What GPA Do You Need for Medical School in 2027?

There is no single GPA that guarantees medical school admission. However, recent admissions data give pre-med students a useful idea of what is competitive.

For the 2025 entering class, students matriculating at U.S. MD medical schools had an average undergraduate GPA of 3.81, compared with 3.67 among all applicants. The median GPA among matriculants was even higher at 3.87. (AAMC)

For osteopathic medical schools, AACOM reports that 2025 entering students had an average overall GPA of 3.62 and an average science GPA of 3.53. (AACOM)

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What Is a Competitive GPA for Medical School?

A useful general benchmark for 2027 applicants is:

These are not admission cutoffs. Individual medical schools set their own requirements and evaluate applicants differently.

For context, the latest national averages are:

• MD applicants: 3.67
• MD matriculants: 3.81
• DO matriculants: 3.62 overall GPA
• DO matriculants: 3.53 science GPA

What Is a Good GPA for MD Medical Schools?

A GPA around 3.8 places you near the current national average for students entering U.S. MD programs.

That does not mean you need a 3.8 to get accepted. Students with lower GPAs matriculate every year, but the further your academic record falls below a school's typical range, the more important the rest of your application becomes.

Highly selective medical schools can have entering classes with GPAs well above the national average, so applicants should compare their academics with each school's recent class profile rather than relying only on national figures.

What GPA Do You Need for DO Medical School?

DO medical schools typically report somewhat lower average GPAs than MD programs.

AACOM currently reports the following averages for 2025 entering osteopathic medical students:

• Overall GPA: 3.62
• Science GPA: 3.53
• Non-science GPA: 3.73
• MCAT: 502.95

That does not make DO programs easy to enter. Osteopathic medical school applications increased substantially in the latest cycle, with AACOM reporting 26,506 applicants in 2026, up 12.83% from the previous cycle.

Science GPA vs Overall GPA

Medical schools look at more than your cumulative GPA.

For MD applications through AMCAS, your BCPM GPA includes coursework in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics

Your science GPA gives admissions committees another way to evaluate how you have performed in subjects closely related to medical education.

A student with a 3.7 overall GPA but a much lower science GPA may therefore be viewed differently from someone whose performance is consistently strong across both.

Can You Get Into Medical School With a 3.5 GPA?

Yes. A 3.5 GPA does not automatically prevent you from getting into medical school, although it is below the current averages for both MD and DO matriculants.

Your chances will depend partly on:

• MCAT score
• Science GPA
• Academic trend
• Clinical experience
• Community service
• Research
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• School selection

A strong upward academic trend can also provide important context. Doing well in advanced science courses later in college may demonstrate that your current academic ability is stronger than your cumulative GPA initially suggests.

What If Your GPA Is Low?

If your GPA is below the typical range for your target schools, first determine why.

If your recent academic performance is strong but early grades lowered your cumulative average, your strategy may be different from someone who continues to struggle in prerequisite science courses.

Options can include:

1. Strengthen your recent coursework

Strong performance in upper-level science classes can demonstrate academic improvement.

2. Consider a post-baccalaureate program

A post-bacc may help students complete prerequisites or establish a stronger recent undergraduate science record.

3. Consider a Special Master’s Program

For applicants who have already completed their prerequisites, a rigorous graduate program may provide another opportunity to demonstrate readiness for medical school.

4. Strengthen your MCAT

GPA and MCAT provide different information about academic readiness. A strong MCAT can strengthen an application with a lower GPA, although it does not erase the undergraduate academic record.

AAMC data examining medical student outcomes use both undergraduate GPA and MCAT scores, reinforcing why admissions committees consider them together rather than treating either number in isolation. (AAMC)

Build Strength Beyond Your GPA

Your academics matter, but medical schools also evaluate how you have prepared for medicine outside the classroom.

Meaningful experiences may include:

• Clinical exposure
• Physician shadowing
• Community service
• Research
• Leadership
• Healthcare employment

Students seeking additional clinical exposure before applying can explore Go-Elective's Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships, which provide supervised opportunities to experience healthcare environments and better understand patient care.

The objective should be meaningful learning, not simply accumulating hours.

Be Realistic About Your Medical School List

One of the biggest mistakes applicants can make is building a school list almost entirely around prestige.

If your GPA is 3.5, applying predominantly to schools where entering students typically have GPAs around 3.9 will significantly increase the difficulty of your application cycle.

Instead, compare your:

• Overall GPA
• Science GPA
• MCAT
• State residency
• Experiences
• Mission fit

with the profiles and requirements of individual schools.

For DO applicants, AACOM's Choose DO Explorer provides school-specific admissions information.

Final Thoughts

For 2027 applicants, a GPA around 3.8 is strong for many MD programs, while the current average for entering DO students is approximately 3.62.

But GPA should never be viewed alone. Admissions committees consider your academic performance alongside your MCAT, clinical experiences, service, personal qualities, letters, and broader preparation for medicine.

If your GPA is lower than you hoped, identify the actual weakness and address it before applying rather than assuming that one impressive experience will compensate for an academic record that still raises concerns.

FAQs About Medical School GPA

1. What GPA do you need for medical school?

There is no universal GPA requirement. For recent U.S. MD matriculants, the average GPA is 3.81. For 2025 DO matriculants, AACOM reports an average overall GPA of 3.62.

2. Is a 3.5 GPA good enough for medical school?

It can be. A 3.5 is below current national matriculant averages, but applicants with GPAs in this range can still be competitive depending on their MCAT, academic trend, experiences, and school list.

3. Is a 3.7 GPA competitive for medical school?

A 3.7 is above the current average of 3.67 among MD applicants, although it remains below the 3.81 average for students who ultimately matriculated in 2025.

4. Do medical schools care about science GPA?

Yes. Medical schools evaluate both cumulative and science performance. AACOM, for example, separately reports science, non-science, and overall GPAs for entering osteopathic medical students.

5. Can a strong MCAT make up for a low GPA?

A strong MCAT can strengthen your academic profile, but it does not replace your undergraduate record. Medical schools consider GPA and MCAT together alongside the rest of your application.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , MCAT/MSAR/USMLE, Med Schools, Pre-health,

Author: Tatina Himes

Date Published: Sep 2, 2026