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Best Medical Schools in the U.S., Ranked by MCAT (2027)

Picture of Jessica Freedman, M.D. Jessica Freedman, M.D. : Updated September 18, 2026

Best Medical Schools in the U.S., Ranked by MCAT (2027) | MedEdits

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I am a physician and a former medical school admissions committee member, and I have spent since 2007 helping thousands of applicants understand where they are competitive. I built this ranking to answer the question I am asked most often, which is not "what is the best medical school" but "given my scores, where do I actually stand." Below is every U.S. medical school ranked by median MCAT, along with how to read the numbers without drawing the wrong conclusions from them.

Medical School Ranking Methodology and Data Sources

I rank U.S. medical schools using median MCAT score as the primary metric, with median GPA as the tiebreaker when two schools report the same median MCAT. There are no tiers. It is a single list from first to last, so you can see exactly why each school sits where it does and verify it yourself. The academic data on this page is drawn from each school's most recently published matriculant profile and the AAMC Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database, reflecting the 2026 entering class. When a school publishes a mean rather than a median, I note it as such.

One caution about the top of the list. Among the most selective schools, median MCAT alone does not separate them in any meaningful way. Their medians cluster within a two to three point band that falls inside the normal year to year variation of the exam itself. A 521 and a 523 are not a meaningful difference in selectivity, so treat roughly the top twenty schools as a single group of comparable competitiveness rather than reading significance into a one or two point gap.

I want to be direct about what these numbers do and do not tell you. A one point difference in median MCAT is not a difference in the quality of physician training. Every accredited U.S. medical school will prepare you to become an excellent doctor. I publish these rankings for one reason, which is to help you understand where your own scores make you competitive so you can build a balanced, realistic school list. They are a tool for calibrating your application strategy, not a verdict on the schools themselves.

Academic data reflects the 2026 entering class as published by each school and the AAMC MSAR, last reviewed September, 2026. Schools update their matriculant profiles annually, so confirm any individual school's current figures against its admissions website before you rely on them.

At MedEdits Medical Admissions, we specialize in helping students navigate every aspect of the medical school admissions process, from comprehensive admissions consulting to MCAT preparation.

Medical Schools Ranked by MCAT

A note on how to read this list. I rank every school by median MCAT, with median GPA as the tiebreaker, so the order is transparent and anyone can verify it. Keep one thing in mind at the top. The strongest schools are separated by only a point or two of median MCAT, which sits well inside the normal variation of the exam, so treat roughly the top twenty as a single band of comparable selectivity rather than reading meaning into a one or two point gap. Use the ranking to judge where your scores make you competitive, not to conclude that one school trains better physicians than another.

Rank	Medical School	Median MCAT	Median GPA
1	NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York, NY	523	3.97
2	University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA	522	3.97
2	Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, TN	522	3.97
2	Yale School of Medicine New Haven, CT	522	3.96
2	Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons New York, NY	522	3.95
2	Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Rochester, MN	522	3.95
7	Harvard Medical School Boston, MA	521	3.97
7	Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD	521	3.97
7	Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Saint Louis, MO	521	3.96
7	Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL	521	3.94
11	University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Tampa, FL	520	3.96
11	University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, VA	520	3.96
11	Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY	520	3.95
11	Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA	520	3.95
11	University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine Chicago, IL	520	3.94
11	Duke University School of Medicine Durham, NC	520	3.91
17	Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX	519	3.96
17	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine San Antonio, TX	519	3.95
17	Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY	519	3.94
17	Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Boston, MA	519	3.91
21	Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland, OH	518	3.93
21	University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, NY	518	3.91
21	Hofstra University Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine Hempstead, NY	518	3.90
24	University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX	517	3.95
24	Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine Stony Brook, NY	517	3.93
24	University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Iowa City, IA	517	3.93
24	University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Austin, TX	517	3.93
24	University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine San Francisco, CA	517	3.92
24	University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI	517	3.92
24	Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY	517	3.91
24	University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles, CA	517	3.91
24	University of California, Irvine School of Medicine Irvine, CA	517	3.90
24	University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, PA	517	3.90
24	Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School Providence, RI	517	3.88
24	New York Medical College Valhalla, NY	517	3.86
36	Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Boca Raton, FL	516	3.93
36	Tufts University School of Medicine Boston, MA	516	3.90
36	University of California, San Diego School of Medicine La Jolla, CA	516	3.90
36	Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine Hanover, NH	516	3.89
36	University of Colorado School of Medicine Aurora, CO	516	3.89
36	Carle Illinois College of Medicine Urbana, IL	516	3.88
36	Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA	516	3.88
43	University of Central Florida College of Medicine Orlando, FL	515	3.94
43	University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville, FL	515	3.93
43	Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Camden, NJ	515	3.91
43	Creighton University School of Medicine Omaha, NE	515	3.90
43	Georgetown University School of Medicine Washington, DC	515	3.90
43	The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus, OH	515	3.90
43	University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati, OH	515	3.90
43	University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD	515	3.90
43	University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Miami, FL	515	3.90
43	Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Newark, NJ	515	3.87
43	University of Connecticut School of Medicine Farmington, CT	515	3.87
43	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine Chapel Hill, NC	515	3.87
43	Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Piscataway, NJ	515	3.86
43	University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine Los Angeles, CA	515	3.86
57	Saint Louis University School of Medicine Saint Louis, MO	514	3.92
57	McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston Houston, TX	514	3.91
57	Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Richmond, VA	514	3.90
57	Augusta University Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA	514	3.89
57	Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Scranton, PA	514	3.89
57	Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College Philadelphia, PA	514	3.89
57	George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Washington, DC	514	3.88
57	Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown, OH	514	3.88
57	California Northstate University College of Medicine Elk Grove, CA	514	3.86
57	Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Kalamazoo, MI	514	3.86
57	University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA	514	3.85
57	SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine Brooklyn, NY	514	3.84
69	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine El Paso, TX	513	3.94
69	Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, IN	513	3.92
69	University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE	513	3.92
69	Texas A&M University School of Medicine Bryan, TX	513	3.91
69	University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine Honolulu, HI	513	3.88
69	Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine Davie, FL	513	3.87
69	University of Minnesota Medical School Minneapolis, MN	513	3.86
69	University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX	513	3.86
69	Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Maywood, IL	513	3.85
69	Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA	513	3.83
69	Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk, VA	513	3.82
69	SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY	513	3.82
69	University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Burlington, VT	513	3.81
69	Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Roanoke, VA	513	3.80
83	Loma Linda University School of Medicine Loma Linda, CA	512	3.92
83	University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Memphis, TN	512	3.90
83	West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Lewisburg, WV	512	3.89
83	West Virginia University School of Medicine Morgantown, WV	512	3.89
83	Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine North Haven, CT	512	3.83
83	Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, PA	512	3.82
83	Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, LA	512	3.81
83	University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, IL	512	3.80
91	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Lubbock, TX	511	3.95
91	Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Miami, FL	511	3.92
91	Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine Charleston, SC	511	3.91
91	University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine Kansas City, MO	511	3.88
91	University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Oklahoma City, OK	511	3.88
91	University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, UT	511	3.88
91	Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston Salem, NC	511	3.88
91	East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine Johnson City, TN	511	3.87
91	University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson Tucson, AZ	511	3.87
91	University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Toledo, OH	511	3.87
91	Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI	511	3.86
91	Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, MI	511	3.86
91	University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Reno, NV	511	3.85
91	University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Madison, WI	511	3.84
91	University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle, WA	511	3.81
91	Albany Medical College Albany, NY	511	3.80
91	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago, IL	511	3.80
91	East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Greenville, NC	511	3.76
91	Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Spokane, WA	511	3.73
110	Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Stillwater, OK	510	3.94
110	University of Kansas School of Medicine Kansas City, KS	510	3.92
110	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine Edinburg, TX	510	3.92
110	University of Missouri School of Medicine Columbia, MO	510	3.90
110	University of Alabama School of Medicine Birmingham, AL	510	3.88
110	University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia Columbia, SC	510	3.88
110	Florida State University College of Medicine Tallahassee, FL	510	3.87
110	Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Dayton, OH	510	3.87
110	Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans New Orleans, LA	510	3.85
110	Penn State College of Medicine State College, PA	510	3.84
110	University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo, NY	510	3.79
110	Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine Portland, OR	510	3.77
110	University of California, Riverside School of Medicine Riverside, CA	510	3.77
110	University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine Las Vegas, NV	510	3.77
110	Rush University Medical College Chicago, IL	510	3.74
110	University of California, Davis School of Medicine Sacramento, CA	510	3.70
126	University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Fort Worth, TX	509	3.86
126	Michigan State University College of Human Medicine East Lansing, MI	509	3.84
126	University of Louisville School of Medicine Louisville, KY	509	3.84
126	University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Vermillion, SD	509	3.84
126	Belmont University College of Medicine Nashville, TN	509	3.76
126	Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem New York, NY	509	3.56
132	University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine Mobile, AL	508	3.93
132	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine Little Rock, AR	508	3.91
132	Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Springfield, IL	508	3.89
132	University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks, ND	508	3.86
132	Central Michigan University College of Medicine Mount Pleasant, MI	508	3.84
132	Morehouse School of Medicine Atlanta, GA	508	3.78
138	University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, KY	507	3.87
138	Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport Shreveport, LA	507	3.82
138	Howard University College of Medicine Washington, DC	507	3.67
138	Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Pomona, CA	507	3.67
138	Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine Lillington, NC	507	3.66
138	Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine Des Moines, IA	507	3.66
138	Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Stratford, NJ	507	3.65
138	Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Meridian, ID	507	3.57
138	Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Downers Grove, IL	507	3.53
138	Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine Vallejo, CA	507	3.51
148	University of Houston College of Medicine Houston, TX	506	3.85
148	University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine Tyler, TX	506	3.73
148	Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Conroe, TX	506	3.69
148	Meharry Medical College Nashville, TN	506	3.65
148	California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine Clovis, CA	506	3.40
153	University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, MS	505	3.90
153	Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Huntington, WV	505	3.84
153	University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque, NM	505	3.79
153	Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Erie, PA	505	3.74
153	Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Bradenton Bradenton, FL	505	3.74
153	Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine Kansas City, MO	505	3.62
153	University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Biddeford, ME	505	3.61
153	New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine New York, NY	505	3.60
153	Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia, PA	505	3.41
162	University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine San Juan, PR	504	3.83
162	Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine Indianapolis, IN	504	3.65
162	Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Terrace Heights, WA	504	3.60
162	William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine Pascagoula, MS	504	3.56
162	Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, CA	504	3.54
162	Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine Meridian, CO	504	3.54
162	Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Provo, UT	504	3.47
162	A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona Mesa, AZ	504	3.46
162	Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine Lynchburg, VA	504	3.40
162	Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Dothan, AL	504	3.38
172	Mercer University School of Medicine Macon, GA	503	3.79
172	A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Kirksville, MO	503	3.71
172	Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Fort Lauderdale, FL	503	3.60
172	University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine San Antonio, TX	503	3.60
176	Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Blacksburg, VA	502	3.70
176	University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine Pikeville, KY	502	3.63
176	Kansas Health Science Center College of Osteopathic Medicine Wichita, KS	502	3.42
179	Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine University Park, NM	501	3.48
180	Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine Fort Smith, AR	500	3.50
180	Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Harrogate, TN	500	3.50
182	Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine Bayamón, PR	499	3.72
182	Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine Ponce, PR	499	3.67
184	San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Caguas, PR	498	3.68

Figures are medians where a school publishes one and the reported mean where it does not. Data reflects the most recent entering class as published by each school and the AAMC MSAR. See the methodology section above for details. 184 schools ranked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best medical school in the United States?

By median MCAT, NYU Grossman leads at 523, followed by a tight group at 521 and 522 that includes Penn, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and others. I would not read much into those gaps. At the very top, schools are separated by a point or two of median MCAT, which is statistical noise, so the honest answer is that there is a band of comparable schools rather than a single best one. The best school is the one that fits your goals, not the one with the highest number.

How are these medical schools ranked?

I rank every school by median MCAT score, and when two schools report the same median MCAT I break the tie with the higher median GPA. The figures come from each school's most recently published entering class profile and the AAMC MSAR database. There are no tiers and no subjective weighting, so you can trace exactly why any school sits where it does.

Does a medical school's ranking actually matter?

It matters for figuring out where your scores make you competitive, which is what this list is for. It does not tell you where you will become a better physician. Every accredited U.S. medical school trains you to practice medicine, and your residency options depend far more on how you perform in medical school than on where you attend.

What MCAT score do I need for a top medical school?

The most selective schools cluster at a median MCAT of roughly 519 to 523. Remember that a median means half of each class scored below it, and every school reviews applications holistically alongside GPA, experiences, and essays. For context, the national median MCAT for matriculants is about 512, so these schools sit well above the norm.

Are MD or DO schools better?

Both appear on this list, and both lead to a fully licensed physician. DO schools generally show lower median MCAT and GPA figures, but that reflects their applicant pools, not the quality of the doctors they produce. The right choice depends on your career goals and where you fit, not on the degree letters.

How should I use this ranking to build my school list?

Compare your own MCAT and GPA against the medians here, then build a balanced list with reach schools, target schools where you are near the median, and a few where you are comfortably above it. Applying only to the top of the list is the most common mistake I see. Fit, mission, and location should carry as much weight as the numbers.

Essential Resources for Medical School Applicants

Achieving competitive MCAT scores is just one component of a successful medical school application. Explore these resources to strengthen your entire application:

MedEdits Services

Official AAMC Resources

Understanding the Rankings

About These MCAT-Based Rankings

These rankings use median MCAT scores as the primary metric to provide a clear, standardized view of academic competitiveness across U.S. medical schools. The MCAT is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with a median score of approximately 500 for all test-takers.

MCAT scores are a significant factor in admissions, but medical schools use holistic review processes that also weigh GPA, clinical experience, research, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.

The "best" medical school for you depends on many factors beyond MCAT scores — including location, program strengths, teaching philosophy, research opportunities, and fit with your career goals. For personalized guidance, contact MedEdits to schedule a consultation.

Jessica Freedman, M.D.

Jessica Freedman, M.D., is a board-certified emergency physician, former faculty member, medical school admissions committee member, and Associate Residency Director at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is the founder and chair of MedEdits Medical Admissions. Since 2007, she has helped thousands of students navigate the medical school admissions and residency match processes, with more than 95% of comprehensive clients gaining acceptance. She is the author of four books on medical admissions and host of The Oath podcast.