Full List of Medical Schools in the US: MD & DO programs + Tips

List of all Medical Schools in the US (MD & DO)

We’ve arranged MD and DO programs alphabetically, by state, in the following tabs below. Under each program, you can find its average accepted GPA, admission statistics, additional test requirements, and BeMo tips on how to get accepted, and which application system the medical school uses (AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS) as indicated in the brackets. You can also use medical school admissions statistics to compare schools more directly.

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How to Apply to and Choose Medical Schools in the US

There are many factors to consider when applying to and choosing medical schools in the US, such as admission statistics, residency preferences, and matriculants’ profiles (e.g., extracurriculars, clinical work, etc.). The goal is to choose several schools where you are competitive while prioritizing your current interests and future goals.

A few of our admission experts shared their thoughts on how they approached this process:

“I didn’t focus on actual acceptance rates as they are all low ... I focused more on my priorities and matching my applicant profile to the school’s profile … Beyond that I looked at opportunities for research support, patient population diversity, and locations where students matched. I also thought about where rotations occur during third year as I wanted to focus on hospitals where rotations were not scattered and centralized to a main hospital center.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

“I applied to both [MD and DO] because I wanted a diverse range of programs. I applied to a number of schools that were in range of my stats … Of the acceptance offers I received, I believed that the DO school I went to offered the most comprehensive education. It was the best in terms of match rate, 1^st time board pass rate, and had a good reputation in securing students the rotations they wanted.” – Dr. Tony Huynh, DO

Medical School Application Systems in the US

If you want to apply to medical schools in the US, you’ll need to submit your application through the correct portal as per the applicable medical school application timelines. Here is a quick breakdown of the application systems used by MD and DO medical schools:

• AMCAS: For MD medical schools
• AACOMAS: For DO medical schools
• TMDSAS: For MD and DO medical schools in Texas
• Other: Some schools have their own application process that doesn’t utilize any of the above portals.

However, be sure to check the admissions website of the medical schools you’re applying to so you can confirm their specific application processes and medical school requirements.

Application Factors to Consider

To get into US medical schools, you’ll need to complete all requirements for the programs you’re applying to. Some common medical school admission requirements are: good GPA and MCAT score, completion of medical school prerequisites, excellent letters of recommendation, impressive medical school personal statements, meaningful extracurriculars, etc.

“Don’t rush and prioritize. The requirements for medical school are all tough! Don’t overload yourself on classes trying to knock out requirements, as you don’t want to be spread too thin. Try to spread out requirements over the 3-4 years of undergrad so that you can do your best in each class … MCAT and GPA are important as screening tools … However, the other pieces of your application are what differentiate you from the crowd and will ultimately be why a school chooses to accept you.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD.

Depending on the program, you may also have to complete additional application components, such as the CASPer or AAMC PREview, and you will be subject to different formats of medical school interviews, such as the multiple mini interview (MMI), traditional panel, or hybrid. For both, effective preparation is key!

“[When preparing for CASPer or MMI] I believe nothing beats practice. By going through the questions and timing oneself rigidly, time management and prioritization become more apparent for students.” – Dr. Tony Huynh, DO.

“For me, preparation meant having a solid grasp of the interview format (i.e., being comfortable with timing and the different types of questions such as acting, collaborating, and writing stations), researching the medical school (and understanding their curriculum, mission statement, and extra-curricular activities they offered), reflecting on my life experiences and extracting lessons applicable to a medical career as well as ensuring I was well informed about current issues … aided me in making a more substantial first and lasting impression!” – Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO

In-State vs. Out-of-State Preferences

The preference for In-State vs. Out-of-State applications will vary depending on the program.

Generally speaking, Ivy League medical schools and elite private schools treat all applications equally, irrespective of the location of the applicant, while public or state schools usually give preference to in-state applicants. For instance, Texas medical schools heavily favor in-state applications, whereas most state schools charge higher tuition for out-of-state applicants. Yet there are many private institutions, and a few public schools are out-of-state friendly schools within the US, worthy of consideration!

Medical Schools in the US for International and Canadian Students

Many medical schools in the US accept international and Canadian students. Some schools, however, have strict policies regarding whether they accept international and/or Canadian applicants. In the case of Canadian applicants, some even allow Canadians to apply as “out-of-state” applicants, and these are called Canadian-friendly medical schools. If you are unsure of how a school would view your application, check the admissions policies on the university website to confirm their specific policies.

Whether you’re an international or Canadian applicant, applying to US medical schools can open more possibilities for acceptance as it did for our admissions expert, Dr. Smith, DO:

“Initially, I only applied to Canadian medical schools (all MD); however, after several years of being unsuccessful, I found BeMo, and they also encouraged me to consider medical schools in the United States (MD and DO). In my final year of applications, I applied to CAN MD, US MD, and US DO.” – Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO.

How Competitive Are Medical Schools in the US?

Although acceptance rates vary across programs and cycles, they together point to one constant: securing acceptance to an MD or DO program is a highly competitive process that requires persistence and strategy. Take it from one of our top students, Rishi, who was a successful reapplicant to medical school:

“Sometimes it does feel like medical school admissions is a little bit random and there's no kind of rhyme or reason to why certain people get in and why other people don't and you know there is a little bit of this randomness to it [and but] you know at the end of the day you can't let yourself get too stressed out about the parts you can’t control. What you should focus on is that there are things you can do that are established that will help you get into good places and help you get into more places, so focus on the part you can control … being diligent, intentional, and proactive throughout the whole process will make a huge difference.” – Rishi, former BeMo student

Are There Easier Medical Schools to Get Into in the US?

While there are some schools that are considered the easiest medical schools to get into, such as DO schools and schools with higher-than-average acceptance rates, no medical school is “easy” to get accepted into. Instead, it’s important to create a school list that aligns with your academic profile, extracurricular interests, and career goals, making the process feel “easier” by comparison. 

If you’re interested in MD programs, Dr. Taneja advises using MSAR as a resource when building a list of MD schools to apply to:

“MSAR was a great resource as I built a list. I utilized the GPA and MCAT ranges to make sure my statistics were within the 25-75 percentiles. I also noted the number of volunteer, work, and research experiences that accepted applicants had and focused on schools that had averages that matched my numbers.”

If you’re interested in applying to DO programs, then ChooseDO is the best resource to refer to when creating your list of DO schools. If you’re interested in applying to MD and DO programs then refer to both!

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