Medical School Acceptance Rates in 2026

Complete List of US Medical School Acceptance Rates by School

This table includes the acceptance rates for every U.S. med school based on the total applications received and the total matriculants, as reported in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2025 Facts Sheet.

Keep in mind that most published "acceptance rates" are actually matriculant enrollment rates. Schools report how many students joined the incoming MD class but not how many actually received an offer of admission. Applicant volume also skews these numbers significantly. Schools with extraordinarily high application volume will have very low rates, regardless of how high their admissions standards actually are. 

Your state of residency also affects your chances of getting into med school. Public medical schools save most of their seats for residents. At Indiana University, in-state applicants made up just 8.80% of the applicant pool but filled 86.60% of the entering class, with a 46.08% matriculation rate compared to just 0.69% for out-of-state applicants. Some schools didn’t enroll any out-of-state students in the 2025-2026 cycle.

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Into Medical School

To increase your chances of getting into medical school, use admissions data to build a strategically balanced school list, but remember that your GPA and MCAT scores alone won't get you accepted.

Here are a few ways to improve your chances:

• Apply to around 30 schools: Dr. Katherine Munoz, an Inspira Advantage advisor who's served on medical school admissions committees for five years, recommends roughly 30 schools: five to 10 reach schools, five to 10 schools where your stats exceed the average matriculant, and the rest in your target range.
• Use the LizzyM Score to Sort Schools: The LizzyM score combines your GPA and MCAT into a single reference number. Dr. Munoz recommends using it to quickly compare your academic profile against historical applicant pools. Only use it as a first-pass filter, not a final prediction of your real chances of getting in.
• Focus on more than your GPA and MCAT: Strong stats get your application reviewed. They don’t guarantee acceptance. Your other application components make the difference. Your personal statement must tell a compelling story, and your clinical experiences and research must show your commitment to medicine. Strong recommendations, thoughtful secondary essays, and solid interview prep also matter.
• Work with an admissions expert: Acceptance rate data can tell you where you're competitive on paper, but an experienced advisor can help you strengthen the rest of your application to improve your chances of acceptance. At Inspira Advantage, our medical school admissions experts include former admissions committee members who help applicants interpret MSAR data, build balanced school lists, and help show why they're a good match for each program.

FAQs

Which Medical School Is Easiest to Get into in the USA?

Among schools open to out-of-state applicants, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (8.43%), Roseman University College of Medicine (8.08%), and the Uniformed Services University F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (7.91%) posted some of the highest acceptance rates in 2025-2026. 

Mercer University School of Medicine (14.13%) and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University (9.03%) post even higher rates, but they almost exclusively enroll in-state students. But the true "easiest" school to get into is the one where your GPA, MCAT, and residency status align with the school's historical enrollment profile.

How Hard Is It to Get Into Medical School in the USA?

Getting into medical school is challenging. According to the AAMC, the overall acceptance rate across all U.S. MD-granting schools was approximately 42.90% in the 2025 cycle, meaning roughly 4 out of 10 applicants were accepted to at least one school. 

Is a 3.70 GPA Good for Medical Schools in the USA?

Yes, a 3.70 GPA is relatively good for medical schools in the USA. The AAMC reports that 2025 applicants had an average GPA of 3.67, so a 3.70 puts you above this average. However, the average GPA for matriculants was 3.81. Nonetheless, at many schools, a 3.70 falls between the 25th and 50th percentiles of enrolled students. A 3.70 becomes more challenging at the most selective programs, like the Ivy League, which favor applicants with 3.90-0-4.00 GPAs.  

What GPA Do You Need for the Best Medical Schools in the US?

Top-ranked medical schools typically report median GPAs above 3.90 for their matriculating classes. To be competitive at these programs, aim for a GPA of 3.95+. If you have a GPA below 3.90, it doesn’t automatically mean you won’t get in, but it places you in the lower percentiles of successful matriculants. So, your extracurriculars and personal narrative need to be very strong.

Should You Prioritize In-State Acceptance Rates When Applying?

Yes, you should prioritize in-state acceptance rates if you’re applying to public medical schools. In-state residency is a strong predictor of enrollment at public institutions. 

In the 2025-2026 AAMC data, 22 public medical schools had entering classes made up of 90% or more in-state students. Some states enforce in-state preference by law. According to TMDSAS, Texas state law requires that no more than 10% of the entering classes at public medical schools can be non-Texas residents.

Which Admissions Metrics Matter Most for Medical School Selection?

GPA and MCAT are considered the “gatekeeper” metrics that determine whether your application gets reviewed at all. Many schools do automated screens that filter out applicants below certain internal cutoffs before a human reads the file. If you clear that filter, admissions committee members shift their focus to qualitative factors, like your extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, your personal statement, and interview performance.