What the Latest AAMC Numbers Reveal About Medical School Admission
Medical school admissions can be difficult to evaluate because applicants are often comparing different types of statistics: MCAT scores, undergraduate GPA, admission offers, matriculation rates and demographic outcomes.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) publishes national admissions data that make these comparisons possible, provided the figures are used correctly.
Its latest complete applicant reporting covers the 2025–26 US MD medical school entry cycle. During that period, 54,699 individuals applied, 24,300 received at least one acceptance and 23,440 ultimately matriculated.
That makes the national applicant acceptance rate approximately 44.4%. The figure is not the average acceptance rate at an individual medical school, and it is not a guarantee for applicants with a particular background or test score.
AAMC Table A-12 shows observed admission outcomes by race/ethnicity.
Table A-18 reports academic-score averages by demographic category.
Table A-23 shows accepted-applicant percentages by combined MCAT and GPA bands across three application cycles.
Updated October 21, 2026. This article covers US allopathic (MD-granting) medical schools. Osteopathic (DO) schools report data separately.
The 2025–26 AAMC MD applicant acceptance rate was 44.4%. Students who ultimately entered medical school had a mean MCAT score of 512.1 and mean total undergraduate GPA of 3.81.
AAMC’s reported single-category race/ethnicity acceptance rates include 48.9% for White applicants, 45.7% for Asian applicants, 40.8% for Hispanic or Latino applicants, 39.6% for Middle Eastern or North African applicants and 32.7% for Black or African American applicants.
These percentages reflect different applicant populations and are not adjusted for academic records, school preferences, state residency or other factors. AAMC’s publicly available MCAT/GPA acceptance grid is separate and cannot be used to calculate exact race-specific probabilities.
Primary source: AAMC 2025 FACTS Applicants and Matriculants Data.
Overall US Medical School Acceptance Rate for the 2025–26 Cycle
The AAMC tracks unique applicants who apply to one or more US MD-granting medical schools.
For the 2025 entering class, the national applicant population and admission outcomes were:
| Admissions measure | 2025–26 total | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 54,699 | People applying to one or more US MD programmes. |
| Acceptees | 24,300 | Applicants who received at least one acceptance. |
| Matriculants | 23,440 | Applicants who ultimately began an MD programme. |
| Acceptance rate | 44.4% | Acceptees divided by applicants. |
| Matriculation ratio | 42.9% | Matriculants divided by applicants. |
Why aren’t the acceptance and matriculation rates the same?
Some applicants receive an admission offer but ultimately enroll elsewhere, defer admission or do not begin medical school.
Because an applicant may receive several offers, AAMC’s acceptee count identifies whether that person received at least one offer—not the number of offers made by medical schools.
Why do individual medical schools have much lower acceptance rates?
The national acceptance percentage answers whether an applicant was accepted somewhere across the institutions to which they applied.
By contrast, the acceptance rate of one school measures offers relative to applications received by that institution.
Applicants often apply to numerous programmes, so even institutions with very selective school-level rates can exist within a national applicant pool where approximately 44% receive at least one acceptance.
The 2025–26 overall applicant acceptance rate is 44.4%.
AAMC’s latest three-year GPA/MCAT table, covering the 2023–24 through 2025–26 cycles, reports 45.1% across its combined applicant population. Both are legitimate descriptive statistics, but they represent different periods.
Medical School Acceptance Rates by Race and Ethnicity in 2025–26
AAMC Table A-12 reports applicants, acceptees and matriculants by racial and ethnic characteristics.
Its categories are mutually exclusive, meaning individuals who identified with multiple categories are counted in a separate group rather than included repeatedly across the single-category rows.
| Race/ethnicity | Applicants | Acceptees | Matriculants | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 81 | 35 | 33 | 43.2% |
| Asian | 14,585 | 6,664 | 6,484 | 45.7% |
| Black or African American | 5,022 | 1,643 | 1,558 | 32.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,752 | 1,530 | 1,459 | 40.8% |
| Middle Eastern or North African | 2,539 | 1,006 | 976 | 39.6% |
| Multiple race/ethnicity | 6,847 | 2,938 | 2,837 | 42.9% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 51 | 14 | 13 | 27.5% |
| Some other race or ethnicity | 253 | 82 | 80 | 32.4% |
| Unknown race/ethnicity | 2,972 | 1,288 | 1,227 | 43.3% |
| White | 18,597 | 9,100 | 8,773 | 48.9% |
| Overall | 54,699 | 24,300 | 23,440 | 44.4% |
Scroll horizontally to view the complete table on mobile devices.
Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-12, academic year 2025–26. The rate in each row is accepted applicants divided by applicants. Categories use the table’s mutually exclusive reporting method.
What do these differences mean?
The table reveals differences in observed outcomes among applicant groups.
However, these are unadjusted statistics. They cannot isolate the effects of academic preparation, socioeconomic conditions, individual school choices, state residency, admissions policies or other variables.
They should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that a person’s racial identity alone determines their prospects.
Why are smaller categories particularly sensitive?
The single-category Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander population included only 51 applicants, while the American Indian or Alaska Native category included 81.
A small change in admission offers can produce a large percentage change when the denominator is small.
Readers should also remember that applicants identifying with more than one category are shown separately in this table.
Does AAMC publish overlapping demographic categories?
Yes. AAMC Tables A-14.1, A-14.2 and A-14.3 report race/ethnicity responses alone or in combination.
Those tables answer a different question: how many applicants, acceptees or matriculants identify with a group, including people who select multiple groups.
Doing so can produce misleading acceptance percentages because the numerators and denominators describe different populations.
Average MCAT and GPA by Race/Ethnicity Among Medical School Matriculants
AAMC Table A-18 reports MCAT and GPA means for applicants and matriculants by demographic category.
The following table focuses on the students who matriculated into an MD programme during the 2025–26 academic year.
| Race/ethnicity | Mean MCAT | Mean undergraduate GPA |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 505.2 | 3.64 |
| Asian | 514.3 | 3.85 |
| Black or African American | 507.2 | 3.65 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 506.8 | 3.71 |
| Middle Eastern or North African | 511.7 | 3.84 |
| Multiple race/ethnicity | 511.6 | 3.79 |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 512.0 | 3.74 |
| Some other race or ethnicity | 510.5 | 3.77 |
| Unknown race/ethnicity | 512.9 | 3.82 |
| White | 512.3 | 3.82 |
| All matriculants | 512.1 | 3.81 |
Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-18, 2025–26. GPA is the mean cumulative undergraduate GPA. MCAT means use students with available MCAT results. These are group averages, not admissions cutoffs.
Is the mean MCAT the score required for admission?
No. An average is not a minimum.
For example, the 514.3 mean MCAT among Asian matriculants does not mean that every Asian applicant required a 514 or higher.
It indicates the average performance of those matriculating students with available scores.
Can these means explain differences in acceptance rates?
Not completely.
Because the table describes matriculants, it does not reveal how many applicants in each corresponding score band were denied admission.
A detailed adjusted analysis would require applicant-level data or a joint acceptance table using consistent demographic and academic categories, along with relevant covariates.
Treat these figures as broad academic context. Compare your own MCAT and GPA with the requirements and published class profiles of specific schools.
Avoid treating demographic means as score targets that differ by race.
Medical School Acceptance Rates by MCAT Score and GPA
The AAMC MCAT/GPA acceptance grid is one of the most useful national admissions references.
Unlike a simple average score, it shows the percentage of applicants within a particular academic combination who received at least one acceptance.
The latest grid pools the 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26 entry cycles.
| Undergraduate GPA | MCAT 498–501 | 502–505 | 506–509 | 510–513 | 514–517 | 518+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.80–4.00 | 30.6% | 44.9% | 57.1% | 70.5% | 77.2% | 83.3% |
| 3.60–3.79 | 22.3% | 34.7% | 45.4% | 60.0% | 66.7% | 71.3% |
| 3.40–3.59 | 20.0% | 30.3% | 36.7% | 48.7% | 56.5% | 66.4% |
| 3.20–3.39 | 17.5% | 24.7% | 31.8% | 42.3% | 45.5% | 60.7% |
| 3.00–3.19 | 15.4% | 23.2% | 28.4% | 37.4% | 43.3% | 46.5% |
| 2.80–2.99 | 10.8% | 23.3% | 27.7% | 39.0% | 36.4% | 41.7% |
| All GPA bands | 22.2% | 35.4% | 47.1% | 62.4% | 71.2% | 79.9% |
Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-23, 2023–24 through 2025–26 aggregated. This is a selected portion of the official grid. Percentages are observed accepted-applicant shares within each academic band, not probabilities for an individual.
What does the grid show?
In general, applicants with stronger combined academic records had higher observed admission rates.
Among applicants with GPAs above 3.79, the historical acceptance rate rose from 30.6% in the MCAT 498–501 band to 83.3% for scores above 517.
In the MCAT 510–513 band, applicants with GPAs of 3.80 or above had a 70.5% rate, compared with 37.4% for applicants with GPAs of 3.00–3.19.
Why do some lower-GPA cells not increase smoothly?
A few cells show irregular patterns. For instance, the 2.80–2.99 GPA row does not steadily increase as the MCAT band rises.
This can occur because sample sizes, academic histories, school selection and other applicant characteristics differ across cells.
It does not mean a lower MCAT score is inherently preferable within those GPA groups.
It would be statistically invalid to multiply the race-specific rate in the previous table by a GPA/MCAT cell percentage to obtain a joint probability.
The necessary combined applicant and acceptance counts are not provided in the public tables.
Common MCAT and GPA Combinations: What the Historical Data Suggest
Applicants frequently search for specific academic combinations when deciding whether to apply.
The following examples illustrate how to locate a relevant cell in the AAMC grid.
Corresponds to the historical 3.80–4.00 GPA and 510–513 MCAT band.
Corresponds to the historical 3.40–3.59 GPA and 514–517 MCAT band.
Corresponds to the historical 3.20–3.39 GPA and 518+ MCAT band.
Corresponds to the historical 3.60–3.79 GPA and 506–509 MCAT band.
Can you get into an MD school with a 500 MCAT?
Yes. Some applicants around a 500 MCAT receive MD admission offers, particularly when their academic record and overall application are strong.
The grid shows a 22.2% aggregate accepted-applicant rate in the 498–501 MCAT band across all GPAs.
However, applicants with scores in this range should investigate the actual admissions profile and requirements of the institutions they hope to attend.
Is a 510 MCAT enough?
A 510 can be competitive at some schools.
Across all GPA groups, the pooled acceptance rate for MCAT scores of 510–513 was 62.4%.
Yet the same MCAT band produced meaningfully different results by GPA, demonstrating why both measures matter.
Can a 520 MCAT overcome a low GPA?
A high MCAT demonstrates strong examination performance and may strengthen an application, but it does not erase weak science coursework, missing prerequisites or poor academic trends.
The grid confirms that acceptances occur for high-MCAT applicants with lower GPAs, but their observed rates remain different from those of applicants who also have stronger undergraduate grades.
Why Race, MCAT and GPA Cannot Be Used as a Simple Admissions Calculator
The three variables in this article are associated with different aspects of medical school admissions, but the public data do not support a simple formula that precisely predicts an individual outcome.
School choice substantially changes the comparison
A student applying mostly to extremely selective institutions faces a different admissions environment from one applying to a thoughtful range of programmes that match their academic preparation and professional goals.
Medical schools may also prioritize applicants with particular state residency, regional ties or demonstrated commitment to the communities they serve.
Science GPA matters separately from total GPA
AMCAS calculates a Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics GPA, commonly called BCPM or science GPA.
Applicants with strong overall averages but weaker science performance should examine whether their science coursework demonstrates readiness for a demanding medical curriculum.
Experience and mission fit are not shown in the grid
Clinical experience, sustained service, research, leadership, recommendations, essays and interviews all provide information that GPA and MCAT alone cannot capture.
A school may also value specific experiences relevant to its mission, such as primary care, rural health or service to underserved communities.
Applicant populations are self-selected
Students do not randomly apply to medical schools.
They make decisions influenced by their scores, financial resources, location preferences, advisers and perceptions of competitiveness.
This self-selection means historical acceptance percentages cannot be interpreted as the results of a controlled experiment.
Identify where your academic record falls relative to the national applicant population, then investigate actual schools and the remaining strengths and weaknesses of your application.
Race and Ethnicity in Medical School Admissions: Reporting and Policy Context
AAMC demographic reporting describes representation and observed admission outcomes, but it does not establish the admissions policy of any particular school.
Medical schools operate under applicable federal and state laws and institutional admissions requirements.
Why did the reporting categories change?
Beginning in 2025–26, AAMC incorporated a separate Middle Eastern or North African category and made additional demographic reporting changes.
Consequently, the organization states that 2025–26 race/ethnicity representation statistics are not directly comparable with those from earlier academic years.
Can the 2025 percentages be used to establish discrimination or preference?
Not by themselves.
Unadjusted admission rates do not isolate differences in undergraduate academic records, institutional preferences, admissions pathways or other circumstances.
Drawing a causal conclusion would require a more detailed research design and additional information.
How did the 2023 Supreme Court decisions affect admissions?
The Supreme Court’s decisions involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina restricted the use of race in higher education admissions.
Medical schools must follow applicable legal requirements and their own published selection policies.
Students can describe meaningful individual experiences, challenges, service and accomplishments, including how those experiences shaped their motivation for medicine.
Reporting racial and ethnic statistics is not the same as instructing a medical school to admit students based on race.
The purpose of these tables is to describe observed national outcomes and representation.
How to Build a Stronger Medical School Application in 2026–27
Applicants can use national statistics to identify areas for improvement, but an effective admissions plan should be broader than test scores alone.
Review both cumulative and science GPA
Examine academic trends, prerequisite completion and performance in advanced sciences. Look for any weaknesses that could raise concerns about medical-school readiness.
Assess MCAT performance realistically
Use practice examinations and school-specific score profiles to decide whether retesting offers a meaningful opportunity to improve your application.
Gain sustained clinical experience
Clinical volunteering, employment and other patient-facing opportunities can help demonstrate familiarity with healthcare and informed motivation for medicine.
Show commitment through meaningful service
Long-term service, leadership and responsibility may demonstrate reliability and a better understanding of community needs.
Construct a mission-aligned school list
Compare state-residency eligibility, prerequisites, accepted-student metrics, location, cost and academic mission using individual school information.
Write specific personal and activity descriptions
Focus on actual experiences, what you learned and how your responsibilities influenced your preparation for professional practice.
Prepare for interviews and apply on time
Confirm primary and secondary deadlines, arrange recommendations early and develop thoughtful responses to ethical, teamwork and professional scenarios.
Should students take a gap year?
A gap year can be useful when it allows a student to complete meaningful clinical experience, strengthen an academic record, pursue service or improve testing.
However, it should not be an automatic choice based solely on a score being below the national average.
The decision depends on the student’s full application, financial situation and educational goals.
Should applicants pursue a postbaccalaureate programme?
Additional undergraduate science courses or a structured postbaccalaureate programme can be appropriate for applicants with missing prerequisites or academic weaknesses.
Students should distinguish academic-record enhancement from simply adding more courses to an already strong transcript.
Compare your metrics with target schools, but prioritize evidence that you are ready for the academic demands and responsibilities of medicine.
Strong scores matter; thoughtful preparation and genuine commitment matter too.
Do the AAMC Statistics Include Osteopathic Medical Schools?
No. The main acceptance rates in this article cover US MD-granting medical schools.
Osteopathic medical schools award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and generally use the AACOMAS centralized application system.
| Feature | MD medical schools | DO medical schools |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Doctor of Medicine | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Main central application | AMCAS | AACOMAS |
| National admissions organization | AAMC | AACOM |
| Included in this article’s national acceptance figures? | Yes | No |
| Physician career pathway | Medical education and professional licensure | Osteopathic medical education and professional licensure |
Applicants considering both degrees should research the current admissions statistics, academic expectations and educational approach of the institutions on their shortlist.
It is not accurate to combine the 44.4% MD acceptance rate with DO-school applicant figures without a properly defined combined applicant population.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical School Acceptance Rates by Race, MCAT and GPA
What is the medical school acceptance rate in 2026?
The latest complete AAMC MD applicant data cover 2025–26, when 24,300 of 54,699 applicants received at least one acceptance, producing a 44.4% rate. The separate pooled 2023–24 through 2025–26 MCAT/GPA grid reports approximately 45.1%.
Does AAMC publish acceptance rates by race, MCAT and GPA together?
AAMC publishes separate race/ethnicity admissions statistics and a national MCAT/GPA acceptance grid. The publicly available tables do not supply a complete joint national acceptance matrix covering every combined race, MCAT and GPA category.
What is the average MCAT score of accepted medical students?
The mean MCAT for students who matriculated into US MD programmes in 2025–26 was 512.1. Matriculants are not exactly the same population as acceptees, and the mean should not be treated as an admission minimum.
What is the average GPA of medical school matriculants?
The 2025–26 mean cumulative undergraduate GPA for US MD matriculants was 3.81, according to the AAMC. Schools also evaluate science GPA, academic trends and relevant prerequisites.
What is the acceptance rate for Asian medical school applicants?
In the mutually exclusive AAMC 2025–26 race/ethnicity table, 6,664 of 14,585 Asian applicants were accepted, for an observed 45.7% acceptance rate. This is not an individual admissions probability.
What is the acceptance rate for Black medical school applicants?
AAMC’s 2025–26 single-category data report 1,643 accepted among 5,022 Black or African American applicants, a rate of 32.7%. The percentage is descriptive and unadjusted for differences in academic records or other applicant factors.
What is the acceptance rate for Hispanic or Latino medical school applicants?
In the AAMC’s 2025–26 mutually exclusive category, 1,530 of 3,752 Hispanic or Latino applicants were accepted, giving a 40.8% rate.
Can you get into medical school with a 3.5 GPA and 515 MCAT?
Yes. The AAMC’s three-year grid reports a 56.5% accepted-applicant rate in the 3.40–3.59 GPA and 514–517 MCAT category. This describes observed historical applicants rather than guaranteeing a result.
What is the acceptance rate with a 3.8 GPA and 512 MCAT?
The AAMC’s pooled academic grid reports 70.5% for GPA above 3.79 and MCAT between 510 and 513. Applicants’ school choices, experiences and other characteristics may substantially change individual outcomes.
Are DO schools included in these acceptance rates?
No. The principal acceptance-rate, race/ethnicity and academic-grid statistics in this guide cover US MD-granting schools. Osteopathic DO programmes maintain separate application processes and data.
Official AAMC Sources, Definitions and Data Limitations
The statistics in this article are drawn from the Association of American Medical Colleges’ FACTS reports for the latest available complete admissions year.
- 2025 FACTS: Applicants and Matriculants — AAMC’s current applicant, acceptee, demographic, GPA and MCAT tables, despite the legacy year in the page’s URL.
- AAMC FACTS Main Directory — Access to the current and archived admissions reports and definitions.
- US Medical Schools Enroll a Record Number of Students in 2025 — Official December 2025 article reporting 54,699 applicants, 23,440 matriculants and demographic changes.
- Medical School Enrollment Reaches 100,000 Students — AAMC’s summary of applicant and enrollment changes and the revised race/ethnicity classifications.
- AMCAS Application Guidance — Primary MD application process and academic reporting requirements.
- Medical School Admission Requirements — School-specific admissions profiles and prerequisites.
Methodology: Race/ethnicity acceptance rates use the 2025–26 applicant and acceptee counts from AAMC Table A-12, grouped in mutually exclusive categories. Race/ethnicity academic averages use Table A-18 for matriculants. MCAT/GPA acceptance percentages are drawn from Table A-23, which pools 2023–24 through 2025–26. These datasets have different denominators and should not be combined to invent race-specific academic admission probabilities. Changes to AAMC demographic reporting in 2025–26 limit direct comparisons with older tables.
Final Assessment: What the Numbers Mean for 2026 Applicants
The AAMC’s latest complete national figures show that approximately 44.4% of US MD applicants received at least one medical school acceptance in the 2025–26 cycle.
Academic preparation matters significantly: the AAMC grid shows that acceptance rates generally rise as MCAT and GPA improve.
Demographic statistics provide a separate view of observed outcomes, but they do not establish individual admission probabilities or the independent effect of race on admissions decisions.
Applicants should focus on a rigorous and realistic school list, strong academic preparation, meaningful clinical and service experiences, professional readiness and careful application execution.
Use the national statistics to understand patterns and identify questions to investigate—not as a substitute for reviewing the actual medical schools where you intend to apply.