ERAS Application 2027 Guide! How to Fill Out ERAS Residency Application?
Malke Asaad July 13, 2023
MCAT Blog
Average MCAT and GPA for Accepted
Students at U.S. Medical Schools
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One of the most common questions pre-med students ask is, “Do I have the stats to get into medical school?”
To help answer that, we’ve compiled the average MCAT scores and GPAs for accepted students at every U.S. MD and DO medical school. This data gives applicants a clearer picture of how competitive each program is and where they may be a realistic fit.
However, numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. This guide explains how to interpret the data, how medical schools actually use MCAT and GPA, and how to use these averages to build a smart application strategy.
If you’d like to dive even deeper into MCAT prep, be sure to check out our related blog posts “What Is the MCAT” and “14 Top Medical Schools in the United States”
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Table of Contents
The Data
How to Use This MCAT and GPA Data
The chart below shows average MCAT scores and average GPAs for accepted students at each U.S. medical school. Average MCAT and GPA data were compiled from publicly available information on medical school and institutional websites across the United States.
| School Name | Average GPA | Average MCAT |
| Albany Medical College | 3.77 | 512 |
| Boston University Sch of Med | 3.76 | 517 |
| Brown University The Warren Alpert Medical School | 3.76 | 516 |
| California Northstate University College of Medicine | 3.83 | 513.4 |
| California University of Science and Medicine | 510 | |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | 3.9 | 517 |
| Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science | 3.69 | 508 |
| Creighton University School of Medicine | 3.86 | 513 |
| Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine | 3.8 | 505 |
| Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell | 3.92 | 518 |
| Drexel University College of Medicine | 3.76 | 512 |
| East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine | 3.85 | 512.82 |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School | 3.7 | 513 |
| Emory University School of Medicine | 3.81 | 514.9 |
| Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine | 3.83 | 513 |
| Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine | 3.82 | 510 |
| Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University | 3.7 | 511 |
| Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | 3.77 | 516 |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine | 3.81 | 513.06 |
| George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences | 3.8 | 515 |
| Georgetown University School of Medicine | 3.76 | 513 |
| Harvard Medical School | 3.9 | 520.48 |
| Indiana University School of Medicine | 3.85 | 512 |
| Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo | 3.7 | 510 |
| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | 3.94 | 520 |
| Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine | 3.78 | 514 |
| Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California | 3.85 | 517 |
| Loma Linda University School of Medicine | 3.8 | 509 |
| Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport | 3.7 | 507 |
| Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine | 3.8 | 512 |
| Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | 3.81 | 506 |
| Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba | 4.27 | 513 |
| Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine | 3.95 | 521 |
| McGill University Faculty of Medicine | 3.8 | |
| Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University | 3.8 | 513 |
| Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine | 3.7 | 511 |
| Mercer University School of Medicine | 3.69 | 503 |
| Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | 3 | |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | 3.64 | 505.6 |
| New York Medical College | 3.73 | 515 |
| New York University Grossman School of Medicine | 3.95 | 522.39 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | 3.75 | 511 |
| Northern Ontario School of Medicine | 3.79 | |
| Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine | 3.93 | 521 |
| Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine | 3.75 | 512 |
| Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine | 3.89 | 510 |
| Ohio State University College of Medicine | 3.83 | 514 |
| Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine | 3.66 | 509 |
| Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania | 3.94 | 521.7 |
| Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences | 3.75 | 513 |
| Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center | 3.72 | 510 |
| Saint Louis University School of Medicine | 3.9 | 514 |
| Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University | 3.8 | 513 |
| Southern Illinois University School of Medicine | 2.8 | |
| Stanford University School of Medicine | 3.94 | |
| State University of New York Upstate Medical University | 3.74 | 512 |
| TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine | 3.81 | 512 |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine | 3.84 | 509 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine | 3.87 | 517.6 |
| The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences | 3.78 | 510 |
| The University of Western Ontario – Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry | 3.96 | 513 |
| Tufts University School of Medicine | 3.82 | 514 |
| Tulane University School of Medicine | 3.7 | 510 |
| Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine | 3.7 | 510 |
| University of Alabama School of Medicine | 3.87 | 509.4 |
| University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry | 3.84 | |
| University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix | 3.8 | 516 |
| University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson | ||
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine | 3.83 | 509 |
| University of California, Davis, School of Medicine | 3.72 | 509 |
| University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine | 3.86 | 516 |
| University of California, Riverside School of Medicine | 3.66 | 509 |
| University of California, San Diego School of Medicine | 3.83 | 514.4 |
| University of Cincinnati College of Medicine | 3.83 | 513 |
| University of Colorado School of Medicine | 500 | |
| University of Florida College of Medicine | 500 | |
| University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine | 3.79 | 512 |
| University of Houston College of Medicine | 3.84 | 512 |
| University of Illinois College of Medicine | 3.82 | 511 |
| University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine | 3 | 514 |
| University of Kansas School of Medicine | 3.84 | 509 |
| University of Kentucky College of Medicine | 3.83 | 506 |
| University of Louisville School of Medicine | 3.73 | 508 |
| University of Maryland School of Medicine | 3.83 | |
| University of Massachusetts Medical School | 3.87 | 512 |
| University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine | 3.85 | 516 |
| University of Michigan Medical School | 3.85 | |
| University of Mississippi School of Medicine | 3.8 | 506 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine | 3.84 | 511 |
| University of New Mexico School of Medicine | 3.75 | 507 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine | 3.79 | 514 |
| University of Oklahoma College of Medicine | 3 | |
| University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine | 3.74 | 510 |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine | 3.91 | 516 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine | 3.8 | 506 |
| University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry | 3.43 | 517 |
| University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine | 507 | |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia | 3.77 | 508 |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville | 509 | |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine | 3.83 | 513 |
| University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine | 3.8 | 511 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical School | 3.89 | 516 |
| University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine | 3.94 | |
| University of Virginia School of Medicine | 3.85 | 518 |
| University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health | 3.78 | 511 |
| USF Health Morsani College of Medicine | 3.96 | 520 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine | 3.79 | 512 |
| Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine | 3.67 | 512 |
| Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center | 3.83 | 511 |
| Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine | 3.64 | 507.9 |
| Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine | 3.92 | 519.19 |
| Wayne State University School of Medicine | 3.78 | |
| West Virginia University School of Medicine | 3.8 | 511 |
| Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine | 3.81 | 512 |
| Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine | 3.68 | 508.76 |
| Yale School of Medicine | 3.94 | 521 |
You can use this data to:
- Understand the relative competitiveness of different programs, and see the list of the 14 top medical schools in the United States along with their requirements here
- Identify schools where your stats are near or above the average
- Avoid wasting applications on programs that are far outside your profile
- Build a balanced school list that includes reach, target, and safer options
These averages are best used as reference points, not strict cutoffs.
For a detailed breakdown of how the MCAT is scored, check out our blog.
Important Limitations of Averages
It’s critical to understand what this data does not represent.
An average MCAT or GPA:
- Does not reflect the full range of accepted students
- Does not account for applicants with strong experiences or unique backgrounds
- Does not show institutional priorities (mission fit, state residency, diversity)
Every year, students are accepted with scores below a school’s average because of strong clinical experience, research, leadership, or compelling personal narratives. While most medical schools publish only average MCAT and GPA values, a subset of schools provide additional distribution data (such as score ranges, percentiles, or interquartile ranges) through MSAR (The AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements for applicants), admissions fact sheets, or institutional class profile pages. These sources offer a clearer picture of how accepted students’ scores are spread around the mean.
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MD vs DO Admissions Metrics
In general, MD programs report higher average MCAT and GPA metrics than DO programs, though both pathways lead to becoming a licensed physician.
Based on the most recent publicly available matriculant data:
- MD programs (AAMC, 2025):
○ Average MCAT: 511.5
○ Average GPA: 3.73 - DO programs (AACOM, 2024):
○ Average MCAT: 502.97
○ Average GPA: 3.60
These values represent national averages for matriculants, not admissions cutoffs, but they help contextualize where applicants typically fall within each pathway.
For applicants with metrics in the 3.6–3.8 GPA and 505–510 MCAT range, these data highlight a common overlap zone: students in this range may be competitive for many DO programs and some MD programs, particularly those emphasizing holistic review, mission alignment, and strong clinical experience.
Applicants should consider both MD and DO programs when building a realistic and competitive application strategy.
If you want to learn more about the differences between MD and DO training and admissions, check out our in-depth comparison blog.
If you want to learn more about the differences between MD and DO, check out our blog.
🧠 Ace Your MCAT with Expert Guidance
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How Medical Schools Evaluate MCAT and GPA
Medical schools do not evaluate MCAT scores and GPA in isolation. Instead, admissions committees assess several academic factors together to understand an applicant’s readiness for medical training.
Admissions committees consider:
- Overall GPA and science (BCPM) GPA
- MCAT score distribution and section balance
- Academic trends over time
- Rigor of coursework
- Context and environment of academic performance
MCAT score distribution and section balance matter because extreme weaknesses can raise concerns, even when the total score is competitive. For example, a very low score in a single section (such as a 120 in CARS) may signal challenges with critical reading or reasoning skills that are central to medical training. In contrast, balanced section scores suggest consistent competency across the core skills the MCAT is designed to assess.
When evaluating GPA and MCAT together, admissions committees often place greater weight on the MCAT because it is a standardized exam designed to normalize differences in grading practices, course rigor, and institutional variation. As a result, a strong MCAT score can sometimes offset a lower GPA, particularly if the GPA trend is stable or improving. The reverse—using GPA alone to compensate for a weak MCAT—is typically more difficult, as GPA is influenced by grade inflation, deflation, and curricular differences across institutions.
That said, academic trends matter. An upward GPA trajectory or strong performance in advanced science coursework may help contextualize a lower MCAT, especially when paired with strong clinical experience, research, or service.
If you want to know the best resources to increase your chances of achieving an optimal score, check out this blog.
And for a high-impact study plan, check out this blog.
How to Use This Data to Build a School List
When using this chart, it can be helpful to group schools into three categories based on how your MCAT and GPA compare to each program’s published averages. These categories are not rigid cutoffs, but practical planning tools to guide application strategy.
Reach Schools
Programs where your MCAT and/or GPA are meaningfully below the school’s reported averages.
- As a general guideline, this often means:
○ MCAT: ~4–7+ points below the average
○ GPA: ~0.15–0.25+ below the average - These schools may still be reasonable choices if you have strong clinical experience, research, service, or clear mission alignment.
- Applicants should avoid building a list dominated by reach schools, as this increases the risk of an unsuccessful cycle.
Target Schools
Programs where your academic metrics are close to the reported averages.
- Typically:
○ MCAT: within ~±2–3 points of the average
○ GPA: within ~±0.05–0.10 of the average - These schools should form the core of your application list, as applicants in this range are often well represented among accepted students.
Safe-to-Apply-To Schools
Programs where your MCAT and GPA are above the school’s reported averages.
- Commonly:
○ MCAT: ~2–4+ points above the average
○ GPA: ~0.10–0.20+ above the average - While no school is truly “safe,” these programs help protect against an unsuccessful cycle when paired with timely applications and solid experiences.
Most successful applicants apply broadly across all three categories rather than relying on any single group. Medical school acceptance rates often hover around 2% for any given school based on their own admission statistics, so it is difficult to count any school, even with significant advantages as a surefire acceptance. Apply mostly to schools where your MCAT and GPA are at or above the mean for accepted students, and you will have the greatest chance.
FAQs
Are these minimum requirements?
No. These are averages for accepted students, not cutoffs.
Can I get in with scores below the average?
Yes. Many accepted students fall below a school’s average due to strong experiences or fit.
Should I apply only to schools where I meet the average?
No. A balanced list includes reach, target, and below-target schools.
Do schools screen applicants by MCAT or GPA?
Some schools use initial screens, but holistic review is common, especially beyond those thresholds.
Is GPA or MCAT more important?
Both matter. MCAT shows standardized readiness, while GPA reflects long-term academic performance.
🧠 Ace Your MCAT with Expert Guidance
Plateauing on your practice exams? Get personalized 1-on-1 coaching from High scorers and experienced mentors. Watch your score soar with targeted, efficient prep!
Summary
MCAT and GPA averages are powerful tools when used correctly. When paired with clear planning ranges—such as reach, target, and safe-to-apply categories—they help applicants understand competitiveness and build balanced, realistic school lists.
However, these ranges are guidelines, not guarantees. Being above a school’s average does not ensure admission, and being below it does not automatically preclude acceptance. The most successful applicants use academic metrics to inform strategy while relying on experiences, personal narratives, mission fit, and timely applications to strengthen their candidacy.
Strong applications balance data-driven planning with holistic preparation, ensuring that no single metric determines where or whether an applicant applies.
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