Average MCAT Scores for the Top 30 Medical Schools

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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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