About 43% of applicants to U.S. MD-granting medical schools ultimately get accepted. In the 2023 application cycle, roughly 22,800 students matriculated out of approximately 52,300 total applicants, according to AAMC data. That means more than half of all applicants don’t get in, making medical school one of the most competitive graduate programs in the country.
That top-line number, though, hides a lot of variation. Your individual odds depend heavily on your academic profile, where you apply, and how many schools you target.
What the Overall Numbers Look Like
The roughly 43% acceptance rate applies to the full applicant pool for MD-granting programs. But keep in mind that this figure counts each person once, regardless of how many schools they applied to. Most applicants submit applications to 15 or more schools, so the acceptance rate at any single school is far lower, often in the single digits at the most competitive programs and in the low teens or twenties at less selective ones.
Osteopathic (DO) medical schools run a separate application cycle with their own statistics. When you combine MD and DO programs, a somewhat higher share of all medical school applicants end up with at least one acceptance. If you’re open to both MD and DO paths, your overall odds improve.
Academic Profile of Students Who Get In
For the 2023-2024 entering class at MD schools, the average matriculant had a total GPA of 3.77 and an MCAT score of 511.7. Breaking that GPA down further, the average science GPA was 3.71 and the average non-science GPA was 3.85.
On the MCAT (scored on a scale of 472 to 528, with 500 as the midpoint), a 511.7 puts the average accepted student around the 83rd percentile of all test takers. The four section scores for matriculants averaged between 127.0 and 128.9, with Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) on the lower end and the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section on the higher end.
These are averages, not cutoffs. Plenty of students get in with GPAs below 3.7 or MCAT scores below 510, particularly if other parts of their application are strong. But applicants with numbers well below these means face significantly steeper odds unless they have compelling research, clinical experience, or a background that aligns with a school’s mission.
Why Individual Acceptance Rates Vary So Much
Several factors push your personal odds above or below the national average.
- GPA and MCAT combined: AAMC data consistently shows that acceptance rates climb steeply with higher numbers. Applicants with a 3.8 GPA and a 517 MCAT get accepted at rates well above 80%, while those with a 3.2 GPA and a 504 MCAT may see rates below 20%.
- Number of schools applied to: Applying broadly increases your chances of landing at least one acceptance. A common recommendation is 15 to 25 schools, balanced across reach, target, and safety tiers.
- State residency: Public medical schools heavily favor in-state applicants. At many state schools, the vast majority of seats go to residents, and your chances as an out-of-state applicant drop considerably. Private schools are generally more open to applicants from anywhere, with many filling half or more of their class from out of state.
- Underrepresented backgrounds: Many schools actively seek to enroll students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, rural communities, and disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Applicants from these groups may find their odds improved at mission-driven programs.
How Reapplicants Affect the Numbers
A meaningful share of each year’s applicant pool consists of people applying for the second or third time. Reapplicants who improve their MCAT scores, add clinical hours, or strengthen their personal statements often succeed on a subsequent try. If you count the percentage of people who eventually get into medical school across multiple cycles rather than in a single year, the cumulative success rate is higher than 43%.
That said, reapplying without meaningful improvements to your application rarely changes the outcome. Admissions committees can see your previous attempts and will look for evidence of growth.
What This Means for Your Application Strategy
A 43% overall acceptance rate sounds more forgiving than it feels in practice. The applicant pool is self-selected: these are people who have already completed rigorous pre-med coursework, studied for the MCAT, logged hundreds of hours of clinical and volunteer experience, and secured strong letters of recommendation. You’re competing against a highly motivated group.
The most actionable takeaway is that academic credentials open the door, but they don’t guarantee entry. Among applicants with competitive GPAs and MCAT scores, the differentiators are clinical experience, research, personal statements, and interview performance. Schools want to see that you understand what a career in medicine actually involves and that you’ve demonstrated commitment beyond the classroom.
Applying strategically also matters. Build your school list with a realistic assessment of where your numbers fall relative to each program’s admitted-student profile. Include a mix of public in-state schools (where you have a residency advantage), private schools that match your stats, and a few aspirational programs. Casting too narrow a net is one of the most common reasons qualified applicants end up without an acceptance.