Medical School is a rigorous and competitive field to get into with many applicants vying for an opportunity to study at the preeminent medical institutions in the country. This article takes a look at which medical schools are most difficult to get into based on the statistics provided by each institution.

Are you passionate about pursuing a career in medicine in order to fulfill your life-long dream of becoming a medical doctor? Are you worried you might not be getting the right information about that? You need not be worried anymore or confused about it as the article below brings you the latest and trusted information on the hardest medical schools to get into.

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why are medical school acceptance rates so low

The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents with a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matters to you in your college or grad school search.

With the number of medical school applicants hitting an all-time high in 2020, likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, gaining admission can be a challenge.

Medical school acceptance rates range widely from about 20% at their highest to under 3% at the most selective institutions, according to U.S. News data. The most selective medical school is once again Florida State University, with a 2.1% acceptance rate in fall 2020. On the other end of the spectrum, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reported the highest acceptance rate of 20.2% in fall 2020.

Nationally, among the 121 ranked medical schools that provided this data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average acceptance rate for 2020 was 6.5%.

Medical school admissions committees typically consider an applicant’s GPA and MCAT scores, but experts say these metrics alone aren’t enough. Admissions officials also look at applicants’ life experiences, including their employment, volunteer work, clinical experience and research experience.

The 10 most selective medical schools received between 4,299 and 14,464 applicants, ultimately offering acceptance to only a small number – ranging from just 100 total acceptances at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine to 390 acceptances at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

U.S. News ranks the quality of medical schools for both research and primary care, evaluating factors such as faculty resources and the academic achievements of incoming students. Two of the most selective medical schools are ranked among the top 10 Best Medical Schools for Research: New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine is ranked No. 2 and Stanford University in California is ranked in a tie for No. 4.

These selective schools are geographically diverse. Two medical schools on this list are based in California and three are in Washington, D.C., with the remaining schools located across the country.

Below is a list of the 10 ranked medical schools that accepted the lowest percentage of applicants in fall 2020. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

medical school rankings

• Florida State University 7,148 149 2.1% 93-123 79
• New York University (Grossman) 9,243 205 2.2% 2 41 (tie)
• Stanford University (CA) 6,800 155 2.3% 4 (tie) null
• University of Arizona—Tucson 9,563 216 2.3% 70 (tie) 58
• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine 4,299 100 2.3% 83 (tie) 93-123
• Georgetown University (DC) 14,464 390 2.7% 55 (tie) 89 (tie)
• George Washington University (DC) 11,772 329 2.8% 60 78
• University of California—Los Angeles (Geffen) 11,784 333 2.8% 21 12 (tie)
• Wright State University (Boonshoft) (OH) 7,523 214 2.8% 93-123 80 (tie)
• Howard University (DC) 8,758 256 2.9% 93-123 84 (tie)

Don’t see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News Medical School Compass to find admissions data, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.

U.S. News surveyed 191 medical schools for our 2020 survey of research and primary care programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Medical Schools rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data comes from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News’ rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The acceptance rate data above is correct as of April 13, 2021.

easiest medical schools to get into for international students

Medical school has earned a reputation for being competitive and expensive. Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance and earn competitive MCAT test scores. Additionally, many prospective medical students strive to attend prestigious universities, which further drives competition.

However, launching a career in healthcare doesn’t require an expensive degree from a top university. Qualifying for medical school may be less difficult than you think. Using college acceptance rates, we created a ranked list of the easiest medical schools to get into. We also provide an overview of what to expect from medical school, including the cost and average program length.

Easiest Medical Schools to Get Into

1. University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Grand Forks, North Dakota
2. University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts
3. University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine
Kansas City, Missouri
4. University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
Reno, Nevada
5. LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
6. University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Vermillion, South Dakota
7. East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
Greenville, North Carolina
8. Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
9. University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10. University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Why Is Medical School So Competitive to Get Into?

Earning an MD opens up an array of lucrative and rewarding career opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physicians earned a median annual salary of more than $200,000 in 2019. In addition to providing a substantial salary, working in medicine allows you to make a positive impact on society and the lives of individual patients through research and clinical practice.

These perks make pursuing a healthcare career popular, which increases competition for medical school. According to U.S. News & World Report, the average acceptance rate for medical school in 2019 was only 6.7%. Additionally, high demand leads schools to create more stringent application requirements for medical programs. These requirements leave many students feeling that a medical degree is simply out of reach.

What Are the Requirements to Get Into Medical School?
Exact requirements for getting into medical school vary by program. Most schools require prerequisite coursework in core areas like biology, chemistry, genetics, psychology, and physics. Many prospective medical students complete these courses while earning their bachelor’s degree.

Applicants must typically submit college transcripts, letters of recommendation, MCAT scores from within the last three years, and a resume. Some schools set GPA and MCAT score cutoffs, but others evaluate more than just academic performance to select candidates.

How Much Does Medical School Cost?
Pursuing a medical degree requires a significant financial investment. However, tuition rates vary widely by program. Factors impacting costs include a student’s residency status, a student’s enrollment status (full time vs. part time), and whether an institution is public or private.

In general, students attending private and/or prestigious schools and out-of-state learners pay the highest tuition rates. While graduating from a prestigious college offers some benefits, many schools offer great medical programs that do not break the bank.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average tuition at a public medical school in 2020 was $32,380 per year for in-state students and $54,500 for out-of-state students. Tuition at a private medical school cost an average of $56,150 per year for in-state students and $57,390 for out-of-state students.

How Long Does It Take to Complete Medical School?
Students typically enter medical school after completing a bachelor’s degree in a related field. The average MD program takes an additional four years. Graduates must then complete 3-7 years of residency training.

Students pursuing a speciality may need additional time to earn an MD. However, some schools offer dual-degree opportunities like BS/MD and MD/Ph.D. programs. These programs allow students to complete degree requirements simultaneously and qualify for early entry into the residency phase of their education.

About Medical School Requirements

The 8 Most Selective Medical Schools
August 21, 2015
Jared Kaltwasser

As a new class of medical students begins their studies this fall, here’s a look at the eight schools with the most competitive admissions processes.

Medical School

A record 49,480 people applied to medical schools in 2014, up 3.1% from the previous year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The total enrollment in medical schools also reached record levels in 2014, totaling 20,343.

That’s all good news, because the AAMC says the need for physicians remains high. The association pegs the increases in part to an increase in the number of available med school slots, which has risen due to the growth of some existing schools and the addition of 17 new medical schools since 2002.

Still, medical schools in general remain highly competitive when it comes to admissions. According to US News & World Report, US medical schools had an average acceptance rate of 7.1% in the fall of 2014. Acceptance rates at individual schools ranged from just over 1.5%, to nearly 20% (Oklahoma State’s medical school admitted 19.8% of applicants, according to US News).

what is the hardest med school to get into

So which medical schools are the hardest to get into? The list includes many of the big names you’d expect, along with a couple of smaller schools.

Below are the eight most competitive medical schools, according to US News’ 2014 rankings. The list is based on a survey of 156 medical schools.

8. Howard

• Location: Washington, DC
• Acceptance Rate: 3.1%
• Total Acceptances: 228
• US News’ Research Rank: Bottom quartile; actual rank was not published.

7. Wake Forest

Wake Forest School of Medicine

• Location: Winston-Salem, NC
• Acceptance Rate: 2.9%
• Total Acceptances: 238
• US News’ Research Rank: 49 (tie)

6. George Washington University

• George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Location: Washington, DC
• Acceptance Rate: 2.9%
• Total Acceptances: 320
• US News’ Research Rank: 67 (tie)

5. Brown

• Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
• Location: Providence, RI
• Acceptance Rate: 2.9%
• Total Acceptances: 243
• US News’ Research Rank: 35 (tie)

4. Georgetown

• Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Location: Washington, DC
• Acceptance Rate: 2.7%
• Total Acceptances: 349
• US News’ Research Rank: 49 (tie)

3. Stanford

• Stanford University School of Medicine
• Location: Stanford, CA
• Acceptance Rate: 2.4%
• Total Acceptances: 177
• US News’ Research Rank: 2

2. Mayo Clinic

Mayo Medical School

• Location: Rochester, MN
• Acceptance Rate: 2.0%
• Total Acceptances: 94
• US News’ Research Rank: 27

1. Morehouse

Morehouse School of Medicine

• Location: Atlanta, GA
• Acceptance Rate: 1.6%
• Total Acceptances: 85

US News’ Research Rank: Bottom quartile; actual rank was not published.

Medical School With Highest Acceptance Rate UK

In terms of the number of applicants per available interview, Lancaster University has the highest number, with 3.8 applicants per 1 interview space, making it the most competitive for an interview.