Reviewed by:
Former Chief Resident in Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, & Admissions Officer, Columbia University
Reviewed: 2/29/24
Though the MCAT is a requirement of many, some medical schools don’t require it. Here’s a full list of medical schools in the US that don’t require an MCAT.
All future medical students dread the MCAT for its complex material, long hours, and the weight it carries in their medical school applications. However, there are ways around writing the dreaded MCAT to get into medical school.
Several programs throughout the US offer no MCAT options for students, which is good news for those who wish to opt out of the test or haven’t done well on their MCAT attempts so far.
So, how can you get into medical school without an MCAT? Let’s talk about it. Here we’ve compiled an inclusive list of programs and medical schools that do not require an MCAT. Let’s get started!
While most medical schools require the MCAT, there are alternative paths to achieving your dream of becoming a doctor. However, not taking the MCAT may limit your options, so it's best to consider the test if possible.
The most common way to attend medical school without an MCAT score is by participating in a Baccalaureate-MD program such as a:
Other programs include Early Admission Programs (EAPs) or Guaranteed Admission programs. Several accredited US medical schools offer these types of programs, which means that you’ll be able to obtain residency in the US without issue after your degree.
Here is the list of US medical schools with BA/MD or BS/MD Programs that do not require the MCAT.
Let’s explore these programs more deeply!
In collaboration with SUNY Upstate, Adelphi University offers a 4+4 Guaranteed Entrance/ Accelerated Scholars combined medical degree program with no MCAT requirement. In the program, students can choose to complete either a BSc, BA, or BFA degree at Adelphi before moving directly into a medical degree at SUNY Upstate Med.
The University of Albany has begun offering a program that can send high school students on a direct path to medical school.
The “Guaranteed Entrance for Select Majors”' program permits exceptional high school students who plan on studying Spanish, Chinese, or Engineering to “apply to UAlbany for their undergraduate education and simultaneously apply for admission into Upstate Medical University’s Doctor of Allopathic Medicine (MD) program.”
Brown University offers the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), the only combined baccalaureate/MD program in the Ivy League. Brown’s PLME is an eight-year program that permits students to “combine both their undergraduate and medical school education at Brown.”
The program is test-optional for the SAT or ACT, with no MCAT requirement.
Case Western offers admission to their Pre-Professional Scholars program to a small group of no more than 20 high school seniors each year. The eight-year program consists of a four-year bachelor’s degree in a major of the applicant’s choice and four years of completing an MD.
Students in the program do not have to complete the MCAT but must maintain high grades to be considered competitive.
The Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program is offered by The City College Of New York’s CUNY School of Medicine and serves to enroll high school students with outstanding academics into an eight-year BS/MD program. No MCAT is required to enter the program.
Drexel University offers a 4+4 BA/MD or BS/MD Early Assurance program to promising high school seniors who meet the admission requirements. Students in the program must choose to major in one of the following subjects throughout their bachelor’s degree :
No MCAT is required to enter into the BA/BS+MD program at Drexel.
In this program, the George Washington University Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences join forces to present an option for a small group of motivated high school seniors.
Unlike other programs on our list, their BA/MD program is only seven years in length. While no MCAT is required, applicants must submit an MCAT practice test score along with other necessary test scores and application materials.
The Marshall University BS/MD program allows students to achieve both a Bachelor of Science and an MD in an accelerated seven-year program.
Applicants must declare a major in biology and achieve a high level of academic proficiency to be accepted into the program. No MCAT is required, and medical school admission is guaranteed upon being accepted into the program.
Montclair State University offers a Health Careers Program in collaboration with Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (R-NJMS). Throughout the first four years of the program, students can major in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology before matriculating into medical school for the final four years.
The program targets students who are academically capable and show an early passion for medical school but may not have the financial means to attend. Comprehensive support is given to students throughout the baccalaureate portion of their degree.
While not exactly a BS/MD program, the Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program (NUPSP) offers an early MD acceptance to highly accomplished Northwestern undergraduate students (with an overall and average science GPA of 3.7 or higher).
Eligible candidates must have completed two full years of undergraduate study, demonstrating a strong commitment to pursuing a career in medicine. They do not have to write the MCAT, however. Upon acceptance, students gain admission into the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
In the BA/MD program offered by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, pre-medical students with excellent academics may apply for the program in their sophomore year.
Students accepted into the program pay for only three out of four years during the bachelor’s portion of the program, and pay for all four years of medical school. Although applicants must have already completed four semesters of college, no MCAT is required for admission.
The accelerated BS/MD program offered by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute grants students both a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree within only seven years.
The medical school portion of the degree is taken at Albany Medical College (AMC), which is near Rensselaer. This BS/MD program is specifically tailored to creating physician-scientists and has no MCAT requirement.
The Rochester Institute of Technology offers the Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS) program, which is an eight-year combined BA/BS and MD educational track. REMS students are automatically admitted to the university’s School of Medicine and Dentistry upon successful completion of the bachelor’s portion of their degree.
Spelman University is unique in offering multiple options for Medical School Early Assurance and BS/MD programs through multiple partner schools. Spelman offers combined baccalaureate/MD and early assurance programs with:
Spelman has many options for early admissions and works with all of the fine institutions listed above as well as several others, which can be found on their website.
The University of Florida offers an accelerated seven-year BS/MD program called The Medical Honors Program (MHP), formerly known as the Junior Honors Medical Program (JHMP).
The program is available only to residents of the United States who demonstrate excellent scholastic abilities and motivation to work in the medical field. No MCAT is required to participate in this program.
The University of Missouri in Kansas City offers a BA/MD program designed to give academically skilled high school graduates immediate exposure to their strong medical curriculum.
The Yeshiva University Honors Programs partners with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine to offer their medical BA/MD.
Like other BA/MD programs, Yeshiva offers academically inclined high school students the opportunity to complete a bachelor's degree and automatically matriculate into medical school. There is no MCAT requirement for the BA/MD program at Yeshiva.
When looking for ways to attend medical school without taking the MCAT, you’ll most likely run into the terms “BS/MD” or “BA/MD”. In these programs, students can make a swift and smooth transition from a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree directly into a Medical Degree.
So, why does this matter when talking about the MCAT? Baccalaureate-MD degrees often waive MCAT requirements, making it easy to apply without taking the test or revealing your scores.
Most combined MD programs are eight years in length, with four years spent in a bachelor's degree and four years in medical school, although some schools offer seven-year programs.
Similar to BS/MD programs, Early Assurance Programs (or EAPs) help future physicians secure a spot in medical school years in advance and typically do not require an MCAT score as part of your application. However, the key difference between BS/MD programs and EAP programs is when admission begins.
Most Early Assurance Programs accept students while they’re taking pre-med courses during their undergraduate degree, rather than accepting students straight out of high school.
This gives applicants more time to explore their options before committing to medical school and can relieve some of the stress involved in maintaining a perfect GPA up until graduation.
Although Early Assurance programs have many benefits, it should be noted that they are notoriously challenging to get into. Academic excellence is required to be considered for admission to an EAP.
As mentioned above, BS/BA and MD programs are not the only way to attend medical school without taking the MCAT. Early Admissions Programs (EAP) also typically do not require an MCAT while guaranteeing admission. Here is a list of medical schools with EAPs and similar initiatives that do not require the MCAT.
It should be noted that EAP programs are highly competitive. If you’re applying for BS/BA + MD or EAP programs for medical school and are looking for assistance, make an appointment with an experienced admissions advisor.
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about medical schools that don’t require the MCAT.
Medical schools not requiring the MCAT exam can be good options for students planning to practice medicine abroad. However, avoiding the MCAT by attending international schools is generally not recommended for those looking to obtain a US medical license.
Most early assurance programs do not require an MCAT score. Instead, EAPs typically require high GPAs, excellent volunteerism and extracurricular experience, and either an SAT or ACT score to be submitted alongside your application.
BS/MD, BA/MD, and BFA/MD programs typically do not require the MCAT. Admitted students take a three- to four-year baccalaureate program before automatically matriculating into medical school.
As a high school student who aspires to a career in medicine, you can begin preparing by taking biology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and any other science courses that are available to you.
Additionally, any health-related volunteer or extracurricular programs you can participate in will look excellent on your resume. High school students who are certain about going to medical school after their bachelor’s degree can apply for BS/MD or BA/MD programs to ensure their admission to medical school.
If you fail the MCAT, many BS/MD, BA/MD, and EAP programs allow students to attend medical school without an MCAT score. You can also continue to study and tackle the MCAT again after more practice.
Even if it’s not required, it is highly recommended that you take the MCAT. Taking the MCAT opens up your options to many medical schools and can prepare you for the courses you’ll have to take in your MD.
You can also retake the MCAT or apply to a program that doesn’t require the MCAT if you are unhappy with your score.
If you’re interested in attending medical school but do not want to take the MCAT or submit your current score, your best option may be BS/BA and MD programs or EAP programs.
The US medical schools that offer BA/BS and MD and EAP programs in our list are accredited medical schools that have good reputations, meaning taking their programs will not limit your options.
Most medical schools that do not require the MCAT in their regular applications are abroad, which can make practicing medicine in the US challenging later on.
If you are debating taking the MCAT at all, our advice would be to do so. If you’re unhappy with your current MCAT score you can always retake the test or apply to programs that don’t require a score.
Good luck!
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