Home to only four medical schools, South Carolina offers a rich backdrop to complete your medical education. The state has three allopathic colleges and one osteopathic and is the location of one of the oldest medical schools in the country.
If you’re interested in attending medical school in South Carolina, find out more about the schools within the state, what GPA and MCAT you need, and how to increase your chances of admission.
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Information, Average MCAT & GPA for Medical Schools in Carolina
There are four medical schools in South Carolina:
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Let’s take a closer look at these institutions.
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
| US News Ranking | Unranked |
| Practice Type | Osteopathic |
| Location | Spartanburg |
| School Type | Private |
| Average GPA | 3.5-3.6 |
| Average MCAT Score | 500 |
| Interview & Acceptance Rates | N/A |
| Percent of Class In State | N/A |
| Tuition | $46,900 |
The only school of osteopathic medicine in South Carolina, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas is one of four VCOM campuses, with additional branches in Alabama, and Louisiana and a main campus in Virginia. The mission of VCOM is to prepare physicians to serve rural and underserved populations.
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
| US News Ranking | Unranked |
| Practice Type | Allopathic |
| Location | Charleston |
| School Type | Public |
| Average GPA | 3.77 |
| Average MCAT Score | 509 |
| Interview & Acceptance Rates | N/A |
| Percent of Class In State | 90% |
| Tuition | $27,551 / $47,117 (first year – IS/OOS) |
Students at VCOM have ample opportunity to conduct research, as well as engage in on-campus organizations. They also gain experience with clinical rotations in the underserved communities they intend to serve.
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
| US News Ranking | Unranked |
| Practice Type | Allopathic |
| Location | Charleston |
| School Type | Public |
| Average GPA | 3.77 |
| Average MCAT Score | 509 |
| Interview & Acceptance Rates | N/A |
| Percent of Class In State | 90% |
| Tuition | $27,551 / $47,117 (first year – IS/OOS) |
The first medical college to be established in the Deep South, the Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Medicine is also the 10th-oldest medical school in the US, as well as the oldest and largest medical school in the state. The institution prides itself on its diverse student body.
The medical program at MUSC seeks to connect with the community. For example, through the Senior Mentor Program, students work directly with senior citizens over the age of 65. Although the school is not ranked among national research universities, the institution is ranked 9th for most graduates practicing in medically unserved areas in U.S. News.
University of South Carolina School of Medicine (Columbia)
| US News Ranking | 90 |
| Practice Type | Allopathic |
| Location | Columbia |
| School Type | Public |
| Average GPA | 3.69 |
| Average MCAT Score | 507 |
| Interview & Acceptance Rates | 6% (acceptance rate) |
| Percent of Class In State | 74% |
| Tuition | $42,888/$87,150 (IS/OOS) |
The University of South Carolina is a Tier-1 Research University and home to the only ranked medical college in the state. This means students have many research opportunities within their program and can collaborate closely with faculty. USC utilizes many cutting-edge technologies — among the institution’s many claims to fame is its status as the first medical college to incorporate ultrasound usage into its program.
Like the other medical schools in South Carolina, USC seeks to reach underserved and rural populations.
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
| US News Ranking | Unranked |
| Practice Type | Allopathic |
| Location | Greenville |
| School Type | Public |
| Average GPA | 3.7-3.75 |
| Average MCAT Score | 509 |
| Interview & Acceptance Rates | N/A |
| Percent of Class In State | 65% |
| Tuition | $44, 612/$88,874 (IS/OOS) |
The newest medical school in the state, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville is located within Prisma Health–Upstate, the largest healthcare provider in the area. Like the flagship medical school at USC, the school enjoys a close partnership with Prisma Health, and students may complete their final two years with the provider.
Students begin their program by training as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), before moving onto other aspects and areas within medicine.
Increase Your Chances of Acceptance to South Carolina Medical Colleges
Understand how your residence impacts your chances of admission.
As with other states, public medical schools in South Carolina favor in-state students in the admissions process. Moreover, tuition is significantly lower for SC residents compared with out-of-staters. It’s important to understand that your chances of admission are decreased if you’re an out-of-state resident, and you’ll need to demonstrate some motivation for applying to an SC medical school.
Know the Niche
Are you interested in osteopathic medicine? Would you like to focus on underserved communities in your practice? Does EMT training appeal to you? Whatever your interests, make sure to connect them with the qualities and features the particular school in question has to offer in order to demonstrate how you’ll complement and fit in with their first-year class.
Write to Your Audience
Similarly, it’s important to appeal to the particular niche when completing your application. Take care with all aspects, especially your essays, to appeal to the specific school without fabrication or hyperbole.
Ultimately, you should seek out a school that’s a mutual fit for you and the medical college—you want a place where you’ll mesh with the student body and curriculum and grow as a future medical practitioner.
