Medical schools accepting low MCAT scores include MD and DO programs that publish lower class averages and schools that set specific minimum scores. Whether you should apply depends on what each school’s figure means, your full academic record and whether your score meets every stated screening requirement.
A published minimum tells you when a school may consider your application, while an average describes a particular entering class or the score the school considers competitive. Neither figure guarantees an interview or admission. Compare your score with the correct type of figure, confirm the current school policy and decide whether applying now or retesting is the better choice for you.
Lower MCAT Scores and Medical School at a Glance
- There is no single score that every medical school defines as low. School-specific minimums, entering-class averages and current percentile ranks provide more useful comparisons.
- The listed MD schools publish class averages from 503 to 506, while the listed DO schools publish averages or competitive figures from 500 to 505.
- Published minimums serve different purposes. Some determine whether a school considers an application, sends a secondary or offers interview eligibility.
- A high GPA can strengthen an academic profile, but national group data does not show that a particular GPA will offset a particular MCAT score for an individual applicant.
What Counts as a Low MCAT Score?
There is no single MCAT cutoff used by every medical school. A score can be below a national applicant or matriculant mean but still meet the published minimum at a particular school. It can also meet a school’s minimum without being close to that school’s entering-class average or competitive figure.
According to the AAMC, applicants to U.S. MD-granting schools in 2025-2026 had a mean total MCAT score of 506.3, with a standard deviation of 10. Matriculants had a mean of 512.1, with a standard deviation of 6.5. IMA’s guide to what counts as a good MCAT score provides more context for comparing your result with these national figures. These are means for defined groups, not universal admissions requirements.
Percentile ranks offer another comparison. A percentile rank is the percentage of test takers who earned the same or a lower score. In the ranks effective from May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, a 492 is at the 25th percentile, a 494 is at the 31st, a 495 is at the 33rd, a 496 is at the 36th and a 497 is at the 39th. A 500 is at the 48th percentile and a 502 is at the 55th. These ranks are based on people who tested in 2023, 2024 and 2025. See IMA’s guide to MCAT percentiles for the broader score distribution.
The AAMC also explains that the MCAT is scaled and equated rather than graded on a curve. A score is intended to have the same meaning regardless of your test date or the people who tested alongside you. When assessing a lower result, compare it with current school policies and the relevant national data instead of assuming that one label applies everywhere.
Acceptance Rates for Lower MCAT Score Ranges
AAMC FACTS Table A-23 reports combined data for applicants and acceptees to U.S. MD-granting medical schools across the 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 application cycles. Across all GPA ranges, the acceptance rate was 0.6% for scores below 486, 1.8% for 486-489 and 4% for 490-493. The rate was 11.1% for 494-497, 22.2% for 498-501 and 35.4% for 502-505. Across applicants with all MCAT scores and GPAs, the rate was 45.1%.
These percentages describe the outcomes of national groups rather than your personal probability of admission. Each score band combines applicants with different GPAs and other application circumstances. The figures also concern U.S. MD-granting schools, so you should not apply them to an individual MD school, a DO school or another application route.
Use the ranges to understand how outcomes changed across large groups, not to identify a guaranteed score. School-specific requirements remain the first screen when building your list. After checking those requirements, compare your academic profile with the most relevant GPA and MCAT cells rather than relying only on the all-GPA rate.
MD Schools That Publish Lower Average MCAT Scores
Some MD schools publish an average for a named entering class. An average describes that class and should not be read as the lowest score the school accepted. It also does not show that an applicant with the same score will receive an interview.
Morehouse School of Medicine
The Morehouse School of Medicine fact sheet reports an average MCAT score of 505.6 for its entering class of 2025. That class matriculated 110 students. The class year matters because a later class may have a different profile.
Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
The Marshall University entering-student profile reports an average MCAT score of 506 for the 2025 entering class. This is a class average, not a published minimum for all applicants.
Mercer University School of Medicine
The Mercer University School of Medicine MD admissions page reports an average MCAT score of 503 in its Class of 2029 profile. Use that figure to understand the published profile of this class, then review the school’s current requirements before applying.
Osteopathic Medical Schools That Publish Their MCAT Averages
The listed DO schools publish their own averages or competitive figures. These figures do not establish a national range for DO admission. Before adding one to your list, understand the degree pathway as well as the score information. IMA’s MD vs DO guide explains the distinction between the two medical degrees.
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine data report gives a mean MCAT score of 500 for the 2025 entrance year across its Las Cruces and Melbourne campuses. Because the figure covers both campuses, it should not be presented as a separate campus average.
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
The Campbell University student profile reports an average MCAT score of 505 for its most recent matriculated class. The school describes the figure as its most recent class rather than naming a class year.
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine admissions FAQ lists 504 as its competitive average MCAT score. A competitive average is not the same as a minimum and does not promise a particular admissions result.
Medical Schools With Published Minimum MCAT Scores
A published minimum can describe different stages of application review. Read the wording closely to determine whether it controls initial consideration, receipt of a secondary, file review or interview eligibility. Meeting a minimum means you have cleared that stated score condition. It does not mean your score is competitive or that the school will advance your application.
San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
The San Juan Bautista MD admission requirements state that the school will consider a minimum MCAT score of 492. Its separate student FAQ lists 495 as the minimum MCAT score to be considered for an interview. The two figures describe different points in the process, so they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
The Universidad Central del Caribe admission requirements state that the school considers only MCAT scores of 494 or above. An applicant below that level does not meet the published score condition.
Ponce Health Sciences University St. Louis Campus
The Ponce Health Sciences University St. Louis campus FAQ lists a minimum MCAT score of 494 for its MD program. This figure belongs specifically to the St. Louis campus and should not be assigned to another Ponce campus.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
The UTRGV School of Medicine requirements state that MCAT scores below 495 are not considered. The school also sends scores below the 50th percentile to a special admissions subcommittee, which is a separate policy from the 495 floor.
University of South Alabama Whiddon College of Medicine
The University of South Alabama application page requires a minimum MCAT score of 495 to receive a secondary application for the 2027 cycle. This is a cycle-specific requirement tied to the secondary stage.
University of Mississippi School of Medicine
The University of Mississippi academic metrics policy requires a minimum total MCAT score of 496, with every section at 121 or higher, for file review and an interview invitation. Looking only at the total could therefore miss a section-level requirement.
Howard University College of Medicine
The Howard University admission information requires an MCAT score of 497 or above for interview eligibility beginning with the 2026-2027 application cycle. Applicants should distinguish this interview threshold from an entering-class average.
LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine
The LSU Health Shreveport academic requirements do not set a minimum MCAT score. The absence of a published minimum does not identify the lowest score admitted or establish that every submitted score will be competitive.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
The LECOM entrance requirements describe an MCAT score at the 50th percentile or higher as competitive. LECOM may also use an Academic Index Score instead of MCAT scores. A percentile-based competitive standard and an alternative index are different from a fixed minimum total score.
Published MCAT Figures at a Glance
The table below summarizes the school-published figures discussed above. Check the description column before comparing schools because the entries include class averages, a competitive average, minimums for different review stages and one school with no minimum.
| School | Type | Published MCAT figure | What the figure describes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morehouse School of Medicine | MD | 505.6 average | Entering class of 2025 |
| Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | MD | 506 average | 2025 entering class profile |
| Mercer University School of Medicine | MD | 503 average | Class of 2029 profile |
| Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | 500 mean | 2025 entrance year, both campuses |
| Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | 505 average | Most recent class matriculated |
| Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | 504 competitive average | School's stated competitive average |
| San Juan Bautista School of Medicine | MD | 492 minimum | Minimum score considered |
| Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine | MD | 494 minimum | Only scores of 494 or above considered |
| Ponce Health Sciences University (St. Louis campus) | MD | 494 minimum | Minimum MCAT for the MD program |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine | MD | 495 minimum | Scores below 495 not considered |
| University of South Alabama Whiddon College of Medicine | MD | 495 minimum | Needed to receive a secondary application |
| University of Mississippi School of Medicine | MD | 496 minimum | For file review and interview, with every section at 121 or higher |
| Howard University College of Medicine | MD | 497 minimum | For interview eligibility, starting with the 2026-2027 cycle |
| LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine | MD | No minimum | School does not require a minimum MCAT score |
Use the table to identify schools for closer review rather than treating every number as the same kind of admissions benchmark. Confirm that the figure applies to the correct school, campus, class or application cycle.
Applying With a High GPA and a Low MCAT
A high GPA does not create a universal exchange in which a particular GPA cancels out a lower MCAT score. The AAMC grid can show how groups with different combinations performed, but it cannot determine what will happen to your application.
In the combined 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 data, applicants with a total GPA above 3.79 and an MCAT score of 494-497 had an 18.5% acceptance rate, representing 416 acceptees among 2,247 applicants. Applicants with a GPA from 3.60-3.79 and an MCAT score of 506-509 had a 45.4% rate, representing 3,212 acceptees among 7,069 applicants. IMA’s guide to the MCAT GPA grid provides the broader context for reading these cells.
The comparison shows why you should consider GPA and MCAT together without assuming that either number controls the result alone. These are outcomes for aggregated groups of applicants to U.S. MD-granting schools. They are not school-specific thresholds or individual predictions.
How to Respond to a Lower MCAT Score
Start by checking whether your score meets each school’s stated requirements, including any total-score, section-score or percentile conditions. Separate schools where you clear the published threshold from schools where you do not. Then compare your result with class averages and competitive figures without mislabeling those figures as minimums.
Review How Schools Use Multiple Scores
According to the AAMC, medical schools handle multiple MCAT scores differently. Some weigh every score equally while noting improvement, some use the most recent score, some average the scores and some use the highest. The University of Mississippi, for example, uses the highest score for consideration but states that its committee reviews all scores. Do not assume that every school will focus only on your best result.
Decide Whether a Retest Fits Your Situation
Compare your current result with the requirements of the schools you are considering. If a higher score would bring additional schools within range, review IMA’s guide to retaking the MCAT. Before deciding, use a timed practice result and the MCAT score calculator to organize the score information available to you. Treat any estimated practice result as an estimate rather than an official MCAT score.
Understand Voids and Missed Exams
The AAMC states that medical schools have no record of exams you void or miss. However, voids and no-shows still count toward MCAT testing limits. That distinction matters when considering another test date because an exam can affect your testing-limit record even when a medical school does not receive a score from it.
How to Build a More Focused School List
Build your list from current, school-specific information. Record whether each published figure is an average, competitive score or minimum, then note the class, cycle or campus attached to it. Remove any school where your score does not meet a stated floor. Where no minimum appears, do not invent one from an average or from another website.
You can also review IMA’s guide to medical schools that do not require the MCAT and its resource on average GPA and MCAT scores by medical school. Check every school’s own admissions page before making a final decision because the type and period of each figure determine how you should use it.
Your Next Steps With a Lower MCAT Score
A lower MCAT score calls for a careful comparison, not an automatic decision to apply everywhere or abandon your plans. Identify the schools where you meet every published condition, distinguish minimums from averages and review how each school treats multiple attempts.
If you are considering another exam, begin with an MCAT practice test and a realistic review of your target schools. Use the result to decide what needs further preparation, then reassess your school list before submitting applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Considered a Low MCAT Score?
There is no single MCAT score that every medical school defines as low. For context, U.S. MD applicants in 2025-2026 had a mean of 506.3 and matriculants had a mean of 512.1, but these national means are not school minimums. Compare your score with each school’s published requirements, averages and competitive figures.
Which Medical Schools Accept Low MCAT Scores?
Several MD and DO schools publish averages near 500 or minimums in the 490s. Examples in this guide include Mercer, Morehouse, Marshall, Burrell, Campbell and the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, along with schools that publish specific minimums. A published figure does not establish the lowest score admitted or guarantee acceptance.
What Is the Lowest MCAT Score Accepted Into Medical School?
No universal lowest accepted MCAT score is established by the school records in this guide. San Juan Bautista states that it will consider a minimum of 492, while other listed schools publish different minimums or no minimum. A consideration threshold does not prove that 492 was the lowest score of a matriculated student.
Do DO Schools Accept Lower MCAT Scores?
Some DO schools publish averages near 500, but the available school figures do not support a universal DO score range. Burrell reports a mean of 500 for its 2025 entrance year, Campbell reports a 505 average for its most recent matriculated class and ACOM lists 504 as its competitive average. Evaluate each program separately.
Can a High GPA Make Up for a Low MCAT Score?
A high GPA can strengthen your academic profile, but it does not guarantee that a school will overlook a lower MCAT score. In the AAMC’s aggregated grid, applicants with a GPA above 3.79 and an MCAT of 494-497 had an 18.5% acceptance rate. That group result is not a prediction for an individual applicant.
Is a 500 MCAT Score Low?
A 500 can be considered lower in some admissions comparisons, but its meaning depends on the school. It is at the 48th percentile in the ranks effective from May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Burrell also reports a mean of 500 for its 2025 entrance year, showing why a percentile and a school-specific figure answer different questions.
Should I Retake the MCAT If My Score Is Low?
Consider a retake if your current score falls below the requirements of schools you would otherwise pursue or if a higher result would materially change your school list. First check how each school treats multiple attempts because schools may use all scores, the most recent, an average or the highest score.
Do Medical Schools See All of Your MCAT Scores?
Schools can review multiple reported MCAT scores, but they use them in different ways. Some weigh every score, some use the most recent, some average the results and some use the highest. Schools have no record of an exam you void or miss, although a void or no-show still counts toward testing limits.
