Most Competitive Medical Schools by MCAT

Q: How is this ranking calculated?

This ranking is based on publicly available admissions data and institutional reports. We use transparent, data-driven criteria to help you understand competitiveness and find schools that match your profile.

Q: How often is this data updated?

We update our medical school data annually, typically in the fall when schools report their latest class statistics. The data shown reflects the most recent matriculating class.

Q: Should I only apply to schools at the top of this ranking?

No! A balanced school list includes "reach" schools (where your stats are below median), "target" schools (where you match well), and "safety" schools (where your stats exceed their medians). Apply based on multiple factors: your stats, location preferences, mission fit, and program strengths.

Q: Do schools have MCAT cutoffs?

Most schools don't have strict cutoffs, but they do have competitive ranges. If your MCAT is below a school's 10th percentile, you may face an uphill battle unless other parts of your application are exceptional.

The most academically competitive medical schools ranked by median MCAT score of accepted students.

Updated January 2026 • 25 schools ranked

Data last updated: February 4, 2026

How We Rank

Schools are ranked by median MCAT score of matriculating students. Higher scores indicate more academically competitive programs.


1	NYU Grossman School of Medicine new-york	1.3%	522	3.95
2	Harvard Medical School massachusetts	2.1%	522	3.95
3	Yale School of Medicine connecticut	1.6%	521	3.91
4	Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania pennsylvania	2.4%	521	3.96
5	Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine missouri	2.3%	521	3.94
6	Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine illinois	1.7%	521	3.94
7	Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons new-york	1.9%	520	3.92
8	Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine maryland	2.1%	520	3.99
9	University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine illinois	1.4%	520	3.97
10	Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine minnesota	1.9%	519	3.90
11	USF Health Morsani College of Medicine florida	2.3%	519	3.97
12	The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine texas	4.2%	519	3.95
13	Baylor College of Medicine texas	4.0%	519	3.96
14	Stanford University School of Medicine california	1.0%	519	3.96
15	Duke University School of Medicine north-carolina	1.4%	518	3.83
16	Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine massachusetts	1.3%	518	3.87
17	Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California california	1.4%	518	3.92
18	University of Virginia School of Medicine virginia	2.6%	518	3.91
19	Vanderbilt University School of Medicine tennessee	1.5%	518	3.91
20	University of Michigan Medical School michigan	1.8%	518	3.94
21	Weill Cornell Medicine new-york	1.4%	518	3.88
22	University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry new-york	1.7%	517	3.91
23	Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell new-york	2.1%	517	3.87
24	Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School new-jersey	2.9%	517	3.89
25	Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University new-york	2.6%	517	3.92