The Best Medical Schools with Low MCAT Scores

Last Updated on October 1, 2026

Quick answer: Medical schools with low MCAT scores, meaning entering-class averages near or below 512, include Indiana, UTHealth Houston McGovern, the Medical University of South Carolina, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Admission is holistic, so a high GPA, clinical experience, and thoughtful essays can offset a lower score, especially at in-state public schools.

The medical school admissions process is intense, and it is easy to feel discouraged if your MCAT score comes in below the averages at the programs you had in mind. The good news is that many excellent medical schools enroll students with a wide range of scores, and admissions committees look at far more than one exam.

The average MCAT scores at programs such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford are very high. Admissions is holistic, and a high GPA, a compelling personal statement, and meaningful experiences can still carry weight, but it is smart to keep your options open when deciding which medical schools you should apply to. This guide covers what counts as a lower score, the best medical schools with low MCAT scores, and the steps to take if your score is not where you hoped.

What Counts as a Low MCAT Score?

“Low” is a relative term. The MCAT is scored from 472 to 528, with 500 at roughly the middle of all test takers. According to the AAMC’s most recent national data, the average MCAT score of students who enrolled in medical school was 512.1, while the average among all applicants was 506.3. [1] A score of 510, then, is well above the typical test taker but slightly below the typical matriculant.

Percentiles help put your score in context. The AAMC publishes percentile ranks for every total and section score, updated each year. [2] Section scores matter too. A balanced profile across the four sections often reads better than a high total built on one very low section. Also check how long each school accepts scores: most accept results from the past two or three years, so a score from an early attempt may expire before you apply.

Finally, remember that medical schools use holistic review, weighing your experiences, personal attributes, and academic metrics together. [3] Your MCAT score is important, but it is one part of a larger picture. The AAMC also publishes acceptance rates by MCAT and GPA range, and those data show that at nearly every MCAT level, applicants with higher GPAs are accepted at higher rates. Your score and your grades are read together. For context, the same AAMC data show a mean GPA of 3.81 for matriculants and 3.67 for all applicants. [1]

Best Medical Schools With Low MCAT Scores

The table below lists MD programs with average MCAT scores at or below 512 for their most recent published entering class. Each figure comes from the school’s own class profile or fact sheet, and schools update these each year, so confirm the latest numbers before you apply.

Keep in mind that an average hides a range. Most schools admit students with scores several points below their average, so a score slightly under a school’s figure does not rule you out. What matters is how the rest of your application supports your readiness for medical school.

Many other MD programs have historically enrolled classes with average scores near or below the national matriculant average. These include the University of Washington, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oregon Health & Science University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Kansas, the University of New Mexico, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Missouri, Wayne State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, Florida State University, and Howard University. Check the AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database for each school’s current MCAT and GPA ranges.

Keep residency in mind as you read these numbers. Many of these are public medical schools that give clear preference to in-state applicants, and some enroll few out-of-state students. A school with a lower average MCAT is not necessarily easier to get into if you live in another state.

What to Do if Your MCAT Score Is Low

• Retake the MCAT: If you took the exam early enough, you may have time to raise your score by reviewing problem areas, building a daily and weekly study schedule, and taking full-length practice tests. Plan carefully, since the AAMC limits attempts to three in a single testing year, four across two consecutive years, and seven in a lifetime, and schools see every score. [4] Retake only when your practice scores show consistent improvement.
• Raise your GPA: Your GPA reflects years of sustained work, while your MCAT reflects one day. A high GPA, especially in science courses, can help balance a lower score. If your undergraduate GPA needs work, consider post-baccalaureate classes to show recent academic success. If your grades are already high, see our advice on what to do with a high GPA but low MCAT score.
• Deepen your experiences: Medical schools want to see that you understand what a career in medicine involves. Build clinical experience as an EMT, medical scribe, or clinical research assistant, and add research, shadowing, and service. Sustained, hands-on patient work helps you develop the communication skills physicians need and gives you concrete stories for your application.
• Write a compelling personal statement: Your medical school personal statement is your chance to explain why you want to pursue medicine and what you will bring to a program. A clear, specific essay can shift attention from your score to your commitment to the profession.
• Look beyond MD programs: Consider adding a few osteopathic (DO) medical schools to your list. DO programs train fully licensed physicians with an emphasis on the whole patient, and many enroll students with a range of MCAT scores. The American Medical Association offers guidance on deciding whether a DO program is right for you. [5] Some applicants also consider Caribbean medical schools, though you should research their outcomes carefully.
• Prepare for interviews: Once you receive an interview invitation, your MCAT score has already done its job. Practice both traditional and multiple mini interview (MMI) formats, and be ready to discuss your experiences, your reasons for choosing medicine, and how you work with others. A thoughtful interview can carry a great deal of weight in the final decision.
• Explain any extenuating circumstances: If illness, a family loss, or a significant disruption to your study environment affected your score, let schools know. You can share this in your AMCAS application or in secondary essay prompts that ask for additional information.

How to Build a Balanced Medical School List

A thoughtful school list is one of the best ways to protect yourself when your MCAT score is below the averages at top programs. Start with your state of residence. Your in-state public medical schools often give you the best odds, so research each one carefully and apply to all that fit your goals.

Next, compare your MCAT score and GPA with each school’s published ranges in MSAR, and review average MCAT scores at top medical schools to see where your reach schools sit. Track each school’s MCAT and GPA ranges, residency rules, mission, and secondary deadlines in one spreadsheet so you can compare them easily. Aim for a list where most schools enroll students with numbers close to yours, with a few reach schools and several where your numbers sit at or above the average. Look beyond numbers, too. Schools with missions in primary care, rural health, or service to underserved communities often value applicants whose experiences match that mission.

Applicants with lower scores often benefit from a somewhat longer list, as long as they can write a thoughtful, school-specific secondary essay for every program. Quality matters more than volume: a rushed secondary can undo the advantage of applying widely.

Finally, apply early. Most medical schools use rolling admissions, so submitting your primary application soon after it opens and returning secondary essays within about two weeks can improve your chances. If your score is far below your target schools and you have time, a gap year to retake the MCAT and build your experiences may lead to a better result than applying right away.

Applying with a lower MCAT score is still very competitive, but a strategic list, a complete application, and a clear explanation of your path to medicine give you a fighting chance at acceptance. At every medical school, many students were admitted with scores below the average; what sets those applicants apart was a clear, well-supported case for why they belonged in medicine.

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