School of Medicine –  University of California*

CA

3.58

511

CA

3.89

518

Irvine School of Medicine – University of California*

CA

3.78

515

Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine – University of California*

CA

3.81

516

Riverside School of Medicine – University of California*

CA

3.60

509

San Diego School of Medicine – University of California*

CA

3.77

516

CA

3.68

516

CA

3.56

509

CA

3.52

507

CO

3.82

515

CO

3.55

506

CT

3.76

513

CT

3.93

521

School of Medicine and Health Sciences – George Washington University

DC

3.72

512

DC

3.63

512

DC

3.61

507

FL

3.79

513

Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine – University of California*

FL

3.70

509

FL

3.80

507

FL

3.81

513

FL

3.79

514

FL

3.75

514

GA

3.72

514

GA

3.81

512

GA

3.64

504

GA

3.68

506

GA

3.78

504

John A. Burns School of Medicine – University of Hawaii*

HI

3.76

513

IA

3.82

515

IA

3.57

509

ID

3.56

505

IL

3.73

513

IL

3.69

511

IL

3.93

520

IL

3.65

511

IL

3.82

508

IL

3.87

519

IL

3.81

513

IN

3.82

512

IN

3.65

504

KS

3.88

510

KY

3.65

508

KY

3.65

507

KY

3.50

500

New Orleans School of Medicine – Louisiana State University*

LA

3.85

509

Shreveport School of Medicine – Louisiana State University*

LA

3.72

506

LA

3.52

508

LA

3.71

502

MA

3.72

517

MA

3.92

520

MA

3.71

514

MA

3.77

514

MD

3.95

522

MD

3.81

515

MI

3.69

508

MI

3.77

510

MI

3.85

509

MI

3.72

515

MI

3.83

514

MI

3.77

513

MI

3.70

508

MN

3.92

520

MN

3.67

504

Columbia School of Medicine – University of Missouri*

MO

3.81

509

MO

3.86

512

Kansas City School of Medicine – University of Missouri*

MO

3.85

510

MO

3.87

520

MS

3.70

504

MS

3.53

505

NC

3.90

519

NC

3.54

506

Chapel Hill School for MD – University of North Carolina*

NC

3.66

512

NC

3.67

512

School of Medicine and Health Sciences – University of North Dakota*

ND

3.80

507

NE

3.83

513

Medical Center College of Medicine – University of Nebraska

NE

3.85

512

NH

3.77

516

NJ

3.77

511

NJ

3.70

514

NJ

3.64

512

NJ

3.71

513

NJ

3.57

505

NM

3.71

505

NV

3.77

509

NY

3.60

511

NY

3.82

516

NY

3.93

521

NY

3.82

517

NY

3.81

519

NY

3.6

514

NY

3.92

522

NY

3.83

516

SUNY – Downstate Medical Center*

NY

3.73

513

NY

3.64

510

NY

3.82

515

School of Dentistry and Medicine – University of Rochester

NY

3.72

514

NY

3.91

519

OH

3.78

518

OH

3.68

510

OH

3.82

514

OH

3.74

515

OH

3.62

507

OH

3.68

504

OK

3.81

509

OR

3.65

509

PA

3.57

511

PA

3.72

511

PA

3.75

511

PA

3.92

522

PA

3.74

512

PA

3.83

516

PA

3.52

503

PA

3.53

505

PR

3.52

499

PR

3.71

500

PR

3.82

501

PR

3.86

506

RI

3.83

516

School of Medicine – University of South Carolina (Columbia)*

SC

3.71

508

SC

3.75

509

SC

3.72

502

Sanford School of Medicine – South Dakota*

SD

3.82

508

TN

3.75

510

TN

3.46

503

Health Science Center College of Medicine – University of Tennessee*

TN

3.89

512

TN

3.95

521

TX

3.92

518

TX

3.56

508

TX

3.59

506

Austin Dell Medical School – University of Texas*

TX

3.78

514

Medical Branch School of Medicine – University of Texas*

TX

3.82

510

McGovern Medical School – University of Texas (Houston)*

TX

3.81

511

Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine – University of Texas*

TX

3.69

508

TX

3.83

517

UT

3.87

514

VA

3.52

511

VA

3.73

512

VA

3.86

519

VA

3.40

503

WA

3.75

511

WV

3.75

511

WV

3.54

502

WI

3.75

511

School of Medicine and Public Health – University of Texas*

WI

3.73

511

Note: * - Public Schools

Top 20 Medical Schools and Universities with the Highest MCAT Scores

Getting into medical school is not easy. Some colleges and universities are more difficult to get into than others. 

Aside from the interview process being extremely challenging, the MCAT and GPA scores of accepted students are just too high; hence, they have very low acceptance rates.

Here are the top 20 medical schools and universities in the US that require high MCAT scores. 

Rank

Medical Schools and Universities

Average MCAT Score

Average GPA

Acceptance Rate

1

Harvard University, MA

520

3.94

3.5%

2

University of Massachusetts – Worcester School of Medicine, MA

514

3.96

2.2%

3

New York University (Grossman), NY

519

3.87

3.6%

4

Columbia University, NY

521

3.91

4.1%

5

Stanford University, CA

518

3.82

2.3%

6

University of California – San Francisco, CA

517

3.86

3.9%

7

Johns Hopkins University, MD

521

3.95

6.8%

8

University of Washington, WA

511

3.70

4.7%

9

University of Pennsylvania, PA

522

3.94

5.2%

10

Yale University, CT

519

3.85

6.2%

11

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (Alix), MN

520

3.95

3.2%

12

Washington University in St. Louis, WA

521

3.93

8.0%

13

University of Pittsburgh, PA

516

3.8

4.6%

14

Vanderbilt University, TN

519

3.92

5.5%

15

Northwestern University (Feinberg), IL

519

3.92

5.7%

16

University of Michigan- Ann Arbor, MI

516

3.82

4.6%

17

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY

517

3.86

5.3%

18

University of Chicago (Pritzker), IL

521

3.92

4.1%

19

Cornell University (Weill), NY

518

3.84

4.3%

20

University of California-San Diego, CA

516

3.77

3.6%

Medical Schools and Universities That are Easy to Get Into 

While the med schools and universities mentioned above are difficult to get into and have an extremely thorough screening process, there are also those that are easy to get admitted into. 

These medical schools are a bit lenient regarding their students' MCAT scores and GPA. That does not mean, however, that these schools are not competitive. 

Below are the medical schools and universities that are easier to get into, according to research data.

Medical Schools and Universities

Average MCAT Score

Average GPA

Acceptance Rate

Brody School of Medicine, NC

508

3.63

7.1%

Medical College of Georgia – Augusta University, GA

514

3.84

7.6%

Mercer University School of Medicine, GA

515

3.71

9.9%

Ponce Health Sciences School of MD, PR

501

3.72

8.5%

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, IL

508

3.82

6.7%

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, FL

518

3.89

7.4%

Universidad Central del Caribe, PR

501

3.80

6.7%

University of Kansas School of Medicine, KS

510

3.88

6.4%

University of Mississippi School of Medicine, MS

506

3.88

6.7%

University of Missouri School of Medicine, KS

510

3.85

7.2%

University of Nebraska School of Medicine, NE

513

3.91

6.9%

University of Nebraska School of Medicine, NM

506

3.75

5.8%

University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, OK

510

3.87

5.9%

School of Medicine – University of Puerto Rico, PR

506

3.86

10.2%

Sanford School of Medicine – University of South Dakota, NE

508

3.82

6.7%

Why Do GPA and MCAT Scores Matter in Applying to Medical School?

Your GPA and MCAT scores are crucial in your medical school application. Your college and overall academic performance are reflected in your undergraduate GPA. That figure is really significant because it is a cornerstone of admissions that previous behavior affects future behavior.

Schools want to ensure you can handle a rigorous academic environment, especially in the sciences. Their understanding of your performance over time and compared to your classmates is reflected in your GPA.

The MCAT, on the other hand, enables medical schools to compare candidates using a uniform metric. Grading guidelines differ between colleges, between instructors, and between TAs. The grading system includes a subjective component.

All medical school applicants, whether they are submitting applications to allopathic or osteopathic schools, must take the MCAT.

Additionally, there is some correlation between MCAT scores and success on the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK tests

Medical schools want to know that if they accept you, you'll be able to manage the burden at medical school and succeed on these important tests.

How to Use Your MCAT Score in Deciding Which Medical School to Apply To

Ideally, you should only apply to schools and programs that you are interested in and that have a reasonable chance of accepting you. Without thinking about if you genuinely want to attend that school, you should not apply to the medical schools that are the simplest to get into. 

You ought to submit applications to a few colleges where your statistics are above average and where you would be glad to attend, as well as a few of your ideal institutions where the competition is lower.

As you apply, remember that applicants with GPAs and MCAT scores below the median could still get accepted. 

However, the further your results deviate from the median, the less likely you will be accepted, particularly if your GPA and MCAT scores are subpar.

As you select your target institutions, consider the effect of in-state (IS) vs. out-of-state (OOS) acceptance rates

There are numerous medical schools that are affiliated with public universities that have strong preferences for inhabitants of the state. In-state residents usually pay reduced tuition rates. 

These two facts imply that you should apply to your IS school(s) and any OOS institutions that appeal to you, if applicable in your state.

Additional Reading

Additional FAQs – Schools and Universities That Accept the MCAT

Where Is the MCAT Accepted?

Most medical schools in the US and Canada require the MCAT. Whether pursuing a degree in MD or DO, medical schools will look for your MCAT score. 

Refer to the table we have above in this article for the list of medical schools and universities that accept the MCAT.

Does Harvard Accept the MCAT?

Harvard University does accept the MCAT. Remember that based on the list we have above in this article, Harvard is the most difficult med school to get into. 

Having an acceptance rate of only 3.5% and an average of 520 and 3.94 for the MCAT and GPA, respectively, you need to work and study extra hard to be able to get accepted.

Is the MCAT Accepted in the UK?

Medical schools in the UK often do not recognize MCAT results. If you are attempting to apply to medical schools in the UK, you most likely need to take the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test).

Do All Med Schools Require the MCAT?

There are quite a few medical schools in the US and Canada that do not require the MCAT. You can check the websites and information centers for each university/college for specific enrolling requirements. 

But remember that taking the MCAT is strongly advised even if certain medical institutions and programs do not need it. By increasing your possibilities for medical schools, the MCAT can also help you prepare for the courses you will need to attend to earn your MD.

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