As the number of applicants to U.S. medical schools surges past 52,000, the journey to a white coat is defined by increasingly competitive statistics, from a 3.8 average GPA for matriculants to the revealing demographic and experiential profiles that shape the modern path to medicine.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2023-2024 cycle, there were 52,343 applicants to MD-granting medical schools in the US
- For 2022-2023, total MD applicants numbered 48,033, marking a 2.7% increase from prior year
- In 2021-2022, 52,080 individuals applied to MD programs, with 82% being first-time applicants
- Overall GPA for all 2023 MD applicants averaged 3.60
- Science GPA (BCPM) for 2023 MD applicants: mean 3.52
- Non-science GPA for 2023 applicants: 3.70 average
- Average MCAT for all 2023 MD applicants: 506.5
- 2023 MD accepted applicants mean MCAT: 511.7
- Matriculants 2023 MD average MCAT: 512.0
- 45% of 2023 matriculants to MD schools were female
- 2023 MD matriculants: 11.3% Hispanic/Latino
- Black/African American: 10.1% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Overall MD acceptance rate 2023: 41.8% (acceptances/applicants)
- Matriculation rate 2023: 42.3% of accepted students enrolled
- Total MD matriculants 2023: 22,171
Medical school admission is highly competitive, requiring strong grades, test scores, and diverse experiences.
Acceptance and Enrollment Statistics
- Overall MD acceptance rate 2023: 41.8% (acceptances/applicants)
- Matriculation rate 2023: 42.3% of accepted students enrolled
- Total MD matriculants 2023: 22,171
- 2022 acceptance rate: 41.2%
- 2022 matriculants: 22,712
- 2021 acceptance rate: 43.5%
- 2021 matriculants: 22,239 to MD schools
- 2020 acceptance rate: 40.8%, matriculants 21,131
- Average applications per applicant 2023: 20.5
- 2023 offers per matriculant: 5.2 average
- URM acceptance rate 2023: 50.2% vs non-URM 39.1%
- Female acceptance rate 2023: 44.3%, male 38.9%
- In-state acceptance rate 2023: 52.1% vs out-of-state 28.4%
- Acceptance rate by GPA 3.80+ 2023: 78%
- MCAT 515+ acceptance rate 2023: 82.5%
- Top 20 schools average acceptance rate: 3.5% in 2023
- DO matriculants 2023: 8,348, acceptance rate ~45%
- Total MD seats 2023: 22,981 available, fill rate 96.4%
- Reapplicant acceptance rate 2023: 35.2% vs first-time 43.8%
- 2023 matriculation by major: bio sciences 60.5% acceptance to matriculation
- Humanities majors matriculation rate higher: 48%
- National average yield rate (enrollment/acceptance) 2023: 42%
- Harvard med acceptance rate 2023: 3.2%
- Johns Hopkins acceptance: 1.9% in 2023
Acceptance and Enrollment Statistics Interpretation
Getting into medical school requires a perfect storm of sky-high stats, strategic applications, and a bit of geographic or demographic luck, turning this noble pursuit into a grueling numbers game where even the most qualified face daunting odds.
Demographic Statistics
- 45% of 2023 matriculants to MD schools were female
- 2023 MD matriculants: 11.3% Hispanic/Latino
- Black/African American: 10.1% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Asian: 24.6% of 2023 MD matriculants
- White: 52.8% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Multiple race: 5.2%, Other: 3.8% in 2023 matriculants
- 2022 MD matriculants female: 46.2%
- URM matriculants 2022: 18.9% of total
- 2021 matriculants: 49% female
- Asian matriculants 2021: 25.1%
- Average age MD matriculants 2023: 24 years
- 82% of 2023 matriculants under 25 years old
- Texas residents 12% of 2023 matriculants
- California matriculants: 13% in 2023
- New York: 9% of 2023 MD matriculants
- Female applicants 2023: 57.1% of total pool
- Male applicants 2023: 42.9%
- URM applicants 2023: 32.4% of pool
- Biological science majors among matriculants 2023: 60%
- Humanities majors matriculants 2023: 11%
- Physical sciences matriculants: 10% in 2023
- Socioeconomic disadvantaged matriculants 2023: 15.2%
- First-generation college matriculants 2023: 12.5%
- Rural background matriculants 2023 MD: 4.8%
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
While medical schools have nearly achieved gender parity in matriculation, the journey to a physician workforce that truly mirrors America's rich diversity in race, background, and perspective remains a complex and urgent diagnosis.
GPA-Related Statistics
- Overall GPA for all 2023 MD applicants averaged 3.60
- Science GPA (BCPM) for 2023 MD applicants: mean 3.52
- Non-science GPA for 2023 applicants: 3.70 average
- Accepted MD applicants 2023: mean total GPA 3.77
- Matriculants 2023 MD: average GPA 3.80
- 2022 MD applicants overall GPA: 3.58
- 2022 science GPA applicants: 3.50
- Accepted 2022 GPA: 3.75 total, 3.69 BCPM
- Matriculant 2022 GPA: 3.77 total
- 2021 applicants GPA: 3.61 overall, up from prior years
- Accepted 2021 GPA: 3.77, science 3.71
- 2020 applicants mean GPA: 3.59
- 2019 applicants GPA: 3.57 overall
- 2019 matriculants GPA: 3.74
- GPA distribution 2023 applicants: 25th percentile 3.43 overall
- 75th percentile GPA applicants 2023: 3.80
- Accepted applicants 2023 GPA 10th percentile: 3.55
- 90th percentile accepted GPA 2023: 3.95
- URM applicants 2023 GPA: 3.49 overall vs 3.64 non-URM
- Asian applicants GPA 2023: 3.70 average
- Black/African American applicants GPA: 3.45 in 2023
- Hispanic applicants GPA 2023: 3.55
- White applicants GPA: 3.65 in 2023
- In-state applicants GPA average 3.62 vs out-of-state 3.59 in 2023
- Female applicants GPA 2023: 3.63, male 3.57
- 2023 GPA by major: bio majors 3.62, humanities 3.58
- Physical science majors GPA 2023: 3.65 average
GPA-Related Statistics Interpretation
The numbers clearly tell you that getting into medical school requires not just acing your science courses, but also a masterful and strategic balancing act across your entire transcript to keep your GPA hovering near celestial heights.
MCAT-Related Statistics
- Average MCAT for all 2023 MD applicants: 506.5
- 2023 MD accepted applicants mean MCAT: 511.7
- Matriculants 2023 MD average MCAT: 512.0
- 2022 applicants MCAT mean: 506.0
- Accepted 2022 MCAT: 511.5
- 2021 applicants MCAT: 506.4 average
- 2021 accepted MCAT: 511.7
- 2020 applicants MCAT mean: 505.6
- Matriculants 2020 MCAT: 511.5
- 2019 applicants MCAT: 505.1
- 2023 MCAT 25th percentile applicants: 501
- 75th percentile MCAT applicants 2023: 512
- Accepted 2023 MCAT 10th percentile: 505, 90th: 518
- URM applicants 2023 MCAT: 503.2 vs non-URM 508.1
- Asian applicants MCAT 2023: 514.2 average
- Black applicants MCAT 2023: 504.5
- Hispanic MCAT 2023: 507.8
- White applicants MCAT: 509.5 in 2023
- Female applicants MCAT 2023: 508.2, male 506.9
- In-state applicants MCAT 2023: 508.5 vs out-of-state 507.1
- CP section mean MCAT 2023 applicants: 126.8
- CARS mean 2023 applicants: 126.3
- BBFL mean 2023: 126.8, PSBB 126.6 for applicants
- Accepted CP section: 127.9 in 2023
MCAT-Related Statistics Interpretation
The stats show that getting into medical school is less like a gentle slope and more like a dramatic leap, where the average applicant hovers around a 506, but the ticket to admission requires consistently clearing a 511 hurdle.
Overall Applicant Statistics
- In the 2023-2024 cycle, there were 52,343 applicants to MD-granting medical schools in the US
- For 2022-2023, total MD applicants numbered 48,033, marking a 2.7% increase from prior year
- In 2021-2022, 52,080 individuals applied to MD programs, with 82% being first-time applicants
- 2020-2021 saw 48,142 MD applicants amid COVID disruptions
- Total applicants to MD schools in 2019-2020 reached 41,955
- In 2018-2019, 47,000+ applicants competed for spots, precisely 41,802
- 2017-2018 cycle had 47,378 applicants to MD schools
- Pre-2017, 2016-2017 applicants totaled 48,142 to MD programs
- In 2023, 32% of applicants were from underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM)
- Average age of MD applicants in 2023 was 25 years
- 2023 MD applicants: 57% female, 43% male
- Texas residents comprised 11% of 2023 MD applicants nationally
- California applicants made up 14% of national MD pool in 2023
- Florida contributed 6% of 2023 MD applicants
- New York state applicants: 8% of 2023 total MD applicants
- In 2023, 72% of MD applicants held bachelor's degrees in biological sciences
- 12% of 2023 applicants majored in humanities/social sciences
- Physical sciences majors: 9% of 2023 MD applicants
- Other majors (math, engineering): 7% of 2023 applicants
- In 2023, 85% of MD applicants had research experience
- Volunteer experience reported by 92% of 2023 MD applicants
- Paid employment in healthcare: 68% of 2023 applicants
- Shadowing physicians: 79% of 2023 MD applicants
- Teaching/tutoring experience: 55% of 2023 applicants
- Community service: 88% participation among 2023 MD applicants
- Leadership experience: 76% of 2023 applicants
- Average number of MCAT attempts for 2023 applicants: 1.3
- In 2023, 15% of applicants reapplied after previous cycles
- DO applicants in 2023: 45,027, separate from MD
- Combined MD/DO applicants 2023: nearly 97,000 unique individuals
Overall Applicant Statistics Interpretation
While the nearly 97,000 aspiring doctors of 2023 have impressively checked every box—from research and volunteering to healthcare jobs and shadowing—this army of identically excellent candidates suggests that standing out in the admissions queue now requires not just a stellar application, but perhaps a personality hologram and a cure for the common cold.