For some students, earning a bachelor’s degree is just the beginning. The real dream is becoming a doctor. If that sounds like you, medical school is likely on your horizon.
In 2024, more than 51,900 students applied to medical school, but only about 44.6% were accepted. The process is competitive but not impossible. And choosing the right undergraduate college is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success.
While prestigious names like Yale, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins come to mind, they aren’t the only pathways to becoming a physician. Some colleges consistently report higher medical school acceptance rates, thanks to strong pre-med programs, advising, and support systems.
In this post, we’ll explore 13 colleges with the highest medical school acceptance rates, showcasing the institutions that help aspiring doctors achieve their dreams and enhance their chances of acceptance into medical programs.
Factors That Impact Medical School Acceptance Rates
Here are some of the biggest factors that influence acceptance rates:
1. Quality of Pre-Med Advising
Strong advising programs guide students through every step of the process, from choosing the right classes and preparing for the MCAT to writing standout personal statements. Schools with structured pre-med advising often help students avoid common application pitfalls.
2. Research and Clinical Opportunities
Medical schools look for applicants with hands-on experience. Colleges that offer undergraduate research positions, shadowing programs, or partnerships with nearby hospitals give students a big advantage when it comes to building a competitive resume.
3. Committee Letters and Application Support
Many colleges use a pre-med committee to evaluate applicants before writing a single “committee letter” of recommendation. These schools often only endorse students who meet certain academic and extracurricular standards, which can inflate acceptance rates but also ensures that applicants are well-prepared.
4. Selectivity of the Student Body
Colleges with already-competitive admissions naturally have higher acceptance rates to med school. Students entering with strong GPAs, test scores, and motivation are more likely to succeed no matter where they go.
5. Supportive Learning Environment
Finally, environment matters. Smaller class sizes, accessible professors, mentoring programs, and a strong peer community can all help students excel academically and emotionally as they prepare for the challenges of medical school.
13 Colleges with the Highest Medical School Acceptance Rates
Based on composite data from the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, here’s a list of 13 colleges with the highest medical school acceptance rates:
1. University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences (UND SMHS) has the highest medical acceptance rate at 18% in 2024.
As North Dakota’s only medical school, 75% of family physicians in the state graduated from UND SMHS. From biomedical sciences to sports medicine, UND SMHS offers a wide range of programs. Matriculants had a median GPA of 3.7, and a median MCAT score of 506.
2. Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system. Its mission is to preserve and optimize human life in the South Carolina community.
MUSC has a high acceptance rate: 15.5% in 2024. That’s 214 matriculants out of 1385 applicants. While the median MCAT score was high (510), the median GPA was average (3.75).
3. Oklahoma State University
The Center for Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University encourages innovation and multidisciplinary collaborative research across the OSU system.
In 2024, OSU accepted 15% of applicants (140 out of 958). Matriculants also had the lowest median MCAT score of 500.
4. University of Tennessee
Serving the community through healing, education, and discovery, the University of Tennessee’s Medical Center provides students with the wisdom to diagnose and reassure patients.
UT’s Medical Center also has one of the highest medical school acceptance rates. In 2024, 14% of applicants matriculated, with a median GPA of 3.77 and a median MCAT score of 510.
5. University of South Dakota (Sanford)
The Sanford School of Medicine prepares students to practice the gambit of medicine, from family medicine to rural medicine.
With a 13% acceptance rate in 2024, the University of South Dakota’s Sanford School of Medicine has one of the highest medical school acceptance rates. Applicants have a median GPA of 3.83 and an MCAT score of 507.
6. East Carolina University (Brody)
The Brody School of Medicine is a newer college that seeks to meet the needs of the region while preparing students to become physicians all across the country.
Out of 1008 applicants, 125 matriculated, with an average GPA of 3.71 and an MCAT score of 507. It is also a Tier 1 Medical School according to U.S. News.
7. University of Nevada: Reno
The University of Nevada-Reno, School of Medicine is ranked in the top 100 of all medical schools in the country. Accepting 12% of applicants in 2024, 124 students were admitted with a median GPA of 3.63 and an MCAT score of 507.
8. University of Kentucky
By enabling interprofessional healthcare education and collaborative research, the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine graduates are uniquely positioned to work in any number of hospitals.
UK’s College of Medicine accepted 11% of applicants in 2024. Those students had an average GPA of 3.78 and an MCAT score of 505.
9. University at Buffalo: SUNY (Jacobs)
The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is one of the oldest medical schools in the U.S., with 14,000+ active alumni and 630+ practicing faculty members.
In 2024, the Jacobs School of Medicine admitted 420 students out of 3866 total applicants (around 11%). Incoming students averaged a 3.79 GPA and 510 on the MCAT.
10. University of Illinois
The University of Illinois’ College of Medicine has campuses in Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford. Championing social responsibility and community engagement, the college accepted 10.3% of applicants in 2024, 587 out of 5722.
On average, accepted students have a GPA of 3.75 and an MCAT score of 513.
11. University of Texas (McGovern)
Seven schools make up UT Austin’s health sciences program, but the McGovern Medical School is the 11th largest medical school in Texas, and in 2024, its acceptance rate was 10%. McGovern admitted 467 out of 4,926 applicants.
McGovern has more than 900 accredited residency and fellowship positions, offering a wide range of clinical training programs. Their teaching hospital, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, was ranked second in the U.S.
12. University of Nebraska
Chartered as Nebraska’s first medical college in 1881, the University of Nebraska Medical Center trains the most health professionals in the state.
Medical Center students have a median GPA of 3.77 and a median MCAT score of 511. In 2024, the Medical Center had a 10% acceptance rate, accepting 160 out of 1590 initial applicants.
13. University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine strives to “fulfill the health needs of all New Mexicans, provide quality innovative resources, and foster lifelong learning.”
While their students typically have a median GPA of 3.68 and a median MCAT score of 505, the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine only admitted 9% of applicants, around 133 out of 1464 applicants in 2024.
Conclusion
The path to becoming a doctor is challenging, but considering colleges with the highest medical school acceptance rates can make the journey a little smoother. If you’re ready to map out your path to medical school, HelloCollege can help you explore colleges, build your resume, consider direct-admit programs, and take every step with confidence.
Reach out today to learn how we can support your medical school journey.
