Average MCAT Scores for the Top 30 Medical Schools

Padya Paramita

February 7, 2022

Average MCAT Scores for the Top 30 Medical Schools

Every medical school wants to admit students who are prepared for the academic rigor of the next four years. A high undergraduate GPA and strong MCAT score show med schools that you can handle what’s ahead. But every school varies in what they consider a “strong” score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively. 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.

Rank	Medical School	Average MCAT Score
1	Harvard University	520
2	New York University	522
3	Duke University	519
4	Columbia University	521
4	Stanford University	518
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

It certainly helps to know the numbers as you make your list. However, while your MCAT score is important, it isn’t everything! 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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