Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Average MCAT scores at the top 30 medical schools mostly fall between about 511 and 522, on a scale of 472 to 528. Harvard reports an average of 521, and most top 30 schools sit at or above the 90th percentile. A score at or slightly above a school’s median keeps you competitive, though admission is holistic.
Why Average MCAT Scores Matter
Every medical school wants to admit students who are prepared for the academic rigor of the next four years. A high undergraduate GPA and solid MCAT score show med schools that you can handle what’s ahead. But every school varies in what they consider a competitive score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard reports an average of 521 and Stanford a median of 519. [1] [2] A high MCAT score certainly does not guarantee an acceptance letter at the most competitive medical schools. But if you want a shot at admission, you first need to show that you are academically qualified.
This is all the more important for medical schools that have actual score cutoffs. If your MCAT score does not reach the school’s minimum, they will not read the rest of your application. Your MCAT score quite literally gets you in the door here. But again, pre-screening processes vary on a school-by-school basis. When putting your scores into perspective, you’ll reach a school’s test score threshold if you are at or slightly above the median score. To give you a sense of whether or not you are within reach of the top medical schools, here is a chart of their average MCAT scores.
Average MCAT Scores at the Top 30 Medical Schools
| Rank | Medical School | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | 521 |
| 2 | New York University | 522 |
| 3 | Duke University | 519 |
| 4 | Columbia University | 521 |
| 4 | Stanford University | 519 |
| 4 | University of California, San Francisco | 517 |
| 7 | Johns Hopkins University | 521 |
| 7 | University of Washington | 511 |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania | 522 |
| 10 | Yale University | 519 |
| 11 | Mayo Clinic | 520 |
| 11 | Washington University in St. Louis | 521 |
| 13 | University of Pittsburgh | 521 |
| 13 | Vanderbilt University | 519 |
| 15 | Northwestern University | 519 |
| 15 | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | 516 |
| 17 | Icahn School of Medicine | 517 |
| 17 | University of Chicago | 521 |
| 19 | University of California, San Diego | 516 |
| 21 | University of California, Los Angeles | 512 |
| 22 | Baylor University | 518 |
| 22 | Emory University | 515 |
| 24 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | 512 |
| 25 | Case Western Reserve University | 518 |
| 26 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | 517 |
| 27 | University of Colorado | 513 |
| 27 | University of Maryland | 513 |
| 29 | Oregon Health and Sciences University | 511 |
| 29 | University of Southern California | 517 |
A few patterns appear in the chart. Private research schools such as NYU, Penn, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, WashU, and UChicago report averages of 521 or 522, among the highest in the country. Several public schools, including the University of Washington, UCLA, and UNC Chapel Hill, report averages closer to 511 or 512. Their missions give weight to in-state applicants and to training physicians for underserved communities, so their averages reflect priorities beyond test scores. Keep in mind that these figures describe enrolled students, and each school admits people well above and below its average. Treat the average as a guide to fit, not a cutoff.
How the MCAT Is Scored
The MCAT has four sections, each scored from 118 to 132: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills; Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Your total score is the sum of the four, ranging from 472 to 528. Admissions committees see both your total and your section scores, so a very low score in one section can raise questions even when your total looks solid.
What Is a Good MCAT Score?
A good MCAT score depends on where you are applying. According to the AAMC’s current percentile ranks, which combine the three most recent testing years, the mean total score across all test takers is 500.6. [4] Here is how common scores compare:
| Total MCAT Score | Percentile Rank |
|---|---|
| 500 | 48th |
| 505 | 64th |
| 510 | 79th |
| 512 | 84th |
| 515 | 91st |
| 518 | 95th |
| 520 | 97th |
| 522 | 99th |
Nearly every school in the top 30 reports an average at or above the 90th percentile. For a broad list of MD programs, a score around 510 or higher keeps most doors open, while a score of 515 or above puts you in range at most top 30 schools. If you are targeting the schools at the top of the chart, aim for 518 or higher.
Balancing Your MCAT With Your GPA
Medical schools read your MCAT alongside your GPA, especially your science GPA in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. A high MCAT can help offset a lower GPA from a difficult first year, and a high GPA can soften a slightly lower MCAT, but top programs usually expect both to be competitive. If one number falls well below a school’s median, look for schools whose averages match your profile, and read our advice on what to do with a high GPA but low MCAT score. You can also explore the best medical schools with lower MCAT averages.
Using Average MCAT Scores to Build Your School List
Once you know your score, compare it with each school’s numbers rather than with a single national cutoff. The AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database shows MCAT data for applicants, accepted applicants, and matriculants at each program, including total and section scores, so you can see exactly where you fall. [3]
A practical approach is to sort schools into three groups. Schools where your score sits above the average are likely targets, schools where it matches the average are realistic reaches, and schools where it falls several points below are long shots unless the rest of your application is exceptional. Weigh state residency and mission fit as well, since many public schools give weight to in-state applicants. Once your list is set, build your AMCAS application around the experiences that match each school’s priorities.
When to Take the MCAT
Most applicants take the MCAT between January and May of the year they apply, so scores are ready when the AMCAS application opens in late spring. Scores usually release about a month after your test date. Plan to test once you have finished the core prerequisites, including biochemistry and introductory psychology and sociology, and leave time for a possible retake before you apply. The AAMC limits attempts to three in a single testing year, four across two consecutive years, and seven in a lifetime, and medical schools see every score you receive. Take the exam when your full-length practice scores are consistently at or above your target, not before.
How to Prepare for a Competitive MCAT Score
Most students who reach the score ranges above spend about three to six months preparing, often 300 or more hours in total. A structured plan usually includes:
- A diagnostic test. Take a full-length practice exam under timed conditions to find your baseline and your weakest sections.
- Content review by section. Spend the first half of your plan closing content gaps, especially in biochemistry, which appears across several sections.
- Daily CARS practice. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills does not reward memorization, so short daily passages build the reading stamina it requires.
- Official AAMC practice materials. The AAMC’s own practice exams and question packs are the closest match to the real test and the best predictor of your score.
- Full-length exams every week near the end. The exam takes about seven and a half hours with breaks, so stamina matters as much as knowledge. Review every missed question to find patterns.
Schedule your exam date early, because popular dates in spring fill quickly, and build in a week of lighter review before test day.
Beyond the MCAT: What Else Top Schools Look For
A score in range gets your application read closely; it does not get you admitted. The top medical schools on this list interview far fewer applicants than they could based on scores alone, and they decide among candidates with similar numbers using the rest of the file. Admissions committees look for sustained clinical experience, research, service to people in need, and evidence of the personal qualities the AAMC describes in its premed competencies, such as empathy, teamwork, resilience, and reliability. [5] Your personal statement, secondary essays, and letters of recommendation show those qualities in ways a number cannot.
It certainly helps to know the numbers as you make your list. However, while your MCAT score is important, it isn’t everything! [3] Remember that even matching the average MCAT scores of the top 30 medical schools does not guarantee an interview offer. Every component of your application matters! Building up good extracurricular activities is crucial to demonstrating your hands-on experience in medicine; your medical school personal statement shows who you really are. Landing within the average MCAT scores will get your foot in the door. Your experiences, background, unique perspective, and motivations for becoming a doctor are what will help you close the door behind you!
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