Average MCAT Score
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The average MCAT score for all test-takers is 500.7.Note Reference [1]- The average MCAT score for test-takers who applied to medical school for the 2023-2024 school year was 506.3.Note Reference [2]
- The average MCAT score for all medical school applicants who ended up enrolling was 511.7.Note Reference [2]
- In 2024, the average score for psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior was the highest of all the sections at 125.9.Note Reference [1]
- The same year, the critical analysis and reasoning skills section had the lowest average score at 124.6.Note Reference [1]
- The number of medical school enrollees has increased consistently over the past five years, jumping from 21,622 students in 2018-2019 to 22,981 in 2023-2024.Note Reference [2]
- The average overall GPA of applicants was 3.64, while those who enrolled had an average overall GPA of 3.77.Note Reference [2]
- Half of the MCAT section average scores have increased in the past six years and half have decreased.Note Reference [2]
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is a standardized test used by medical schools to evaluate test takers’ readiness for graduate school. MCAT scores and GPAs are heavily weighed in the admissions process and judged to be strong indicators of how students will perform in medical school.
This article focuses on the scores of students pursuing a medical degree (M.D.) at medical school. However, osteopathic schools, which grant the doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree, also use MCAT scores for admission. Someone who graduates from either type of institution becomes a physician, but the focuses of each path are different.
Keep reading to learn more about the national average MCAT score, national average MCAT scores broken down by section, average scores from some of the top medical programs in the country, and to learn from an expert on what medical schools look for in a candidate.
Average MCAT Scores
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average MCAT score is 500.7. The AAMC bases rankings on MCAT results from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 testing years combined (most medical schools accept MCAT scores that are up to three years old). The AAMC will use these scores to calculate percentile rankings through April 30, 2025, until the next update on May 1 of the following year.Note Reference [1] MCAT scores range from 472-528.
Between 2016-2017 and 2024-2025, the average MCAT score increased by around a point, going from 499.6 to 500.7. The average appears to be increasing overall, with 2022-2023 holding the record-high score of 501.6.
A new version of the MCAT was released in 2015 to reflect the advancements made in medicine.Note Reference [3] The following scores refer to this new version.
| Test Year | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|
| April and May 2015 | 500.0 |
| May 2016-April 2017 | 499.6 |
| May 2017-April 2018 | 500.2 |
| May 2018-April 2019 | 500.5 |
| May 2019-April 2020 | 500.9 |
| May 2020-April 2021 | 501.1 |
| May 2021-April 2022 | 501.5 |
| May 2022-April 2023 | 501.6 |
| May 2023-April 2024 | 501.3 |
| May 2024-April 2025 | 500.7 |
MCAT sections have a score range of 118-132 possible points.Note Reference [4]
Scores for the chemical and physical foundations of biological systems (CPBS) section appear to be consistent. Nine years ago, the average MCAT score for this section stood at 125.0, and it has more or less remained the same at 124.9 in 2024-2025.
| Test Year | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|
| April and May 2015 | 125.0 |
| May 2016-April 2017 | 124.9 |
| May 2017-April 2018 | 125.1 |
| May 2018-April 2019 | 125.1 |
| May 2019-April 2020 | 125.1 |
| May 2020-April 2021 | 125.2 |
| May 2021-April 2022 | 125.2 |
| May 2022-April 2023 | 125.2 |
| May 2023-April 2024 | 125.1 |
| May 2024-April 2025 | 124.9 |
The average MCAT score for the critical analysis and reasoning skills (CARS) section decreased the most in the past nine years, going from 124.9 in 2015 to 124.6 in 2024-2025.
| Test Year | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|
| April and May 2015 | 124.9 |
| May 2016-April 2017 | 124.6 |
| May 2017-April 2018 | 124.7 |
| May 2018-April 2019 | 124.8 |
| May 2019-April 2020 | 124.8 |
| May 2020-April 2021 | 124.8 |
| May 2021-April 2022 | 124.8 |
| May 2022-April 2023 | 124.8 |
| May 2023-April 2024 | 124.7 |
| May 2024-April 2025 | 124.6 |
The average MCAT score for the biological and biochemical foundations of living systems (BBLS) section has increased by 0.2 points over the past nine years, going from 125.0 in 2015 to 125.2 in 2024-2025.
| Test Year | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|
| April and May 2015 | 125.0 |
| May 2016-April 2017 | 125.0 |
| May 2017-April 2018 | 125.2 |
| May 2018-April 2019 | 125.3 |
| May 2019-April 2020 | 125.4 |
| May 2020-April 2021 | 125.4 |
| May 2021-April 2022 | 125.5 |
| May 2022-April 2023 | 125.5 |
| May 2023-April 2024 | 125.4 |
| May 2024-April 2025 | 125.2 |
The average MCAT score for the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior (PSBB) section has gone up the most. The average jumped from 125.1 in 2015 to 125.9 in 2024-2025, a 0.8-point increase.
| Test Year | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|
| April and May 2015 | 125.1 |
| May 2016-April 2017 | 125.0 |
| May 2017-April 2018 | 125.3 |
| May 2018-April 2019 | 125.4 |
| May 2019-April 2020 | 125.6 |
| May 2020-April 2021 | 125.8 |
| May 2021-April 2022 | 126.0 |
| May 2022-April 2023 | 126.1 |
| May 2023-April 2024 | 126.1 |
| May 2024-April 2025 | 125.9 |
Average MCAT Scores and GPAs for Medical Schools
The tables below compare the average MCAT scores and GPAs of medical school applicants and medical school enrollees of 2023-2024. Comparing the numbers can give you a better sense of where your scores and GPA should be to have the best chance of gaining admission.
- While the average MCAT score of medical school applicants was 506.3, those who ended up enrolling had an average MCAT score of 511.7.
- The average overall GPA of applicants was 3.64, while those who enrolled had an average overall GPA of 3.77.
- The average science GPA of applicants was 3.54, while those who enrolled had an average science GPA of 3.71.
- The average non-science GPA of applicants was 3.78, but the average non-science GPA of those who enrolled was 3.85.
| Status | Average Total MCAT Score | CPBS Section | CARS Section | BBLS Section | PSBB Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 506.3 | 126.4 | 125.8 | 126.6 | 127.4 |
| Enrollees | 511.7 | 127.8 | 127 | 128.1 | 128.9 |
| Status | Average Total GPA | Science GPA | Non-Science GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 3.64 | 3.54 | 3.78 |
| Enrollees | 3.75 | 3.71 | 3.85 |
Enrollees’ overall GPA, science GPA, and non-science GPA have all steadily increased in the past five years, with record highs in 2023-2024. The average MCAT score slightly decreased in 2023-2024 from its peak in 2022-2023, averaging 506.5.
Average MCAT Scores by School
Check out the average MCAT scores by school in the sections below. This report covers selective research schools and schools for primary care. Note that there will be some overlap between the two categories.
Average MCAT Scores of Top Medical Schools for Research
To gain admission to some of the top medical schools in the country for research, you must have an MCAT score well above the 500.7 national average. To get into Harvard Medical School, for example, you must score in the top 2% of test takers to be in the 50th percentile of their accepted students.
| School | Average MCAT Score | Average GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 520.59 | 3.9 |
| New York University (Grossman) | 522.39 | 3.95 |
| Columbia University (Vagelos) | 508-528 | 2.98-4.0 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 521 | 3.92 |
| University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) | 520.8 | 3.92 |
| Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine | 521 | 3.94 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 514.0 | N/A |
Average MCAT Scores of Top Medical Schools for Primary Care
The top medical schools for primary care also have competitive scores, well above the national average. Note that while MCAT scores and GPAs are weighted heavily in the admissions process, many programs also value clinical experience and other areas of the application.
| School | Average MCAT Score | Average GPA |
|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) | 512 | 3.76 |
| Oregon Health and Science University | 511 | 3.69 |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | 512 | 3.79 Science GPA, 3.66 Non-Science GPA |
| University of Colorado (Anschutz) | 517 | 3.7 |
| University of California, Davis | 509 | 3.73 |
| Harvard University | 520.59 | 3.9 |
| University of Kansas Medical Center | 508 | 3.79 |
Average MCAT Scores of Popular Medical Schools
Many of the popular medical schools listed have average MCAT scores and GPAs well above the national average. Keep in mind that the 50th percentile just refers to the middle, and many accepted students have scores and GPAs above and below the figures listed.
| School | Average MCAT Score | Average GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University (Weill) | 519 | 3.91 |
| Yale University | 521 | 3.9 |
| University of Chicago (Pritzker) | 515.8 | 3.3-4.0 |
| University of Pittsburgh | 514 | 3.79 |
| Texas A&M University | 509.8 | 3.77 |
Frequently Asked Questions About the MCAT
The MCAT is roughly seven hours long and is multiple choice. The test also allots time for food and drink breaks.
There are 230 questions total, divided into four sections: chemical and physical foundations of biological systems; critical analysis and reasoning skills; biological and biochemical foundations of living systems; and psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior.Note Reference [4]
Ask an Expert: What Do Medical Schools Look for in an Applicant?
Be Authentic
Acting like someone you’re not,
says Jimmy Chen, MD, who previously served as a member of the admissions committee, is one of the most common mistakes medical school candidates make on their applications.
Dr. Chen, who is currently an ophthalmology resident at the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California, San Diego, adds that it’s not hard to see through an inauthentic person.
This might include not having patient or premedical experiences that support a candidate’s claims of what is important to them.
If you just shadowed to get the hours or pay your dues, it shows,
notes Chen. Make sure you do things intentionally because it’s not hard to see through people who just did things to ‘check a box.’
You Don’t Have to Be a Superstar
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a renowned researcher to get into medical school. Instead, Chen says he privileges candidates who are self-reflective, intentional, prepared, and professional.
This means a well-put-together story that clearly shows why they want to be a doctor
in an application essay, with the experience to back it up.
[The] people who I’ve rated highly were often normal people, not just D1 athletes or undergrads who did a bunch of research.
Chen explains that medicine is not just becoming a doctor.
According to Chen, society expects doctors to act a certain way, and candidates should prepare for that.
It’s a profession where you’re [viewed] differently by society… and it’s not easy. An ability to reflect on yourself… is crucial.
Seek a Mentor, Maybe Take a Gap Year
Ask others who have made it in medicine to mentor you,
says Chen, who has mentored several students who have successfully gone on to enroll in medical school. None of us got here on our own; we all stood on the shoulders of giants. Look for people who will go to bat for you. And start early.
Chen also says taking a year off before medical school can be a good idea: Don’t be afraid to take a gap year — it’s becoming more common, can be good for your mental health, and gives you a chance to try something new or really explore extracurriculars that may bolster your app.
Finally: Practice, Practice, Practice
There’s no reason you should show up to an interview without knowing your ‘tell me about yourself’ spiel cold,
says Chen. And to be clear, this should not be a mere repetition of students’ personal statements.
This goes back to authenticity, for Chen, and how candidates should be clear on why they’re pursuing medicine.
Don’t do medicine if you’re not passionate about it. We can see it in the way you write and the way you speak. We want someone who truly loves helping people and understands what it means to be a doctor.
Sources
- Percentile Ranks for the MCAT Exam. AAMC. Accessed May 2024. (back to footnote 1 in content ⤶)
- Table A-16: MCAT Scores and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. MD-Granting Medical Schools, 2018 Through 2023-2024. May 2024. (back to footnote 2 in content ⤶)
- Changing the MCAT Exam. AAMC. Accessed May 2024. (back to footnote 3 in content ⤶)
- The MCAT Essentials for Testing Year 2023. September 2023. (back to footnote 4 in content ⤶)
- U.S. MCAT Calendar, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates. AAMC. Accessed May 2024. (back to footnote 5 in content ⤶)